North West London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
North West London is the area of Greater London to the North West of Central London (designated as NW in postal codes). Although it is only ambiguously defined, it is the most wealthy and also the most commercially developed area of London outside of the centre, containing significant amounts of commercial & retail space along with other cities, such as Camden Town, Harrow and Edgware, as well as districts such as Harlesden, Kensal Rise, Mill Hill, Hampstead, Kilburn, St. John's Wood, Marylebone and Barnet. Some areas of crime and deprivation exist, situated in between more affluent and fashionable areas, creating a strong class mix.
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[edit] Definition
Definitions of this area are generally unofficial and can vary considerably, but generally include districts around the A41 and M1 motorway corridor. The inner London boroughs of the London Borough of Camden and the northern part of the City of Westminster and the outer London boroughs of London Borough of Barnet, London Borough of Brent and London Borough of Harrow are most commonly associated with North West London.
Major routes in North West London include the A41 (Finchley Road/M1), A1 (Great North Road), A5 (Edgware Road), A40 (Eastern section) (Westway), A406 (North Circular), and the A503 (Hampstead Road).
[edit] Geography & districts
North West London is one of the most undulating areas of London. Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill are amongst the highest points in London. As with most parts of London, it is punctuated by numerous local centres of varying sizes, which evolved from older towns and villages connected to London by the new railways before becoming absorbed by the expanding urban area.
The area is one of the most diverse in London. Whilst East and South London can easily be classed as less desirable areas, the North East can easily be classed as a lower class area, and the West as a generally affluent area. North West London contains not only the most affluent areas in the country (Hampstead, St. John's Wood, Little Venice), but upper middle class areas (Finchley, Marylebone, Swiss Cottage, West Hampstead), lower middle class areas (Harrow, Edgware) and working class areas (Kensal Rise, Harlesden).
The main commercial areas in North West London are Brent Cross, Marylebone, Holborn, Hampstead, Camden and to a lesser extent Swiss Cottage.
[edit] Town planning and architecture
The architecture in North West London is diverse from that of other parts of London. Some areas follow a style that is typical in other parts of London. For example, Belsize Park is architecturally the same as many of the western districts such as Holland Park and Bayswater.
Other areas have an architectural style that cannot be seen anywhere else in London. For example, St. John's Wood comprises for the most part of low villa style housing. Even the Prince Albert Road stretching from Marylebone to Camden Town has a cluster of 'modernist' apartment blocks, with rounded balconies and other features of that era. Such a building style is not seen anywhere else in London in a cluster, although there are one or two of these style buildings in Chelsea.
Hampstead's many older buildings either follow the building style that is prevalent in the Buckinghamshire countryside (despite its inner London location) or the style that is prevalent in other architecturally 'older' parts of London like Kensington. Hampstead is however also home to many more modern homes.
Marylebone is architecturally significant, with houses of great importance lining Regent's Park, and garden squares such as Dorset Square. The rest of Marylebone reflects influences from other parts of the West End such as Mayfair and Bloomsbury.
Maida Vale and Little Venice are mostly stucco, and the inside roads are notable because of the uniformity. The architectural style can be compared to Belgravia.
Moving further out of London, the area around the North Circular is very industrial and has a very different feel to the more central parts as well as the areas further out.
This area is however, logistically, one of the easiest areas of London to get to and navigate. It has several arterial routes linking to both Central London and the M25, as well as the A406 which acts as an orbital for the whole of London north of the Thames.
Further out the areas are largely similar to each other from an architectural perspective. Areas like Hendon, Harrow and Wembley are melting pots from all eras.
Some areas of North West London follow a logical road system. For example St. John's Wood between the A5, Avenue Road, Prince Albert Road and Adelaide Road is mostly a grid pattern. As is Marylebone between the A5, Prince Albert Road, Regent Street (through Park), and Oxford Street.
Some areas follow no logical pattern, for example, Hampstead. There is no straight route between the A41 and A502 in the sections where they pass through Hampstead.
The area around the North Circular does not have a logical street pattern, however the extensive bypass system in this area compensates for this.
[edit] Transport
The main London Underground lines going through North West London are the Jubilee, Bakerloo and Metropolitan lines. The Circle line is prevalent in the southern section and the Northern line in the eastern section. The outer section has appearances of the Central and Piccadilly lines beyond Hanger Lane and North Ealing stations respectively. It is possible to say that all London Underground lines except the Waterloo and City line make an appearance in North West London if the area is taken in its broadest sense. This is arguably because when the underground was first constructed North West London was its main focus. The Victoria line at King's Cross St Pancras, which is at the south east corner of North West London. The District line at Ealing Broadway which may be seen as the south west corner of North West London. The Hammersmith and City line between Euston Square and Latimer Road is in North West London.
The North London and Watford DC lines are other rail lines in North West London.
The A41, A1, A5, A502 and A400 are the main north-south road routes.
The A501, A5205, B509, and A406 are the main east-west road routes.
Other major routes are the M1, A598, A404, A40, A219, A4000.
Heathrow and Luton are the most easily accessible airports.
Marylebone, St Pancras International and Euston railway stations are in North West London. Marylebone provides a route to the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, Buckinghamsire, and on to Oxford and Birmingham. St Pancras serves the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, with destinations including Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Sheffield. Euston provides intercity services (Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry, Watford).
London Paddington railway station is only very slightly south of the area considered North-West London, and King's Cross railway station is only slightly east.
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