A Marylebone Walk
Route & what to see
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london-footprints.co.uk |
A 4 mile linear walk from Goodge Street Station (Northern line) to Marylebone or Baker Street Stations.
On exiting the station go
left into Tottenham Street then first left at Whitfield Street.
Pollocks Toy Museum occupies a corner site.
Right along Scala Street,
left at Charlotte Street, right into Goodge Street. Go left at
the pedestrianised Charlotte Place continuing along Rathbone
Street. Go right through Newman Passage then right at Newman
Street. At the end cross and continue along Cleveland Street.
The site of the Middlesex Hospital has been redeveloped.
Detour into Riding House
Street to the left for a view of All Souls School by Beresford
Pite and an old wall advertisement. Return and continue along
Cleveland Street.
The Strand Union Workhouse of 1788 later served as an
outpatients department for the hospital. It is now being
redeveloped. [more info]
Detour right into Howland Street to view the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre by Ian Ritchie
Return and continue along
Cavendish Street then second left along Hanson Street.
Numbers 16 - 20 are 18th century houses. The street also has
tenements of 1910.
At the end detour right along Foley Street to view elaborate ironwork (by Commes Forge of Princes Risborough) of former public toilets outside the Crown & Sceptre pub.
Return along Foley Street.
There is a blue plaque to the artist Henry Fuseli.
Right at Candover Street.
Buildings here have Art Nouveau styling. Boultings
(established in 1808) have premises of 1903 with tiled
advertisements. [pix]
Cross Riding House Street
into Nassau Street.
The frontage of the former Radium Wing with terracotta work
has been retained with new flats built behind. Tenements
including Titan House were built in 1890.
Left along Mortimer Street.
Detour left into Pearson Square.
The former Grade II* listed hospital chapel by JL Pearson
with a beautiful interior has been retained. It is now known as
the Fitrovia Chapel. [website]
Return and cross Mortimer
Street into Berners Street.
The former premises of Sandersons (1957-60) is now a hotel.
Right along Eastcastle
Street.
The Champion pub features stained glass. The Welsh Baptist
Chapel was built in 1889.
Right at Great Titchfield
Street then right along Margaret Street.
All Saints Church was designed by William Butterfield in
1849-59 along with the clergy house and school of 1870 (now a
Temple). On the corner are the premise sof Hand & Lock,
embroiderers.
Left at Wells Street and
left along Mortimer Street.
Radiant House of 1915 has a striking tiled upper storey.
Right at Great Portland
Street, right into Riding House Street then left through
Middleton Buildings.
This has 'third rate' houses and at the end the Yorkshire
Grey pub of 1860. Across in Langham Street the tiled Langham
Court Hotel was the former nurses' home of 1901. [pix]
Left along Langham Street,
left at Great Portland Street then right along Riding House
Street.
All Souls Church was designed by John Nash in 1820 and built
1822-4. It was repaired after WWII bomb damage by Goodhart-Rendel
and adapted for BBC use in 1975-6. The Langham Hotel was built in
1863 and restored in 1989-90.
Right at Langham Place
continuing along Portland Place.
Broadcasting House was built in 1931 to the designs of
Colonel Val Myer and features sculptures by Eric Gill. It had a
major restoration and expansion for the 21st century.
Left into Duchess Street.
On the left is the coach house to Chandos House (to be seen
later) designed by Adam and featuring sphinx decoration.
Left at Mansfield Street and
left at Queen Anne Street.
At number two is Chandos House designed by Robert &
James Adam in 1769-71 and now owned by the Royal Society of
Medicine.
Continue along Chandos
Street.
On the right are premises of the Medical Society of London
founded in 1773.
Right at Cavendish Square
This has a pleasant park. The Royal College of Nursing has
premises on the east side.
Continue along Wigmore
Street.
Wigmore Hall (originally called Bechstein Hall) was built in
1901 by the German piano firm next to its showrooms on Wigmore
Street. It was designed by English architect Thomas Collcutt in
Renaissance style, using alabaster and marble on walls, flooring
and stairway. WWI made life difficult for German firms in London
and the Bechstein affairs were wound up by the Board of Trade. At
auction in 1916, the entire business - including studios,
offices, warehouses, 137 pianos, and the Hall itself - was sold
to Debenhams for 56,500. The Hall alone had cost 100,000 to
build. It re-opened in 1917. Further along on the left the former
premises of Debenham & Freebody, built in 1907-8, are now
used by a variety of shops.
Go right along Marylebone
Lane then right into Bulstrode Street.
This has some 18th century buildings.
Left at Welbeck Street then
left along New Cavendish Street.
This has Art Nouveau buildings including Crofton House and
the former dairy of B Davis & Son at numbers 14-16.
At the end go left along
Thayer Street and right at George Street.
St James RC Church, Spanish Place has interior work by JF
Bentley. Opposite is the rear of the Wallace Collection building.
Right at Manchester Street.
There is a blue plaque to Beaufort (of wind speed fame).
Opposite the attractive Manchester Mews gives another view of the
church.
Left at Blandford Street and
right into Chiltern Street.
The former fire station of 1889 is now a hotel.
Return to Blandford Street
and go left then left along Aysbrook Street.
Number 32, a late 19th century factory, was converted to
offices by Richard Rogers in 1969-71. Ossington Buildings at the
end are industrial dwellings of 1888.
Right at Moxon Street then
left along Marylebone Lane
Daunt Bookshop has original features including oak galleries
and skylights.
Left at Paddington Street
then left through Grotto Passage (by number 57).
In the 1750s this was the site of Mr Castle's yard and
grotto showroom. There is a former Ragged School building.
Left into Garbutt Place.
There is a plaque to Octavia Hill who bought the properties
here in 1865.
Right at Moxon Street then
enter Paddington Street recreation ground ahead.
This was formerly a burial ground for St George's (see
information boards).
Walk through to Paddington
Street.
To the right is the former Central Institute for Swedish
Gymnastics designed by Forsyth & Maule in 1910. It served as
a war hospital 1914-8 and is now the Hellenic Centre.
Continue left along
Paddington Street then go right into Chiltern Street.
Former school buildings of 1859 are now occupied by the
Evangelical Library. A dispensary and relief office was built for
the parish of St Marylebone in 1872. Portman Mansions were
constructed 1890-1900.
Left at Porter Street. Cross
Baker Street and continue along Bickenhall Street. Right at
Gloucester Place then left along Marylebone Road.
The town hall was designed by Sir Edwin Cooper in 1912-8. He
was also responsible for the adjacent library of 1938-9. These
are being redeveloped for the London Business School.
Left at Upper Montague
Street and right along York Street.
St John's Ambulance occupies the former St Marylebone
Western National School of 1824, repaired following war damage.
Left into Wyndham Place.
St Mary's Church of 1821-3 was designed by Sir Robert
Smirke. Tarrant Place is by Quinlan Terry (1989).
Exit back onto York Street
and go left
York Street Chambers of 1892 were built as accommodation for
professional women (see cartouche). They also feature stained
glass. Further along are some attractive shopfronts.
Right at Seymour Place
The former baths (1897) served as a magistrate's court
before being converted to residential use. The present courts are
located on Marylebone Road. Opposite the former Philological
College (later St Marylebone Grammar School) of 1856-7 was
converted to offices in 1989.
Right at Marylebone Road
On the right are the former Samaritan Hospital of 1889 and
Western Eye Hospital. The premises for Woolworth opposite were
designed by R Seifert & Partners in 1955.
Left along Harewood Avenue
The Landmark Hotel is contemporary with Marylebone Station
but was for a time used as railway offices.
Right at Melcombe Place
Marylebone is an attractive station designed by HW Braddock
in 1899 for the Great Central Railway.
To access Baker Street Station continue through Dorset Square. Cross Gloucester Place into Melcombe Street. At the end go right into Baker Street.
london-footprints.co.uk 2019
Resources
Buildings of England - London 3: North West by Cherry &
Pevsner