London’s Secret Charm

Whilst London might be known for its grand Victorian townhouses and riverside apartments, there is another side to London’s property market that you may not have yet seen. Tucked away are some absolutely charming historic mews streets. London’s mews were created to house the coachmen and horses that served the Victorian and Georgian elite of nearby mansions. These once humble lodgings are today cobblestone lanes with picture perfect homestransformed into some of the most sought-after property in London and instantly transporting you back to another time and place..

If you’re wondering where exactly you can find these pretty streets, we’re here to help, here are just some of the cutest streets in the capital.

ST LUKE’S MEWS, W11 1DF

WARREN MEWS, W1T 6AD

The distinctive entrance to Warren Mews in Fitzrovia is almost as photogenic as the mews behind. Wander through and you’ll be transported to another time. Just a stone’s throw away from busy Euston Road and Regent’s Park, keep your eye out for the low passageway cut through one of the buildings lining Warren Street or you just might miss it.

Love Actually fans should head straight to St Luke’s Mews in Notting Hill. No. 27 was used as the setting for the infamous scene where Mark proclaims his love for Juliet using cue cards. The buildings were originally used as stables for the houses on Lancaster Road and Westbourne Park, but most have since been converted into flats. Still, some authentic features of the mews have been retained, including a number of the stable doors. This alleyway remains one of the prettiest in the capital and a favorite of many London photographers.

KYNANCE MEWS, SW7 4QR

Kynance Mews in Kensington is arguably one of the prettiest streets in London. This mews makes for a tranquil getaway from all the noisy hustle and bustle. The cobbled backstreet – accessible through the small archways at Launceston Place or Gloucester Road – narrowly escaped bombing during World War II, when much of the surrounding area had to be rebuilt. Kynance Mews is a jaw-droppingly pretty place. Potted plants line the edges of the street and look up to see windowsills blooming with flowers.

LITTLE GREEN STREET, NW5 1BL

This narrow cobbled street in Kentish Town is only 8 feet wide and is lined with two-story brick houses that were built in the 1780s. The buildings are Grade II listed so they’re protected by English Heritage and it’s one of London’s few Georgian streets that remains completely intact. The street features in a poem by English poet, John Betjeman and starred in the music video for The Kinks’s 1966 song, Dead End Street.

KELLY STREET, NW1 8PG

Kelly Street is one of the jewels in the Kentish Crown. It’s a perfect curve of mid-19th century Grade II-listed pastel terraces in a relatively narrow tree-lined road dating back to the 1830s. The houses are distinct as a result of their brightly coloured stucco fronts, black cast iron railings, window guards and small front gardens. The street is intimate, quiet and secluded, retaining original Victorian streetlights and historic black and white bollards. providing glorious historic character.

BATHURST MEWS, W2 2SB

With 65 properties, it is one of the largest in London. Nestled among the streets of Bayswater, it remains true to its historic roots as the only mews in London still housing a working stable. The stables have been in constant use since the 1830s except for a short period during World War II when they housed motorcars instead. The terraced houses and cobbled street survived the Blitz, narrowly escaping the effects of a bomb that devastated nearby Westbourne Terrace. A visit is a must if you want to appreciate the functional history of these streets. You’ll probably hear and smell the horses before you see them.

QUEEN’S GATE MEWS, SW7 5QN

Just across the road from Kynace Mews you can find another of the cutest streets in London. Queen’s Gate Mews was the location of London’s first-ever petrol pump – now a colourful lane oozing old English charm. Celebrities Guy Ritchie and Madonna used to live in one of these homes and there’s a quaint little, local pub hidden away at the end.

HOLLAND PARK MEWS, W11 3SU

A stone’s throw from Holland Park and the beautiful Kyoto Garden, these mews are accessed via an ornate stone archway. A unique feature of the houses on Holland Park Mews is that they all have staircases leading up to the second story. The vibrantly painted doors and the flowers and creepers spilling over the wrought-iron balconies make this mews utterly magnificent!

“AYear 6 curriculum focused on delivering skills that are important for future success, with no formal SAT testing, fosters curiosity for the important journey into Key Stage 3 and beyond.” says Joseph Birchall, the Head of King’s Magna Middle School at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE).

“At QE, our mission is for all members of our community to aspire to the Hill Standard ‘To be the best that I can with the gifts that I have’. As Head of King’s Magna, the middle school of QE’s unique four-school model, we harness this individuality through an innovative curriculum. This is a curriculum which supports the transition between the Collegiate’s primary education at Chapter House, our Preparatory school, and the demands of GCSEs and beyond in our two senior schools.”

“In a difference from the traditional school model where children stay in primary education until the end of Year 6, here at QE students join King’s Magna in Year 6 and stay with us until Year 9. We find many students are ready for a new challenge at the end of Year 5, so we made it our focus to develop a unique curriculum for this transitional year, with content designed in partnership between secondary school subject specialists and highly experienced primary age teachers.”

“Importantly, we have made a crucial decision not to assess our Year 6 students using SATS