London
Town Guide


Marylebone District

W1
Nearest Tube: Baker Street


The district of Marylebone stretches from Regent's Park in the north to Oxford Street in the south and from Edgeware Road in the west to Great Portland Street in the east.

Although officially part of the city of Westminster, with all of its bustle and activity, Marylebone retains a distinctly small-town atmosphere, with lots of small shops, pubs and restaurants.

The name dates back to the 14th Century when the area had an unsavoury reputation. The local church of St John at Tyburn kept being raided and so the parishioners demanded that a new church be built ½ a mile away. This new church was called St Mary's by the Bourne, which became shortened to Marylebone.

The most notorious feature of the district's history has to be the infamous Tyburn Gallows, which were first built in 1388. These gallows were the main site for London's public executions for more than 450 years and in total an estimated 50,000 people died here.

The presence of these gallows meant that the area wasn't developed for a long time, but once the gallows disappeared Marylebone quickly became a popular residential area with an air of exclusivity.

Today the area is increasingly a commercial and business district, but for the tourist there is still plenty to do. Madame Tussaud's and the Planetarium are located on Marylebone Road and for fans of Sherlock Holmes this is where you will find Baker Street. Nearby is Regent's Park, Camden Town and Little Venice.


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