London
Town Guide


St John's Wood District

NW8
Nearest Tube: St John's Wood


This area of London lies to the north-west of central London, just north of Paddington and between Maida Vale and Camden Town.

In the 13th century the land belonged to the Knights Templar, and when that order was dissolved in the early 14th century the land was passed on to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem - hence the name of the district.

The area remained densely wooded until the 17th century when the trees were cleared to make way for pastureland. And from the 18th century onwards the area developed as a residential area, popular with the middle classes.

The area was particularly popular with artists, sculptors, writers and philosophers, the most famous past resident probably being Mary Anne Evans - better known as the author George Elliot.

When the Great Western Railway reached the area in the late 19th century, the genteel atmosphere of the area was threatened and for several years the area looked likely to become a working class district like so many of the surrounding areas.

But from the mid-20th century onwards the area was re-developed with elegant town houses and so St John's Wood once again became a fashionable residential area. The areas current residents include Richard Branson and Sir Paul McCartney.

One of the most famous attractions in St John's Wood is the Lords Cricket Ground that was first established here in the 18th century. There is also the Saatchi Collection, one of London's premier contemporary art galleries.

And close by is Abbey Road, forever famous because of that Beatles album cover.


Click here for other parts of north-west London


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