This lovely maisonette occupies the second and third floors of a handsome Grade II-listed townhouse on Chepstow Road in west London. Inside, large open-plan living spaces have been thoughtfully decorated and renovated to create a considered contemporary take on the elegant period spaces. There is a smart roof terrace at the rear, and lofty views at each aspect ensure a sense of quietude pervades. Chepstow Road is well positioned for the best of this beloved corner of London, equidistant from Westbourne Park, Notting Hill Gate and Bayswater underground stations and in a corner of the city filled with boutiques and charming places to eat.
Setting the Scene
The area around Chepstow Road was laid out and developed largely from 1850-1855, following the earlier rapid urbanisation of Bayswater and Paddington to the south and east. As a result, the architectural form and townscape are recognisably coherent, and this was recognised in 1973 when the area was designated a conservation area.
The terraces that flank Chepstow Road are comprised of handsome townhouses with balanced stucco façades that typify the decorative intentions of this part of west London. This house sits at the end of the terrace section, projecting slightly to create a smart bookend on the road, and is adorned with large pilasters and Italianate details. The houses are set behind elegant wrought iron enclosed front gardens.
The Grand Tour
This apartment is laid out on the second and third floors of the building, accessed from a communal hallway via the original front door. Inside, the layout echoes that of a house, with bright dual-aspect living spaces, a terrace, pantry and WC on the lower level and three large bedrooms on the upper level. The right-hand section of the plan on entry is arranged with the kitchen and dining area adjacent. Here, smart navy blue anthracite cabinetry coloured with Farrow and Ball‘s ‘Railings’ sits underneath marble countertops; the appliances are by Smeg and Samsung. Adjacent is a concealed store cupboard and WC.
French doors open onto the south-west facing balcony, inviting light in throughout the day. The far side of the plan has more bespoke cabinetry painted a fresh cream colour, which houses a library and electricals. There are large sash windows on either side of the living spaces, and engineered oak floorboards run underfoot.
Upstairs, the three bedrooms and family bathroom are arranged around a central hallway. The largest bedrooms have been configured with plenty of storage.
The Great Outdoors
This apartment has a lovely decked balcony, with plenty of space for chairs and potted plants, perfect for an evening drink overlooking the characterful gardens below and onto the rooftops beyond, a classic London scene.
Out and About
There are numerous amenities along Chepstow Road and the surrounding area, as it falls conveniently where Paddington, Bayswater and Notting Hill merge. Less than a five-minute walk away is the highly regarded gastropub The Cow, attracting its fair share of locals and celebrities, as well as 104 Restaurant, a lovely independent fine dining establishment with only a few tables, so make sure you’ve booked ahead.
Only a few minutes more is the triple Michelin-starred Core by Clare Smith, classic London establishment Sally Clarke, and flower-adorned pub The Churchill Arms, serving authentic Thai food. The Westbourne Grove area offers a variety of restaurants, cafes, bakeries and delis and is especially well-known for its Middle Eastern cuisine. Local favourites include Ottolenghi, Secret Sandwich Shop, Kuro and Sadaf Garden.
Supermarkets and greengrocers abound, with both Waitrose Queensway and Planet Organic only a five-minute walk away. Nearby Portobello Road is home to Electric House (of the Soho House group), the Electric Cinema and Diner, GOLD Notting Hill, and of course, the famous markets of Portobello and Golbourne Road, which run weekly for incredible shopping. For more excellent shopping, be sure to visit the art gallery and homewares shop at 8 Holland Street and the clothing and lifestyle boutique Aimé, just around the corner from the flat.
A myriad of green spaces are also within walking distance from the flat, perfect for walking the dog or an afternoon picnic. A 10-minute walk south takes you to Holland Park, Hyde Park or Kensington Palace and Gardens. Continue through the Kensington Gardens to reach Kensington’s museum district, where cultural attractions are plentiful. The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum are all free to visit; the V&A has a wonderful members’ café, and all three museums host late-night events each month. Design lovers should visit the Museum of Brands, the Design Museum, and Leighton House, a lavishly decorated former Victorian artist’s home just off Holland Park. For more recommendations, check out this local’s guide to Notting Hill.
The nearest Underground stations are Royal Oak (Hammersmith & City and Circle lines) and Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle and District lines). From Royal Oak, it’s a 15-minute Tube ride to Paddington train station (from where the Elizabeth Line now connects) or a 20-minute ride to King’s Cross/St Pancras for frequent trains running all over the country and Eurostar connections to the continent.
Tenure: Share of Freehold
Length of Lease: approx. 90 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. 5,395 per annum
Council Tax Band: D
History
Chepstow Road is located near the medieval settlement of Westbourne Green, whose name is derived from its description as “a place on the west side of the stream”. Today, Chepstow Road forms part of the western boundary of Westminster with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It belongs to the Westbourne Conservation Area, a townscape characterised by an extremely consistent architectural composition, the result of having been developed over a short period of time. In fact, the conservation area covers an area transformed from a rural hamlet with agricultural fields to a metropolitan suburb in a period of about 15 years, starting in the early 1840s. This followed the earlier rapid urbanisation of Bayswater and Paddington to the south and east as London’s suburbs grew with the expansion of the railway. Following this rapid growth, the area quickly became established as a key commercial thoroughfare but has remained largely residential through to today. Constructed during this brief period, this building follows the same historical development and forms part of a Grade-II listed group of 24 terraced houses designed as a single architectural composition.
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