Queens Park Area Guide

QUEEN’S PARK

NW6

Queen’sPark

Queen’s ParkQueen’s Park opened in 1887 for Queen

Victoria’s Jubilee and was named in her

honour. This stunning 30 acre public

space is immediately west of Kilburn and

south of Brondesbury Park. Bordered by

Kingswood Avenue to the east, Chevening

Road to the north, Harvist Road to the

south and Milman Road to the west, the

park lies at the heart of a neighbourhood

of Victorian and Edwardian houses built

from 1895.

Historical BackgroundIn 1879 the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS)

chose a 100 acre site in Willesden for

their annual show, displaying the latest

achievements in agriculture and farm

machinery. Torrential rain dominated the

entire week and although it attracted

185,000 visitors (half on the day Queen

Victoria attended), it made a loss of

£15,000, prompting its move to Twyford.

A campaign was then launched to secure

the whole 100 acres (west from Salusbury

Rd to Chamberlayne Rd) as a park to

ensure some green space was retained in

this fast developing part of London. In the

end, the central 30 acres was purchased

and, eight years after the RAS show, it was

opened by the Lord Mayor in 1887 ‘for

the free use and enjoyment of the public

forever’.

House building started with Harvist Road,

most of which was completed by 1899.

By that time, local builders Bennet and

Gimbrett had commenced construction

The park opened in 1887 and was named

Queen’s Park in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee the

following year.

of the houses on the west side of

Chevening Road. Other builders and

architects also contributed to the

western part of the estate, helping

to generate the varied architectural

character within the Kempe, Keslake

and Chamberlayne Roads.

The northern half of Queen’s Park was

developed around the park between

1895 and 1905 by developer Solomon

Barnett, who developed much of

Kilburn. The houses in the Queen’s Park

Conservation Area are of late Victorian

and Edwardian design (1895-1905) with

the Park functioning as a frame to the

architecture and regular street plan

of the area. Kingswood Avenue, also

constructed by Solomon Barnett, consists

of two storey terraced houses individually

de� ned by projecting parapets capped

with terracotta ridges.

Chevening Road’s houses were

constructed by G F Kendall between 1898-

1905 and are characterised by relatively

large, red brick two storey

semi-detached houses decorated with

a mixture of classical and gothic

mouldings with Welsh blue slate roofs.

Whereas homes on Harvist Road were

built in red brick with Chinese-in� uenced

window sashes.

The Design of Queen’s ParkQueen’s Park was designed and laid

out by one of London’s most in� uential

park designers, Alexander McKenzie,

who also designed Alexandra Palace

Park, Southwark Park, Finsbury Park and

Victoria and Albert Embankment Gardens.

His design provided a great variety of

landscapes, including small formal areas,

open expanses of lawn, dense shrubberies

and highly colourful bedding plants.

Whilst it has been simpli� ed since, the

CheveningRoad

essence of McKenzie’s original vision

remains � rmly in place. One of the great

attractions of the park since 1891 is the

colourful bandstand that remains a great

symbol of Victorian park life and the moral

in� uence of music at the time. Built by

Walter MacFarlane & Co at a cost of just

£342.11, it was only fully restored in 1994.

It is also interesting to note that during

WWII the park was used for allotments,

air-raid shelters, army huts and a barrage

balloon.

The � rst café was built in 1890 and took

the form of a rustic-style chalet. This was

replaced in 1960 and has since been

refurbished and enlarged. Over the years

the park has evolved, whilst remaining

true to the ideals of its Victorian founders.

Now managed by the City of London

Corporation, Queen’s Park has been

awarded a Green Flag for its services and

environment initiatives. Facilities in the

park include six all-weather tennis courts,

a pitch-and-putt course, a pétanque

piste, ornamental gardens, a children’s

playground with a paddling pool, animal

farm and a café.

Modern TimesToday, the neighbourhood of Queen’s Park

is arguably more attractive to families and

active business professionals than ever.

Thirtysomething ex-Notting Hill residents

with young families in tow are lured

north not only by the size of the houses

and gardens, but also by the tree-lined

environment and village atmosphere.

The park provides a peaceful heart to a

community which also enjoys the bustle

of Chamberlayne and Salusbury Roads,

with their prosperous shops, restaurants,

cafés and industry-leading gastropubs.

Across the street, nestled on the grounds

of Salusbury Primary School, is the Sunday

morning Farmers’ Markets. It was recently

voted ‘Best Farmers’ Market in the UK’,

attracting avid fans from north and west

London.

Chamberlayne

Road

• Most of the founding players of the Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club came from the area, although they now play just down the road in White City.

• Kensal Green is famed for housing one of England’s oldest operating cemeteries. Consecrated in 1833, it boasts 77 acres of lush grounds o�ering a habitat to 33 species of birds and wildlife.

• The Bakerloo line was extended from Baker Street to Queen’s Park in 1915 and rumour has it that the Bakerloo line originated from the desire of a few London businessmen to get to and from Lord’s Cricket Ground.

• The Islamia, the best known Muslim school in Britain was founded by Yusuf Islam, who in the 1960s and 1970s was the well known singer/songwriter, ‘Cat Stevens’.

• Kensal Green is the resting place of the engineers Sir Marc Isambard Brunel and Isabard Kingdom Brunel, the novelists Wilkie Collins, Lord Byron’s wife, Oscar Wilde’s mother, Charles Dicken’s in-laws and Winston Churchill’s daughter; the original WH Smith; the funambulist Blondin and the Savoyard George Grossmith; the �rst man to cross Australia from south to north; and the last man to �ght a duel in England.

FUN FACTS:

Pubs & Restaurants

The Salusbury020 7328 3286

The Alice House020 8969 9446

Caldo Bar & Kitchen020 7604 4484

The Sundarban020 7372 6394

The Chamberlayne020 8960 4311

Paradise020 8969 0068

Hugo’s Café020 7372 1232

William IV020 8969 5955

Coffee Shops & Deli’s

Gails020 7625 0068

Jack’s Café020 7624 8925

Salusbury Deli 020 7328 3287

Minkies Deli020 8969 2182

Kandana020 8964 2687

CinemasLexi Cinema London0871 704 2069

Local Businesses

Queen’s Park Veterinary Practice020 7328 7787

Ego Hairdressers020 7625 4811

Queens Park Launderette020 8964 8425

Scarlet & Violet Flowers020 8969 9446

Post Offi ce & Libraries

Kilburn High Road0845 722 3344

Kilburn Library020 8937 3530

Brent Council

Brent Council020 8937 1234

Brent Council Planning Offi ce020 8937 5210

Brent Council Tax Offi ce 020 8937 1790

Brent Council Parking Permit Offi ce 020 8937 4972

Brent Council Environmental Services Offi ce020 8937 5050

Hospital

St Charles NHS Hospital020 8962 4262

Fitness, Health & Beauty

Charteris Sports Centre020 7625 6451

Fitness First020 7328 8333

Willesden Sports Centre020 8459 6605

The Authentic Pilates Studio020 7372 3490

Lonsdale Road Medical Centre020 7328 0808

Park House Medical Centre020 8969 7711

Addison Court Surgery020 7624 9853

Chinese Medicine Centre020 8964 2421

Babies, Health & Lifestyle

Birth & Baby Wise077 6382 3853

Queens Park Nannies020 7604 4000

Nurseries

The Beehive on Queen’s Park Montessori School020 8969 2235

Happy Child, St Anne’s Church020 7625 1966

Hopscotch 020 8969 9792

Jelli Tots020 8451 5477

Learning Tree Nursery020 7372 7213

Sunrise Pre-School020 8968 2921/020 8968 2921

Villas Nursery020 7624 2130

Schools

Salusbury Primary School020 7624 0311

Queen’s Park Community School020 8438 1700

Queens Park Primary School020 7641 5860

The Beehive Montessori020 8969 2235

Princess Frederica020 8969 7756

Malorees Junior020 8459 5452

Activities for Children

Adele’s School of Dance020 7435 5951

Hopscotch020 8969 9792

Monkey Music020 8438 0189

Children’s Yoga020 8933 4353

Kumon Maths020 8961 1491

NW Twins Club020 8830 3498

Tricyle Theatre & Cinema020 7328 1000

Shopping

Iris020 7372 1777

World Wicked & Wise020 7372 1110

Verandah020 8968 5498

Queen’s Park Books020 7625 1008

Metropolitan Police Service

Kilburn Police Station 020 7372 1212

Local Contact Info

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