This way to a sociable, eclectic and affordable slice of Zone 2
An affordable conservation area with a 'Kensington' address? Blythe Road must be worth checking out
This way to a sociable, eclectic and affordable slice of Zone 2
Snaking its way from Shepherd’s Bush Road to the back of Olympia, this charming, old-fashioned street has a distinctly villagey feel and is one of the few places in Zone 2’s patch of west London where you can find affordable Victorian houses, conversions and ex-local authority flats.
Located discreetly between Shepherd’s Bush and Brook Green (home to upmarket St Paul’s Girls’ School), it’s got great transport links – it’s near Heathrow Airport and within easy reach of the M4 and the west of England; a quick hop on the tube and you’re in the West End; Kensington (Olympia) rail is handy for trains to Gatwick (cheaper and quicker than the Gatwick Express) and Brighton.
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| (click to enlarge) A Old Parr's Head B Masbro community centre C Popeseye Steak House D Blythe Road |
In Blythe Road, house prices vary according to their position on the street: the Hammersmith Road end is generally the more salubrious, and it’s here you’ll find both an eight-storey, luxury 1989 apartment complex complete with gym, and the 1930s Latymer Court mansion block, with porterage and old-fashioned cage lift, where a one-bed flat is around £235,000. Further down the road towards Olympia is where you get some very presentable split-level Victorian conversion flats and ex-local authority flats that won’t break the bank.
Blythe Road’s W14 postcode means it’s officially in West Kensington, which, rather confusingly, isn’t in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea but in the slightly more down-at-heel Hammersmith and Fulham. This is excellent news for address snobs, who can boast about living in ‘Kensington’ without paying for the privilege.
While the heaving Shepherd’s Bush shopping centre is a 15-minute walk, there are plenty of smaller, friendly shops, bars and restaurants on Blythe Road itself and in the immediate surroundings. The Blythe Road Restaurant at No 71 (020 7371 3635) does delicious Chinese food and Popeseye Steak House (No 108, 020 8788 7733) focuses on quality, classic steak and chips. Prime cuts can be found at the traditional Olympia Butchers (No 70, 020 7602 4843) and there’s a great choice of locals: The Havelock Tavern (57 Masbro Rd, W14, 020 7603 5374), which also serves fantastic Modern European food and a good pint of Flowers IPA (note: it only takes cash), the Old Parr’s Head (No 120, 020 7371 4561) and the Bird in Hand (88 Masbro Rd, 020 7603 2417).
For those wanting to take part in community activities, there’s the Masbro Centre (87 Masbro Rd, 020 7605 0800/
www.masbro.org.uk), a thriving community centre where you can practise a spot of yoga or get your kids hooked up on a play scheme.
Blythe Road is also home to Blythe House (No 23, 0870 870 4868) where the Science Museum keeps thousands of the items it can’t fit inside its South Ken space and offers tours to the public on Wednesday afternoons for a tenner (you need to book). Nearby, the Victoria & Albert Museum Archives (1 Blythe House, 32 Blythe Rd, 020 7602 5886) operates an appointments-only service.
The main advantages of buying or renting a property here are that it’s safeish, sociable and relatively quiet; it’s also cheaper to live in than neighbouring Brook Green, and a lot less stuffy than Kensington proper.
Can you afford it?
£280 per week
One-double-bedroom flat.
£240,000
One-bedroom period conversion flat.
£325,000
Three-bedroom split-level flat.
Estate agents
Bective Leslie Marsh
(020 7603 5181/ ww.lesliemarsh.co.uk).
Bushells
(020 8563 0123/ ww.bushells.com).
Colet Estate Agents
(020 7603 5959/ ww.coletestates.com).
Tates
(020 7602 6020/ www.tatesestates.co.uk).
Transport
Blythe Road is located conveniently near four tube stations: Shepherd’s Bush, Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith and Kensington (Olympia) – the latter also has an overland service. It’s served by the C1 bus, which runs through Blythe Road from Fulham to Clapham Junction.
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4 comments
Beryl, you mean 'south of the A4' don't you? The nice part, Brook Green and all that, is north of it, as is the estate where I used to live, but which is now a gated community - a sort of contradiction in terms.
I somewhat agree with the comments by Beryl. However, I found the postmen an odd bunch but likable in a strange way, they mentioned the place was full of plastic snobs who thought they were the bees knees. The chap at the sorting office I found a sort of Jeckyl and Hyde chap, Bozo I think he's called. On one day he would buy everyone a drink at the local and the next day he would be swearing at you in a sort of Australian Italian accent while dancing the floral dance. All adds to the character of the place.
W14 is a treasure. Keep away you carpetbaggers, leave it as it is!!! Good? South of the A4, community spirit, lack of crime, transport links, rail, tube, motorways, traditional shops. Bad? Anywhere north of the A4 (except Queens Club), the only postcode in London without a post office, and by the way, the local postmen and women are not very nice, especially 'Baz' at the sorting office window, too many kebab shops.
W14 is a surprisingly nice area to live in considering its closeness to the A4 and Hammersmith Broadway. I lived there for 20 years and there was a sense of community about the place. I just hope it doesn't get driven stupidly upmarket - the St Paul's Court estate is already gated and many of the flats are let out by absentee landlords, neither of which are good signs.