LB Loves…Mews
It’s our 50th anniversary edition of Mews News and we wanted to celebrate our own top magnificent mews of all time. When we think about living in a mews – as well as the special community, it’s about glamour, history and great stories that swirl around so many of the mews and their previous owners – Michael Caine, James Hunt, Agatha Christie, Christine Keeler, Francis Bacon, Sean Connery, Dame Margot Fonteyn to name but a few.
So, we’re taking you on a personal guided tour of our favourites past and present.
1. Queen’s Gate Place Mews, SW7
A traditional cobbled mews built between 1866 and 1869, located just off Queen’s Gate Place and accessed via a famous Grade II listed archway. This mews is opposite London’s finest classic car showroom, Fiskens – a mecca for car enthusiasts. Formerly the home of Madonna and Guy Ritchie and director Lord David Puttnam, this is a mews loved by Oscar winners and Hollywood film stars.
It is rumoured that Queen’s Gate Place Mews is where Apple, the computer company’s name was inspired, while Steve Jobs resided with a friend in one of the mews down the street.
2. Daleham Mews, NW3
Belonging to Belsize Park’s Conservation area, it is undisputedly a very beautiful place to live; the winding cobbled street feels more like a village than mews. Actor Sean Bean moved here back in 1998. Behind the charming period façades, many of the properties’ interiors have been cleverly and deceptively converted into spacious, smart, light-infused homes.
3. Kinnerton Street, SW1
This mews street can confidently boast one of London’s best pubs – The Nags Head, a relaxed tavern and for fine dining there’s Petrus by Gordon Ramsey at Number 1.
4. St. Luke’s Mews, W11
Lights, camera, action – the scene in the film Love Actually was shot on a doorstep in this Notting Hill mews, where Mark makes his doorstep confession and has been immortalised as Keira Knightley’s mews home in the same film. There is a sign that hangs outside one ‘pink’ house, offering some intriguing clues about the street’s recent history. It reads “Love Actually” – please give £1 per camera for charity”. Instagrammers love both the cinematic connections and the iconic Victorian street lamps, wrought iron balconies and brightly painted façades that adorn this community fun-filled mews.
5. Horbury Mews, W11
Located in what has to be one of our favourite parts of London – Notting Hill and always regarded as the ‘posh’ mews back when mews were less glamorous and more functional. This mews is built in a distinctive T-shape. We love the huge sign at the end of the mews, with the date
depicting some of the mews history. A lovely feature is how the end houses retain their original Victorian honey brickwork, whilst the rest have been painted in pretty pastel hues.
6. Stanhope Mews South, SW7
Built in a pretty cobbled cul-de-sac between Stanhope Gardens and Hereford Square, it’s everything a mews should be and more – super pretty pastel painted façades, bedecked with pots and planters full of flowers and foliage. Conveniently close to the excellent Hereford Arms. Number 11 was used as the home of Harry Hart, portrayed by Colin Firth in the 2014 Movie ‘Kingsman’.
Close to great independent shops, cafés and restaurants, this mews is handy for both South Kensington and Gloucester Road underground stations.
7. Wilton Row, SW1
Located in a quiet and private cul-de-sac, this desirable Belgravia address is within walking distance of one of London’s most desirable ‘villages’, just off Marylebone Lane. An easy stroll takes you to the most amazing bars, restaurants and shops, and The Ivy will even deliver to your door! Just off Wilton Crescent, equidistant between Knightsbridge Tube and Hyde Park Corner.
It’s reputed that every September, the ghost of an army officer from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment visits The Grenadier public house in Wilton Row. He was flogged after being found guilty of cheating at cards. The beating was meant to teach the man a lesson, but was so severe that sadly he died as a result.
8. Bentinck Mews, W1
Today period houses occupy this secluded culde-de-sac, just off Marylebone Lane with plenty of bars, restaurants and boutiques nearby. Hard to believe that back in 1861-62, architect Augustus E Hughes built St James’s Roman Catholic School buildings for boys and girls, which at the time
had separate entrances. The three storey building and small playground were latterly rebuilt with shops, warehouses and offices at the turn of the 19th Century.
9. Lennox Gardens Mews, SW1
A private road situated right next to one most exclusive garden squares in Knightsbridge, made up of modern looking mews houses, including
lots of pretty coloured ones. Used to be home to Toto’s restaurant and ‘rumour has it’ that Adele and former husband Simon Konecki once bought a mews for £5.65m.
