Ladbroke Grove is a bustling town in the very heart of West London and is home to one of the city’s most famous roads – the eponymously named Ladbroke Grove Road. The area is situated in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The area is named after James Weller Ladbroke, the town’s founder. In the mid-19th century, Ladbroke worked hard to transform the town from a rural village into a booming Estate. Transport links in the town are in abundance. The Ladbroke Grove tube station is in Ladbroke Grove. It is the nearest tube station to Portobello Road Market and offers transport to Portobello frequently throughout the day.
The town is also serviced by several buses, including the numbers 7, 23, 228, 295 and 452. Properties in Ladbroke Grove include modern apartments, stylish penthouses, studio flats, and newly built 2 and 3 bed homes. Like many places in England, Ladbroke Grove is famed for its historical terraces, many of which are still standing and available on the property market.
Ladbroke Grove is somewhat famous for its religious buildings and architecture. The Church of St Michaels and All Angels was built in 1871 is a breathtaking example of Romanesque architecture. The Serbian Orthodox Church is also located in Ladbroke Grove. Built in 1903 as an Anglican church, the building was formally re-consecrated as a Serbian Orthodox Church after the war when Ladbroke Grove became the permanent home of hundreds of Serbian refugees.
In 1957, Princess Maria of Yugoslavia was baptised in the church. Ladbroke Grove has featured prominently in popular culture, appearing in several songs including Van Morrison’s ‘Slim Slow Slider’, Blur’s ‘Fool’s Day’ and, most recently, Lily Allen’s ‘LDN’. The area is the birthplace of current chart-topping superstar Rita Ora. The bands Hawkwind and The Clash were both formed in Ladbroke Grove.
