Chancellors estate agents in St John’s Wood

What is St John’s Wood Like? 

St John’s Wood is a highly desirable district of North West London in the City of Westminster. Affluent and brimming with culture, St John’s Wood is characterised by its leafy residential streets, whitewashed villas and high street of upmarket delis, boutiques and posh cafes.  

This beautiful area of North West London sits 2.5 miles north-west of Charing Cross and just south of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park. To the west is the scenic area of Maida Vale, with Camden Town to the east.  

St John’s Wood has long been a neighbourhood which celebrities, aristocrats, artists, authors, intellectuals, and professionals alike have flocked to, drawn to its bohemian vibe. Some of St John’s Wood’s famous residents, both past and present, include Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Kate Moss and Ewan McGregor.    

The area is well-known for its diverse culture with strong Middle Eastern, Jewish and American communities all contributing to the vibrant atmosphere and busy social scene.  

There a number of places of worship in the area, including the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, St John’s Wood Church and the London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park.  

There is a strong sense of community here and the village-like feel only adds to its appeal for those looking to be away from the hustle and bustle of other areas of the capital. There are bars and restaurants aplenty alongside specialist and designer shops and boutiques.  

St John’s Wood is the type of place which you might never want to leave. For young professionals, the bohemian vibe, lively social scene and upmarket high street offer much appeal. With a strong community spirit and excellent schools, this enclave of North West London is also highly desirable for young families.  

Shopping and Dining in St John’s Wood  

St John’s Wood boasts a fantastic range of unique shops, independent stores and boutiques as well as more familiar shops. From some of the best designer fashion boutiques in London to high class food retailers and quality delicatessens, St John’s Wood is one of the premier destinations for shopping in London.  

St John’s Wood High Street is where you will find most of the activity in this wonderful area of north London. This compact high street has a great mix of restaurants, cafes and bars and a selection of wonderful shopping options.  

Panzer’s Delicatessen is London’s original Jewish deli which has been trading for over 75 years. The deli and grocery offers a range of kosher products, fruit and veg, bakery goods, dairy products and essentials. The deli also has an eatery serving wine, beer and light fare.  

St John’s Wood has an array of food options to suit every taste. Despite being just a stone’s throw from Soho and the West End, residents don’t need to leave St John’s Wood to enjoy an excellent meal and night out. Oslo Court, which serves French cuisine, and the Persian restaurant, Almas Restaurant, are both highly regarded restaurants in the area. The Italian Morso Abbey Road and the Lebanese restaurant Sahara are very popular options too.  

The Duke of York is a warm bar and casual dining area which is popular with the locals, and The Ivy offers modern British cuisine and café-style classics. 

History of St John’s Wood

The region to the north-west of central London was originally all part of the Great Middlesex Forest, an ancient wooded area that eventually became a royal forest by the decree of Henry I and Henry II in the 11th century.

It was later divided to make way for roads and agricultural regions, with the area containing present day St John’s Wood passing to an order of the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval Catholic military group. Known as the Order of St John of Jerusalem, it was this ownership that led to the region’s name.

The area wasn’t developed until the 19th century, but when it was, a low-density housing model was adopted, rather than the traditional terraced plan. This meant a focus on many more semi-detached villas and larger mansions with gardens as opposed to terraced housing, and led to a more spacious, highly desirable region known as London’s first suburb.

Despite bomb damage during World War II and infrastructure changes, today St John’s Wood still retains its leafy suburban feel, with much of the region an English Heritage Conservation Area boasting period charm and protected architecture.