| Bayswater | |
Rooftop view of Bayswater, looking from the top of one of the Hallfield Estate tower blocks towards |
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Bayswater
Bayswater shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | TQ255805 |
|---|---|
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | W2 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Cities of London and Westminster |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Bayswater is an area of west London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the west . It is a built-up district located 3 miles (4.8 km) west-north-west of Charing Cross, bordering the north of Hyde Park over Kensington Gardens and having a population density of 17,500 per square kilometre.
Bayswater is one of London's most cosmopolitan areas wherein a diverse local population is augmented by a high concentration of hotels. In addition to the ancestral Britons, there is a significant Arab population towards Edgware Road, a large Greek community attracted by London's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, many Americans and London's main Brazilian community.
The area has attractive streets and garden squares lined with Victorian stucco terraces, mostly now subdivided into flats and boarding houses. The property ranges from very expensive apartments to small studio flats. There are also purpose-built apartment blocks dating from the inter-war period as well as more recent developments, and a large council estate, the 650-flat Hallfield Estate, designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and now largely sold off.
Queensway and Westbourne Grove are its busiest main streets, both having many ethnic-cuisine restaurants.
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The land now called Bayswater belonged to the Abbey of Westminster when the Domesday Book was compiled; the most considerable tenant under the abbot was Bainiardus, probably the same Norman associate of the Conqueror who gave his name to Baynard's Castle. The descent of the land held by him cannot be clearly traced: but his name long remained attached to part of it; and, as late as the year 1653, a parliamentary grant of the Abbey or Chapter lands describes "the common field at Paddington" as being "near a place commonly called Baynard's Watering." In 1720, the lands of the Dean and Chapter are described to be the occupation of Alexander Bond, of Bear's Watering, in the same parish of Paddington. It may therefore fairly be concluded that this portion of ground, always remarkable for its springs of excellent water, once supplied water to Baynard, his household, or his cattle; that the memory of his name was preserved in the neighbourhood for six centuries; and that his watering-place now takes the abbreviated name Bayswater.
Various persons of international renown are frequently reported as buying property in the area, including Claudia Schiffer.
The area elects six councillors to Westminster City Council, currently all Conservative. Three are elected from the wards of Bayswater, where the Conservatives have a majority in excess of 250 votes over the Liberal Democrats. Three are also elected from Lancaster Gate, which is a safe Conservative ward, represented by leader of the Council Simon Milton.
The nearest London Underground stations are Bayswater, Queensway, Royal Oak and Lancaster Gate.