St. John’s Wood of London provides stunning homes and quiet streets at a high price
White townhouses line the streets of St. John’s Wood, with windows bordered by flowerbeds handsomely manicured by a home staff. The region serves as an upscale refuge from the blur of London pace and is only a bus or train away in Westminster. Every block has an element of greenery that brings crisp herbal tinges to the air’s aroma. St. John’s Wood rents are the most expensive in London, according to Forbes Magazine. Financial Times cites the buying price of a one-bedroom apartment at £1 million.
Cynthia, visiting a local park with her children said “We love how quiet and safe we feel here.”
Caroline Thorpe of Financial Times analyzed the area in a 2016 article, “St. John’s Wood: London district that revels in its low profile.” She cites the area as the epitome of “low-rise, lateral living.” “Detached houses” with “very big plot sizes and big gardens” hallmark the space, providing a “degree of privacy unusual for an area 15 minutes by cab from the West End.” The American School in London caters to local children of wealthy overseas buyers. In 2015, 70% of buyers were international, but is currently trending to an “increasingly homegrown” market. In 2016, the price of a family home in St. John’s wood ranged from £4 million to £6 million, or about £1,700 per square foot.
Mona, another park visitor, said she does not live in the area, but brings her children to go to school in the area because of the high quality of education and safety in St. John’s Wood. “It’s worth the drive,” she said.
Financial Times briefly described a home on the top end of the area’s market: £32 million for 11,420 square feet of living space. The house’s original 1860’s facade encases a modern interior that includes a cinema, bar, steam room, and three-bedroom mews house. Mews houses were originally built to house horses, and have since been converted into garages, guest homes, pool houses, and staff accommodations. Such additions seal official swanky status for British homes. The house provides an example of the area’s classic look enveloping contemporary additions. Many homes have multiple levels built underground to keep the quaint, low-rise, homey appearance, while providing more space for home cinemas and gyms.
The high profile, secluded area has sheltered notable celebrities: singer Lily Allen; Monty Python’s Eric Idle; Beatle Sir Paul McCartney; King Henry VIII on The Tudors, Jonathan Rhys Meyers; model Kate Moss; Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones; and the record producer who discovered Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson. Socialites also reside in the region, including Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of Rupert Murdoch, and Daphne Guinness of the Guinness family.
The area houses the major cricket location, Lord’s Cricket Ground, home of Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club. The site is also the original headquarters of British cricket. Primrose Hill offers fantastic views of central London. Placid and tranquil family-friendly parks speckle the region, and some even include some of London’s ever-elusive free public bathrooms.
St. John’s Wood has very few non-residential spaces. A few non-chain coffee shops and hair salons line short streets, with no people to be seen flowing in or out. A deli offers sparkling water and sandwiches. Nineteenth century frontage disguises the small font reading “Pizza Express” across the street. The most prominent public spaces are places of worship: four churches, three synagogues, and a mosque.
The area is void of foot traffic, with the exception of Abbey Road Studios. Of The Beatles’ recording and cover art fame, Abbey Road provides the one tourist destination within local range. Visitors pop off the nearby Abbey Road Studios bus stop and quickly pull out phones and loudly ponder in groups, “What way is it?” Passersby immediately know the destination in question, and direct them with a pointed finger and no eye contact. An American accent is heard, “Does anyone have data to check Trip Advisor?”
Dave, a visiting American tourist, asked for directions to Abbey Road, and then commented, “Whoa, this area is boujee as shit.”
Unfortunately for locals, Abbey Road is a fully functioning major street in a residential area. Crowds of people scurry out to the middle of the street, turn, pose, and smile, while a friend or family member jets out into full automobile traffic to snap the image. In the background of the family album and Instagram photos, drivers roll their eyes and wait to continue their trip.
Abbey Road Studios expertly markets to tourists with their gimmicky and expensive shop. The studio space does not offer public access outside of the shop, so it serves as the only clear marketing opportunity to the masses consistently posing and photographing outside. (The entire area of St. John’s Wood, in fact, is rather void of outdoor advertisements.) The shop offers £10 Beatles magnets and guitar picks, and small music mixing toys. Yellow submarine contact lens cases sit among various chachkis. Patrons can buy the music of famous artists recorded at Abbey Road Studios on CD and Vinyl along with every possible physical manifestation of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road.
After purchasing a gift, tourists likely head south back towards central London, while residents enjoy the empty, quiet streets. The area has an undeniable draw for residents and families seeking a low profile and refuge come days’ end.
Sources and More Information
“St. John’s Wood: London District that revels in its low profile” : https://www.ft.com/content/c39a2c4c-f1af-11e5-9f20-c3a047354386?mhq5j=e1
St. John’s Wood Cricket center : https://www.lords.org/mcc/
