Marylebone

The Basics

Home to some of London’s most luxurious hotels, Marylebone makes an atmospheric base for travelers, within strolling distance of Oxford Street shops. The neighborhood also has a number of popular tourist attractions. Madame Tussauds is the original wax museum; the nearby Sherlock Holmes Museum is located at 221B Baker Street, just like in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books; and the Wallace Collection is a museum of art and antiquities housed in a gorgeous 18th-century residence.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Most of Marylebone’s shops and restaurants are located on or around Marylebone High Street.

• Most shops in Marylebone are open daily from 9am to 7:30pm, while Sunday hours are restricted.

• Marylebone train station and Bond Street Underground are the closest stations with wheelchair access.

How to Get There

Marylebone Village is centered around Marylebone High Street and is bordered by Marylebone Road to the north and Wigmore Street to the south. There are several underground stations in the area, but the most central are Baker Street (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, and Metropolitan Lines) and Bond Street (Central and Jubilee Lines).

When to Get There

Head to Marylebone in the day to shop or stroll through Regents Park, or in the evening to sip cocktails with the locals or dine at one of the many restaurants. The village hosts a number of annual events, including the Marylebone Summer Festival in June and Marylebone Food Festival in April. It’s also an advantageous spot to admire London’s Christmas Lights.

Shopping and Dining in Marylebone

Marylebone Village offers shoppers a much quieter alternative to Oxford Street, with lots of retail shops and designer boutiques. Popular shopping spots include St. Christopher’s Place and Marylebone Lane; the weekly Marylebone Farmers’ Market (Sunday on Cramer Street) and Cabbages & Frocks market (Saturday along the High Street); and Daunt Books, an Edwardian bookstore on Marylebone High Street. There is also a wide selection of cafés, pubs, and bars, as well as top-rated restaurants.

Ways to explore

Wandering the compact Marylebone High Street, which stretches for .2 miles (.3 kilometers), is a great way to take in the neighborhood’s boutiques and stylish cafés. Marylebone is an included stop on many Beatles-themed tours of London—either on foot or by vehicle—and is often combined with the nearby Abbey Road crossing and studios. Sherlock Holmes’ famous address at 221b Baker Street is in Marylebone, too. It’s now home to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, making this neighborhood a focus of many tours that highlight the legacies of the literary detective and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Accessibility

Some, but not all, Marylebone attractions are wheelchair accessible. While Madame Tussauds London and the Wallace Collection can accommodate visitors using wheelchairs, the Sherlock Holmes Museum does not.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Umbrella, camera, credit card

What to wear

Layered clothing is a must for London’s changeable weather.

Not allowed

Avoid talking loudly on public transit—being polite in London means keeping conversations hushed.

Amenities

Restrooms, bicycle parking (at Marylebone tube station)

Address

Marylebone is located in central London, west of Paddington and north of Soho. Its shops and boutiques are concentrated in and around Marylebone High Street, which is bordered by Marylebone Road to the north and Wigmore Street to the south.

Driving

Crowded streets and limited parking mean that most visitors opt for using public transit, rather than driving their own cars. There are several paid lots in Marylebone, and many offer advance reservations.

Public transportation

There are several Underground stations in the area, with the most central ones being Baker Street (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, and Metropolitan lines) and Bond Street (Central and Jubilee lines).

Best times to visit

Shops in Marylebone Village generally open between 9am and 11am, and close between 6pm and 8pm. Some are closed, or have shorter hours, on Sundays.

Best days to visit

Get a feel for the community—and shop for fresh produce and locally sourced meats—on Sundays at the Marylebone Farmers Market.

Best months to visit

Among the best places in London to see holiday lights, Marylebone switches on its winter display around mid-November each year and stays illuminated into January.

Special events

The village and some individual stores host events throughout the year. Check out the village website for current information.