Published: 22 June 2026
Bayswater is often viewed as a connection between the more well known neighbourhoods of Paddington, Notting Hill and Marble Arch. The familiar story of London expanding ever westward in the 19th century accounts for much of its creation with some incredible examples of Georgian architecture on its streets.
With Hyde Park on its doorstep as one of the most famous public spaces in the whole world, it is easy to see why so much attention has been focussed on this area over the last 200 years. By the Victorian era it had become a wonderfully energetic residential and hotel district that welcomed people with open arms from all over the globe. Greek and Middle Eastern communities in particular began to shape the area’s identity with the creation of churches, cafes and new cultural influences that remain to this day.
image source: William Barton / Shutterstock.com
A Top 10 to Try in and around Bayswater
In 2026 Bayswater is witnessing yet another reinvention with billions of pounds of investment bringing a sophisticated 21st century feel to these wonderful foundations
Here are ten great things to try in Bayswater during your time there.
1. Porchester Centre & Porchester Spa
Queensway
This is one of the greatest remaining examples of historic wellness facilities in London. It was originally built in the 1920s to serve the area with public bathing, washing and swimming in art deco grandeur. Its high ceilings and old school charm are now the perfect backdrop for Turkish baths and a thermal circuit that promises to revitalise you completely in an afternoon. This is relaxation with a gentle rhythm in the most glamourous way possible.
2. A Walk on Queensway
Queensway in particular has been earmarked for a significant redevelopment to make it a particular high street to watch in the capital. Taking a walk along this old thoroughfare towards Hyde Park will allow one to appreciate how impressive it is likely to be. The facades above ground level speak to a more elegant past that is bound to be restored with its cornices and balconies just waiting for new life. Grab a coffee and observe a classic location in the middle of a modern transformation.
3. Watching The Whitely
If one was looking for a symbol of Bayswater’s grand plan for the 21st century then The Whiteley is surely it. This exquisite building was once home to one of London’s most renowned retail intuitions where it was promised that customers could buy ‘anything from a pin to an elephant’.
It is now undergoing a rebirth as a mixed use residential, retail and leisure powerhouse designed by the world famous Norman Foster architects. It is almost entirely complete and commands the time of any Bayswater visitor in 2026.
4. Marvel at the Mystery
23-24 Leinster Gardens
At first glance one would assume that 23-24 Leinster Gardens are standard Victorian homes. But look just a little bit closer and you will uncover the city’s greatest and most hidden engineering secrets.
These houses are actually just false fronts designed to disguise the cutting and ventilation requirements for steam trains on the Metropolitan Railway. It opened in 1863 and was the world’s first underground steam train railway. The residents and business owners didn’t want the area spoiled by such infrastructure and this was the unique solution. It feels like a stage set right in the heart of modern London.
5. Superb St Sophia’s
Moscow Road
St Sophia’s is a Byzantine revival masterpiece of a building created for the Greek Orthodox church in the early 1880s. It quickly became the focus for an emerging Greek community in the neighbourhood with John Oldrid Scott’s design displaying a fantastic use of majesty and colour.
It is filled with classic iconography and architectural elements in a vivid display of light and strength. Visiting on a quiet weekday morning is suggested to make your own respectful observation as valuable as possible.
6. Stay Cool at Queens
Queensway
This is one of the longest surviving indoor ice rinks in London. For recent times it has also had an upgrade to add in bowling lanes and an impressive food hall for families. As a mix of history and leisure it can add an exciting element to any Bayswater visit that stretches from late afternoon long into the evening.
If your experience on the ice is limited, then lessons are offered on a regular basis to quickly get you up to speed too.
7. The Everyman Experience
The Whiteley
The Everyman Cinema at The Whiteley is the very model of modern cinema viewing. It makes for a much more relaxed and social experience with comfortable sofa seating and a cocktail menu delivered directly to you as the movie plays.
A programme of blockbuster movies and arthouse films are all scheduled with intimate screenings that reward audiences with complete focus. This is how a night at the movies works best in 2026, particularly for visiting couples.
8. Run the Royal Park
Hyde Park
Hyde Park acts as Bayswater’s back garden. One can be at the park’s edge within a 5 to 10-minute walk from Queensway, and even faster if you run. With several running routes round this historic space it can easily supply a four-mile jog to kickstart your day or watch the sun set.
Flat terrain and a wealth of landmarks on show make this royal park a runner’s paradise at any time of year.
9. Swimming at The Serpentine
Hyde Park
The famous Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park was created in 1730 and has been home to the Serpentine Lid for over 150 years. A stirring open air swim in these beautiful surroundings makes for one of the most unique activities in all of London with rowing boats and pedalos on hand for a more leisurely visit.
The deckchairs along the water’s edge in Summer are a quintessential sight to witness here too.
10. A Little Bit of Italy
Hyde Park
The Italian Gardens just near Lancaster Gate are a stone’s throw from Bayswater’s terraces. They were originally commissioned by Prince Albert in the 1860s to mimic the fabulous Renaissance gardens of The Beautiful Country.
This is one of the most captivating parts of the park with fountains, urns and statues all orchestrated in a formal and ornamental layout. The Italian Gardens have been the most photographed area of the park for decades and a stroll here is always a delight.
Experiencing Bayswater in 2026 offers a unique opportunity. It represents a distinctly elegant part of the city that is entering a new phase of its evolution. With so much to see and so much yet to come, this neighbourhood is destined to be a big attraction for potential new residents and visitors as spring grows into view.
