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Belsize Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Belsize Park is a suburb of north London in the London Borough of Camden, located 3.4 miles (5.5 km) north-west of Charing Cross. It borders on Hampstead to the north and west, Kentish Town to the east, and Primrose Hill to the south.
Although not specifically named on the Geographers' London Atlas, the area has many thoroughfares bearing the name: Belsize Avenue; Belsize Court; Belsize Crescent; Belsize Gardens, Belsize Grove; Belsize Lane; Belsize Mews; Belsize Park (the road itself); Belsize Park Gardens; Belsize Place; and Belsize Terrace. The name comes from the original 16th century manor house and parkland which once stood on the site. The estate built up between 1852 and 1878, by which time it extended to Haverstock Hill. After WWI the construction of blocks of flats began, and now a great many of the larger houses are also converted as such. The full history of the estate may be seen referred to below.
In WWII there was one of the large underground air-raid shelters located here.
It is an elegant area and property is in high-demand and hence very expensive (single-bedroom-flats cost from £275,000, and four-bedroom houses from £1,200,000, as of early 2006). There are many restaurants, pubs and cafes along Haverstock Hill and also England's Lane. It is more spacious than Hampstead Village, with wider roads. Hampstead Heath is 10-12 minutes walk. Primrose Hill park is 2 minutes from Englands Lane and provides some of the best views of London.
The area is a haunt for celebrities, including the actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Chris Martin, radio presenter Chris Moyles and the film producer and radio presenter Jason Korsner, who all live there.
Belsize Park is in the Hampstead and Highgate constituency for which the present MP is Glenda Jackson.
There is limited parking in Belsize Park; a residents permit zone operates weekdays 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm. Some pay and display for visitors is available.
There is a Youth Hostel located in Belsize Park Gardens.
Nearest railway stations:
- Swiss Cottage tube station (Jubilee Line)
- Belsize Park tube station (Northern Line)
- Hampstead Heath (North London Line)
Belsize Park is famously mentioned in Marillion song Kayleigh, in the line "loving on the floor in Belsize Park" and in the Engelbert Humperdink song "Les Biciclettes de Belsize."