Fitzrovia
Estate agents in Fitzrovia are proud that they work in one of the few highly desirable residential areas that have been named after a local public house. Any self-respecting estate and letting agents in Fitzrovia will be able to relate how, in the first half of the 20th century this renowned bohemian district was famous for its Victorian pub, the Fitzroy Tavern on Charlotte Street, and for the artistic community which frequented it (the likes of George Orwell and Dylan Thomas were regulars in the 1920s and 1930s). Over time, the surrounding area became known as Fitzrovia.
The Fitzroy Tavern itself was originally developed in the 18th century by Fitzroy (an illegitimate son of Charles II and the Duchess of Cleveland) and his grandson, Charles Fitzroy. In addition, Charles Fitzroy commissioned James and Robert Adam to produce the plans for part of Fitzroy Square and the surrounding estate. Before the Fitzroys, the area had been part of the ancient parish of St. Pancras and was known as the manor of Tottenhall.
FAMOUS RESIDENTS
Throughout the years Fitzrovia has been home some of the greatest artistic minds that the UK has ever produced. Kay & Co estate agents in Fitzrovia are proud to boast that their patch has housed the artists, John Constable and James McNeil Whistler, the poets, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Dylan Thomas, the architect, Robert Adam, and the poet and artist William Blake. Novelist, Virginia Woolf and playwright, George Bernard Shaw even lived in the same house on Fitzroy Square, although obviously not at the same time.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Kay & Co’s real estate and letting agents in Fitzrovia cover the area from Euston Road to the north, Oxford Street to the south, Tottenham Court Road to the east and Great Portland Street (with its sky-scraping BT Tower) to the west. The area enjoys all the benefits of a prime London location, that is it’s perfectly positioned for glamorous West End living but retains a quirky, village-style vibe.
Neighbourhood view
Occasionally, and perhaps misleadingly, referred to as the ‘new Notting Hill’, Fitzrovia maintains a distinctive and irresistible appeal all of its own. With its charming mixture of stucco-fronted mansions, period townhouses and newly developed apartments, there is a real sense of community, which, according to our property and estate agents, makes Fitzrovia a favourite among young professionals.
ESSENTIAL LIVING
Perhaps owing to its historical renown as a pub-crawler’s paradise, its current reputation as a wining and dining destination or just the fact that it attracts a high proportion of young, ambitious, media and advertising folk, Fitzrovia is not really famed for being especially family-orientated. Consequently, there aren’t many schools in the immediate area and any significant green spaces are pretty much on the periphery. Property and letting agents are quick to point out, however, that Fitzrovia has plenty of parking space and the transport links are fabulous, with eight underground stations (depending on how far you are prepared to stroll) and access to seven different tube lines.
Perfectly positioned to enjoy glamorous West End living, Fitzrovia retains its own quirky, village-style atmosphere
UNDERGROUND CONNECTIONS
Euston: Northern, Victoria
Euston Square: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan
Goodge Street: Northern
Great Portland Street: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan
Oxford Circus: Central, Bakerloo, Victoria
Regent’s Park: Bakerloo
Tottenham Court Road: Northern, Central
Warren Street: Northern, Victoria
PARKING SOLUTIONS
020 7974 4646
020 7823 4567
SHOPPING IN STYLE
Although it’s sandwiched between several of London’s most popular tourist areas, Fitzrovia doesn’t really attract the same kind of crowds and is relatively quiet and relaxed at weekends. This means that it is not, at its heart, a big shopping district. However, with the entire West End within walking distance, our Fitzrovia estate agents assure property buyers that they will never feel as though they’re missing out on anything.
Local highlights include an impressive collection of art galleries, such as Westbrook Gallery (8 Windmill Street), The New Academy Gallery (34 Windmill Street) and The Rebecca Hossack Galleries (2a Conway Street and 28 Charlotte Street). There are also a handful of fashion boutiques, including Almost Famous (3 Percy Street), Black Truffle (52 Warren Street) and Reiss (14 Market Place). And if you want to devote some time to sprucing up your home, our Fitzrovia property and letting agents recommend Heal’s (196 Tottenham Court Road), which offers three floors of the very latest in home and furnishing ideas.
Shopping
Westbrook Gallery: 020 7580 1151
New Academy Gallery: 020 7323 4700
Rebecca Hossack Galleries: 020 7436 4899
Almost Famous: 020 7388 4547
Reiss: 020 7637 9112
Heal’s (above): 020 7896 7450
LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT
For revitalising day-spa indulgence, Kay & Co estate agents recommend a visit to the serene and welcoming Treatment Rooms (222 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia), or the achingly cool Agua at the Sanderson (50 Berners Street), which offers a dazzling selection of rejuvenating treatments and general wall-to-wall loveliness. For truly glamorous head-to-toe beauty, try JLT Salon (49 Eastcastle Street) and for hair design visit Andrew Jose (1 Charlotte Street) or Clipso (35 Windmill Street).
If you are feeling a bit more stressed than usual, drop by the Walk-In Backrub (11 Charlotte Place) for a bit of pampering or, perhaps, try to work it out at Destination (42 Great Portland Street), a popular local gym.
Health & Beauty
The Treatment Rooms: 020 7388 0822
Agua at the Sanderson: 020 7300 1414
JLT Salon: 020 7580 0071
Andrew Jose: 020 7323 4679
Clipso: 020 7580 3449
Walk-In Backrub: 020 7436 9876
Destination: 020 7636 4477
ON THE TOWN
Famed for its vibrant bar and café culture, Fitzrovia is also one of the places to be seen. Pavement tables create a continental air on a summer’s evening, while ladies-who-lunch provide a level of finesse in places where, media executives might once have sozzled away the expense account in blissful isolation. Charlotte Street lies at the centre of proceedings, and it’s the Charlotte Street Hotel (15 Charlotte Street), with its bright and buzzy Oscar bar and restaurant, which delivers the best contemporary British menu in the area.
If you prefer something with a continental flavour, our estate agents recommend Villandry (170 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia), which serves sophisticated European peasant dishes, Back To Basics (21a Foley Street) offers Mediterranean-style seafood, while the outlandish Annex 3 (6 Little Portland Street) presents modern European cuisine with a Japanese twist. For full-on Japanese you need to go to Roka (37 Charlotte Street) or, for authentic Chinese, book a table at Hakkasan (8 Hanway Place). Suka at the Sanderson (50 Berners Street) serves mouthwatering Malaysian meals, while Fino (33 Charlotte Street) and Navarro’s (67 Charlotte Street), specialise in tasty tapas.
If you just fancy a drink, your options are endless. For a coffee, you can’t beat the ubiquitous Carluccio’s (8 Market Place). You can try the dark and seductive Crazy Bear (26 Whitfield Street) for cocktails, as well as the intimate Eagle Bar (3 Rathbone Place) or the arty Social (5 Little Portland Street). Top pubs include the Fitzroy Tavern (16 Charlotte Street), the Bricklayers Arms (31 Gresse Street) and the Newman Arms (23 Rathbone Street), the latter being the pub described by George Orwell in both Nineteen Eighty-Four and Keep the Aspidistra Flying.
Restaurants
Oscar at the Charlotte Street Hotel (above): 020 7806 2000
Villandry: 020 7631 3131
Back To Basics: 020 7436 2181
Annex 3: 020 7631 0700
Roka (& Shochu Lounge): 020 7580 6464
Hakkasan: 020 7927 7000
Suka at the Sanderson: 020 7300 1444
Fino: 020 7813 8010
Navarro’s: 020 7637 7713
ENTERTAINMENT
The Dominion (268 Tottenham Court Road) is the nearest theatre and the Odeon (30 Tottenham Court Road) is the local cinema. But our property and lettings agents assure property buyers that most West End theatres, cinemas and clubs are within strolling distance of Fitzrovia. The area also hosts an annual street festival, which is centred on Charlotte Street in early July. Fitzrovia’s most unusual draw is perhaps the Aquatic Design Centre (107 Great Portland Street), which designs and maintains fish tanks for your home entertainment. Even if you’re not in the market for one just now it’s certainly well worth a visit!
Entertainment
The Dominion Theatre (below): 020 7927 0900
The Odeon Tottenham Court Road: 0871 22 44 007
Aquatic Design Centre: 020 7636 6388
YOUR LOCAL....
Dry cleaner, plus ironing and alterations: Fitzroy Cleaners, 90 Cleveland Street: 020 7387 9677
Shoe repairer and key cutting: Fifth Avenue Shoe Repairers, 41 Goodge Street: 020 7636 6705
Locksmith: Tower Security, 152 New Cavendish Street: 020 7631 3605
Post Office: 19 Newman Street: 0845 722 3344
National Health Service GP: Fitzrovia Medical Centre, 31 Fitzroy Square: 020 7387 5798
DID YOU KNOW?
Bob Dylan, the legendary singer/songwriter, played to a London audience for the first time during a Friday night folk session at the King And Queen public house in Fitzrovia (1 Foley Street), way back in November 1962.
If you have any queries regarding our property listings within the W1T area code, our estate agents in Fitzrovia will be more than happy to answer all of your questions, likewise, our letting agents in Fitzrovia will be able to provide you with all of the relevant details of our rental properties in the area. Contact Kay & Co now.