Bayswater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bayswater |
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 View from Bayswater Road |
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 Bayswater
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| Population | 12,363 (2020 estimate) |
| OS grid reference | TQ255805 |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | W2 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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Bayswater is a lively area in West London, found within the City of Westminster. It's a busy place with lots of buildings and people, located right next to the beautiful Kensington Gardens. To its north-east is Paddington, and to its west, you'll find Notting Hill.
Most of Bayswater was built in the 1800s. You'll see many streets and garden squares here, lined with classic Victorian buildings. These buildings often have a smooth, white finish called stucco. Many of these large homes have now been divided into smaller flats. Two of its busiest shopping streets are Queensway and Westbourne Grove. These streets have a mix of unique shops, fancy boutiques, and well-known chain stores and restaurants.
Bayswater is also known for being very diverse. People from all over the world live here, and there are many hotels too. Besides people from England, you'll find large communities of Greeks, French, Americans, Brazilians, Italians, Irish, Arabs, and Malaysians.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Bayswater comes from a very old name, "Bayards Watering Place," which was used in 1380. In Middle English, this name likely meant a place where horses could drink water. It might also have been a watering spot that belonged to a family named Bayard.
A Look Back in Time
Long ago, Bayswater was a small hamlet (a tiny village) located west of London. This was in the 1600s. It was on the main road that led from Tyburn towards Uxbridge. By the late 1700s, Bayswater was still small. However, London started to grow westward, expanding into areas like Mayfair and Paddington. This brought Bayswater closer to the edge of the big city.
During the Regency era (early 1800s), London's population grew quickly. New suburbs were built to house everyone. An important builder in Bayswater was Edward Orme. He built streets like Moscow Road and St. Petersburgh Place. He named them to honor Alexander I of Russia. Over time, all the open spaces in Bayswater were built upon. It became a busy urban area with nice homes and pretty garden squares.
Famous People from Bayswater
Many well-known people have lived in Bayswater over the years. Here are a few:
- Damon Albarn, a musician
- J. M. Barrie, the writer who created Peter Pan
- Tony Blair, a former Prime Minister
- Winston Churchill, a famous wartime Prime Minister
- Richard Cobden, a politician
- Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin
- Guglielmo Marconi, a pioneer of wireless communication, lived here when he first came to England.
- Stella McCartney, a fashion designer
- Queen Noor of Jordan, a queen
- Sting, a famous musician, lived here when his band The Police was just starting.
- John Tenniel, an artist known for illustrating Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Getting Around Bayswater
Bayswater has its own London Underground stations: Bayswater and Queensway. Other nearby stations include Paddington and Lancaster Gate. These stations make it easy to travel all over London.
Places to Visit
- Kensington Gardens: A beautiful royal park perfect for walks and relaxation.
- St Sophia's Cathedral: A stunning Greek Orthodox church.
- Whiteleys Shopping Centre: A historic shopping center that is currently being rebuilt.
Images for kids
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View from Bayswater Road
See also
In Spanish: Bayswater para niños
