Meandering in Marylebone Village
A weekend walk
It’s been a while since I’ve felt inspired to report to you on one of my favourite places to visit but meandering in Marylebone Village this past weekend was a truly heartening experience.
Mar-le-bon or Marry-le-bone?
When I received an email from Wide-Eyed London inviting me to join this informative but relaxed walk I had no hesitation in securing my place. Sold by the blurb “Whether you pronounce it “Mar-le-bon’ or ‘Marry-le-bone’, the charm of this area remains the same. With famous institutions such as the BBC and Madame Tussauds, Marylebone has a fascinating social history which is revealed in the smaller streets. Famous for its medical heritage and delightful shopping, it is also home to some outstanding philanthropists. Come and hear their stories and discover what lies behind the scenes of this lovely part of town.”
It turned out that I wasn’t the only person interested in taking part as the tour, with 20 attendees, was sold out.
Off to a good start
Our first port of call was coffee shop, 28°-50°. Here, as part of the group, we were treated to a complimentary hot drink and presented with a gorgeous tote bag and complimentary privilege card.
Once the walk was underway our host, Rosalind, skilfully manoeuvred us along the narrow pavements of Marylebone Lane and across the the bustling High Street to places of historical interest.
Ducking down Moxon Street we were greeted by an impressive wooden sign which denoted the entrance to artisan cheesemonger, La Fromagerie.
Exclusive tour
Once inside we were invited to an exclusive tour of the cheese room and given a morsel of the fancy fromage to sample. This tasting was accompanied by a brief story of how La Fromagerie was born. The Founder, Patricia Michelson, who had a love of cheese took a trip up a mountain whilst she was skiing in Meribel and discovered Beaufort Chalet d’Alpage. She returned to London with a wheel of this exquisite cheese and sold it from her garden shed and, as they say, the rest is history.
As if sampling cheese didn’t suffice we were quickly whisked across the road to Rococo Chocolates where we were gifted a lovely selection of sweet treats.
History lesson
Nourished by these impromptu snacks we explored the back allies of the village discovering a school for ragged children and an ancient burial ground. We visited the one and only Elm tree that survived the 1970’s Dutch Elm disease outbreak and marvelled at the St. Marylebone’s Parish Church Gardens.
High Street highlights
Once the formal walk was over we were set free to continue the celebration of Marylebone Village. Without further ado I headed in search of some well known names, and some lesser known ones, as well.
My first stop was the lovely Daunt Books on the High Street. This independent chain of bookshops in London and the South-East of England was founded in 1990 with a focus on travel books. This was evident from the large section of this genre which appeared to cover every continent. The store has since expanded and includes many more genres.
With so many High Streets in decline it was truly invigorating to find one that is busy and buzzing and clearly surviving. The mix of well known brands and independent stores makes Marylebone High Street an interesting place to while away the hours and to enjoy a light bite at the pubs and restaurants with their tables and chairs spilling out onto the pavements.
Interior specialists
I was disappointed to learn that the Conran Shop had closed down prior to my visit but satisfied my lust for all things interiors with a visit to Designers Guild and The White Company. Both at opposite ends of the spectrum with regards to their colour specialities but both enjoyable in their own ways. Add to that Bayley & Sage, Toast and Farrow & Ball and my interior design appetite was truly sated.
‘Thank you’ Marylebone Village
So much fun in so little time! Mid-afternoon I decided it was time to head home with my lovely bag of gifts and a couple of cheeky purchases. The White Company’s sale afforded me the opportunity to invest in a little something for my winter wardrobe and I could not resist buying a book from Daunt Books as a souvenir of my celebration of Marylebone Village.
10/10
This is a destination I will definitely revisit as there are so many little gems to inspire and appreciate. I travelled by train to Waterloo and then hopped on the Jubilee Line to Bond Street. From there it was just a five minute walk skirting around the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street.
If you know of a little known gem to visit please share in the comments
Carolyn x
Useful Links
- Daunt Books
- The White Company
- Designers Guild
- Bayley & Sage
- Toast
- Rococo Chocolates
- La Fromagerie
- Marylebone Village
- Wonderful Weybridge
📸 Carolyn Hayter
