Lady’s Guide to St John’s Wood, London

The other day I met a friend for lunch in St John’s Wood, a residential London neighborhood that’s known to expats as the home of the American School in London. As close as the area is to my beloved Hampstead, it’s rare that I make it there. But every time I do, I remember how much I like it.

St John’s Wood, London

Maybe it’s because St John’s Wood reminds me so much of Hampstead. Both have high streets full of bakeries, wine shops, and cafes.

Both have a smattering of shops and boutiques and an abundance of beautiful historic buildings and side streets.

Both are full of American expats that like to live in picturesque parts of London. But St John’s Wood has several distinguishing features.

Abbey Road Studios

The most famous of these is Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded the majority of their albums.

Every time I walk by the graffiti-covered wall outside the building, I wade through large groups of Beatles fans from all over the world.

They stand in clusters, anxiously awaiting their turns to replicate the famous Abbey Road album cover in the zebra crossing while locals navigate through to get on their way.

Lord’s Cricket Ground

Another big landmark in St John’s Wood is Lord’s Cricket Ground. I’ve only been to Lord’s once, and it was for a black-tie charity event, not a cricket match.

I’ve always wanted to return to the home of cricket for the quintessentially English experience, though.

If for no other reason, Future Systems’ Stirling-Prize-winning media center draws me in like an alien spaceship luring an unwitting victim. Seriously. The thing looks just like a UFO.

St John’s Wood Parks

There are less futuristic places in St John’s Wood that are worth exploring, too. These include the neighborhood’s historic parks.

The St John’s Wood Church Gardens are full of families on sunny days, and are home to an old cemetery where the likes of painter John Sell Cotman are buried.

In the same park is the beautiful St John’s Wood Church, which is situated right near Regent’s Park and the Regent’s Canal towpath.

Not far from there is the stunning London Central Mosque, a famous landmark on the northwestern edge of the park.

St John’s Wood

Back up on the high street, I met fellow travel blogger Oneika for sandwiches and salads at Gail’s in St John’s Wood.

While there’s a Gail’s in Hampstead, meeting a fellow expat in a neighborhood that’s home to both a famous international school and a number of staunchly English institutions felt very fitting.

Maybe next time I visit St John’s Wood I’ll even branch out and try a new restaurant.

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