Lady’s Lovely Guide to Holland Park, London

If I had to choose a perfect central London neighborhood, it would be Holland Park. With pretty houses, gorgeous green spaces, world-class museums, and an incredible location, the area is hard to top. If you’re in the mood to explore, today I bring you a lovely guide to Holland Park, London.

Holland Park, London

Right next to Notting Hill, Holland Park has the charm of its neighbor but lacks the heaving weekend crowds. It’s slightly more grown up, but still knows how to have a good time.

As the name implies, the area is home to a famous park. It also features beautiful streets, pretty mews houses, and great restaurants and pubs.

How to Get to Holland Park

It’s easy to get to Holland Park, too. Holland Park station is on the Central Line of the London Underground. It’s in the heart of the area and a good place to start exploring.

There are also lots of local London buses that stop along main streets like Holland Park Avenue and near the park itself.

You can also get here on foot from Notting Hill, Kensington, and other areas. And if walking is your thing, you might enjoy discovering the neighborhood with my self-guided walk in Holland Park.

The Park

Whenever I’m in the area, I start in the park itself. It not only has extensive paths and the famous Holland Park Kyoto Garden, but also opera and giant chess. There’s even the odd peacock and lots of other Holland Park animals to be found.

A wander through the park always elicits a surprise, whether from stumbling upon a sculpture hidden in the trees or discovering the roses in bloom in summer.

And speaking of blooms, the park has some of the most beautiful tulip gardens in the city in spring. It’s worth a special trip to see them when they’re out.

The park is also home to the Design Museum. This cutting-edge museum has exhibitions on everything from fashion to architecture and digital design. It offers free entry to the permanent collection, and it’s a great place to visit.

Holland Park, London Houses, Museums, and Streets

Around the park are more under-the-radar places, from the stunning interiors of the Leighton House Museum to the perfectly manicured front gardens along Melbury Road.

The Leighton House Museum is the former house and studio of prominent Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton. Unassuming from the outside, the interior is brimming with Leighton’s art.

It also has interiors decorated with tiles and fixtures from all over the world. It’s one of the best small museums in London.

Up beyond the northern border of the park, I can never resist the beautiful row houses and quiet mews. Holland Park Mews in particular is one of my favorite streets in London, what with its external staircases and colorful doors. It even featured in an episode of The Crown.

North of Holland Park Avenue, the neighborhood reveals more of its secrets. The streets are full of pastel houses and there’s a colorful treat around every corner.

From the columns lining Royal Crescent to the pink and yellow facades on Queensdale Road, the area keeps me reaching for my camera every few steps.

Shops and Restaurants

Back on Holland Park Avenue itself, there’s more goodness to be found. From the beloved Daunt Books to chocolate boutiques and gelato shops, I’m never far from something I love.

There are great pubs, cafes, and restaurants along the street, too. It’s fun to stop in for a meal or snack while exploring the area.

And that’s Holland Park. From the streets to the museums, the parks to the mews, the neighborhood is as perfect as London gets. If you get a chance to explore, I hope you enjoy discovering it as much as I have.

How about you? What are your favorite places in Holland Park?

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