Bayswater Road · London W2
Lancaster Gate
An independent guide to the white stucco terraces on the northern edge of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens — Zone 1, on the Central line, ten minutes' walk from Paddington.
- TubeCentral line, Zone 1
- On the doorstep350 acres of Royal Parks
- Walk to PaddingtonAbout 10 minutes
- Italian GardensFree entry, 1860s
Welcome
A quiet Victorian corner of central London
Lancaster Gate is one of the capital's most elegant mid-Victorian neighbourhoods: long terraces of white stucco townhouses facing two Royal Parks, with a Zone 1 tube station at the end of the road.
It sits within the City of Westminster on Bayswater Road, bordered by Bayswater to the west, Paddington to the north and Marble Arch to the east. That position is the whole appeal — you can walk out of the front door into Kensington Gardens, or be at Oxford Circus in about six minutes on the Central line.
Whether you are here for a morning by the Serpentine, a day around the museums and palaces, or a West End show in the evening, Lancaster Gate is an unusually calm base for it. This guide covers getting here, things to do in Lancaster Gate and where to stay.
Getting here
Directions to Lancaster Gate
Lancaster Gate tube station sits on Bayswater Road, one stop from Queensway and one from Marble Arch.
Lancaster Gate station on the Central line
Zone 1- Queensway
- Lancaster Gate
- Marble Arch
- Westbound: Notting Hill Gate, Shepherd's Bush, Ealing Broadway
- Eastbound: Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Holborn, the City
Paddington & the airports
Paddington Station is about a 10 minute walk and adds National Rail, the Elizabeth, Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines, plus the Heathrow Express — roughly 15 minutes to Heathrow.
By bus
Routes 94, 148 and 274 run through the area, with the N207 night bus for late journeys. They connect towards the West End, Victoria and Notting Hill.
By car
Lancaster Gate is on the A40 Bayswater Road, just west of the Congestion Charge zone boundary and inside the London-wide ULEZ. Parking is limited and expensive, so public transport is easier. Check TfL for current charges before driving.
Tip: Lancaster Gate station uses lifts rather than escalators. At busy times Queensway is a short walk away, and Paddington has more step-free options — check the TfL website for current accessibility.
Things to do
Things to do in Lancaster Gate
Everything below is either in the parks across the road or a few stops away on the Central line.
Hyde Park & the Serpentine
London's most famous park starts at the end of the street. Go boating on the Serpentine, visit the Diana Memorial Fountain, or walk 142 hectares of green space and stop at the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen.
The Italian Gardens
A 160-year-old ornamental water garden created in the 1860s as a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria: four pools, classical sculptures, urns and the Tazza Fountain overlooking the Long Water. Free to enter, with a café on site.
Kensington Palace
The birthplace of Queen Victoria and former home of Princess Diana. Walk through Kensington Gardens past the Peter Pan statue and the Albert Memorial to reach the State Apartments and the Sunken Garden.
Portobello Road Market
Head west into Notting Hill for the world-famous market. Saturdays are the big day, with 1,500-plus antique and vintage stalls stretching along Portobello Road.
A West End show
The Central line runs straight to Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road, the two gateways to Theatreland — about ten minutes door to door.
Show times & ticketsAnd plenty more
Speakers' Corner, the South Kensington museums, Queensway shopping and Little Venice are all within easy reach. Our attractions page has the full list.
All things to do in Lancaster GateThe Royal Parks
Two parks, 350 acres, one road to cross
Lancaster Gate is one of very few central London addresses with direct access to two Royal Parks. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens meet at the Serpentine, so a single walk can take you from Speakers' Corner to Kensington Palace without leaving the grass.
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Hyde Park
142 hectares taking in the Serpentine lake and boating, the Diana Memorial Fountain, Speakers' Corner and the summer events programme.
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Kensington Gardens
107 hectares of quieter, more formal parkland: Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial, the Peter Pan statue and the Italian Gardens.
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The Italian Gardens
The closest of the three to Lancaster Gate station, and the reason many visitors come. Free entry, and the Italian Gardens Café serves breakfast, lunch and refreshments beside the fountains.
Stay, eat and drink
Hotels, pubs and restaurants
Bayswater and Queensway cover most price points, from park-view suites to neighbourhood pubs.
Lancaster Gate hotels
Accommodation runs from five-star luxury to comfortable budget rooms. Notable names include the Royal Lancaster London (panoramic Hyde Park views and the award-winning Nipa Thai restaurant), the Lancaster Gate Hotel and Park Grand Lancaster Gate.
Browse hotels in Lancaster GateQueensway dining
Five minutes' walk west, Queensway is the area's food street: Italian at Rudy's Pizza, Argentinian steaks at Chamuyo, and The Park brasserie by restaurateur Jeremy King.
Traditional pubs
The Swan sits opposite Hyde Park, with The Leinster Arms, The Prince Edward on Prince's Square and The Kings Head — which dates back to 1824 — all within a short walk.
Cafés in the parks
The Italian Gardens Café overlooks the fountains, the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen sits by the lake, and Fentons near Queensway station does artisan ice cream.
On the map
Find Lancaster Gate
Bayswater Road, London W2 — on the northern edge of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Explore the guide
More on Lancaster Gate
Hotels
Where to stay, from five-star park views to stylish apartments and budget rooms.
Hotels in Lancaster GateAttractions
The full list of attractions, activities and local events in and around the area.
Best things to doHistory
How the terraces, the church and the square took shape from the 1860s onwards.
History of Lancaster GateQuestions