Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you! Thank you for helping me do what I love!
Marylebone is no secret to Londoners, but it’s a neighborhood often overlooked by visitors, which is unfortunate, as it’s my favorite in London.
Stretching from Oxford Street in the south to Regent’s Park in the north, and from Edgware Road in the west to Great Portland Street in the east, Marylebone occupies a generous slice of central London real estate.
Even with the prime location, Marylebone feels like a village where people greet their barista by name, pick up morning buns and pastries at the Sunday farmer’s market, sip afternoon tea, and linger over unhurried Sunday Roasts at a local pub.
Of course, my daughter lives here, so this is my preferred neighborhood, and I spend a lot of time wandering its charming streets.
For frequent travelers to London and first-time visitors, Marylebone is well-connected by tube and public transport to the rest of London.
Bus tour companies, such as Big Bus Tours‘ Blue Route, also make stops in Marylebone near the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds.
Ready to go?
Here’s my guide to exploring Marylebone!
Where to Stay in Marylebone?
(left to right): Zetter’s inviting blue front door, Nobu’s lobby and bar, the parlour at Zetter
I’ve covered a lot of hotel ground in Marylebone, from simple guest houses to 5* stays. All have their perks and pitfalls, and budgets to consider.
For a modern and well-located luxury base, Nobu Hotel London Portman Square offers sleek design and a sense of calm just steps from Marylebone’s core.
Traveling off-season has its rewards, too; I’ve scored rates here as low as some 3* guest houses in the neighborhood. Nobu’s lobby is great for working, too. Comfortable and bright, and you can order water and snacks all day.
In a Georgian townhouse on a quiet street, The Zetter is inviting from the minute you step through its baby-blue front door. British elegance abounds inside, from its bookshelves stuffed with leather-bound tomes to the bold red color of the cozy parlour, patterns, and lush fabrics.
Durrants Hotel is a family-run 92-room hotel just off the high street, making it super convenient. I’ve stayed here many times and always love the quirky and traditional feel of it.
The wood-paneled restaurant with its tufted leather banquettes and the cozy George Bar look like they could be a movie set for a British whodunnit.
Where to Eat & Drink in Marylebone?
Josephine’s Brasserie (left) and Cavendish Pub (right)
You could take a trip around the world in Marylebone with all the types of cuisine you can find here, including French, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Italian, and South African.
And, like in most of London, you can’t swing a pint without hitting a good old British pub.
In addition to great restaurants and pubs, Marylebone is full of pop-up cafés and coffee shops, easy grab-and-go food stops and markets, delicatessens, and other edible gems tucked away on its quiet streets.
I love White Mulberries for a perfectly made dirty chai latte to go, or a sit-down breakfast of toasts, pastries, and cakes in their small eating area. FYI: There is a secret garden out back for when the weather is nice.
I recently ducked into Café Murano, the newly opened Marylebone outpost from Angela Hartnett (a Gordon Ramsey protégé) and fell in love. The Italian food shines here, especially the handmade pastas.
Another Marylebone newcomer is Kudu, with a superb location near the high street and stylish good looks. Its South African fare is amazing too. Think lots of grilled meats, alongside tasty, inventive shareable bites and sides. I’m still thinking about the blue cheese canales and leek tartlets.
Family-owned Two Point Thai is the sweetest little place on a quiet part of Crawford Street near Montague Square. It’s also very good, and they have a reasonably-priced lunch menu — two courses for around 16 pounds.
What to do in Marylebone?
My favorite place to stop in Marylebone, especially if it’s cold or wet outside, is The Wallace Collection, one of London’s most underrated museums.
Many moons ago, it was the stately home of the Hertford Family, and later Sir Richard Wallace and his wife Lady Wallace, who amassed the famous collection displayed here and eventually bequeathed it to the British nation.
The reward for visitors is the chance to admire the grand house on a leafy Marylebone square, along with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Ruben, Velázquez, and Fragonard, as well as exquisite furniture and porcelain from the 18th and 19th centuries.
If you’re into armor, there are at least four rooms filled with it. From medieval Europe to 19th-century Asia, it’s considered one of finest collections of arms and armour in the world.
It’s always blissfully uncrowded, compared to other London Museums, and there’s even a cafe/ restaurant inside.
Shopping is a London pastime that rivals its love of football. In Marylebone, especially along Marylebone High Street, it’s also a pleasure.
You can expect to find everything from clothing and shoe boutiques, and beloved brands like Caroline Gardner, one of the UK’s most admired and prolific stationery and gift designers tucked amidst places to stop and fuel up with tea.
You’ll even find a couple of secondhand outposts that reward the effort. This is shopping as a pleasure, not a sport.
Marylebone’s high street is a great place to shop for books, fashion, flowers, home decor and more
No shopping trip to Marylebone would be complete without a dip into Daunt Books, one of London’s most beloved independent bookshops and my favorite spot on the high street.
The Edwardian building itself is a piece of art, with oak balconies and a soaring skylight.
Daunt is arranged by country rather than genre, making it dangerously easy to plan an entirely new trip while browsing.
Marylebone is blessed with abundant access to green space, from small gardens to larger swaths, such as Hyde Park.
I love to stroll north toward Regent’s Park, where wide paths, manicured flower gardens, and open fields provide a refreshing sense of space in the middle of a city of 8 million people.
If you’re into birding, Regent’s Park is home to more than 120 species of birds each year, too.
From Marylebone, I love to walk across Regent’s Park to charming Primrose Hill, an adorable residential neighborhood as pretty as a postcard, with a handful of shops and cafés to linger in.
Good to know: Paddington Train Station is less than a 10-minute cab ride from Marylebone and has direct train service to Heathrow Airport via the Heathrow Express.
Read more stories about traveling in the UK
