London area of W2 guide

What to do and where to stay in London's W2 neighbourhood

The 350-acre Hyde Park dominates the W2 district of London, not to mention the giant Paddington Station and Bayswater. Hyde Park is technically divided into two parts by the Serpentine Lake: the original Hyde Park area and Kensington Gardens. The park has become a traditional location for mass demonstrations. The Chartists, the Reform League, the Suffragettes and the Stop The War Coalition have all held protests here through the ages, and many protestors on the Liberty and Livelihood March in 2002 began their route from Hyde Park. It's also been the venue for some famous rock concerts, including the world famous Live 8 concert series, and every summer some of the biggest bands take part in Hard Rock Calling, a weekend festival in June. The park will play its part in the London Olympics in 2012, hosting the triathlon and the 10 km open water swimming events. The W2 area is also notable for the Paddington Railway Station, a mammoth terminus for train services to the west of England, including the Heathrow Express.

See our recommended nearby W2 Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

W2 Hotels

in or near W2
Corus Hyde Park Hotel London
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
1-7 Lancaster Gate, W2
The glorious expanses of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens form the backdrop for this tastefully decorated, modern, comfortable hotel. Located just down the road from Paddington ... More
 
 
 
Danubius Hotel Regents Park
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
18 Lodge Road, NW87JT
Stunning views of Lord's Cricket Ground makes this the hotel of choice for cricket enthusiasts, but it has plenty of other advantages too. A program ... More
 
 
 
Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
97 Cromwell Road, SW7
The location, two minutes' walk from Gloucester Road tube station, is the major draw of this modern, high-rise hotel. The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, Natural ... More
 
 
 

W2 Entertainment

in or near W2
Studio Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
North Westminster Community School North Wharf Road, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 
UCI
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
2nd Floor, Whiteleys Shopping Centre, Queensway, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 
Odeon Whiteleys
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
Queensway, Bayswater, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 

W2 Sights and Attractions

The best museums, galleries, attractions in or near W2
PICK
Art Work Space: The Hempel Hotel
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, W2, London W2
Art Work Space is an independent art gallery on the lower ground floor of The Hempel hotel, showcasing emerging artists working in a variety of media ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Paddington Central
London > Attractions > Sheldon Square, W2, London W2
A peaceful canal-side new development within walking distance of Paddington Station and Marble Arch, Paddington Central is an 11 acre site, home to big businesses - ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Serpentine Gallery
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
Kensington Gardens, W2, London W2
Found in the middle of leafy Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, there are two galleries that go by the name of The Serpentine, the original Serpentine ... More
 
 
 

W2 Shopping

The best shops and markets in or near London's W2
PICK
Markus Coffee Company
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
13 Connaught Street, W2, London W2
Huge sacks brimming over with coffee beans of every different variety decorate the floorboards of this historic establishment. Savour the smells of freshly roasted and ground ... More
 
 
 
PICK
ME & EM
London > Shopping > Ladies Fashion
21 Connaught Street, W2, London W2
Tatler loves this place, Vogue calls them "the loungewear wizards", and Nicola Formby wishes she'd known about ME & EM (previously called the Pyjama Room) when ... More
 
 
 
PICK
The Dresser
London > Shopping > Clothing
10 Porchester Place, W2, London W2
Eric Clapton regularly donates his clothes to The Dresser. That should give you an idea of the stylish second hand gear available here. High end designer ... More
 
 
 

W2 Restaurants

What are the best dining options in or near W2 London?
PICK
Bel Canto
London > Restaurants > French restaurants
Corus Hotel Hyde Park, 1 Lancaster Gate, , W2, London W2
One LondonTown.com reader wrote in to tell us about this "brilliant!!" and unique restaurant. More than just a place to have a meal, it's an ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Nipa
London > Restaurants > Thai restaurants
Royal Lancaster Hotel, Lancaster Terrace, W2, London W2
Thai cuisine. ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Island Grill
London > Restaurants > British restaurants
Lancaster Terrace, W2, London W2
The Island Restaurant & Bar occupies an enviable spot within the Royal Lancaster Hotel, its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Hyde Park. The food choices are reasonably priced, ... More
 
 
 

W2 Pubs

The best pubs in or near London W2.
PICK
Victoria
London > Nightlife > Pubs
10a Strathearn Place, W2, London W2
High up on a wall, behind the counter of this opulent, smart Victorian pub is a clock dated 1864. A framed copy of the Sun newspaper ... More
 
 
 
PICK
The Royal Exchange
London > Nightlife > Pubs
26 Sale Place, W2, London W2
Paddington Pub... More
 
 
 
PICK
The Windsor Castle
London > Nightlife > Pubs
27-29 Crawford Place, W2, London W1H
Certainly one of the oddest and most patriotic pubs in London, The Windsor Castle is more a museum to the essence of old-fashioned Englishness than a ... More
 
 
 

W2 Nightlife

W2 clubs, bars, cabaret nights, casinos and interesting nightlife.
PICK
Westbourne House
London > Nightlife > Bars
65 Westbourne Grove, W2, London W2
Boasting an elegant design, this large venue is a popular place for perusing the long and imaginative cocktail list. Westbourne House is more of a bar ... More
 
 
 
Lancaster London Hotel
London > Nightlife > Bars
Lancaster Terrace, Bayswater, W2, London W2
The Royal Lancaster Hotel includes two restaurants Nipa, a Thai restaurant, and Island Restaurant and Bar, a stylish contemporary split-level space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Hyde ... More
 
 
 
The Mitre
London > Nightlife > Bars
24 Craven Terrace, W2, London W2
Set in the heart of Bayswater and only 50 metres from Hyde Park, the Mitre is a beautiful Grade II listed pub popular with regulars and ... More
 
 
 

W2 Leisure

W2 gyms, sporting activities, health & beauty and fitness.
PICK
Hyde Park Stables
London > Leisure > Activities
63 Bathurst Mews, W2, London W2
Hop on a steed and trot your way through one of London's most central parks, courtesy of those lovely equestrian types at Hyde Park Stables. The ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Kensington Gardens
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
Princes Square, W2, London W2
Technically two different parks, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are in practical and historical terms one huge, merging expanse. Almost every kind of outdoor pursuit takes ... More
 
 
 
PICK
QUEENS Skate, Dine, Bowl
London > Leisure > Sports Facilities
17 Queensway, W2, London W2
A huge indoor ice rink, 12 bowling lanes, plenty of retro arcade machines and a British diner by MEATliquor - QUEENS Skate, Dine, Bowl has been ... More
 
 
 

W2 Education

in or near W2
PICK
The LookOut, Hyde Park
London > Education > Other Attractions
Hyde Park, W2, London W2
Hidden in a copse of trees in Hyde Park, The LookOut is a tranquil haven in the heart of London. Home to the Isis Education Centre, ... More
 
 
 
SKOLA International Community School
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
12 Porchester Place, Marble Arch, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 
City of Westminter College
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
City of Westminster College , Paddington Green, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 

W2 Meeting Venues

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course in or near W2.
PICK
Kensington Palace
London > Business > Venue Hire
Kensington Gardens, W2, London W8
Conference facilities can accomodate for up to 1040 people.... More
 
 
 
Best Western Mornington Hotel
London > Business > Venue Hire
12 Lancaster Gate, Bayswater, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 
Corus Park Hotel
London > Business > Venue Hire
1-7 Lancaster Gate, W2, London W2
... More
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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