My ten things to do in St John’s Wood list will help you find everything worth exploring in this leafy part of North West London. I love St John’s Wood High Street because it has chic boutiques and independent eateries. The area is famous for Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded and took that album cover photograph walking across the nearby zebra crossing. Lord’s Cricket Ground, the headquarters of English Cricket, is a popular destination for tourists. It’s also close to The Regent’s Park with access to Regent’s Canal. Join me as I give you the low down on my favourite thing to do in St John’s Wood, London NW8.
My Favourite Ten Things To Do In St John’s Wood
1. Recreate the iconic Beatles Abbey Road album cover from 1969 by walking over the zebra crossing, ideally with a group of four people! Make sure you write on the wall outside the Abbey Road Studios and pop into the shop to buy some Abbey Road memorabilia or something cool like a synthesizer. Exit St John’s Wood Underground Station (Jubilee Line), cross onto Grove End Road, walk down the hill to Abbey Road, turn right, and you’ll see the zebra crossing and the white Abbey Road Studios building.
2. Enjoy watching a match or take a Lord’s Cricket Ground tour with an expert guide. You’ll get to see the Grade II* listed Victorian Pavilion, the players’ dressing rooms and the MCC Museum, home to the famous Ashes Urn.
3. Take full advantage of The Regent’s Park, which can be easily accessed via the St John’s Wood Hanover Gate. Regent’s Park is beautiful with many amenities, including playgrounds, gardens, the Open-Air Theatre, London Zoo, monuments, statues, fountains and cafes.
4. Stroll along the Regent’s Canal towpath, which runs from Paddington Basin to Limehouse. Walking along the towpath is a lovely thing to do because it’s visually stunning and relaxing. You get a good view of the canal if you walk down Park Road after Lodge Road before reaching Hanover Gate.
5. If you want to sit down on a park bench or play a game of outdoor chess, pop into the St John’s Church Gardens. The picturesque grounds include an old cemetery. St John’s Church is quaint it was built by architect Thomas Hardwick in 1814, which now has a Grade II* listing.
6. Buy a tea or coffee and a snack from the green hut near St John’s Wood Church Gardens.
7. Dine at one of the restaurants, pubs or pop into a coffee shop for a light lunch. Most of the eateries are on St John’s Wood High Street, including Soutine (French), The Ivy (Brasserie), Shara (Lebanese), The Good Life (healthy food). You will also find The Gate (vegetarian) and Chucs (Italian) in the vicinity, amongst others. Treat yourself to a cake and tea from Orée, the French bakery. My friend and I had lunch at Shara and an afternoon cake at Orée.
8. Buy something tasty for your supper from Panzer’s, the original Jewish Deli in London on Circus Road. It’s a supermarket, greengrocers, bakery and deli all rolled into one with alfresco dining. Panzer’s has been serving the community since 1944, and it’s worth taking a look even if you aren’t going to buy anything.
9. Browse the chic boutiques along St John’s High Street, including Zadig & Voltaire, Twentyone, Ba&sh, Paulie, Tara Jarmon and get a proper bra fitting at Rigby & Peller.
10. Treat yourself to some beauty products at one of the independent pharmacies like Courtenay Chemist, of which there are many, and they sell plenty of cosmetics. SpaceNK is another place to shop if you are interested in buying premium beauty products.
Ten Things To Do In St John’s Wood Information
St John’s Wood is in the City of Westminster with the postcode London NW8. It has an underground station on the Jubilee Line. To learn more about the history, please read the information on the St John’s Wood Wikipedia Page. Baker Street, Marylebone, Maida Vale and Primrose Hill are all within walking distance, so there are many upmarket areas to investigate. If you want to explore further, you may want to read my Pretty Primrose Hill Guide NW1, Freud Museum London Hampstead NW3, Visit Kenwood House Hampstead NW3 and Ten Things To Do In Marylebone London. Enjoy your visit to St John’s Wood!
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
