Best Things to do in Marylebone

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Nestled between the tranquil St John's Wood and bustling Oxford Street is the area of Marylebone. It's a relatively small neighbourhood, but Marylebone is packed full of museums, shops, pubs and eateries. Originally an Ancient Parish that served the manors of Lileston and Tyburn, Marylebone is the perfect area to visit if you feel like going shopping or discovering a new museum, but want to avoid the crowds in the West End. I've compiled a list of 8 of the best things to do in Marylebone, that you can enjoy no matter what the time of year.
1. Regent's Park and ZSL London Zoo



Regent's Park covers just under 500 acres and is absolutely bursting with activity all year round. In autumn, you can see the red, orange and brown-tinged leaves, while in spring the blossom trees start to appear, and in summer the Open Air Theatre hosts a number of plays (this year productions include Legally Blonde and 101 Dalmatians). There's also the opportunity to wander through the stunning rose garden, hire a boat with your loved ones, or play a game of tennis. Of course, the adjacent ZSL London Zoo is a must if you're in Marylebone, or visiting the city for a few days. The zoo is home to over 760 species of animals, including giraffes, lemurs, otters, penguins, camels, tigers and crocodiles. Standard tickets cost £32.50 per adult.
2. Daunt Books



Calling all bookworms! The original Daunt Books store can be found along Marylebone High Street, and it's well worth the visit. The impressive Edwardian architecture is a sight to behold and attracts readers from all over the world. You'll find a whole array of fiction and non-fiction books, which cover the shop from top to bottom. Daunt Books has a fantastic travel collection, which is organised by country and includes travel guides, novels and biographies. You could easily spend hours browsing the beautiful books in this store.
3. How Matcha



After you've explored Daunt Books and the other shops along Marylebone High Street, pop into How Matcha for a drink and bite to eat. How Matcha is a stunning instagrammable cafe that opened its doors in late 2020 and has become a popular photo destination for bloggers and content creators, with its floral decorations, pink exterior and vibrant drinks. As you've probably guessed from the name, How Matcha specialises in all things matcha. The menu comprises of matcha-based drinks, lattes, bubble teas, frappes and desserts. How Matcha is health-conscious, with drinks consisting of ingredients like matcha, ginger, turmeric and bee pollen. If you want to treat yourself, try Indulge - a delicious sweet drink that comes either hot or cold and is made with matcha, milk, white chocolate and cream. I'd also recommend Immune (matcha, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, matcha honey, bee pollen and milk).
4. Madame Tussauds



One of the most iconic attractions in Marylebone is Madame Tussauds , which has museums all over the world. The London museum features over 300 wax figures of celebrities, film characters, politicians and historical figures. Most of the wax figures are scarily realistic, but it'll take you a while to work out who some of the others are meant to be. During your visit to Madame Tussauds, take a photo with your favourite singer or actor and see if your friends will figure out that they're not actually real! Schedule your trip to Madame Tussauds for the morning before it starts to get crowded, and allow around 2 hours to explore the different zones.
5. Wigmore Hall



Music fans won't want to miss this venue! Situated behind John Lewis, Wigmore Hall has been around since 1901 (when it was known as Bechstein Hall), and is considered one of the world's greatest concert halls. Wigmore Hall can seat up to 552 people, and over 460 concerts take place at the venue each year. The repertoire extends more than 500 years, from the Renaissance to contemporary jazz, and sometimes audiences can watch dance performances too. Past musical icons who have played at Wigmore Hall include Thomas Beecham, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Benjamin Britten. There are a number of restaurants and bars in the venue, so you can enjoy a pre-concert meal or refreshments during the interval.
6. Mews



Much like most of the neighbourhoods in North West and West London, Marylebone is dotted with several mews. Wander around the backstreets of Marylebone and you'll find cobbled and quiet rows of houses and cul-de-sacs that were converted from stables and make ideal backdrops for photoshoots. The mews of Marylebone are lesser-known than the ones in Notting Hill and Chelsea, so you don't have to wait a long time to take a decent photo. Beverton Mews, Clarkes Mews, Devonshire Mews South, Devonshire Mews West, Gloucester Place Mews, Marylebone Mews and Montagu Mews West are worth checking out.
7. The Sherlock Holmes Museum



Another place in Marylebone that will be popular with bookworms is The Sherlock Holmes Museum . This small museum is dedicated to the fictional detective, with wax figures, photographs and other memorabilia, and is popular with fans of the Sherlock Holmes books all over the world. On busy days you can expect queues outside. In the books, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Doctor Watson lived at 221B Baker Street and the museum will take you back in time to Victorian London.
8. Paddington Street Gardens



Regent's Park isn't the only park in Marylebone. Paddington Street Gardens is a small green space tucked away behind Marylebone High Street. It's a peaceful place to have your lunch or soak up nature for an hour or so. There are plenty of benches in the gardens, as well as a giant chessboard and table tennis. The playground is very popular with local families: kids enjoy playing on the swings and climbing on the equipment.

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