Tucked away north of the river is the heavenly Queen’s Park; a quiet spot of London with rows of enviable houses, and boasts some of the best hidden restaurant spots that Zone 2 has to offer.
A walk around the neighborhood gives a feeling of bougie without any of the pretentiousness. It’s a family friendly haven that’s casualness makes for the perfect way to spend a slow Sunday roaming around the park followed by an epic Sunday roast, or a buzzy evening spent at some of the local watering holes with friends. Queen’s Park has got it all.
1. Pretend you’re in sunny Australia at this chic Queen’s Park staple
Along Lonsdale Road mews you will find a little slice of Australia, Milk Beach. The menu hones modern Australian cuisine, inviting you to explore through delicious small and large plates that are made for sharing – or not.
This Aussie outpost serves both brunch and dinner, with wine tasting nights hosted fortnightly. There’s a strong coffee culture down under which Milk Beach takes very seriously, even starting their very own coffee roastery in London in 2022 called Album Coffee Roasters. Enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of joe to-go as you stroll along the mews.
📍 19-21 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD
2. Shop around for local produce at Queen’s Park Farmers Market
Come rain or shine the farmer’s market is on every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at Salusbury Primary School to offer you its delightful seasonal harvests. Around 40 stalls attend each week to give you a taste of the very best produce in season. You’ll find the very best free range organic poultry and meat, biodynamic fruit, vegetables and eggs to fill up your pantry.
Ready to eat food stalls are also dotted around the market, giving you much needed sustenance for produce shopping with the dumpling stall being a local favourite. The market is a local hotspot on the weekend so be sure to arrive early to avoid any queues. Be on the lookout for an occasional celebrity sighting, as West London residents are known to drop-in for their weekly food shop.
Prices are high (surprise surprise) so an entire weekly food shop may not be feasible, but even a wander around is fascinating enough.
📍 Salusbury Primary School, Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RG
3. Hang out at the neighbourhood gastropub
Alice House is the local everything. By day, it’s the charming brunch spot for all the cosy vibes and a relaxed work space to hunker down and get your productivity on. By night, it becomes a bar stocked with independent local beers and wines with a lively social scene that has weekly events.
Try your luck on some tricky trivia during quiz night on Wednesdays or wind down to some local talent during Thursday’s weekly live music night. Fridays and Saturdays are best nights to get your boogie on as the Alice House DJ plays some killer tunes that always rustles up a huge crowd. The exposed brick and glowing filament bulbs that seemingly float above you give an intimate and warm feel to this well-loved local joint.
📍 53-55 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NJ
4. Get some much-needed vitamin D at the gorgeous Queen’s Park
Of course a day well spent at Queen’s Park would not be complete without heading to the Queen’s Park. Grab some drinks, nibbles and a picnic blanket, and head to the park for some classic British summertime vibes. The park has a small petting farm where the likes of goats, sheep, rabbits, and peacocks will be a welcome break from the quintessential London animal we all love to hate, the pigeon.
Tennis courts and a pitch and putt are among the park’s sports facilities. The park also features a Grade-II listed bandstand, an ornamental garden, and a children’s playground with a paddling pool and a zip line which may or may not be even more fun for adults.
5. Get your caffeine fix at Dark & Light Coffee
When it comes to coffee shops and cafés, Queen’s Park offers a delightful variety of options that are sure to satisfy a multitude of cravings. We recommend getting your midday pick-me-up from Dark & Lightwhich boasts a bright and charming ambience that’s perfect for unwinding with a fantastic cup of coffee.
Treat yourself to some baked goods and have a gander at their collection of plants, which are also available for purchase. So, whether you’re looking for somewhere to work or catch up with the besties, Dark & Light offers the perfect, caffeinated escapade in the heart of Queen’s Park.
📍 22 College Parade, Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RN.
6. Get in some pad work at Storm LDN
Unlock your boxing potential in a training sesh at Storm LDN’s state of the art boutique boxing gym. Classes are designed for any skill level so whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned boxing champ, there will be a class tailored to you. The trainers are highly experienced and as classes are capped in numbers, you’ll be sure to get in some individual attention.
If the prospect of getting any nasty bruises may be putting you off, classes at Storm are non-contact meaning sparring and any broken noses are out of the question. With a commitment to giving back to the community, the Storm LDN Academy aims to provide coaching and mentorship to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. At Storm they believe in boxing with a heart.
📍 Storm LDN, 121 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RG
7. Grab your sushi fix at Queen’s Park’s fashionable sushi bar
Michiko Sushi is the unassuming Japanese restaurant that has ultra chic roots. Named after its owner and fashion designer Michiko Koshino, with a play on her family name, this hidden sushi spot is a relaxed joint that aims to serve authentic Japanese cuisine. It’s even known to have welcomed celebrities through its doors — the restaurant made headlines in 2020 when Kanye West was pictured leaving with his daughter, North.
The menu is extensive and well priced, whilst the atmosphere is modern, industrial and laid-back making it the perfect casual mid week dinner choice.
📍 74 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NU
8. Take a stroll through Old Paddington Cemetery
Although perhaps viewed as macabre by some, certain locals and visitors have a fondness for exploring London’s most iconic cemeteries. In Queen’s Park, the Old Paddington Cemetery is the perfect place to delve into the area’s history, which dates all the way back to 1855.
There are two Gothic-style chapelsadding a striking background to your picture-perfect stroll, winding your way through forgone tombs and graves. For a full round-up on London’s must-visit cemeteries, click here.
📍 Willesden Ln, London NW6 7SD.
9. Get the pints in at The Salusbury Pub
It wouldn’t be a Secret London neighbourhood guide if we just mentioned one pub, just in case you’re on the hunt for a well-earned pub crawl with your mates. That’s where The Salusbury comes in, the self-proclaimed OG when it comes to gastropubs in the area. It boasts an incredible selection of beers and ales on offer, and serves up some classic pub grub if you’re feeling peckish.
Other pubs nearby that are worth checking out include The Kilburn Arms and the Prince of Wales (although both on the edges of Queen’s Park). You can also find a local craft brewery, but more on that later!
📍 50-52 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NN.
10. Taste the Mediterranean at this beloved hidden gem
Along the same mews as Milk Beach you’ll find Carmel, a recently opened Eastern Mediterranean all-day restaurant with banquet style seating and an open kitchen for you to peer in as the chefs prepare your feast. There’s a feeling as if you’ve just entered the current buzzy hotspot in Soho with bright and warm interiors, when instead you’ve avoided the chaos of the hoards of tourists and have escaped to the lovely Queen’s Park.
Lunch is served on weekdays and brunch on the weekend. The brunch offering is a delicious and accessible introduction to a side of Mediterranean cuisine you may not have explored yet. Plates are encouraged to be shared for dinner and the flatbreads are not to be missed.
📍 Ground Floor, 23-25 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD
11. Work up a sweat at hot yoga at Fierce Grace
Queen’s Park is the home to Fierce Grace, a hot yoga studio with a fresh outlook on the practice. The studio blends all yoga styles for strength and flexibility to sculpt your body and your mind. Classes offer accessibility for all fitness levels and align with whichever goal you are keen to reach. If you’re feeling out of shape or have got any injuries you think could hold you back, the cheekily named S.O.B (Stiff, Old, or Broken) class is catered for exactly that.
Get a seriously intense sweat on in a class with temperatures between 35 – 38° C and see how far you can push your body.
📍 260 Kilburn Ln, London W10 4BA
12. Grab the pack and get your wolf on at this local craft brewery
We’ve mentioned two pubs, but what about a brewery? That’s exactly what happens when two rugby players turn a disused mechanics garage into a craft beer brewery and sports bar. You get Wolfpackbaby! This super casual and laidback bar has 8 rotating taps guzzling out fresh local lager every night.
Ex-rugby pros Alistair Hargreaves and Chris Wyles have created a stripped-back industrial bar perfect for boys night. The exteriors may look inconspicuous but if you see a crowd of people spilling out onto the mews beer in hand and perched on some metal kegs then you’re in the right place.
📍 53 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RA
13. Find your new must read at the local bookshop at Queen’s Park Books
Queen’s Park Books is small but sweet. This independent bookshop specialises in highly curated titles that range from the classics we all know and love to newer contemporary titles for you to explore. Family owned and keen on fostering a sense of community, this modest bookshop hosts literary events throughout the year and partners with Queen’s Park Book Festival every summer.
The staff are extremely friendly and are eager to help you find your next page-turner, no matter how obscure. So, head to Queen’s Park Books to stock up on some reading material!
📍 87 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NH
14. Grab a slice of Neapolitan pizza at Pizza Pilgrim’s
Pizza Pilgrims have undeniably established themselves as the best places in London’s for Neapolitan pizzaswith locations across the city including Queen’s Park. Located on Lonsdale Road, the space has been renovated to keep the cosy neighbourhood feel that Queen’s Park epitomises.
With freshly roasted Neapolitan espressos, bread baked in-store by expert pizzaioli in the mornings, to child-friendly dining options and late evening aperitivo, Pizza Pilgrim’s has surely become a Queen’s Park neighbourhood staple from morning til’ night.
📍 43, 47 Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RA
15. Go on a culinary journey through Europe at LULA
LULA is the new kid on the block that sees Executive Chef Paul Delrez bringing the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean to Queen’s Park’s ever-buzzy Lonsdale Road. Inspired by the former Top Chef contestant’s travels through Spain, LULA wants guests to feel as if they are on a Mediterranean retreat indulging in a feast with loved ones.
Standout dishes guests can expect are the scallops with spinach, roasted garlic, lemon butter sauce and chives; mussels with pear cider, sour cream, gorgonzola, and olive oil; and the roasted spiced cauliflower with harissa buerre blanc and chives. The space is warm and intimate, adorned with a tapestry of exotic plants that flows onto the charming terrace for an al fresco meal along the cobbled stones.
📍 6A-8A, Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RD
