Ladbroke Square

Ladbroke Square is a private garden square in Notting Hill, west London. It sits between Ladbroke Grove to the west and Kensington Park Road to the northeast, with Notting Hill Gate tube station a short walk to the southeast. The square’s houses line the north side of the gardens, while Kensington Park Gardens borders the south. Ladbroke Square Montessori School stands at number 43 on the square. The area was once part of a racecourse called the Hippodrome, created in 1837 by John Whyte. The gardens cover about seven acres, making them the largest of the 16 communal gardens on the historic Ladbroke Estate. English Heritage has listed the square at Grade II, recognising its mature trees and long straight walk along the north side. Curving paths wind through the three-hectare garden, enclosed by railings and open only to local residents. An 1849 plan by architect Thomas Allason shaped the gardens as they appear today. The square was developed in the 1840s after the racecourse closed. Notable former residents include Sir John Scott, a governor of British Guiana, who lived at 21 Kensington Park Gardens in the 19th century. Concert pianist Maurice Cole and his violinist wife Winifred Small resided at number 8 during the 1920s and 1930s. The square’s grand houses and private gardens reflect its history as a well-planned Victorian development. Its quiet, leafy atmosphere contrasts with the busy streets nearby.