Marylebone Walk & Chongqing Noodles (optional)

This walk begins at Marble Arch, nearby is the approximate site of the Tyburn Tree—once London’s principal place of execution, where an estimated 50,000 people were hanged over the course of 650 years. From this dramatic starting point, we’ll step into the far more refined streets of Marylebone and explore its layered history.
We’ll pass through elegant squares such as Portman Square, named after the Portman family, who developed much of the area and still own around 110 acres today. Nearby, Manchester Square is home to the Wallace Collection, while Paddington Street Gardens offers a quieter green space with its own stories to tell.
Along the route, we’ll also discover some lesser-known gems, including the atmospheric Grotto Passage and the Grotto Ragged and Industrial School, founded in 1846 as part of a Victorian movement to educate disadvantaged children.
Marylebone has long attracted notable residents. We’ll pass the former home where Paul McCartney lived as a lodger with his girlfriend Jane Asher’s family in the mid-1960s, as well as the house associated with Elizabeth Barrett, who left her father’s home here to elope with Robert Browning. The area was also home to Arthur Conan Doyle, adding another literary connection to our walk.
After the walk, there’s the option to continue at The Jackalope pub, known for its excellent selection of beers. Downstairs, the restaurant serves Chongqing noodles, with a range of spice levels to suit different tastes.
Everyone is very welcome to join for a drink after the walk. If you’d like to stay for food, please leave a comment so I can make a reservation for the correct number of people, as the restaurant space is limited and it is very popular.
The walk is about 5km long
Participation is at your own risk.