Westbourne Grove runs from Kensington Park Road in the west to Queensway in the east, crossing over Portobello Road. It contains a mixture of independent and chain retailers.
Westbourne Grove’s development commenced in the 1840s, progressing from its eastern end located in Bayswater to the west, ultimately becoming the primary route from east to west into the Ladbroke Estate. The area situated at the far west end of the street only acquired the name Westbourne Grove in 1938, formerly being referred to as Archer Street. The remaining part of the street was Westbourne Grove West for some time. Additionally, Westbourne Gardens became part of Westbourne Grove in 1866.
In 1929, A.J. Cronin, a renowned novelist, launched his own medical practice at 152 Westbourne Grove.
Westbourne Grove ultimately takes its name from Westbourne Green – a settlement that developed to the west of the bourne that later took the name River Westbourne.
North of what is now Westbourne Grove was Westbourne Farm. This was the home, between 1815 and 1817, of the actress Sarah Siddons and her daughter. This building was at the point where the Harrow Road, the Westway and the canal converge. Mrs Siddons was buried at St Mary’s Church, the main church of Paddington on Paddington Green.
Westbourne Grove underwent a significant transformation in its character after being named by 1842 when it was still a vacant stretch. By 1846, the area had been developed by W. K. Jenkins and was filled with several cottages and semi-detached villas. Even by 1850, the street was lined with trees and had front gardens. However, in 1854, the first shop was opened, and by 1859, the area’s villas were swiftly being replaced by shops: “unsurpassed by any in London”.
Despite its current popularity and high property values, much of the area had deteriorated by the 1950s. During this period, it was the hub of activities conducted by the infamous slum landlord, Peter Rachman, who gave rise to the term “Rachmanism”. Rachman was notorious for his use of violent evictions against tenants with legally fixed rents. He replaced them with individuals, mainly recent migrants from the West Indies, who were unable to secure accommodation due to discrimination and council tenant restrictions. Overcrowding in multi-occupied housing became commonplace, and Rachman operated his business from an office in Westbourne Grove. Consequently, a part of the area, including streets between Ledbury Road and Shrewsbury Road, south of Westbourne Park Road, fell into disrepair and was eventually compulsorily purchased and demolished.
The Notting Hill Carnival passes along the central part of Westbourne Grove.
