Marble Arch is a small area in the City of Westminster which is, funnily enough, named after the large Marble Arch located here. This central London location shares a border with Mayfair and Marylebone and is surrounded by tourist attractions including Hyde Park, Oxford Street, the West End and Buckingham Palace.
Marble Arch is steeped in history and has a rather gruesome past. Before the arch arrived, the Old Tyburn Gallows stood in its place as a hanging gallery for some of London’s most notorious criminals. When the gallows were no more, the area became a more respectable area and grand squares and terraces were built. The Great Western Railway brought with it further development in the area and Marble Arch grew from there.
The Marble Arch itself is made of white Carrara marble and was designed by John Nash in 1828, taking elements from the triumphal arch of Constantine in Rome. The arch was intended to be the main entrance to Buckingham Palace; however it was removed by Queen Victoria when she decided to extend her humble abode during her reign. Rumour has it, that the royal carriage also struggled to fit through the arch, so was no longer fit for purpose. This iconic arch was moved to the entrance of Hyde Park in 1851 and now acts as a gateway between Bayswater and Marylebone.
Businesses in the area
Although a relatively small area in London, there are some large businesses based in Marble Arch.
The home of reality TV, Lime Pictures has its headquarters in Marble Arch. They create some of the most talked about TV in the UK from the initial development stage through to full scale production. Look out for (or avoid) the stars of TOWIE and Geordie Shore tottering in and out.
There are also a number of law firms in the area including immigration specialists, Gherson and real estate specialists, Brecher.
The area is at the hub of London’s tourist destinations, with the capital’s largest retail street, Oxford Street running on from the arch.
Transport
With its own dedicated tube station, travel is easy in Marble Arch. Marble Arch tube station is on the Central line which will whiz you into the City in under fifteen minutes.
It’s also within easy walking distance of London Paddington train station where the Heathrow Express departs every fifteen minutes.
Places to take clients
Texture Restaurant is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Marble Arch. The food is described as modern European with a Scandinavian and Icelandic influence. Start your meal with a glass of fizz in the Champagne bar and move onto the tasting menu accompanied by wines chosen to complement each dish.
If you’re looking for somewhere a little more low-key, then the Beehive is perfect. This cosy pub is one of the oldest in London and serves up traditional pub favourites with finesse.
Leisure
There are so many things you can do in your leisure time in Marble Arch as you’re so close to many of the biggest tourist attractions London has to offer. Shop til you drop on Oxford Street; take a stroll around Hyde Park; snap a selfie at Madame Tussauds or take in a show at the London Palladium.
Serviced apartments
We have a number of serviced apartments in central London; the Molyneux Apartments are situated close to Marble Arch tube station and have one and two bedroom apartments. Lees Place Apartments are in nearby Mayfair, just a five minute walk from Marble Arch. Have a look at more serviced apartments in Marble Arch or try our full portfolio of London serviced apartments for your next stay.
