Belsize Park

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Belsize Park
latitude= 51.5449
longitude= -0.1632
os_grid_reference= TQ273845
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area= NW
postcode_district= NW3
london_borough= Camden
constituency_westminster= Hampstead and Highgate

Belsize Park is an area of north-west London, England in the London Borough of Camden, located convert|3.4|mi|km|1 north-west of Charing Cross. It is part of the Hampstead area, but borders the village of Hampstead to the north and west, Kentish Town and Gospel Oak to the east, and Primrose Hill to the south.

Although not specifically named on the "Geographers' London Atlas", the area has many thoroughfares bearing the name: Belsize Avenue, Belsize Court, Belsize Crescent, Belsize Gardens, Belsize Grove, Belsize Lane, Belsize Mews, Belsize Park (the road itself), Belsize Park Gardens, Belsize Place, Belsize Square, and Belsize Terrace. The name comes from the original 17th century manor house and parkland (built by Daniel O'Neill for his wife, the Countess of Chesterfield) which once stood on the site. The estate built up between 1852 and 1878, by which time it extended to Haverstock Hill. After World War I, the construction of blocks of flats began, and now a great many of the larger houses are also converted as such. The full history of the estate may be seen referred to below.

In World War II, one of the large underground air-raid shelters was located here.

It is an elegant area and there are many restaurants, pubs and cafés along Haverstock Hill and also England's Lane. It is more spacious than Hampstead Village, with wider roads. Hampstead Heath is a 10-12 minutes' walk. Primrose Hill Park is 2 minutes from England's Lane and provides some of the best views of Central London.

The area is a haunt for celebrities, including the actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband Chris Martin Of Coldplay, director Tim Burton and his wife actress Helena Bonham Carter, BBC Radio 1 DJ/Presenter Chris Moyles, and actor Sean Bean, who all live there.

Belsize Park is in the Hampstead and Highgate constituency for which the present MP is Glenda Jackson.

There is limited parking in Belsize Park; a residents' permit zone operates weekdays 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm. Some pay and display for visitors is available.

There is a Youth Hostel located in Belsize Park Gardens.

Nearest stations:
*Belsize Park tube station (Northern Line)
*Chalk Farm tube station (Northern Line)
*Camden Town tube station (Northern Line)
*Swiss Cottage tube station (Jubilee Line)
*Hampstead Heath (North London Line)

Cultural References

Belsize Park is famously mentioned in Marillion song Kayleigh, in the line "loving on the floor in "Belsize Park" and in the short film "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" of which the title song became a hit for Engelbert Humperdinck.The Camden Town Group artist Robert Polhill Bevan and his wife Stanislawa de Karlowska lived at 14 Adamson Road from 1900-1925.

port

There are records of a Belsize Park Rugby Club in North-West London since the 1860s. In 1871, Belsize were one of the clubs at the inaugural meeting of the Rugby Football Union, and therefore pioneers of the game of Rugby Union. In 1878, Belsize moved to form Rosslyn Park RFC, becoming one of England's leading clubs. In 1971, Belsize Park RFC was re-established by a group of local players, who developed a philosophy of Win the Game, but definitely win the party! By the late 1970s, the special spirit had evolved, enticing friends from all over the world, including a number of established internationals, who relished the concept of good, free spirit rugby blended with partying and excess. The club is now one of the most central of all London Rugby Clubs, playing and training (confusingly) in Regent's park. There are 3 regular teams playing every Saturday during the season as well as a Touch Rugby squad in the summer.

External links

* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22638 History of the Belsize estate]
* [http://belsize.info Belsize Park Information & Directory]
* [http://www.bunkertours.co.uk/belsize_park.htm Belsize Park World War II deep shelter]
* [http://www.belsize.org.uk Belsize Residents Association]
* [http://belsizeparkrfc.com Belsize Park Rugby Club]