With its elegant mixture of Edwardian and Victorian buildings, Great Portland Street is one of the W1 postcode’s richest places of character. The first mention of this street dates back to 1726, when it was known as John Street. A few years later, the expansion of the estate owned by the Dukes of Portland brought a change in the street’s name, which then became known as Portland Road. Towards the end of the 18th century, the street layout was pretty much identical to the one we see today, with large period buildings lining each side of the street.
Towards the beginning of the 19th century, Portland Road became an important residential and commercial hub. Great Portland Street received its name in 1870. By that time, the street was known to be home to many restaurants, shops, massage parlours, and antique shops. In the early twentieth century, Great Portland Street was dubbed “Motor Row” due to the number of companies in the automobile sector that chose the street as their base. Benz Motors, Jaguar, Austin, and Vauxhall were some of the most important firms that were represented in the showrooms that lined Great Portland Street at the turn of the century. The textile sector was also very important until the 1970s, and for decades Great Portland Street was the place to go for those who wanted good quality garments made to order.
Important and notable buildings
In an effort to preserve the historic and architectural value of the street, the local authority has designated Great Portland Street as part of the Harley and East Marylebone conservation areas. Great Portland Street is home to four Grade 2 listed buildings: the Great Portland Street tube station and the structures on numbers 78/80, 94, and 126. Interesting Edwardian buildings can be seen on numbers 160-180, 226, and 229. Continue reading “Explore Great Portland Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism”
