Maida Vale

Maida Vale station sits in one of London's most consistently attractive residential neighbourhoods. The streets around the station are lined with large late-Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks, tree-lined avenues and a series of local shops and restaurants that serve the prosperous population without any particular interest in drawing visitors. That self-sufficiency is part of what makes the area pleasant to wander. It is not performing for anyone. The architecture is handsome, the streets are wide and the overall effect is of a settled, comfortable London neighbourhood with good bones.

The station opened in 1915 and the surface building - designed by Stanley Heaps in a simplified version of the Leslie Green red terracotta style - has been well preserved. A short walk south leads to Little Venice and the Regent's Canal. A short walk in the other direction takes you towards the BBC's Maida Vale Studios, a historic recording complex that has hosted BBC orchestras and live radio sessions for decades.

Station Overview

Maida Vale Underground station opened in 1915 as part of the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway extension. It sits in Zone 2 and is served exclusively by the Bakerloo line. The station does not have step-free access. It is a local stop between Warwick Avenue to the south and Kilburn Park to the north.

Lines and Connectivity

The Bakerloo line (brown) connects south to Warwick Avenue, Paddington (with Elizabeth, Circle, District and Hammersmith and City line connections) and Oxford Circus. Northbound services continue to Kilburn Park, Queen's Park, Willesden Junction and ultimately Harrow and Wealdstone. Journey time to Oxford Circus is approximately twelve minutes.

Facilities

Maida Vale is a quiet station with a travel information point and ticket machines. The surrounding neighbourhood has cafes, a Co-op supermarket and local restaurants on Randolph Avenue and Elgin Avenue. ATMs are available nearby.

Accessibility

Maida Vale station does not have step-free access. There are stairs between street level and the platforms with no lift. Paddington, accessible via two stops south on the Bakerloo line, is the nearest step-free option.

Travel Tips

• The BBC Maida Vale Studios on Delaware Road are a short walk from the station. The building is not open to the public but hosts occasional BBC events and broadcasts.
• Little Venice canal junction is a ten-minute walk south - a worthwhile detour on any day the weather cooperates.
• Paddington Recreation Ground, a large sports facility and open green space, is nearby on Randolph Avenue.
• The local pub scene around Elgin Avenue and Castellain Road has some well-regarded neighbourhood pubs that are popular with locals.
• This is a calm alternative to starting your Bakerloo journey from Paddington if your accommodation is on this part of the line.

Nearby Attractions

BBC Maida Vale Studios - five minutes walk east on Delaware Road. A historic recording complex used by BBC orchestras since the 1930s. The building is not open to the public, but is associated with recordings by artists from the Beatles to contemporary BBC Proms performances.

Little Venice - ten minutes walk south. The canal junction where the Regent's Canal meets the Grand Union Canal, with moored narrowboats and waterside cafes.

Paddington Recreation Ground - ten minutes walk south. A large open sports facility with cricket pitches, tennis courts and a cafe on Randolph Avenue.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Bakerloo line services at Maida Vale run from approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sundays. Night Tube operates on the Bakerloo line on Friday and Saturday nights. The neighbourhood is at its best in summer when the trees along Elgin Avenue are in full leaf.