I was looking through a 2009 edition of Time Out's book of "1000 things to do in London for under £10". It mentioned ogling classic cars in South Kensington and mentioned some classic car dealers in the mews off Old Brompton Road. However, when I tried to do a street view on Google maps, what I found seemed to be hidden behind closed doors, although in broadening my search I did find a Ferrari dealer on Old Brompton Road. The Fiskens website listed some fabulous cars that my husband would loved to see, but I doubt they would welcome tourists such as ourselves into their showroom. We will be staying in the Earl's Court area in September, so will be very close to South Kensington. Does anyone know of places in this area, or, failing that, elsewhere in London, where my husband might be able to see some great cars?
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3896 posts
There is a neighborhood in London where Ferraris, Maseratis, high-end Mercedes and Rolls Royces are parked on the street.
Take the tube to St. John's Wood tube station. Exit and walk over to Abbey Road Studios. Walk north of Abbey Road Studios one half block to the Abbey Road Baptist Church, which will be on the right side of the street. The parking lot out front is jammed with brand new high-end luxury cars. This church is now used as a school for the children of wealthy Russian residents of the neighborhood.
Be careful crossing the streets in the Abbey Road area. Traffic is heavy and there are a couple of dangerous intersections. The vehicle you will see a lot of in traffic here is the black Range Rover. Note: the buses and traffic traveling up and down Abbey Road do not stop at the famous Zebra cross walk in front of Abbey Road studios, so do not step out onto the cross walk thinking traffic will stop for you. They don't.
Now walk south down Abbey Road until you come to Circus Road. (To the east, the name of the road is Circus Road. To the west, the name of the road is Hall Road. There is a name change as it crosses Abbey Road.) Turn east and walk along Circus Road. Turn south on Cavendish Avenue, a quiet little street. Walk along Cavendish, looking at the cars parked behind the wrought iron gates of the houses. Many houses have 4 or 5 super-luxury cars parked in the courtyard/driveway in front, side by side, facing the gate, as though they are on display for their neighbors to see. All the houses have walls around them and gates. Number 7 Cavendish Avenue belongs to Sir Paul McCartney, but you cannot see anything there, because he has a teak gate you cannot see over. Luxury cars such as Rolls Royces and Jaguars are parked on the street there.
Now return to Circus Road and walk east. About the time you pass the Duke Of York pub, the street name will change to St. John's Wood Terrace. Keep walking. The street will become residential, and you will see dozens and dozens of amazing brand new luxury cars parked on the street. Favored are the high-end Porsches, especially the Porsche SUV's. Ferraris, Maseratis, and high-end Mercedes also parallel parked on the street. BMW's are the least expensive cars parked along here. Lovely neighborhood for walking, and when you get tired of being amazed by all the luxury cars, walk back to the Duke Of York pub and have some refreshment.
When we were walking around in this neighborhood last May, we were in shock at the number of luxury cars parked on the street. I wish I could post my photos of those cars here on the forum.