e2e.bike

Cycling adventures across Yorkshire, Britain and beyond

Menu
  • End to Ends
    • Britain
    • Ireland
    • France
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Luxembourg
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Switzerland
    • Czechia
    • Slovakia
    • Poland
    • Latvia
    • Cuba
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Isle of Man
    • Faroes
    • Liechtenstein
  • Coast to Coasts
  • Yorkshire Ridings
  • Others
  • Writings
Menu
← PreviousNext →

Quirky London 2: Trompe l’œuil houses

Posted on 2 February 20102 April 2021 by Rob Ainsley

Where is it? A bit north of Hyde Park. Head west from Paddington Station about half a mile to the end of the road and it’s there in front of you.


What’s quirky about it? Nos 23 and 24 don’t exist, despite being decorated with proper window and door frames and balconies. The windows are only painted on (right), because there’s nothing behind: the ‘houses’ sit over an Underground railway. Like so much in London, they’re just a facade.

If you nip round the back, via the bike cut-through to Porchester Gardens, you can see the sham exposed, the supporting metal joists, and the rail line (below).


Why bike there?
All pleasant territory to nose around by bike. Hyde Park is just over Bayswater Road to the south, and there are lots of little mews and well-to-do streets to explore. Leinster Gardens also has a few shops.


View Larger Map

Previous
←   Quirky London 1: The Flat House
Next
Quirky London 3: The Giant Plug →

You are here

e2e.bike > Other > Quirky London > Quirky London 2: Trompe l’œuil houses

Recent Posts

  • Earth works: The art of Wolds bridleways 21 June 2026
  • Drift to Driffield: Yorkshire Cycle Festival’s new home 15 June 2026
  • Patient progress: Turning hospital visits into rides 22 May 2026

Random Posts

  • Coldstones Cut: Yorkshire’s Machu Picchu26 April 2021
    Mysterious sacred temple of an ancient civilisation; most perfectly preserved prehistoric hillfort …
  • Hebden Bridge: Hip operations26 April 2017
    Hippy life in Yorkshire? I can promise you, having grown up through …
  • France 13: Mende to Villefort20 September 2015
    An easy day today, the first half uphill in the Lot valley, …

Search e2e.bike

Find me

        
Facebook • Bluesky • Linked In • Email
© 2026 e2e.bike | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme