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Great Portland Street
Great Portland Street runs north to south through the western edge of Marylebone, linking Oxford Street at its southern end with the Marylebone Road (A501) at its northern end. It falls within the W1W postcode and sits on the boundary between Marylebone to the west and Fitzrovia to the east, giving it a dual character that distinguishes it from the more purely residential streets of the Howard de Walden Estate.
The street takes its name from the Dukes of Portland, members of the Cavendish-Bentinck family who held large landholdings in this part of London. The prefix Great distinguishes it from nearby Portland Place, which runs parallel a short distance to the east. The street was laid out as part of the 18th-century development of Marylebone and retains a number of Georgian and Edwardian buildings, including four structures with Grade II listed status.
During the early 20th century, Great Portland Street became known informally as Motor Row, a concentration of early automobile showrooms and dealerships that made it a centre for London's nascent car trade. The street also has a notable cultural footnote: Pagani's restaurant, which once operated here, attracted visitors including composer Giacomo Puccini, painter James McNeill Whistler and actress Sarah Bernhardt, whose signatures decorated its walls. Great Portland Street Underground station serves the street on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines. For the parallel street to the east, see Portland Place.
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