Marylebone is an extremely picturesque area to the north west of central London. Part of the City of Westminster (bounded by Maida Vale, Regent's Park, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus), Marylebone is an excellent place to stay when planning a shopping or sightseeing trip to London. The splendid Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian streets evoke eras made familiar by Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Charles Dickens lived at 1 Devonshire Terrace (now 15-17 Marylebone Road) from 1839 to 1851 during which time he completed six novels - The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit, A Christmas Carol, Dombey and Son and David Copperfield.

The famous Baker Street remains largely unchanged from the original description of the place of residence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional character - the inimitable Mr Holmes. The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221b Baker Street is great fun and well worth a visit.

Marylebone has a wealth of attractions including the elegant Regent's Park designed in 1811 by architect John Nash. This vast Royal Park offers spectacular views of lakes, gardens, tree lined avenues and stunning architecture. There are areas of specialist planting including the London Zoological Gardens, the English Gardens and St John's Lodge Gardens. Queen Mary's Gardens provide an enchanting backdrop for the open air