Ashley Gardens Estate

Mr. Whiskey, longtime Ashley Gardens
cat, in front of the Porters' Lodge.

Ashley Gardens was built beginning in 1890, to offer large homes on a single level as an attractive alternative to older town houses built on small floorprints stacked in many vertical stories.

This particular block has had its freehold bought, so the freehold is now owned by its 14 occupiers in equal shares. But the block remains part of a unified maintenance and services arrangement with the rest of Ashley Gardens, so it benefits from 7-day 24-hour porterage and security, a service for receiving parcels and messages, small maintenance jobs by a handyman, experienced Estate Manager (20+ years) with staff, professional external maintenance, rubbish collection from flat doors, etc.

Neighbourhood

A very convenient and safe neighbourhood, with many long-term residents who form a "village" atmosphere. Busy during the day, but mostly with government employees of the nearby ministries, not with foreign tourists, with active street life well into the evening. Traffic (foot and vehicles) keeps to Victoria Street and other large streets, leaving Ambrosden Avenue and adjacent streets very peaceful. Quiet at night, and extremely quiet on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Post is delivered before 7:00 AM daily and second post about 1:00 PM. Regular presence of neighbourhood police on foot patrols (Scotland Yard is just down Victoria Street), good local services.

Local businesses

Tachbrook Street Market

Many nearby restaurants and pubs. Easy to buy necessities; a medium-sized Sainsbury’s is almost across the street, with a Marks and Spencer Foods, larger Tesco and a very large brand-new Sainsbury’s “Market at Pimlico” within easy walking and carrying distance (also large carpark below the market). A local market for fruit and vegetables is in Tachbrook Street daily, including Wright's Wet Fish, a family stall continuously at Tachbrook Market since 1876, suppliers of fish to Jennifer Patterson, one of the "Two Fat Ladies", who lived in Ashley Gardens and parked her motorcycle outside her flat up until her recent death.

Rippon Cheese Stores

Specialist bakeries, fish shops, butchers, and delicatessens of several nationalities in Tachbrook Street and Rochester Row, including Rippon cheese stores in Upper Tachbrook Street with hundreds of cheeses at the peak of readiness, and many more food shops again just on the other side of Victoria Station in Elizabeth Street and Ebury Street, Belgravia. Many convenient local shops for practical household needs, Army & Navy department store very close. Starbucks and newsagents at the nearest corner.

Transport

Victoria Station

Extremely convenient for transport. Victoria Station (350 yards away) provides national and suburban rail services, plus the Underground with Victoria, District, and Circle lines. District and Circle lines also at St. James’s Park station, and the new Jubilee Line extension at Westminster station. Taxis are virtually aways passing between Victoria Station and Parliament Square, seldom a wait of a minute to flag one down, and they are always close by to pick up account customers immediately. (Ashley Gardens is one of the official points in "The Knowledge" that all London black taxi drivers must master, so all drivers know where it is.) Many bus lines run down Victoria Street and through Victoria Station. Victoria Coach Station (a short walk) handles inter-city Coaches. The Gatwick Express airport train arrives at and leaves from Victoria Station every 15 minutes, and connections to Paddington Station serve the Heathrow Express with a similar schedule. Major car rental companies at Victoria Station (also book online or by phone). Easy access to the A40 (M) and A4/M4.

Parking and Congestion Charging

Ample parking bays reserved for residents, including the entire street in front of the block, with residents’ permits available at Westminster City Hall (just across Victoria Street). Flat is located within the congestion charging area, so residents are entitled to a 90% discount on congestion charges. Secure multi-level parking garage nearby.