A hidden corner of Kilburn has been opened up to the public for the first time, with a dozen restored Victorian railway arches turned into a new walkway lined with space for shops and cafes.
Kilburn Mews, a row of 12 historic arches beside the Metropolitan line tracks, now links Loveridge Road with Kilburn Tube station, giving commuters and residents a new pedestrian route to and from the Jubilee line.
Transport for London’s property arm, Places for London, has finished the building work and plans to fill the arches and two standalone units with new shops and small businesses, describing the spot as a future “vibrant commercial hub” and a welcoming new public space for the community.
The arches could house cafes, fitness businesses, a food outlet or independent shops, with Places for London saying it wants to curate a mix of occupiers that reflect the character of Kilburn, including small and medium-sized businesses such as fitness, food and experience providers. No tenants have been named yet, and no opening dates have been announced.
Victorian brickwork restored
The renovation stripped out old concrete and machinery, while original brickwork and cast-iron rain pipes were cleaned and restored. Modern upgrades, including glazed fronts and air source heat pumps, have been added to make the units energy efficient and attractive to traders.
The landscaped mews itself comes with public seating, new planting, cycle parking and improved lighting, turning what was previously a hidden space into a walking route. A publicly accessible defibrillator has been installed after feedback from community engagement, and, following suggestions from residents, the mews has been “geo-fenced” to restrict the use of dockless e-bikes. Students from Hampstead School also contributed to the design process, helping to shape the look and feel of the public space, while new planting and landscaping were chosen to encourage biodiversity.
Jo Fisher, head of arches at Places for London, said: “We’re very pleased to have completed the building work at Kilburn Mews, demonstrating how historic railway infrastructure can be sensitively adapted to meet modern needs.”
She added: “The new arches and two standalone units will house some great businesses that will soon become much-loved parts of the fabric of Kilburn.”
“Now we’re looking forward to great new businesses moving into the spaces and helping Kilburn Mews and the wider community continue to thrive and grow,” she said.
A boost for Kilburn’s high street
The project lands at a time when Kilburn’s high street has had a difficult run of headlines. Just last weekend, part of Kilburn High Road was closed after a building fire, before reopening once the road was made safe. A row of occupied arches a few steps from the station would give the area new daytime footfall, and a reason for passers-by to linger rather than simply pass through.
Richard Dobson, regional managing director for Morgan Sindall Construction London, which completed the work, said: “Kilburn Mews has been a truly transformative project, breathing new life into the heart of Kilburn.”
“Thanks to this regeneration, the local community will not just have a modern and attractive space for socialising, relaxing and shopping but it has enhanced accessibility around Kilburn while protecting historic buildings for generations to come,” he said.
Railway arches have long been part of the capital’s small-business landscape, and Places for London says it supports more than 1,500 businesses across TfL’s network. The Kilburn scheme follows that pattern: modest, characterful units, close to a station, aimed at traders who could not easily afford a conventional high street shop.
Kilburn’s own transport heritage runs deep. The area sits close to Hampstead, where a blue plaque marks the home of Frank Pick, the man who shaped the Tube’s design identity. The restored arches, with their cleaned Victorian brickwork and ironwork, sit comfortably in that story: old railway fabric, kept in use rather than demolished.
For now, the walkway is open and the units are empty. The test of Kilburn Mews will be who moves in, and whether the mix of cafes, fitness studios, food outlets and independent shops that Places for London hopes for actually takes shape in the months ahead.
