SEBRA is a strong voice for anyone with connections with this most attractive part of London, which is architecturally a match for anything in Westminster or Kensington & Chelsea. Please follow this link to read the SEBRA constitution.

Our area is shown on the map on the SEBRA AREA page, and has some wonderful streets and squares, quiet mews and bustling shopping areas, all bounded to the south by the open green acres of Kensington Gardens. Bayswater is a cosmopolitan area; around Queensway just about any language can be heard, and there is hardly an ethnic cuisine which is not represented.

If it were not for SEBRA, our two great through roads, Gloucester and Westbourne Terraces, would be like the A4 Talgarth Road in West Kensington – major highways carrying hundred of lorries and coaches every hour, day and night between the elevated A40 and Central London. Also, the area would be full of cheap hotels, and its carefully conserved village character would be a distant memory.

And don’t think the threat has gone away – we are always opposing ill-conceived ideas which could be foisted on us if we are not careful. We represent residents, local businesses and visitors. Over more than 50 years, our group of dedicated volunteers has played a significant role in the continuing improvement of Bayswater; we comment regularly on all planning applications in our area, and our views carry great weight with the Planning Authority. We have considerable influence with the City of Westminster Council and Transport for London

Communications are superb, with many bus routes into Central London, and several undergound lines: The Bakerloo line goes to the West End and the Central, District & Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines go to the City and round to Victoria and Westminster. And then there is the Elizabeth line, which opened in 2022 and has a brand new station at Paddington. It offers travel from Heathrow and Maidenhead across London to the City, Canary Wharf, Shenfield & Abbey Wood.

Bayswater is unique – it retains a village character, but is also a bustling and thriving shopping and leisure area, with pubs, restaurants and bars to suit every taste and pocket. So if you want to see the area protected and cared for, join SEBRA, have your voice heard where it matters, and help our work to continue.

SEBRA’s campaigns have included:

  • Pressure on Westminster City Council to stop unfair enforcement of parking and other traffic restrictions
  • Efforts to combat rough sleeping and begging in the area
  • Highlighting the state of Lord Hill’s Bridge and ongoing efforts to keep it free of graffiti
  • Pushing for dedicated e-Bike parking
  • Better and longer coverage of Bayswater by City Inspectors
  • Working with many interested parties to help shape the major proposals for improving Queensway and returning it to pre-eminence as a major London shopping area
  • Persuading TfL to plan the London Mayor’s proposed Cycle Superhighway properly, taking full account of local needs and long-established businesses