Harley Street, Medical district in City of Westminster, England
Harley Street is a street in central London consisting mainly of Georgian and Victorian townhouses converted into specialized medical practices, clinics, and health centers. Most of the buildings stand four or five stories tall and form continuous rows on either side of the roadway.
The houses were built in the late 18th century and doctors began renting rooms for private practices during the 19th century. The shift toward a predominantly medical address was largely complete by the end of the Victorian era.
The street takes its name from Edward Harley, whose family developed the land in the 18th century, and the tall facades now display discreet brass plaques listing medical practitioners. Visitors attending a medical facility will find a quiet pavement with almost no retail or cafes between the practices.
Visitors will find the nearest underground stations within a few minutes' walk in any direction, while appointments are usually arranged weeks in advance. Most entrances are at street level and lead to waiting rooms on the ground floor or upper stories.
Many consulting rooms sit in buildings that have kept their original 18th-century entrances, staircases, and reception salons. Some doctors even use former dining rooms with fireplaces and ceiling plasterwork as examination spaces.
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