London Towne

In a verdant landscape that its original residents may have called “the country,” London Towne was launched by Keystone Development in the 1960s with the construction of nearly 700 town houses. This first London Towne development continued expanding in the '70s and '80s, and in step with its London Towne name, streets are named Gatwick, Wealdstone and Paddington after boroughs in London. Residents can hike trails in large county parks in the community’s center and all along its western edge that borders many back yards. It’s also trimmed by Lee Highway and Route 66, for quick access to regional destinations. Public transportation buses and easy-passage skywalks offer an alternative to car commuting, and the Loudon Gateway Metrorail station is within around 10 miles north.

Ron Fowler, Realtor with Riverbend Realty, says, “There are a good deal of town houses here, as well as some detached homes, and you’ll see a mix of average to above-average sizes. Most of the older homes have been updated, often with new kitchens and baths.” Contemporary brick and siding condo developments built in the ‘90s can ask around $270,000 for a one-bedroom ground-floor unit upgraded in 2020. Two- and three-story town house options with a range of siding colors and Tudor touches, average around $420,000. Rows of multi-story single-family colonial styles line tidy, sidewalked streets, where four-bedroom homes with front porches average around $700,000. You can also find newer homes built in 2020 with brick fronts, bay windows and elegant stonework for closer to $1 million. Small multi-family lawns and more sizable single-family yards are well-tended.

Public-school students can start their journey at London Towne Elementary and move on to Stone Middle School. Older students head to Centreville High which earns an A grade from Niche, or to Westfield High, which boasts numerous championship-winning sports teams and earns an overall B+ grade from Niche. Says Fowler, “London Towne is also between the George Mason University main campus and its secondary Manassas campus, and close to Strayer University and Northern Virginia Community College Manassas campus. So, students living here are only about 5 to 10 miles from higher education options.”

The neighborhood’s outdoor gem for recreation is Cub Run Trail, accessible directly from Paddington Lane, where you can run for miles, stroll paved pathways, fish from one of several quaint bridges over the shallow Cub Run or even dip your toes in the stream. Keep your eyes open for wildflowers, turtles and maybe even a rare owl sighting. Fowler adds, “I’ve had clients who’ve loved going on long walks here to spot and take fantastic photography of all the local wildlife.”

Tucked into a grassy knoll between Paddington Lane and Hoxton Square, locals also play and picnic at Shady Hill Park. As the name suggests, the playground here is well-shaded by mature oaks, and bordered by shaded picnic tables and benches. To the southeast of Route 66 near the chic Emerson apartment complex built in 2019, locals can let their pups run through several agility stations in the green lawn at Woodway Dog Run.

Two Giant grocery stores are close to home in the Village Center on Stone Road, or in Centrewood Plaza. In the adjacent Centerville Square, residents stop into Paris Baguette for decadent desserts and an array of fresh-baked cakes. Says Fowler, “Residents here also have their pick of some highly rated Italian restaurants in several shopping centers.” The cozy Ciao Osteria in Centrewood Plaza ranks nearly 5 stars on Google and specializes in homestyle pasta and seafood dishes as well as popular wood-fired pizza.

“It's not a brand-new community,” says Fowler, “but its top-rated school system and access to Cub Run Stream Park makes it really appealing. It’s a comfortable suburb, where you can relax on some excellent nature trails.”

Written By

Lia Girard

Photography Contributed By

David MacNeill

Video By

Joan Wall