Beautiful Central London neighbourhoods

You don’t have to travel too far to see some of the best places in London. In this section I highlight the main things to do in central London, from old churches in the City to beautiful gardens in Mayfair, elegant streets in Marylebone, interesting museums in Bloomsbury, pretty shops in Belgravia, and cultural things to do in Covent Garden.

City of London

The City of London is a fascinating district where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic churches. As the birthplace of London and the place where the city first developed, there are many ancient buildings here. The area is also unique in that it has its own government, its own Lord Mayor, and an independent police force. You can get to the City by taking the tube to stations such as St Paul’s, Bank, Cannon Street, Farringdon, Barbican, Aldgate, or Tower Hill. Things to do in the City of London include:

Barbican - a performing arts centre with theatre, concert hall, cinema and art gallery. The building is known for its love-it-or-hate-it Brutalist style architecture. As well as the arts centre, the complex includes 2,000 flats, a lake, and a church. You can walk round the site for free, or take one of the excellent guided architectural tours.

St Paul’s cathedral - a masterpiece by Sir Christopher Wren, this is one of London’s most beautiful and recognisable landmarks, and has one of the largest cathedral domes in the world.

Old churches - there are some real gems in the city, including St Stephen Walbrook (designed by Sir Christopher Wren), Temple Church (an unusual round church built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century), St Helen’s Bishopsgate (pictured, bottom - worth visiting to see the juxtaposition of old and new, with the Gherkin alongside it), St Bartholomew the Great (one of London’s oldest churches), and St Bride’s Church (said to be the inspiration behind the tiered wedding cake), as well as the romantic ruins of St Dunstan in the East.

Modern architecture - the city is ideal if you like modern buildings, as there are some really striking ones here, including the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building (20 Fenchurch Street), the ‘Cheesegrater’ (Leadenhall Building), the Lloyd’s Building (1 Lime Street), the Sky Garden (the highest public garden in London, at 1 Sky Garden Walk), and the Millenium Bridge which is links St Paul’s Cathedral on the North Bank of the river to the Tate Modern on the Southbank.

Guildhall - this impressive building dates back to the 15th century. It includes a medieval great hall that has been at the centre of City government since the Middle Ages. The hall is sometimes open for events and monthly guided tours. Alongside the hall is the Guildhall Art Gallery which was deliberately built in a gothic style to complement the historic Guildhall. The gallery is open to the public and includes the remains of a Roman Architecture that was discovered in the 1980s.

Tower of London - this spectacular castle was once was a fortress, a prison and a royal palace. Highlights include the White Tower (a Norman keep) and the ‘Bloody Tower’ which is said to be the place where the young Princes were imprisoned by the future Richard III.

Leadenhall Market - this covered Victorian market has shops, places to eat and pubs, but is mainly worth a visit just to take in the stunning architecture.

Monument - this iconic column was designed by Sir Christoper Wren and built in the late 17th century to commemorate the Great Fire of London. You can climb the steps to the stop where there are views over the city.

Postman’s Park - this peaceful garden is home to the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice - a series of ceramic tablets fixed to the wall, which give details of ordinary people who died whilst saving the lives of others.

Mayfair

Mayfair is London’s most exclusive and expensive neighbourhood, with upscale hotels, luxury shops, and high-end restaurants. You can get to Mayfair by taking the tube to Bond Street or Green Park station. Things to do in Mayfair include:

Beautiful streets - Mayfair is the ideal place for a walk, with its huge houses and tree-lined streets and squares. Highlights include Grosvenor Square and Berkley Square, Chesterfield Hill, South Molton Street and New Bond Street. Christmas is an excellent time to visit - don’t miss Annabel’s in Berkley Square which usually has a fun seasonal display, or the shops on Old Bond Street.

Mount Street Gardens - this peaceful public park dates back to the late 19th century, and has some unusual trees which are able to grow here due to the park being so sheltered. There are lots of benches, making this a great spot for a picnic, especially when the cherry blossom tree is in bloom.

Brown Hart gardens - this raised terrace garden overlooks the Ukranian Catholic Church, and is a quiet spot not far from some of the busiest streets in the city.

Historic department stores - even if you’re not into shopping, it’s worth checking out the architecture of Liberty, which dates back to the 1920s and has a famous mock-Tudor exterior. Mayfair is also home to Fortnum and Mason, another luxury department store with a cosy, old-timey feel.

Royal Academy of Arts - this museum is most famous for hosting the annual Summer Exhibition - the largest open-submission art exhibition in the world. There are also other special exhibitions showcasing different artists or focusing on particular themes. The building is also impressive - Burlington House was originally a private mansion dating back to the 17th century.

Apsley House - home to the first Duke of Wellington, this house is now cared for by English Heritage and open to the public. As well as admiring the art collection, you can also take in the impressive interiors in what was once known as Number One London - the grandest address in the city.

Grosvenor Square Ever After Garden - this garden is a place of remembrance, where people come to plant an illuminated white rose in memory of a loved one. Open at the end of the year for a couple of months, all money raised goes to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Victorian shopping arcades - walking down these covered shopping arcades (Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly Arcade, and Royal Arcade) is like stepping back in time. These were the very first ‘shopping malls’, and contain some luxury fashion shops and jewellery boutiques.

Shepherd Market - one of Mayfair’s hidden gems, this charming area has a village-like feel, with traditional pubs and eclectic restaurants.

Marylebone

Despite being in the centre of London, Marylebone has a distinctly village-like feel, with lots of independent shops and restaurants. You can get to Marylebone by taking the tube to Baker Street or the tube/train to Marylebone. Highlights include:

Wallace Collection - a lovely free museum (pictured) located in a grand townhouse in Manchester Square. Showcasing paintings, sculpture, furniture and armoury, the museum is a great place to spend a peaceful hour or two, and also houses a nice courtyard cafe.

Daunt Books - a beautiful Edwardian bookshop with long oak balconies, a stained glass window and skylights.

Regents Park - a 5000 acre park . Highlights include the boating lake, the Queen Mary rose garden, and the pretty Avenue Gardens with its ornate planters and fountains. The park is also home to a lovely Open Air Theatre.

St Christopher’s Place - these colourful streets are home to cafes and restaurants, pubs and shops. With lots of outdoor dining, this is an atmospheric place to hang out in the summer.

Belgravia

Belgravia is an elegant neighbourhood with some beautiful houses, instagrammable shops, and international embassies. You can get to Belgravia by taking the tube/train to Victoria. Things to do in Belgravia include:

Beautiful shopping streets - Elizabeth Street is home to the pink Peggy Porschen bakery, one of the most popular places for Instagram fans in London due to its pretty facade and seasonal displays. As well as Peggy Porschen, there are other photogenic shops here, including Moyses Stevens florists and Les Senteurs perfume store. Motcomb Street is another highlight in the area, home to the Fine Cheese Company shop, and some lovely cafes/restaurants. Both streets usually take part in the annual Belgravia in Bloom festival when participating shops put up floral displays, with a different theme each year.

Beautiful residential streets - Belgravia is a lovely place for a walk, with many pretty streets such as Kinnerton Street, Belgrave Square, Eaton Square, Chester Row, Eaton Mews North and Groom Place.

Eccleston Yards - this courtyard space has been redeveloped in recent years, and is home to some great places to eat and shops, including the cute luxury biscuit shop Biscuiteers.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of the busiest and most touristy parts of London, with many shops, restaurants and theatres, as well as the historic Market Building and Piazza. Things to do in Covent Garden include:

Royal Ballet and English National Ballet - if you like ballet, there are two fabulous venues in Covent Garden. The London Coliseum on St Martin’s Lane is the largest theatre in the West End and the home of the English National Ballet. Not too far from that is the Royal Opera House which dates back to the 19th century and is where the Royal Ballet perform. Don’t miss the cute statue of a ballerina on nearby Broad Street.

Theatre - there are many beautiful theatres in the area. Some are home to long-running musicals; others have a changing programme of plays, often featuring world-famous actors. If you like musicals, I recommend Les Miserables and The Lion King which have been running for years; if you’re a fan of thought-provoking plays I suggest checking out what’s on at the Donmar Warehouse or Harold Pinter Theatre.

Market Building and Piazza - once an area of fields, owned by Westminster Abbey, Covent Garden was developed into the first public square in England in the 1600s by leading architect Inigo Jones. The square was popular amongst wealthy families, who soon moved to the area. However, after a fruit and vegetable market developed nearby, the area fell into disrepute and more and more brothers opened up. The current market building was designed in 1828 as a means of improving the area and keeping the market under control. It’s now home to expensive boutiques, fun shops, a regular craft market, and many street entertainers.

Seven Dials - a unique road junction, where seven streets converge in a roundabout, at the centre of which is a column called the Sundial Pillar. The cobbled streets are home to many beauty boutiques, clothing shops, and modern cafes. My favourite shops here are FOPP (which sells books, DVDs and CDs), Stanford Books (which has a great selection of travel books), and the Pierre Herme macaron shop.

Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury is an interesting part of London, known for its literary connections, with lots of elegant squares, bookshops, and some great museums. The University College London campus is centred around this area, so there is always an interesting mix of students, tourists and local residents. You can get to Bloomsbury by taking the tube to Russell Square or Goodge Street stations. Things to do in Bloomsbury include:

Beautiful squares - this area is known for its garden squares. I recommend Russell Square and Bedford Square in particular, but other squares include Tavistock Square, Gordon Square, Brunswick Square, and Bloomsbury Square Garden.

Charles Dickens House Museum - the house where Dickens lived and wrote some of his famous novels. You can tour the rooms and see some of his original items, including his desk.

British Museum - a fantastic museum of human history and culture, with changing exhibitions and free permanent displays featuring everything from African textiles to Chinese pottery.

Bookshops - if you like independent bookshops, check out the London Review Bookshop and Judd Books. There’s also a really huge Waterstones here, on Gower Street.

Sir John Soanes Museum - London’s smallest national museum, this fascinating house was once home to the architect John Soane, and displays his collection of furniture, sculpture and paintings.

Foundling Museum - this interesting museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, a place where abandoned children were cared for. The hospital also became the city’s first public art gallery when artists displayed their work here as a means of attracting wealthy donors.

Soho

Soho is a really lively part of central London, with a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, and lots of cool shops and cafes. You can get to Soho by taking the tube to Piccadilly. Things to do in Soho include:

Shopping on Berwick Street - this vibrant street has lots of great shops, including record shops. One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday is browse the music and vinyl at Sister Ray Records.

Soho Square - this garden square is a public park, and it’s a nice place for a picnic in the summer. Built in the late 1600s, the square was once one of the most fashionable places to live in the city.

Chinatown - a place full of authentic Asian restaurants and cafes. It’s particularly lively during Chinese New Year, but it’s worth visiting anytime just for the atmosphere. The original Chinatown in London was located near the docks in the East End, but when that declined, Chinese restaurants started opening in the West End in the 1950s.

Photographers Gallery - this great little gallery has changing exhibitions of photography. I’ve seen some really good exhibitions here, and there’s a nice cafe too.

Westminster

Westminster is the heart of Government and this area tends to be populated by a mix of civil servants, members of Parliament & tourists. Some of London's most iconic sights are here, from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben to Westminster Abbey and the London Eye. Things to do in Westminster include:

Westminster Abbey - this royal church hosts many key events, from coronations to royal weddings and funerals. It's a fascinating place to visit, to see the beautiful architecture and learn more about the history of the church. Many former kings and queens are buried here, as well as famous writers like Shakespeare, Chaucer and Dickens, whose tombs are located in Poets Corner. 

Beautiful streets - Cowley Street is a lovely - and surprisingly quiet - residential street with red brick buildings. Other attractive streets in the area include Great College Street, Lord North Street, Smith Square, and Deans Yard which is a courtyard area used by students at the Westminster School.

Westminster Cathedral - often overlooked, the 19th century Westminster Cathedral is the Mother Church for Catholics in England and Wales, and is free to enter. An architecturally interesting building, it has many different types of marble, beautiful mosaics and a very distinctive striped brick facade.