London Neighborhoods - A Quick & Easy Travel Guide

When you ask anyone in London travel advice on a London neighborhood they don’t live in, chances are you will get a blank stare in return. Yes, the city is so big that it is likely that you’ll never make it to visit every single area during your visit. Not even when you’re here for a longer period of time.

That’s why this reference guide might be a bit of help for you. With a few quick keywords, you’ll be able to select the London neighbourhood that you’ll find most appealing and can plan your visit around them.

Painting a pretty good picture of what Westminster is all about

Balham – Friendly, Trendy, Hildreth Street Market, Live Music, Stand Up Comedy, Independent Shops, Victorian Architecture
Battersea – Parks, Arts & Culture, Pubs & Restaurants, Antique Shops, Small Boutique Shops & Galleries
Belgravia – Expensive Hotels, Rich & Famous, Georgian Houses, Embassies, Quiet, Exclusive Shops, Buckingham Palace
Bermondsey – Arts & Culture, Markets, Creative, Re-designed Warehouses, Shopping, Bermondsey Street, Interior Design
Bethnal Green – Street Art, Artistic, Multicultural, Lively, Boutique Shops & Hotels, Trendy Lounge Bars & Club
Bloomsbury – Academic, Literary, British Museum, British Library, Charles Dickens Museum, Cultural, Classic, Touristy, Garden Squares, Green
Brixton – Up & Coming, Lively, Markets, Alternative, Arts Galleries, Pop-up Restaurants, Victorian Architecture

Camden Market, one of the many points of interest in this vibrant area

Camden Town – Camden Lock, Markets, Alternative Shops, Colourful, Street Food, Cafes & Clubs, Tattoo Shops, Night Live, Noisy, Touristy, London Zoo
Canonbury – Quiet, Charming, Walking Paths, Eccentric, Residential, Traditional Pubs
Chelsea – Small Town Atmosphere, Wealthy, Flower Show, National Army Museum, Saatchi Gallery, Exclusive, Football
City of London – Sightseeing, Historical, Museum of London, Barbican Centre, Finance District, Old Spitalfields Market, Leadenhall Market, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Victorian & Modern Architecture, Roof Top Bars & Restaurants
Clapham – Parks, Victorian Residential Houses, LGBT Friendly, Night Life, Independent Shops, Expats, Students, Markets, Cultural
Clerkenwell – Modern, Hip & Happening, Good Food, Design, Architects, Furniture Shops, Historical Pubs, Theatre
Covent Garden – Street Artists, Shopping, Market, Royal Opera House, Neal’s Yard, Lively, Cultural Events, Touristy
Earls Court – LGBT Friendly, Concerts, Expensive Georgian Houses, Garden Squares, Earls Court Exhibition Centre
Fitzrovia – Community, Creative, Arts Centre, Galleries, Classic British Pubs, Cocktail Bars, Trendy, Shopping
Fulham – Trendy, Bars & Restaurants, Safe, Expensive, Exclusive, Quiet, Green
Greenwich – Day Trip, Martime History, Royal Observatory, Child Friendly, Parks, Independent Shops, Market
Haggerston – Street Art, Design, Artists & Students, Victoria, Architecture, Young, Multicultural
Hammersmith – Cafes, Creative, Small Community, Multinational, Commercial Centre
Isle of Dogs – Financial District, Canary Wharf, Martime, Casual Pubs & Cafes, Quiet, Modern
Islington – Trendy, Creative, Family Friendly, Theatres, Street Markets, Boutique Stores, Restaurants & Bars
Kennington – Residential, Cinema Museum, Gin Distillery, Parks, Farmer’s Market, Family Friendly, Pubs
Kensington – Residential, National History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, Touristy, Parks, Kensington Palace, Gardens, Architecture
King’s Cross – Platform 9 3/4 (Harry Potter), Eurostar, Industrial, St. Pancras Station, Night Life
Knightsbridge – Expensive, Exclusive Shops & Restaurants, Harrods, Design, Touristy
Lambeth – Imperial War Museum, Historical, Garden Museum, Bridges, Classic Pub Culture
Maida Vale – Residential, Edwardian Houses, Little Venice, House Boats, Local Bars & Cafes, Celebrities, BBC Studio’s, Music, Quiet
Marylebone – Sherlock Holmes Museum, Madame Tussauds, Farmer’s Markets, Bars & Pubs, Classic, Book Shops, Small Town Feeling, Green
Mayfair – Expensive, Elegant Hotels, Exclusive Shopping

Notting Hill is much more than just an annual carnival

Notting Hill – Portobello Market, Vintage Shops & Cafes, Antique Shops, Artistic, Creative, Live Music, Notting Hill Carnival
Paddington – Paddington Train Station, Shops, Touristy, Victorian Architecture, Multicultural, Hyde Park, Independent Markets
Pimlico – Residential, Regency Architecture, Art Galleries, Restaurants, Traditional Pubs, Relaxed, Tate Britain
Shepherd’s Bush – Big Shopping Mall, Markets, Bars & Cafes, Victorian Architecture, Stand-Up Comedy, BBC Studio’s, Night Life, Theatres
Shoreditch – Street Art, Alternative, Second Hand, Antique Shops, Cafes, Arts & Culture, Markets, Pop-Up Stores
Soho – Chinatown, Hip & Trendy, Fashion, LGBT Friendly, Foodie, Multicultural, Lively
Somers Town – Residential, Quiet, British Library, Arts Festivals, Pubs, Street Market, Multicultural

The London Eye, South Bank — The London Eye, one of many attractions of The South Bank

South Bank – Events & Art Exhibitions, London Eye, Touristy, Skaters & BMX riders
Southwark – Shakespeare Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, Borough Market, Butler’s Wharf, The Shard, Trendy
Stepney – Residential, Classic Pubs, Churches, Relaxed, Historical, Green
St. James’s – Royal, Galleries, Buckingham Palace, Green, Parks, Expensive, High Tea, Exclusive Shops, Antique Markets
St. Luke’s – Residential, Small Community, Daily Market, Business District, Furniture Shops, Galleries, Cafes, Green
Stockwell – Victorian Architecture, Pub Culture, Skaters, Multicultural, Parks, Arts, Portugese Community, Cafes & Bakeries
Tower Hamets – Hipsters, Vintage Markets, Bangladeshi Food, Queer Bars, Cutting-edge Art
West End – Theatre, Modern, Touristy, Expensive, Busy, Noisy, Historical
Walworth – Multicultural, Markets, Parks, Cafes
Westminster – Government, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Touristy, Parks, Buckingham Palace
Whitechapel/Brick Lane – Lively, Jack the Ripper, Art, Culture, Street Art, Spitalfields Market, Cafe Culture, Trendy, Alternative, Curry
Wimbledon – Wimbledon Tennis, Quiet, Theatre, Dog Friendly, Restaurants, Expensive Living, Privat Schools

Which London Neighbourhoods are Your Favourite?

Let us know in the comments below. But whatever you choose, you’re sure to always explore something new and exciting while staying in London. We hope to see you soon!