London Neighborhood Overviews

We've organized neighborhoods roughly from east to west, starting with the City of London and East London and moving in a snake-like manner westward, so that adjacent neighborhoods are next to one another in the book. Look at the London overview map to familiarize yourself with the city’s layout and refer to the map thumbnails throughout the book for location reminders.

• The City Of London

For most of its history, the City of London was London, and though urban sprawl has caused the border to bulge, the “Square Mile” remains as tight-knit as ever, with its own mayor, separate jurisdiction ...more

• East London

With cutting edge galleries, deliciously affordable markets and restaurants, a raging nightlife scene, and some of the best vintage and boutique shopping in the world, the East End is the heart of East ...more

• Holborn And Clerkenwell

London’s second-oldest area, Holborn was the first part of the city settled by Saxons— Aldwych, on the western edge, is Anglo-Saxon for “old port.” Stately Fleet Street remains synonymous ...more

• The South Bank

Just across the river from the City, the South Bank has long been the center of London’s entertainment industry. In Shakespeare’s time it accommodated the lowest of low culture, but today it reigns ...more

• South London

Historically maligned for being “dodgy,” areas of South London are now hot spots for upscale dining and all-night parties. Once a swanky suburb, Brixton has been urbanized, showcasing the charm ...more

• Westminster

Westminster, with its spires and parks, feels like the heart of the old British Empire. It is, after all, home to the Houses of Parliament and the queen—convenient for diehard tourists who want to cram ...more

• The West End

See a world-renowned musical at one of over 30 major theaters in the area (the Broadway of London), head to Chinatown for some dim sum, or venture into the side streets of Soho for vintage ...more

• Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury is London’s intellectual powerhouse, home to the British Museum, near Russell Square, the British Library, on Euston Road, and University College London, on Gower Street. The area was a famous ...more

• Marylebone And Regent’s Park

Marylebone (MAR-leh-bone) is defined by its eclectic borders. Adjacent to academic Bloomsbury in the east, beautiful Portland Place stands as an architectural wonder. To the west, Edgware Road ...more

• North London

What Let’s Go calls North London is actually a group of distinct neighborhoods, all of which lie to the north of Central London. Once the centers of London’s counter-culture movement, Camden ...more

• Bayswater

Aside from being a cheap place to sleep, Bayswater is nondescript. Rows of Georgian mansions line the quiet streets, which are filled with residences and hotels of all calibers. The main drags of Westbourne ...more

• Notting Hill

Once the stopping point for those traveling between London and Uxbridge, Notting Hill is now known for its high-end fashion boutiques and upscale restaurants, most of which are located on or near Westbourne ...more

• Kensington And Earl’s Court

The former stomping ground of Princess Di, Kensington is divided into two distinct areas. To the west is the Kensington High Street, dominated by clothing chains of all types, while to the east ...more

• Knightsbridge And Belgravia

Knightsbridge and Belgravia are smug and expensive. The primary draw is window-shopping on Sloane Street and Brompton Road at stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Belgravia lies east ...more

• Chelsea

Chelsea would like to be considered London’s artistic bohemia, a desire rooted in the 60s and 70s, when King’s Road was the birthplace of the miniskirt and punk rock. Unfortunately, though, the wealthy ...more

• West London

West London is more of a geographical description than a contained and coherent neighborhood, and most people venture here with a destination in mind—this isn’t the place for delightful discovery. ...more