Today I want to share my guide to the best central London neighborhoods with you. The heart of the city is full of exciting areas with buzzing streets and secret spaces alike. From vibrant Soho to colorful Marylebone, there’s a place you’ll love. Whether you’re looking to live in central London, stay for a while, or explore as a local, this guide will help. I’ve included an interactive central London neighborhoods map, too.
Central London Neighborhoods
I’ve published lots of blog posts about various parts of London over the years.
I’ve written about pretty London neighborhoods, under-the-radar areas of London, east London areas, west London areas, north London neighborhoods, and places in south london. I’ve also made an interactive London neighborhoods map.
But since the middle is the best-known part of the city, today I want to dive into central London neighborhoods. I’m excited to share my favorite places in the heart of the UK capital with you.
Whether you prefer riverfront scenery or rich history, pretty mews or bustling thoroughfares, there’s a central London neighborhood for you.
1. Covent Garden
Since it’s one of the most popular central London neighborhoods, I’ll start my list with Covent Garden.
This area is beloved by visitors and locals alike, not least because it’s home to some of the city’s best restaurants, shops, hotels, and performing arts venues.
From taking in the busy piazza to exploring the picture-pretty side streets and hidden corners like St Martin’s Courtyard, there are a lot of great things to do in Covent Garden. Seven Dials is perfect for shopping and dining, and Neal’s Yard is a treat for the senses.
If you want to discover the best of this part of central London, my self-guided Covent Garden walk can help.
2. Soho
Right next to Covent Garden, Soho is another of the most exciting central London neighborhoods. Packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and theaters, this area is one of the top places for entertainment in the UK capital.
Some of the best places in Soho include Carnaby Street, Greek Street, Frith Street, and Soho Square. The area also has a lot of great hotels and places to stay.
If you want to discover the best of this part of central London, my self-guided Soho walking tour can help.
3. Mayfair
Across Regent Street from Soho, Mayfair is one of the most upscale central London neighborhoods. This chi chi part of the city center is home to luxury goods shops, high-end car dealerships, and beautiful streets and squares.
It’s also known for its famous 5-star hotels on Park Lane, its proximity to Hyde Park, and its great restaurants, bars, and clubs. Going out to eat and drink is one of my favorite things to do in Mayfair.
If you want to discover the best of this part of central London, my self-guided Mayfair walk can help.
4. Marylebone
Just across Oxford Street from Mayfair, Marylebone is another of the best central London neighborhoods.
The restaurants, pubs, and shops on Marylebone High Street, St Christopher’s Place, Marylebone Lane, and Chiltern Street are some of my favorites in the city.
Add to that museums like the Wallace Collection, great weekly markets, pretty side streets, good hotels, and proximity to Regent’s Park, and Marylebone is one of the top all-around places in London.
5. Fitzrovia
Just east of Marylebone, Fitzrovia is another of the best central London neighborhoods. This part of the UK capital is home to shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars galore.
My favorite place in Fitzrovia is Charlotte Street. It’s bursting with great spots to eat and drink, and it’s home to lovely hotels and pubs. The surrounding area is packed with pretty mews, hidden alleys, and historic architecture, too.
6. Bloomsbury
Just east of Fitzrovia is Bloomsbury, another of the most famous central London neighborhoods. This part of the city is home to peaceful squares, literary history, world-class museums, and good restaurants and coffee shops.
Bloomsbury is known for everything from the British Museum to Russell Square. It has fun streets like Lamb’s Conduit Street and Store Street, which both offer great food and drink options. There are lots of hotels and other places to stay in the area, too.
If you want to discover the best of this part of Zone 1, my self-guided London literary walk will take you through the area and beyond.
7. Holborn
South of Bloomsbury, Holborn is another great central London neighborhood. This part of the UK capital is known for its legal connections. From the Royal Courts of Justice to the Inns of Court, it’s bursting with the history of the law.
Holborn is also home to Sir John Soane’s Museum, which is one of my favorite secret London museums. Being here feels like walking through a miniature British Museum inside someone’s house.
Outside the museum, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the historic buildings around the Chancery Lane tube station are beautiful.
8. Clerkenwell
East of Bloomsbury, the Clerkenwell area is next on my list. It’s one of the best central London neighborhoods to live and stay in. The area is home to historic streets with great shops and restaurants, an abundance of leafy squares, and fun markets.
Clerkenwell is known for everything from the food on Exmouth Market to the shops on Amwell Street. Its side streets are full of pretty houses, too. It’s a great place to stay and live like a local in the area’s many hotels and apartments.
If you want to discover the best of this part of central London, my self-guided Clerkenwell walking tour can help.
9. City of London
South of Clerkenwell, the City of London is next on my list of central London neighborhoods.
The historic heart of the UK capital, this area is home to London landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral, The Monument, and The Gherkin. There’s even a stretch of ancient Roman wall here.
The City of London is full of bars, restaurants, pubs, and hotels, and there are lots of historic side streets to discover. I love walking down the alleys off Fleet Street and through the atmospheric halls of Leadenhall Market.
If you want to explore this part of central London, my self-guided City of London walking tour can help.
10. St Katharine Docks
Just east of the City of London, St Katharine Docks sits beside Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, but it often gets overlooked when it comes to central London neighborhoods.
Its maritime atmosphere and boat-studded marina make it one of the most unique places in London. There are great pubs and cafes in St Katharine Docks, and the area has good markets, too.
11. Temple
Just west of the City of London, Temple is another of my favorite central London neighborhoods. This secret place is home to Temple Church, the 12th-century place of worship of the Knights Templar that featured in The Da Vinci Code.
It’s also home to two of the four Inns of Court: Inner Temple and Middle Temple. The area is brimming with barristers’ chambers, solicitors’ offices, and legal institutions. It’s a beautiful place to walk around and soak up London history.
12. Charing Cross
To the west of Temple, Charing Cross is another of the most famous central London neighborhoods. Along with the Embankment, this area just north of the Thames is right by famous places like Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.
Charing Cross is a popular place to stay in London, as it’s centrally located and has great transport links. There are lots of hotels and accommodations in the area, and plenty of restaurants, pubs, bars, and theaters for entertainment.
13. St James’s
Just west of Charing Cross, St James’s is one of the best central London neighborhoods when it comes to all things traditional.
Streets like Jermyn Street and St James’s are packed with men’s shops and classic restaurants, and there are private members’ clubs all along Pall Mall.
Historic shopping arcades and alleys abound here, and Piccadilly is home to famous department stores and bookshops.
The area borders St James’s Park and Green Park, and it’s right by Buckingham Palace. St James’s is also home to its own royal palace in London, as well as lots of heritage luxury hotels.
14. Westminster
On the other side of St James’s Park, Westminster is one of the best-known central London neighborhoods.
Along with neighboring Whitehall, it lies at the heart of the UK government. Westminster is home to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and other important buildings.
The area has lots of hidden side streets and riverfront green spaces on the Thames, too. There are good hotels in Westminster as well.
The neighborhood is also home to important museums like Tate Britain and English heritage sites in London like the Jewel Tower, Chapter House, and Pyx Chamber.
If you want to get to know this part of central London better, my self-guided Westminster walk can help.
15. Victoria
Right next to Westminster, Victoria is another of the best central London neighborhoods. Once known mainly for its busy train station, it’s now a destination in its own right.
There are lots of great restaurants, cafes, pubs, and coffee shops in the area, which is to say nothing of markets.
Victoria is also home to important theaters and Westminster Cathedral, a candy-cane striped behemoth that flies under the radar despite its size and stature.
Victoria is one of the best areas to stay in London due to its central location, extensive transport links, and proximity to Buckingham Palace, Westminster, and big London attractions.
I used to live in Victoria and I loved how convenient it was. There are lots of great hotels in the area, too.
16. Belgravia
Right across Buckingham Palace Road from Victoria, elegant Belgravia is one of my favorite central London neighborhoods.
Packed with embassies and ambassadors’ residences, this London neighborhood is deserving of its location next to Buckingham Palace.
If you’re wondering what to do in Belgravia, the area has beautiful mews, pretty squares, local pubs, restaurants, and colorful shopping streets to discover. The floral displays on the facades on Elizabeth Street are famous, too.
Belgravia is also home to famous hotels like The Goring. It’s a great place to stay in London if you want to be in the heart of the city.
If you’re interested in exploring this part of central London, my self-guided Belgravia walk can help.
17. Pimlico
Just south of Belgravia, Pimlico is another of the best central London neighborhoods. Right on the Thames, it flies under the radar, but it’s worth discovering for its great side streets and good coffee shops.
Pimlico has a number of streets with local restaurants and cafes, including Wilton Road. It also has a residential feel, which is rare in central London. There are some pretty mews streets and markets in the area as well.
Pimlico is dotted with hotels and other accommodation. It’s a popular place to stay and live for those who want to be in the heart of central London but not pay the sky-high prices some of the areas around it command.
18. Knightsbridge
Back up by Belgravia, Knightsbridge is known for its luxury shopping and eye-catching architecture.
From Harrods food halls to the orange brick buildings on Pont Street and pretty homes in Trevor Square, it’s one of the most beautiful central London neighborhoods.
From famous department stores like Harvey Nichols to luxury hotels and pretty cafes, Knightsbridge is hard to beat when it comes to aesthetics.
19. Connaught Village
Right across Hyde Park from Knightsbridge, Connaught Village is a little haven of loveliness near busy Marble Arch and Edgware Road.
This is one of the prettiest central London neighborhoods, not least because Connaught Street is lined with beautiful facades.
Connaught Village is a great place to eat and shop. With cute cafes, cheesemongers, wine shops, and local pubs, it has everything one could want to live the good life in London.
20. Paddington and Bayswater
Right next to Connaught Village, Paddington and Bayswater border Hyde Park and take up a big expanse of the city center between Marylebone and Notting Hill.
These central London neighborhoods are known for their many hotels, pretty mews, and the famous Paddington train station.
21. Little Venice and Maida Vale
Just north of Paddington and Bayswater, Little Venice and Madia Vale are two more of the best central London neighborhoods to live and stay in. They’re just outside Zone 1, but I still always think of them as being in the heart of the city.
These local areas are on the UK capital’s canal network, and they’re perfect places for canal walks in London. They’re also home to good neighborhood pubs, cafes, and hotels.
Central London Neighborhoods Map
Central London Neighborhoods
I hope you’ve enjoyed this central London neighborhoods guide and that it’s motivated you to explore more of the UK capital.
Whether you use it to help you decide where to live in London, stay in London, or discover in London, I’m confident it will be useful.
You can take a look at my self-guided central London walks if you want to see some of these places on foot, too. I hope you have a good time getting to know them all.
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