Today I want to bring you my top picks for the best high streets in London. There are lots of famous roads in the UK capital. From upscale ones with pretty shops to up-and-coming ones with pop-ups, London has a high street for everyone. Whether you love dining out, shopping, or markets, there’s a road you’ll love. Read on for my favorites and how to choose the right ones for your style. There’s a map of where you can find them all, too.
Best High Streets in London
First things first: what is a high street? If you’re not British, this term might be new to you. But it’s pretty simple.
A high street is the main commercial or shopping thoroughfare in a village, town, city, or (in London’s case) neighborhood. Essentially it’s the main street.
The term “high street” is believed to have come about in the 12th century. At that time the word ‘high’ started being used to designate something or someone of an elevated, or more significant, status.
Today there are high streets in pretty much every London neighborhood. From big ones like Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly, Bond Street, Carnaby Street to local ones in places outside Zone 1, you can find them all across the UK capital.
The best high streets in London are known for being the city’s top shopping streets. They’re where to find some of the best things to buy in London.
But it doesn’t end there. They’re also home to restaurants, cafes, pubs and other commercial establishments. They’re beloved for their independent offerings and great ambiance.
From Hampstead to Peckham, Chiswick to Shoreditch, they span the city from north to south, east to west. Not only are they popular places for Londoners and visitors to indulge in retail therapy and food, but also local culture and atmosphere.
There’s a range of shops and a diversity of styles represented in London’s best high streets, too. Whether you’re looking for vintage clothing or high fashion, home decor or souvenirs, there’s a road offering something you’ll love.
1. Marylebone High Street in London
First on my list of the best high streets in London is Marylebone High Street. Locals love this place for its chic clothing stores, home goods shops, famous bookstore, and delicious food.
Right in the heart of Marylebone, this high street is ideal if you like a mix of all things decadent and beautiful. With great retail therapy, award-winning restaurants, and fun markets, it’s hard to beat. It’s the perfect place for dining and shopping in Marylebone.
2. Portobello Road
Out west in Notting Hill, Portobello Road is another of the best high streets in London. Not only does it have one of the UK capital’s most famous markets, but also colorful shops, pubs, and cafes.
Whether you want to buy unusual antiques or pretty things for your home, Portobello Road has something for you. The most beloved shopping street in west London, it’s the ideal spot for searching for vintage finds or reveling in vibrant atmosphere.
3. Hampstead High Street in London
Hampstead High Street comes next on my list of the best high streets in London. Up in the northern part of the city, this road is lined with all kinds of high-end shops, pretty cafes, and classic pubs.
You can find everything from clothing stores to red phone boxes doubling as coffee shops here. There’s a fun mix of beloved high street names and independent boutiques, making it easy to find whatever you need.
Situated in the heart of Hampstead, this street is perfect for you if you adore a village feel and want to shop somewhere local.
4. The King’s Road
Next on my list of the best high streets in London is the King’s Road in Chelsea. Running from Sloane Square in the east to Fulham in the west, this street is packed with beautiful shops, boutiques, and cafes.
From well-known high street names to independent shops and iconic department stores like Peter Jones, it has everything from stylish clothes to cool home goods on offer.
The weekly food market in Duke of York Square brings the street alive on Saturdays, too. It has stalls selling everything from pastries to hot meals.
The King’s Road is perfect for you if you like staying on-trend with where to eat and what to wear in London. It’s also great for people-watching, as the city’s stylish set frequents this street.
5. Brick Lane
Out in east London, another of the best high streets in the UK capital is Brick Lane. This road in Spitalfields is not only bursting with vintage clothing shops, but also lively Sunday markets selling everything from mouth-watering food to secondhand items.
Brick Lane is perfect if you love vintage shopping, hipster atmosphere, and open-air markets. It’s one of the best places to go on a London shopping trip.
6. Upper Street
Another of the best high streets in London is Upper Street in Islington. This long road is graced with everything from clothing shops to home interior stores, and it offers a variety of household names and independent ones.
Upper Street has some of the best high street shopping in London. Its stores are exciting to browse, and the adjacent Camden Passage Market is full of one-of-a-kind finds and cool cafes.
There are great restaurants, cafes, and pubs here, too. From famous Ottolenghi to small local eateries, there’s no shortage of places to get your food and drink fix on Upper Street.
This street is for you if you love a local area and a good mix of things to buy, eat, and drink.
7. Kensington High Street in London
Next on my list is Kensington High Street. This west London road runs from Kensington Gardens to Holland Park and beyond. Along the way it offers an abundance of shops and restaurants.
All the high street names are represented here, but the street is particularly well-known for its outdoor apparel stores. If you’re planning to go for a walk or hike in the countryside, this is the place to get outfitted.
There are also lots of restaurants and cafes here. From fast food to Whole Foods, you can find a variety of places to eat and drink on this road.
Kensington High Street is for you if you love the outdoors and want to have all the high street names at your fingertips.
8. Fulham Road
Fulham Road is another of my favorite high streets in London. This place is packed with independent clothing boutiques, local restaurants, cute cafes, and fun pubs. They make Fulham a great neighborhood to discover in London.
Fulham Road is for you if you want to live like a local and soak up the atmosphere in some of west London’s most beloved shops and dining establishments.
9. Camden High Street in London
Up in north London, Camden High Street is another of the best high roads in London. With markets and canals galore, it’s a unique place to discover.
The stretch between the Camden Town tube station and Chalk Farm Road is packed with some of the most photogenic facades in London. Their bright colors and unique decor make Camden worth a special trip.
Just off the high street, Camden Market has stalls offering all kinds of clothing, jewelry, food, and souvenirs. It’s one of the best markets in London.
This street in north London is for you if you love markets, colorful facades, and canal-side atmosphere in equal measure.
10. Bermondsey Street
South of the river, Bermondsey Street is another of the best high streets in London. This exciting road is lined with independent shops filled with everything from British gifts to food. There are great restaurants, pubs, art galleries, and museums in between.
Bermondsey Street is an ideal place to shop if you love food and one-of-a-kind offerings. It’s one of the best shopping streets in London for its variety of things to browse and buy.
There are also a lot of great coffee shops and small grocers on Bermondsey Street. And if restaurants are your thing, you’ll be spoiled for choice here. This place is for you if you like good shopping as much as you like good food and drinks.
11. Lordship Lane
Also in south London, Lordship Lane in East Dulwich is another of my favorite streets in London. This long local number is bursting with everything from clothing stores to independent bookshops, beloved cinemas, and famous fishmongers.
This is one of the best high streets in London when it comes to local residential areas. It’s for you if you like to get off the beaten path and go somewhere that has a lot of unique stores, cafes, and restaurants.
On Saturdays, North Cross Road Market takes place adjacent to Lordship Lane. It’s a fun spot to pick up fresh food, coffee, clothing, and antiques in the area. The shops on the street are worth popping into as well.
12. Shoreditch High Street in London
Back in the East End, Shoreditch High Street is another of the best high streets in London. Running from Old Street in the north to Worship Street in the south, it’s lined with some of the hippest bars, restaurants, and shops in the UK capital.
Shoreditch High Street is best known for its nightlife scene. It includes bars and pubs along the road and venues just off it like Boxpark Shoreditch.
This place is for you if you like going out and experiencing the best of London at night. There’s a lot to entertain you in Shoreditch.
13. Elizabeth Street
Pretty Elizabeth Street in Belgravia is another of the best high streets in London. Located in one of the nicest neighborhoods in London, Elizabeth Street is famous for its floral facades. They front everything from perfume stores to cake shops.
Interspersed among them are celebrated milliners, upscale pet boutiques, and chic clothing stores. There are good restaurants and famous pubs, too.
Elizabeth Street is for you if you love pretty shopfronts and all things beautiful. It has you covered for the finer things in life.
14. Charlotte Street
Next on my list of the best high streets in London is Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia.
Located near Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street, this central London number is lined with everything from historic pubs to the famous Charlotte Street Hotel and buzzing restaurants.
Charlotte Street is known for food, and you can find cuisine from all over the world here. Whether you’re craving Thai or Japanese, pizza or steak, you can get it at any number of restaurants.
Interspersed among the culinary establishments are creative art galleries and famous pubs like the Fitzroy Tavern. The latter is said to have been the haunt of intellectuals like Dylan Thomas and George Orwell.
This road is for you if you love eating, drinking, and being merry. It’s a great place to get into London’s local food scene.
15. Stoke Newington Church Street
Up in northeast London, Stoke Newington Church Street is another of my favorite high streets. This road is packed with everything from colorful shopfronts to great restaurants and a historic-cemetery-turned-park.
Highlights of Stoke Newington Church Street include shops selling everything from fresh baked goods to vintage clothing. Green spaces like Clissold Park and Abney Park add life to the scene.
There’s hardly a high street shop in sight here, so this is the place for you if you like all things independent and hip. It’s worth a trip to Stoke Newington to explore it.
16. Rye Lane
Back down south, Rye Lane in Peckham is another of the best high streets in London. This multicultural thoroughfare is lined with everything from butcher shops to cool pubs and rooftop bars.
Rye Lane is buzzing day and night. Whether you want to go to a coffee shop with a basketball court inside or a watering hole called John the Unicorn, it has you covered. Which makes sense, because this is one of the most hipster London neighborhoods.
Rye Lane is for you if you want to be in one of the coolest places in the UK capital and discover a world of trendy nightlife and vibrant market stalls.
17. Chiswick High Road
Out in west London, Chiswick High Road is another of the best high streets in London. This place is a local favorite, and it’s worth a trip to explore what it has to offer.
Chiswick High Road is packed with shops, restaurants, and pubs. It has everything from a famous vintage furniture store to chi chi cafes and pretty bookshops.
While the abundance of Chiswick shops and restaurants make this road worth a special trip, it’s the atmosphere that renders it truly special.
This place is for you if you want to live like a local and immerse yourself in one of London’s most beautiful neighborhoods.
18. Regent’s Park Road
Up in north London, Regent’s Park Road is another of the best high streets in London. It’s the Primrose Hill high street, and it has a wealth of restaurants and shops to discover.
This pretty street is full of upmarket stores selling clothes, books, furniture, food, wine, and more. There are florists and butchers, and lots of things in between. It’s an ideal place if you love all things beautiful and independent.
19. Golborne Road
Just north of Portobello Road, Golborne Road in Ladbroke Grove is one of my favorite local high streets in London. There’s a great market here, and lots of unique shops.
This neighborhood gem is packed with everything from iconic vintage clothing stores to Moroccan restaurants and European bakeries. It’s for you if you want to shop like a local in London and pick up unusual finds.
Map of London High Streets
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, below you’ll find a map of all the high streets in London on my list. If you click on the pins, you’ll find my blog posts about them or the areas they’re in. I hope it helps you discover the one that fits your style!
Best High Streets in London
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the best high streets in London. There are so many fun places to shop, eat, drink, and dine in the UK capital, and these are just the beginning. Happy exploring!
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