Famous Streets In London: 20 Ideas For Your Next Visit
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London is a city with plenty of history, and that history is reflected in its famous streets.
Abbey Road, for example, is home to the world-famous Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded many of their most iconic albums.
On the other hand, Bond Street is home to some of the city’s most prestigious shops and boutiques.
So, if you’re ever in London, be sure to check out some of these iconic streets!
Hyde Park Corner
In London, Hyde Park Corner refers to the intersection of Knightsbridge, Belgravia, and Mayfair.
It is most known as a major road junction at the southeast corner of Hyde Park, which was created by Decimus Burton.
In 1952, the death of King George VI was announced to the government at Hyde Park Corner.
Hyde Park Corner is known for being in the second episode of the first season of the Netflix series The Crown.
This episode covered the death of George VI and Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in London’s West End.
It is Europe’s most active street for shoppers with an average half a million visitors per day.
The road was originally a section of the Via Trinobantina, a Roman road that connected Essex and Hampshire via London.
It is now known as one of the best shopping streets in the world.
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is a pedestrianized street in the Soho district of the City of Westminster in central London.
It is conveniently located near Oxford and Regent Street and is primarily known for its fashion and lifestyle shops, including many small business boutiques.
The street was built in 1685 and named after Karnaby House, which was built on the site in 1683.
It became popular in the 1960s as a centre for hipster fashion and underground music.
Abbey Road is in the borough of Camden and the City of Westminster in London.
It runs northwest to southeast through St. John’s Wood, near Lord’s Cricket Ground.
It is best known as the location of Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded many of their most famous albums.
The street is also featured on the cover of The Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ album.
Portobello Road is a street in the Notting Hill area of west London’s Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
The road is known for the Portobello Road Market which runs along Portobello Road and is open on Saturdays.
Since 1996, the Portobello Film Festival has been held all around Portobello Road every August.
In addition, Portobello Radio, a community radio station in the area, was launched in 2015.
Old Compton Street
The east-west road known as Old Compton Street runs through Soho in the West End of London.
This street was named for Henry Compton, who raised money to build St. Anne’s Church in 1686.
Since the 1970s, the street has become a gathering place for London’s LGBTQIA+ communities.
There are several bars, restaurants, cafés, and specialty shops.
Columbia Road
Columbia Road is a street known for the Columbia Road Flower Market.
It’s located in Bethnal Green and is a road with many Victorian shops just off Hackney Road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Columbia Road Flower Market began as a Saturday-only trading market.
Today, the market is only open on Sundays and sells fresh flowers, plants, shrubs, and more.
Jermyn Street
Jermyn Street is a one-way street in the St. James’ area of Westminster.
It is recognized for its numerous menswear stores.
The street was originally built in 1664 and named after Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans.
Today, it is home to many high-end menswear stores, such as Hawes & Curtis, Turnbull & Asser, Hackett and DAKS.
There are many wonderful restaurants along Jermyn Street, such as Rowley’s Restaurant, Fortnum & Masons, and Franco’s.
Jermyn Street is also home to Britain’s oldest cheese shop.
Harley Street
Harley Street is a street in Marylebone known for its historical association with the medical profession.
It houses numerous private medical practices dealing with a wide range of health issues.
The street was named after Edward Harley, who was the 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer.
Some of the most famous residents of Harley Street include Victorian Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, speech therapist Lionel Logue, and artist J. M. W. Turner.
Brick Lane is a street in the East End of London, famous for being the heart of the city’s Bangladeshi community.
It is affectionately known as Banglatown to a lot of the locals.
Brick Lane is famous for its many curry houses.
The street was built in the 15th century and was initially called Whitechapel Lane.
Today, Brick Lane is also known for La Neuve Eglise, a Huguenot chapel, and is an excellent area for vibrant art and fashion students.
Downing Street is in Westminster, just off Whitehall.
It is home to the Prime Minister’s offices and residence.
The Prime Minister’s official residence is 10 Downing Street, and the Chancellor’s official address is Number 11.
It’s a short walk away from the Houses of Parliament.
This street was originally built in the 1680s and was named after Sir George Downing.
Since 1989, a security check has been required to enter Downing Street.
The Diplomatic Protection Group, which is equipped with weapons and protective clothing, patrols the street.
At least one police officer is typically stationed outside the front door of 10 Downing Street.
Other Famous Streets of Note in London
- Bond Street – best for luxury shopping in London
- Baker Street – home of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes
- Savile Row – known for its high-end bespoke tailoring
- Regent Street – good for fashion, dining, wellness, and lifestyle shops
- Piccadilly Circus – colorful, very busy and great for photographs
- The Mall – the road that leads to Buckingham Palace
- The Strand – nice restaurants, the wonderful Somerset House and home to the fancy Savoy Hotel
- Shaftesbury Avenue – aka theatre land
- The King’s Road – luxury shopping in London’s richest borough
London’s Prettiest Streets
If you’re looking for content for your socials, try one of these streets.
Just don’t (DON’T) sit on anyone’s steps!
Most of London’s most popular pretty streets are around the Notting Hill area and residents have grown tired of tourists clogging up the roads and sidewalks.
Some even have put barriers and signs up to prevent the constant photographing of their homes.
These are private family dwellings, not tourist attractions, so be respectful of their properties, try not to take any snaps in the middle of the streets, and don’t (DON’T) sit on their steps!
With over 40 theatres and movie cinemas, this is the heart of West End London.
This place is perfect for nightlife as you can see in a movie in one of the cinemas, enjoy a drink at one of the many bars, enter the Empire Casino to try your hands at the poker table, go to Chinatown for a sizzling bite or catch a late-night show at one of the theatres that surround the square.
Indeed, at night it is a sight to behold.
Leicester Square is also home to many shops like the famous sweet company M&M world and as a home of entertainment, over 50 blockbusters are premiered in one of the theatres every year.
If you are lucky on your visit, you may meet a movie star!
Baker Street
Named after its 18th-century builder William Baker, this famous London Street used to be full of luxury houses for rich people. Today, it is mostly made up of shops and cafes.
It was made popular by the popular fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in the story by Arthur Conan Doyle, who was said according to the story to have lived on 221b Baker Street.
This address is the home of the famous Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Today, there is a café, a museum and a hotel named after the popular character Sherlock Holmes.
The street has lots of restaurants and museums if you are out for good food and a walk through history. Madame Tussauds is nearby.
Piccadilly is known best for the large advertising screens on Piccadilly Square, a connecting junction between Regents Park and Piccadilly Street at the eastern end of the street.
The square is also where you will find the statue of Eros which is a great tourist attraction.
The western end of the street leads to Hyde Park which is the biggest royal park in the city of London.
Piccadilly is home to many department stores, museums, parks and restaurants and hotels.
The iconic Fortnum & Mason is located here for you to get your luxury goods and food.,
Close by is the Royal Academy, Piccadilly Market at St James’ Church, and the popular old apartment building Albany.
Regent Street
This is one of London’s most popular shopping streets and also home to many iconic architectures of the city like the University of Westminster.
The Regency building houses flagship shops of some of the greatest luxury brands in the world like Burberry, Coach, Kate Spade, Tory Burch and J. Crew.
You will also find retail stores like Hamleys Toy Store, Apple Store and Liberty.
When it comes to restaurants, you will find great award-winning restaurants like Tibits and Araki on Regent Street.
The street, which was built in 1823 for the sole purpose of shopping, is living up to expectations.
Savile Row
Savile Row is another London home of fashion in Mayfair. It is a small street that houses some of the most famous men’s tailors in London.
It is the place to buy bespoke men’s suits and the very place where dinner jackets were invented by the famous tailor Henry Poole.
You can also get the finest pocket handkerchiefs, ties and cufflinks to finish off your outfit.
You can check out the popular tailoring shop, Huntsman, that was featured in the movie Kingsman: The Secret Service and has catered for the wears of great men like Sir Winston Churchill and King Edward VIII.
With the presence of popular fashion brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Savile Row offers great insight into the men’s fashion world and at the same time, there is a bit of history and art to thrill you.
You may take your eyes away from fashion and go admire magnificent Georgian buildings or art pieces in the many private art galleries that are located there.
Bond Street
Bond Street is the home of luxury fashion.
Think Bond Street and you think exclusive fashion stores and luxury accessories. Extending from Piccadilly to Oxford Street, the street is in the very heart of Mayfair.
The north side is called New Bond Street while the South side is known as Old Bond Street.
Most designer brands you know own flagship shops on Bond Street dating back to the 18th century. You will find shops like Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and more.
Lots of them have royal warrants which means that they can supply goods to the royal family.
This street is also the location of the renowned Sotheby Auction House, an auction house that trades in exquisite art pieces and jewellery.
You may not be buying things, but who says you can’t window shop?
These lovely streets are also worth a visit:
- Lancaster Road
- Neal’s Yard (not a residential street so snap away!)
- Conduit Mews
- Bywater Street
- Ladbroke Square
- Kensington Park Gardens
- Camden Market’s Umbrella Street
- Kynance Mews
- Bathurst Mews
- Chalcot Crescent
- Hartland Road
- Holland Park Mews
- Elizabeth Street (not a residential street)
- Ennismore Mews
- Westbourne Grove
- St Luke’s Mews (for the Love Actually house)
- Hillgate Street
- Wardour Street (for the Chinatown Gate – not a residential street)
- Kelly Street
- Warren Mews