London is made up of 32 boroughs, or local authority districts and the city of London. There is a huge range of different neighbourhoods operating in each of these areas, all with their own unique flair, cultural makeup and landmarks to discover.
London, England is home to almost 9 million people. It’s a bustling centre of commerce and fashion, and a tourist hub for the 30 million visitors it receives annually. If you’re planning a trip to England’s capital, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different boroughs and find out the best London neighbourhoods and what they each have to offer travellers.
The best way to breakdown the different parts of the city when looking at a map of London is simply to separate them into different geographical areas; Central, South, North, East and West.
These are the best places to stay, shop, dine and discover in every corner of London’s fascinating neighbourhoods.
Central London Neighbourhoods
Central London is where most visitors spend their time when exploring the sights and sounds of London town. Here you’ll find the most famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and famous stores like Harrods and Hamleys.
Some of the neighbourhoods in central London include:
- Bayswater
- Belgravia
- The City
- Mayfair
- Paddington
- Soho
- Trafalgar Square
- The West End
- Westminster
Stay at the Ritz, London in Mayfair for a special occasion or when only the best will do. This stunning hotel was built in 1906 and still offers first-class services like hotel transfers in their fleet of chauffeur driven Rolls Royce Phantoms and fancy afternoon tea.
Shop on the famous Oxford Street, where you’ll find a huge array of brands to choose from including department stores like Selfridges and Debenhams.
Dine at a variety of restaurants by booking a Twilight Soho food tour with Eating Europe.
Discover the best view of the city at a height of 244 metres from the top of The Shard, the capital’s tallest building.
Save money with these free London attractions.
South London Neighbourhoods
South London contains many interesting places popular with visitors including Wimbledon, Borough market, Greenwich Park, the Southbank and Crystal Palace. It’s also home to a few neighbourhoods, like Brixton and Peckham, that have been revitalized and gentrified and are now offer every hipster fad and trend you could wish to find. From street art installations to rooftop pop-up bars, like Franks and even a cereal restaurant, called the Cereal Killer Cafe, serving, you guessed it, just cereal!
Some of the neighbourhoods in South London include:
- Brixton
- Dulwich
- Greenwich
- Lambeth
- The South Bank
- Wimbledon
Stay at The Alma Hotel in Wandsworth for a taste of British hospitality above a pub. The boutique rooms are individually styled and offer fine amenities like fluffy bathrobes and luxury toiletries.
Shop and dine at Greenwich Market where you’ll find tasty food stalls and vintage gifts.
Discover The People’s Fridge, London’s first community fridge in Brixton. To combat food waste and poverty, businesses, visitors and residents fill this refrigerator with food to be shared by anyone who needs it.
North London Neighbourhoods
North London has the most underground tube stops and is known for a thriving music scene. Home to Alexandra Palace and the setting for the world’s first television broadcast it is well worth a visit. The North London borough of Camden is the place to go to find interesting souvenirs in the market, visit traditional English pubs, and take a walk down by the canal.
Some of theneighbourhoods in North London include:
- Camden
- Hampstead
- Kentish Town
- Kings Cross
- Wembley
Stay at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, originally opened in 1873, and float around in their beautiful indoor pool.
Shop at Cristobal, and find one-of-a-kind vintage costume-jewellery.
Dine at the historic gastropub The Holly Bush, which is a grade II listed building and has been here for centuries.
Discover Hampstead Heath, a 791-acre area of meadows, woodland and wild park and be sure to visit platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Train station..
Check out this London travel guide.
East London Neighbourhoods
London’s dockyards provide plenty of history and a window into how the city has changed over the years. Here in East London, you can also learn all about the capital’s most recent Olympic experience at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
Tour the Whitechapel neighbourhood where Jack the Ripper terrorized the city back in the 1880s. Now East London is considered the best place to get a curry on busy Brick Lane, a hub of art and design at the Tate Modern and the Barbican Centre and the home of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Some of theneighbourhoods in East London include:
- Docklands
- Shoreditch
- Spitalfields
- Whitechapel
- Walthamstow
- Bow
- Stratford
Stay at the Shoreditch Rooms, the swanky hotel of the members-only club where guests can also use the gym and pool.
Shop at Walthamstow market, Europe’s longest street market, and listen to traders as they very loudly announce their wares.
Dine at Canto Corvino, in Spitalfields for a modern Italian feast.
Discover one of the most gruesome crimes in history on The Jack the Ripper Tour guided walk through Whitechapel.
West London Neighbourhoods
West London sometimes gets forgotten by both Londoners and visitors alike. Not helped by the fact that Londoners confusingly say they are “going up West” when they mean the west end of central London, not west London proper. It’s home to Kensington and Chelsea which is one of the richest parts of London. Other notable London landmarks include the Royal Albert Hall, Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road. London’s swinging 60s era also originated here in West London on King’s Road.
Some of theneighbourhoods in West London include:
- Hammersmith
- Hampton
- Chelsea
- Kew
- Richmond
- Twickenham
- Kensington
Stay at The Boathouse, a funky barge in Paddington for a totally unique experience.
Shop at Anya Hindmarch Bespoke where you can watch craftsmen finishing designs and pick up a new bag or two!
Dine at Dishoom in Kensington, this small chain of Indian restaurants are incredibly popular and trendy so expect long lines on weekends.
Discover The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, and learn all about horticulture.
In a city as diverse and large as London, every neighbourhood is a treasure waiting to be explored!
Wanting to explore more of Europe? Here’s some travel inspiration.
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