Central London
This is the heart of London, a must-see and, in any case, a must-do. Totally central, this area is home to some of the capital's most famous monuments and museums, trendy boutiques and famous chain stores, numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs, and the famous theaters and musicals for which the capital is internationally renowned. Get ready to immerse yourself in the London crowd, which moves tirelessly towards the different districts of the center: Soho, Westminster and Mayfair.
Soho. It's the first place you think of when you imagine vibrant London. LGBTQ+ clubs, restaurants of all kinds and pop boutiques in the background, Soho intoxicates tourists with the swirling Piccadilly Circus, charming Covent Garden or the booksellers of Charing Cross. A favorite among art lovers, Soho is home to a number of museums and galleries. Clubbers, meanwhile, will find the best nightlife here. It's impossible to get bored in Soho, a cosmopolitan district where anything is possible!
Westminster. Discover political London, with its royal palaces, Parliament, Big Ben and, of course, Westminster Abbey. A must on your first visit to London, to understand its rich history.
Mayfair. The western part of central London, nestled between Hyde Park and Green Park, enjoys an exceptional location. And wealthy Londoners make no mistake. They come here for the palaces, luxury boutiques and exclusive restaurants. We love this very British elegance, where suit tailors rub shoulders with auction houses (Sotheby's and Christie's in the lead).
North London
To visit North London is to understand how the city has gradually integrated small villages to expand. The area is particularly pleasant, with its large parks, local pubs and country atmosphere, quite different from the heart of London.
Marylebone. This area north of Oxford Street encompasses three rather affluent districts. Bloomsbury was once the writers' quarter, centered around Virginia Woolf. Today, it's home to the British Museum. Maida Vale is particularly residential, with small canals running through it, and close to Saint John's Wood, home of the legendary Abbey Road. Marylebone, wedged between Primrose Hill to the north and Oxford Street to the south, is organized around the pretty shopping street of Marylebone High Street. Regent's Park is just a stone's throw away. A very chic area to stroll around, especially when the sun is out!
Camden. North of Marylebone, Camden is best known for its rock'n'roll market and lively atmosphere. You'll find a colorful mix of vintage stalls and international street-food markets, as well as the neighborhood's pubs and clubs, where the best indie concerts are played. To the northwest of Camden lies a small village, Primrose Hill, bordered by a beautiful park overlooking Regent's Park. We love the bourgeois feel of the main street (Regent's Park Road), with its small restaurants.
Islington. This vast district in northeast London still has a working-class feel, although London's inevitable gentrification is underway. In fact, a small part of it, called Angel, is now quite gentrified. It curves around Upper Street and Camden Passage, two lively streets of bars and markets. Islington is a pleasant, leafy neighborhood inhabited by true Londoners, with pretty little houses.
Hampstead. This is North London's most fashionable district, home to some of its most famous residents. Situated at the foot of the huge Hampstead Heath park, the luxury village stretches around Hampstead High Street. To the northeast of Hampstead, Highgate becomes even more rural, with its stone cottages and famous cemetery. We love this small village atmosphere, with its charming houses and pubs.
South London
South London developed long after the districts north of the Thames, hence the absence of historic monuments. Over the past twenty years, however, Southbank and Southwark have been developing architecturally, and are now the focus of cultural and business life. In the south-east, historic Brixton stands out from the rest, preserving its Caribbean identity.
Southwark. Leading the way in London's post-World War II revival, war-torn Southwark has become a playground for architects in search of crazy projects. The Southbank Centre set the ball rolling, followed by the Tate Modern, the Town Hall and the Millennium Bridge.
Clapham. Once a working-class district, Clapham is now populated by young middle-class thirtysomethings, who go out in the bars of Clapham North, dine in the trendy restaurants of Clapham Common and shop on Northcote Road. It's a fast-growing area in South London, becoming very fashionable with its large, pleasant park and festivals.
Brixton. London's enfant terrible has grown up over the last twenty years. It remains strongly marked by Jamaican identity, in its bars and market. We love its cosmopolitan atmosphere, accessible to all, Brixton is a fashionable, alternative, popular and trendy district.
East London
The east of the city is a complex area. Along with the City, it's the historic heart of London, but as soon as you walk a few hundred meters to the east, you enter an area in constant renewal. In the former Docklands district, transformed into an ultra-modern business district, but also in the East End, once working-class and now bohemian. So much so that the working classes are still moving east, to the Far East after all, closely followed by the artists... The last facet of the East, the sleepy village of Greenwich along the Thames.
The City. Built around the Strand and Fleet Street, the City is London's historic and financial heart. Busy during the week, sleepy at weekends, it boasts a number of famous landmarks, including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. This is the place to come for aperitifs and dinner in one of these modern-architecture buildings, with their breathtaking views over the Thames. Just north of the cathedral, the medieval district of Clerkenwell unfolds around its market, Smithfield, and its gourmet restaurants.
East End. Spitalfields is the gateway to East London, mixed with Bengali immigration and the young, trendy population invading Brick Lane and its ultra-famous vintage market. North of Brick Lane begins Shoreditch, where former warehouses have been converted into alternative clubs. Old Street, the main thoroughfare, concentrates a trendy population in search of new urban venues. Hoxton follows suit, with its many restaurants and art galleries. To be even more cutting-edge, avant-garde clubbers head to Hackney & Dalston, north of Hoxton, where the atmosphere is still quite popular. Whitechapel, even further east, also retains its mixed-race identity, far from the more bourgeois-bohemian atmosphere of Shoreditch.
Greenwich. A historic naval village, Greenwich is quiet, green and family-friendly. It's the place to come for a Sunday stroll to discover the meridian or the Cutty Sark, or simply to stroll in its park and admire the splendid views over the whole city, far from the hustle and bustle.
West London
West London is home to some of London's most exclusive neighborhoods, including many French expatriates and celebrities. In addition to Chelsea and Kensington, it's Notting Hill that visitors will appreciate, especially for its famous market.
Chelsea. Crossed by King's Road, Chelsea is the temple of shopping class and the well-established English bourgeoisie. Highly residential, the area offers little in the way of attractions, apart from its hushed ambience and Victorian houses. To the east, the more boring Belgravia and Pimlico are home to numerous B&Bs, the Tate Britain and Victoria station.
Kensington. To the east of the gardens and palace of the same name, this district revolves around Kensington High Street, a shopping street that competes with Oxford Street. To the south of this area, South Kensington is the French Quarter, with its restaurants, consulate and lycée. You can also visit the Victoria & Albert Museum. Finally, luxurious Knightsbridge is home to the famous Harrods store...
Notting Hill. The West End's flagship district, home to the carnival and the Portobello Road antique and second-hand market. With its brightly colored little houses, Notting Hill is a little gem that we particularly like. Following on from Portobello Road is Golborne Road. This neighborhood, still mixed-race and less middle-class, boasts a number of thrift stores and antique shops, as well as Portuguese boutiques run by the local population. Shepherd's Bush, to the west of Notting Hill, is home to Indian, Caribbean and African communities. Its market exudes a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
