The 22 Most Famous Streets in London to Visit

Embarking on a journey to England’s vibrant capital, you might find yourself curious about the iconic avenues that define the city’s character. In this comprehensive guide, we’re about to take you on a captivating tour of the 22 most famous streets in London

We’ll explore historic streets in London, famous for their cultural significance, and we’ll also venture into the bustling shopping districts that offer retail therapy like no other. You may be familiar with some of these street names, such as Abbey Road, Baker Street, or Downing Street.

But London holds many more treasures beyond these familiar landmarks, with hidden gems waiting to be uncovered by the discerning traveler. With this in mind, we’ll include a map at the end of this article so you can plan how best to fit these popular streets into your London itinerary.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase a product or book a stay through these links at no extra cost to you.

Abbey Road

You probably know this famous street in London–the famous zebra crossing from the Beatles’ 1969 Abbey Road album cover. This photo continues to be a symbol in pop culture, with fans from all over the world flocking to this iconic spot to take pictures.

Funnily enough, the Beatles were actually trying to cut costs by taking photos close to Abbey Road Studios, where they were recording the album at the time. Due to its cultural and historical importance, Abbey Road was awarded the status of a Grade II Listed Building in 2010.

Oxford Street

Oxford Street runs for approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road. This major road is well-known as one of Europe’s busiest shopping streets.

Unlike many shopping streets in London, Oxford Street features a mix of luxury and affordable stores. Moreover, this road is well known for its festive display of lights during Christmas time in London.

The Oxford Street Christmas lights shine from early to mid-November until January 5. Additionally, you can easily visit other famous London streets for shopping, like Regent Street and Carnaby Street, while in the area.

Bond Street

Bond Street has been a popular location for London’s elite since its construction in the 1700s. Currently, this Mayfair road boasts prestigious retailers like Chanel, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, and Louis Vuitton.

People commonly refer to this road as “Bond Street,” but it consists of two sections: Old Bond Street and New Bond Street. Due to its distinguished reputation, it ranks among Europe’s priciest and most highly desired areas of real estate.

This fact is particularly interesting as it spans only 0.5 miles (0.8 km). As you stroll along Bond Street, you’ll encounter the Allies sculpture featuring Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, a poignant reminder of history. 

Piccadilly 

Running from Piccadilly Circus to Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly is London’s busiest street, hosting shops, luxury hotels like the Ritz, and the Royal Academy of Arts. Formerly Portugal Street, it boasts one of the most distinctive London street names, inspired by the fashionable piccadill of the late 16th century.

Piccadilly is often compared to New York City’s Times Square, with its dazzling billboards and bright lights. You can also see the famous Eros statue in Piccadilly Circus, although it technically represents Anteros, Eros’s twin brother.

Other interesting sites include Hatchards, considered the U.K.’s oldest bookshop, and Fortnum & Mason, an upscale department store established in 1707. Nearby attractions include The National Gallery, Green Park, and Covent Garden.

Baker Street

If Baker Street isn’t already on your radar, you might want to dive into the world of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! Even if you don’t enjoy reading, we recommend checking out the well-received BBC crime series Sherlock to inspire your trip to London.

Sherlock Holmes is arguably the best-known fictional detective in history and one of the most recognizable characters from British literature. In both the books and series, Holmes resided at 221B Baker Street, fueling the road’s popularity as a tourist attraction. 

Although you won’t actually find Sherlock’s house here, you can purchase tickets for the Sherlock Holmes Museum to experience a re-creation of the fictional detective’s living quarters. You can also see a statue of Detective Sherlock Holmes outside of the Baker Street tube station! 

Savile Row

Savile Row has been home to the finest tailors in London since the 19th century, known as one of Europe’s most famous shopping streets. Bespoke tailoring supposedly originated here, which is when a suit is cut and made by hand for a specific customer.

Today, visitors from around the world flock to Savile Row to have their suits meticulously crafted by some of the globe’s finest tailors. Some of the most celebrated menswear shops on Savile Row include Huntsman & Sons, Dege & Skinner, and Gieves and Hawkes.

Besides bespoke tailoring, Savile Row is also known for hosting the Beatles’ last live performance in 1969. If you’re in the market for menswear, you may want to head to Jermyn Street after shopping on Savile Row.

Carnaby Street

You’ll find one of London’s most beautiful shopping areas behind Oxford Street: Carnaby Street. Besides all of the great stores, this Soho road is also an ideal place to go for a stroll as it’s fully pedestrianized (meaning no cars allowed!).

Although its history stretches back to the 1600s, Carnaby Street truly gained notoriety in the 1960s. During the “Swinging Sixties,” it was a hotspot for hippie and mod fashion, with legends like Elizabeth Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, and The Sex Pistols frequenting the area.

Today, the Carnaby shopping area spans 14 streets in London’s West End, with over 100 stores and 60 eateries. At Carnaby’s independent fashion boutiques, you can purchase trendy and unique clothing you won’t find anywhere else.

Regent Street 

Among the famous streets of London, Regent Street is one of the most prominent shopping destinations in the West End. Rather conveniently, it runs perpendicular to Oxford Street! So, it’s an easy stop to make while in the area.

Some of the most popular shops here include well-known brands, such as Zara, Coach, Armani, Michael Kors, and Ted Baker. Additionally, one of our favorite things to do if you’re traveling to London with kids is Hamleys toy shop.

This store is considered to be the oldest and largest toy store in the world, spanning seven floors with over 50,000 lines of toys. Furthermore, just like Oxford Street, Regent Street is famed for its spectacular Christmas lights, creating a magical atmosphere during the festive season.

Jermyn Street

This one-way street in Saint James was both developed by and named after Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans. Unlike Savile Row’s bespoke suits, Jermyn Street is a haven for gentlemen’s apparel, offering a variety of shirts, hats, shoes, and more.

This historic street dates back to 1664 and has been home to notable figures like Sir Isaac Newton, the Duke of Marlborough, and Louis Napoleon. Jermyn Street today maintains its old-world charm with high-end shops, including independent designers.

Some of the most recognized menswear retailers on this road include Hawes & Curtis, Thomas Pink, Charles Tyrwhitt, and T. M. Lewin. Apart from clothing stores, you can also find Paxton & Whitfield, one of the oldest cheese shops in London. 

The Mall 

The Mall is one of the most recognizable roads in London, known for its reddish hue that resembles a grand red carpet leading to Buckingham Palace. This iconic street boasts a rich history, originating as a field for the 17th-century pall-mall sport, which gave it its name.

Today, The Mall is a prestigious ceremonial route, hosting significant events such as royal weddings and British celebrations. For example, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Golden Jubilee here in 2002 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

This tree-lined road also serves as the finish line for the annual London Marathon! To preserve its ceremonial dignity, The Mall is closed to traffic on weekends, public holidays, and during special ceremonial events. 

Downing Street

Downing Street is undeniably one of London’s most renowned streets, with 10 Downing Street serving as the official residence of British Prime Ministers since 1735. Often simply referred to as “Number 10,” it’s equivalent to the U.K.’s version of the White House.

This historic building, complete with its iconic black door and iron railings, boasts over 100 rooms! Due to its political significance, this famous street is off-limits to the public, but you can glimpse 10 Downing Street’s front door through the Whitehall gates.

This black door is considered one of the world’s most photographed doors! Downing Street is also approximately a 15-minute walk from Buckingham Palace and only a few minutes from the Churchill War Rooms, making it an easy stop to fit into your day.

Whitehall

Whitehall runs from Trafalgar Square, past Downing Street, and ends at Parliament Square. At the heart of the U.K.’s government, it’s a historical and political center, home to institutions like the Cabinet Office and Horse Guards Parade.

The street derives its name from Whitehall Palace, once the principal royal residence, which tragically succumbed to a fire in 1698. The Banqueting House, the sole surviving fragment of the original Palace, sits just across from the Horse Guards Parade entrance.

Whitehall also pays homage to the nation’s history with numerous memorial statues, monuments, and the iconic Cenotaph. You can also gather here to watch the Changing of The King’s Life Guard!

Portobello Road

Portobello Road is a colorful street that runs through the Notting Hill district in West London. It’s a popular destination for Instagram-worthy moments in the city and is home to the Portobello Road Market.

Although the market technically operates Monday-Saturday, Saturday is when all stalls are in full swing and the best time to search for antiques! If you enjoyed the 1999 film Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, you’ll definitely want to visit this area.

Or, more recently, Portobello Road appeared in “Paddington 2,” featuring Alice’s Antiques as Mr. Gruber’s antique shop. Other beautiful roads you may want to check out in the neighborhood include Westbourne Park Road, Colville Houses, and Denbigh Terrace. 

Brick Lane

For vintage shops, incredible street art, and delicious street food markets, look no further than Brick Lane. This street in East London has become the heart of the city’s Bangladeshi community, so expect to find some seriously delightful curry houses.

As you stroll down Brick Lane, prepare to be captivated by its impressive street art murals, each telling a unique story. As far as foodie spots, don’t miss City Spice (curry house), the two best bagel shops in London (Beigel Shop and Beigel Bake), and DF Tacos (Mexican-American cuisine).

The best time to visit is on Sundays when you can attend the Brick Lane Market. Here, you’ll find retro clothing, unique crafts, curious antiques, and yummy international cuisines–all at great prices.

Columbia Road

After you visit Brick Lane, consider exploring the nearby Columbia Road in Bethnal Green, East London. In fact, this charming street is famous for hosting one of the best Sunday markets in London: a lively flower market.

As you explore, you’ll find a diverse range of plants, shrubs, bulbs, and fresh flowers from experienced merchants with a long tradition. To savor the market at its best and avoid the crowds, we recommend arriving early in the morning when it opens at 8 a.m.

Apart from the flower market, you can also find a diverse mix of sixty independent businesses here. For example, peruse art galleries, cupcake shops, vintage clothing stores, delis, gardening shops, and antique stores.

The Strand

The Strand is a major road in Central London running alongside the Thames River. This location makes a lot of sense as the name “strand” comes from the Old English word “strond,” meaning the edge of a river!

Notable landmarks along The Strand include the Adelphi Theater, an influential West End venue, the renowned Savoy Hotel, Somerset House, and King’s College. Additionally, you’ll discover Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, a historic English restaurant, and the venerable Twinings Tea Shop, established in 1706.

This historic street, stretching from Trafalgar Square to Temple Bar (where it changes to Fleet Street), holds rich tales from its past. In fact, No. 1 the Strand marked London’s first numbered address during Charles II’s reign.

Shaftesbury Avenue

Shaftesbury Avenue is named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, and runs from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street. This street is well-known as the center of London’s West End Theater District. 

Popular theaters on Shaftesbury include the Apollo, Lyric, Gielgud, Sondheim, Palace, and Shaftesbury Theatre. The ODEON Covent Garden cinema can be found on this road as well. You’ll likely end up on this street if you’d like to see a show during your London vacation.

Old Compton Street

Old Compton Street runs through Soho in London’s West End and is famous today as the center of the city’s flourishing LGBTQ community. For one weekend each year, it becomes fully pedestrianized as one of the main places to celebrate during London’s Pride festivals.

No matter when you visit, you’ll find rainbow flags, fun places to eat and grab a drink, and opportunities to see popular theater shows. To explore famous spots on Old Compton Street, visit G-A-Y, a renowned gay nightclub, and The Admiral Duncan for weekend drag and cabaret shows.

Bywater Street

Bywater Street in Chelsea is my favorite famous London road due to its beautiful candy-colored homes. For this reason, we would consider it one of the city’s most Instagrammable spots!

Although Bywater Street is certainly a trendy place to take photos for social media, remember that it’s also a residential area. When photographing these homes, always be respectful and avoid sitting on steps; take pictures on the sidewalk or the street instead.

Kings Road

Kings Road, or “King’s Road,” is a major road stretching just under 2 miles (3.2 km) through Chelsea, in South West London. As you may have guessed by the name, this street is associated with a king: Charles II.

In fact, it was initially used as a private royal road to travel to Kew. More recently, in the 1960s, it was another important spot in London for mod culture and the birthplace of the mini-skirt in the U.K.

Kings Road continues to hold a reputation as one of London’s most fashionable shopping streets. Some of the most important shops on this street include the historic department store Peter Jones, Heal’s furniture store, and Vivienne Westwood’s iconic boutique.

St. Lukes Mews 

St. Lukes Mews is an adorable spot in London, tucked away in Notting Hill, and one of the city’s cutest hidden gems. This road is another excellent place to visit while in the neighborhood, perhaps after stopping by the Portobello Road Market.

Apart from being an excellent location for an Instagram-worthy shot, St. Luke’s Mews gained fame because the pink house pictured above appeared in the 2003 movie Love Actually. In the movie, this is where Keira Knightley’s character lived!

Once again, please remember that this is someone’s home. So, if you stop by, please be respectful and stay on the street, keeping your distance. Furthermore, there is typically a sign on the door to donate money after visiting, which we would encourage you to do.

Westbourne Park Road

Westbourne Park Road is another of the most colorful streets in London. Although there are no specific tourist attractions on this road, I think it’s a beautiful place to take a walk and see the vibrant homes.

Plus, this is another fun place to visit while in the Notting Hill neighborhood. As with the other residential areas mentioned on this list, please refrain from sitting on the stairs or entering someone’s private property. 

Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later!

This article was first published in July 2020 and has since been updated.