There are some parts of London that are no-brainers when it comes to building and creating a great and varied itinerary. Oxford Street is renowned for shopping and combines the retail experience with proximity to the top restaurants in the West End of London as well as the finest hotels. Meanwhile, The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace is one of the most frequented by tourists visiting London, while Shaftesbury Avenue plays host to a different kind of royalty: that of theatreland, where the kings and queens of musicals reside.
But while tourists from all over the world fill these most famous streets on a daily basis, there are other equally famous but lesser frequented streets in London which we believe are even more worthy of your time (and a selfie or two). Here are some of the best.
Abbey Road
This is most famous for its zebra crossing, which is where the iconic shot of The Beatles was snapped on their way to the Abbey Road Studios. Those who know about this street up by St John’s Wood are often guilty of slowing down traffic as they seek to replicate the famous photo – but we can’t blame them! In fact, we’d say it’s pretty worth it!
The Strand
A street which runs parallel to the river Thames, just north of Embankment and just south of Covent Garden, The Strand is home to shops, designer stores, high end hotels, and theatres. It’s one of the most vibrant spots in London, a stone’s throw from the hotels in West End London UK and a great place to head for a fun night out in the city.
Carnaby Street
If Regent’s Street is the upper class cousin of Oxford Street, connecting the iconic high street to Leicester Square and The Piccadilly London West End hotel beyond, then Carnaby Street is like their wild aunt. Known for its vibrant colours and quirky boutiques, displaying one off street art creations and some of London’s boldest seasonal displays and light fittings, Carnaby Street took on a new lease of life in the 1960s and has never really calmed down since.
Head here for shops which are a little off the beaten track, alongside memorable bars and eateries.
Brick Lane
A far cry from The Piccadilly London West End special offers, now we’re heading east for one of the most iconic streets in Shoreditch. Renowned as one of the most popular places in modern London, boasting some of the best street art in the city and the most unique dining spots and experiences, Shoreditch is no longer ‘up and coming’ – it has arrived.
Try out the Brick Lane bagel shop for a royal-approved breakfast (it was once visited by the Princess of Wales, back when she was the Duchess of Cambridge), or book yourself onto one of the Brick Lane or Shoreditch tours to find out more about the artistic background which attracts so many different cultures to this part of London.
If all that’s not enough to entice you away from the hordes of tourists found on The Mall and Oxford Street, then we don’t know what is!
