Best areas in London

Bankside
London > areas
Five hundred years ago, Bankside was like Soho is today, a bustling, bawdy place, full of taverns, theatres, and seedier pursuits. Though it has cleaned up its act considerably since then, one of those theatres has risen from the grave, and now ... More

Battersea
London > areas
The area spreading out from Clapham Junction, which proclaims itself as Britain's busiest railway station, is mainly home to a complementary mix of trendy young professionals and well-to-do families. The transition from one to the other (but not back again!) is a ... More

Bayswater
London > areas
The culturally diverse inhabitants of Bayswater live in one of London's most architecturally traditional areas. London's Arabic, American, and Greek communities make their homes in pillared Georgian terraces and neat garden squares, with a great expanse of Hyde Park's landscaped English parkland ... More

Belgravia
London > areas
When King George IV decided to make Buckingham Palace his permanent residence in 1825, the Grosvenor family saw an opportunity. They commissioned architect Thomas Cubitt to build an area of exclusive housing on this newly fashionable land, and his grand classical designs ... More

Bloomsbury
London > areas
The cool white garden squares and wide streets of Bloomsbury have been a pull to thinkers for centuries, and it sometimes seems like every second house has a blue plaque denoting that a great writer, scientist or philosopher once inhabited the building. ... More

Brentford
London > areas
Part of the London Borough of Hounslow, Brentford is around 8 miles from central London. A diverse range of company headquarters, including GlaxoSmithKline, can be found in the area, marking the start of the M4 corridor. Attractions such as Syon House, the ... More

Brixton
London > areas
Multicultural Brixton used to be an extremely wealthy settlement outside London. In the 18th century, the area boasted lush farmland and a market garden known for its game, strawberries and windmills. Today, Brixton is best known for its vibrant markets and its ... More

Camberwell
London > areas
A built-up, poorer part of south London, Camberwell is not bursting with hotels or attractions, although it is home to one of London's most important contemporary art spaces, the South London Gallery. With Camberwell College of Arts next door and King's College ... More

Camden Town
London > areas
Camden is the centre of the capital's underground music scene with a plethora of seductively scuzzy venues, where thrashing guitars play out to extravagantly pierced goths and punks from all over the world. It was in Camden that Britpop emerged and it ... More

Chelsea
London > areas
Football is traditionally a working class sport, but an ordinary fan of Chelsea FC earns around double the national average income, a statistic that tells you everything you need to know about this fabulously wealthy riverside neighbourhood. Two long high streets, the ... More

City
London > areas
The Square Mile is the space that was contained within the mediaeval walls of London, a history remembered each November in the pomp of the Lord Mayor's Show. Now it is the nation's financial centre and embodies the capital's mix of tradition ... More

Clerkenwell
London > areas
Clerkenwell used to be a part of London's industrial heartland. Now, the warehouses are home to design agencies and magazines, the factories have become exclusive bars and restaurants, and the slum housing has been turned into exclusive flats for professional twenty-somethings. As ... More

Covent Garden
London > areas
Covent Garden gained its name when the Convent of St Peter opened a market in its garden more than 800 years ago, and it has remained dedicated to shopping ever since, though the focus now is on gifts, luxuries and fashion, rather ... More

Crystal Palace
London > areas
Named after the vast iron and glass hall that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851, Crystal Palace is a leafy area of south London which once was a part of the Great North Wood, a popular area for Londoners until it began ... More

Earls Court
London > areas
Up until as recently as the 1990s Earls Court was a haven of hostels, the temporary homes of a community of backpackers. The area, like most of its nomadic residents, had a scruffy appearance and looked like it needed a good scrub. ... More

Elephant and Castle
London > areas
A wise man once said that all roads lead to Rome but a not-so-wise transport chief once made all buses lead to Elephant and Castle. We're a bit confused about why this might be; it couldn't possibly be for the 1960s faded ... More

Fitzrovia
London > areas
Neatly tucked away between the wealth of Marylebone, the edgy energy of Soho and the grandeur of Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia is peaceful and attractive, home to small media organisations, small pubs and small restaurants and a smattering of decent hotels. Wide streets lined ... More

Fulham
London > areas
This leafy area of west London is traditionally the home of the Sloane Ranger (whose affectionate nickname originated from Sloane Square). Today you’re more likely to find Australians and South Africans queuing outside the thumping bars around Fulham Broadway but the Sloanes ... More

Hackney
London > areas
This area is usually labelled as one of the poorer ends of London, but Hackney has a bustling street life that transcends its reputation. With no Tube station and few hotels nearby, Hackney has a real life of its own and the ... More

Hammersmith
London > areas
To the west of Hammersmith runs the river, which is one of the area’s most endearing and popular features. Locals make the most of their proximity to the water: some live on it, others row on it, plenty walk or jog alongside ... More

Holborn
London > areas
Located between the idle pleasures of the West End and the spectacular wealth of the City, Holborn (recently rebranded 'Midtown' by over-eager estate agents) quickly became London's main drag for lawyers and journalists. The newspapers moved on from Fleet Street in the ... More

Holland Park
London > areas
Holland Park is one of London's most elegant districts, its pretty, petit park being its main feature. It's the ideal location for those wanting to escape the clamour of the city but who don’t want to travel too far out of the ... More

Hoxton
London > areas
Twenty years ago, this was rough-and-ready Hackney heartland, where cockneys mixed uneasily with newer arrivals, and seedy strip bars proliferated. Then London's artists moved in and now it is the trendiest place in the capital, a Mecca for skinny jeans, checked shirts, ... More

Hyde Park
London > areas
Hyde Park is among the best city centre parks in the world, all the more awe-inspiring because it creates a virtually unbroken line of green space with Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James's Park across the capital. Being slap-bang in the ... More

Islington
London > areas
Islington mixes elegant Georgian squares inhabited by London's liberal elite with some rough-and-ready bits. This vibrant borough has a thriving fringe theatre scene and a bustling nightlife, centred on the clubs, bars and restaurants of Upper Street, and, if you're planning on ... More

Kennington
London > areas
Nowadays Kennington is best known for The Oval cricket ground, where Surrey and often England play their games. The writer and poet Geoffrey Chaucer used to work in this region of Lambeth as a clerk in the 14th century, while more recently ... More

Kensington
London > areas
The streets of Kensington may not be paved with gold but, in terms of real estate, they might as well be. The most desirable area, where you’ll find many a multi-million pound residence, is between Kensington High Street, up and over to ... More

Kilburn
London > areas
Divided between the three boroughs of Brent, Camden and Westminster, Kilburn has the highest Irish population of any London area - it is said that 13% of residents were born in Ireland - as well as a large Afro-Caribbean population. The Kilburn ... More

King's Cross
London > areas
Named after a vast monument dedicated to King George IV in 1835, which used to stand where the station is today, King's Cross cropped up on the site of a village previously known as Battle Bridge. This village was located by an ... More

Knightsbridge
London > areas
Harrods, the most recognised shop in the world famed for its annual Christmas lights and window displays, is at the centre of Knightsbridge, an area that is becoming the best place in London to max out your credit card. Bond Street was ... More

Lambeth
London > areas
While most London Boroughs look in towards the centre of town, Lambeth’s heart is in the South with nearby hotels choosing the buzzing South Bank as their home. Dozens of welcoming bars and clubs play reggae, ska, hip-hop and dance music all ... More

Little Venice
London > areas
As the name suggests, Little Venice is interspersed with waterways. While you'll never mistake it for the Italian city, it does have some superb restaurants, bars and cafes lending the whole area a cosmopolitan, laid back vibe. When Robert Browning coined the ... More

Maida Vale
London > areas
The peaceful boulevards of Maida Vale seem to belong in a different, less crowded city than the rest of London (though closer examination reveals that most of the palatial Edwardian houses have in fact been split into flats), where children can play ... More

Marylebone
London > areas
Just a short step away from the tourist hordes, Marylebone still has the feel of a real neighbourhood, though a slightly odd one: the wealthy residents are becoming ever more attractive as Harley Street, the traditional home of England's best doctors, has ... More

Mayfair
London > areas
Primarily thanks to the game Monopoly, where the area is deigned to have London's most expensive property, Mayfair's sharp reputation precedes it. The smart neighbourhood is named after the annual May Fair which used to take place on the site that is ... More

Notting Hill
London > areas
The incredible diversity of an area that contained some of the most expensive houses in the Capital next to some of the roughest council estates caused riots in 1958, but in the 1970s and 1980s, the potent mixture of Mediterranean, Caribbean, and ... More

Paddington
London > areas
The only neighbourhood in London famed for a polite duffle coat-wearing Peruvian bear with a penchant for marmalade sandwiches, Paddington is centred around the Paddington Basin and its Isambard Kingdom Brunel-designed station, which contains a statue of the classic children's fictional character ... More

Peckham
London > areas
In its 16th century heyday, Peckham was extremely popular as a wealthy residential area with many large properties surrounded by lush farmland. By the 18th century the area became more commercial, attracting industrialists keen to avoid central London's expensive rates. Peckham's extensive ... More

Pimlico
London > areas
Pimlico doesn’t shout about or show off its many attributes. You might not realise, for example, that it’s ten minutes’ walk to Sloane Square, a stone’s throw from Tate Britain and that Buckingham Palace is within easy reach. It’s also just a ... More

Primrose Hill
London > areas
The hill to the North of Regent’s Park has been adopted as home by the wealthy left-wingers of the London arts and media world, who dislike the aristocratic pretensions of West London but still want to live somewhere beautiful. Actors and newspaper ... More

Regent's Park
London > areas
Regent's Park is a huge, thriving green expanse in the heart of the capital consisting of two circular areas (an Inner and Outer Circle). At one-time a hunting ground for the ever-ebullient Henry VIII, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) commissioned ... More

Shoreditch
London > areas
A triangle of influences have made Shoreditch into one of London’s most distinctive and unusual areas. To the East, Bangla-town and Brick Lane – London’s celebrated curry mile – are a riot of smells and colours from the Indian sub-continent. In the ... More

Soho
London > areas
The sleazy heart of London’s Theatreland has thankfully stood firm against the worst ravages of gentrification and managed to retain some of its unique character. Tourists and immigrants created Soho, and while the flashing neon of the sex shops hints at a ... More

South Bank
London > areas
The Southbank Centre is a classic example of brutal 60s concrete architecture. Everyone has an opinion on its distinctive design - famous detractors include Prince Charles, who once described it as a '''monstrous carbuncle'''. Yet, if the West End is the centre ... More

South Kensington
London > areas
The concentration of prestigious and world-class museums in South Kensington is unique to London. In no other city would you find the likes of such luminaries as the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall within ... More

Southwark
London > areas
Renowned for its old inns and taverns, Southwark is also the historical home of the capital's arts and entertainments industry. London's first theatres - the Globe, the Hope and the Rose - were all built there in the 16th century and ... More

Spitalfields
London > areas
No area showcases London's vibrant diversity and combination of the ancient and the modern as much as Spitalfields. To the east, the huge influx of Bangladeshi immigrants has made Brick Lane the curry capital of the world, while to the west, the ... More

St James's
London > areas
Once the London home of the very wealthiest members of the British aristocracy, almost every building lining the streets of St. James’s is a palace – though now most play host to corporate headquarters and grand hotels rather than famous families. Pall ... More

St John's Wood
London > areas
This leafy area to the west of Regent's Park is one of the few parts of central London to be developed with low density villas. Detached and semi-detached houses with large gardens are common here, and this has made it one of ... More

Stockwell
London > areas
With good transport links and a diverse ethnic and cultural mix, Stockwell is one of south London's up-and-coming areas. Its name is thought to derive from "stoc", the old English word for a tree trunk or post. From the 13th to 19th ... More

Stratford
London > areas
Host of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Stratford has enjoyed a major regeneration in recent years. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is now open to the public, offering a site of over 250 acres of beautifully landscaped open space and 6.5km of ... More

Tower Hamlets
London > areas
The great bulk of William the Conqueror's Tower of London looms over the area of Tower Hamlets, a high citadel where the French ruler could fortify himself against his rebellious subjects. The eastern streets of Tower Hamlets are now filled with a ... More

Victoria
London > areas
Victoria is the area of London around Victoria Station in the City of Westminster borough. The area is dominated by the train and international coach stations on Buckingham Palace Road. The district consists predominantly of commercial property and social housing, with offices ... More

Westminster
London > areas
The area of Westminster is dominated by the business of government, and the great symbols of British greatness. The Houses of Parliament, with its mighty bell Big Ben that can be heard throughout Central London chiming the hours, is a far more ... More

Central London
London > areas
While many take Central London to be anything found within the confines of the Circle Line, the official make-up comprises the City of London, most of Westminster, and the inner parts of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth and Kensington and ... More

East London
London > areas
With a population of around 2 million, East London is the most densely populated of London's sub regions. The East End is made up of the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and the ... More

North East London
London > areas
Covering the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking and Dagenham, and the City of London, the sub-region of North East London has a population of 1.4 million. A large part of area - especially London Docklands and the ... More

North London
London > areas
Generally speaking, the districts north of the River Thames are known as North London. They include the City of London, and the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, ... More

South East London
London > areas
The South East of London has a population of 1.3 million and is made up of the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. Underserved by the London Underground network, the area's main transport hub is London Bridge train station which ... More

South London
London > areas
The River Thames splits London into two parts and the southern part includes the historic central areas of Southwark, Lambeth, Bankside and maritime Greenwich. The boroughs which make up South London are Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, ... More

South West London
London > areas
The South West of London has a population of 1.6 million and is made up of the boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth. South West London includes some delightful stretches of the Thames, especially ... More

West London
London > areas
With a population of 1.6 million, West London is made up of the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. Owing to the affluent inner city areas of West London, the sub region often has a haughty reputation ... More

Barnes
London > areas
One of the most desirable residential locations in London, Barnes has a reputation for its open spaces, beautiful architecture and strong community spirit. Essentially made up of two overlapping villages - one by the Thames and the other clustered around the local ... More

Chiswick
London > areas
Originally a fishing village whose buildings were clustered around the pretty St Nicholas church, Chiswick maintains its riverside charm - despite the arrival of many major roads. The invention of the modern toilet flushed away Chiswick's fishing potential as the Thames got ... More

East Dulwich
London > areas
Despite being badly damaged during the War, the old Victorian suburb of East Dulwich has undergone ample gentrification in recent years. In Victorian times, the area's population was just over 1,500 until 5,000 houses were built in East Dulwich in the 1870s. ... More

Herne Hill
London > areas
Located on the edge of Brockwell Park, one of London's loveliest leafy expanses, Herne Hill has been called "Brixton's Beach" and attracts first-time buyers and young families bowled over by its impressive old houses. It has a great ambiance, encouraging independent shops, ... More

Kensington
London > areas
The streets of Kensington may not be paved with gold but, in terms of real estate, they might as well be. The most desirable area, where you’ll find many a multi-million pound residence, is between Kensington High Street, up and over to ... More

Kew
London > areas
There are only a few places in London where you can watch a spot of village cricket on the weekend - and Kew is perhaps the pick of the lot. In the summer, people flock to one of the four pubs dotted ... More

Seven Dials
London > areas
The Seven Dials refers to the layout of the cobbled streets in this scenic part of Covent Garden which includes Monmouth Street, Earlham Street and Mercer Street. The seven streets radiate out from the central sundial - which can still be seen ... More

Shepherd Market
London > areas
Mayfair actually got its name from a 15-day fair that used to take place on the site that is now Shepherd Market until its cancellation in 1708. Local architect and developer Edward Shepherd was commissioned to develop the site during the 1740s ... More

Stoke Newington
London > areas
A small village until the Middle Ages, Stoke Newington is a multicultural area in north London with its own strong identity and community spirit. The compact centre around Stoke Newington High Street boasts a rich array of independent retailers, including bookshops, second ... More

Wandsworth
London > areas
Named after the River Wandle, a small stream which flows into the Thames, Wandsworth contains a self-contained pocket of period cottages and terraced houses known as The Tonsleys which have remained relatively unchanged as the modern world whizzed by. The nearby Wandsworth ... More

Wimbledon
London > areas
SW19 may be synonymous with tennis, strawberries and Cliff Richard singing in the rain, but the leafy Wimbledon - whose centre is known locally as "the village" - has a lot more to offer than Henmania or Murray Madness. Wimbledon Common has ... More

Woolwich
London > areas
This former naval hub near Greenwich declined significantly after the Second World War but is now undergoing something of a rebirth. Thought to be a former trading place for wool, Woolwich remained a small Kentish village until it became a leading military ... More

E1
London > areas
Shadwell and Stepney form the heart of E1 - inner-city districts whose streets, an historical mix of Victorian, post-war and former slum housing with few hotels, give a glimpse of a bygone London. Walk around Stepney's untouched squares to immerse yourself in ... More

E12
London > areas
In deepest East London lies this residential area with vast expanses of parkland to the north. Aldersbrook is surrounded on all sides by green space: travelling round the compass from the north, Wanstead Park, City of London Cemetery, Wanstead Flats and Bush ... More

E14
London > areas
The area made up of this big loop in the Thames was once a thriving community of dock workers, centred around the West India Docks, East India Docks and, later, Millwall Dock. Mass decline in the 70s left the Isle of Dogs ... More

E15
London > areas
The focus of Stratford's fortunes is of Olympic proportions: it's not just expected to jump over a few hurdles but to pole vault over the bar with metres to spare. Throwing money at the problem is obviously speeding up the area's regeneration ... More

E16
London > areas
The Docklands underwent major redevelopment from the 1980s but nearby Custom House and Canning Town have not benefitted from the effects, remaining one of the most deprived areas in the UK. Regeneration has tended to focus on the industrialised area south of ... More

E2
London > areas
Having uber-trendy Hoxton and Shoreditch on your doorstep is bound to give you a bit of a complex but the migration eastwards of all those arty types looking for cheap rents means that a bit of cool is rubbing off, and they're ... More

E3
London > areas
Throngs of students inhabit Mile End (Queen Mary, University of London is nearby) but it's also home to families and a few born-and-bred Cockneys, some of whom might even remember the Blitz and the first V-1 flying bomb to drop on London, ... More

E6
London > areas
This urbanised part of town has a similar multicultural character to its nearest neighbours with eastern flavours competing with East End nosh in the eateries that colour the streets. East Ham does benefit from a number of green spaces including Central Park ... More

E7
London > areas
Forest Gate is not a London district that immediately springs to mind as one to visit, unless it sprouts some hotels and hang-out joints to cope with the overflow from Stratford in 2012. It's a residential area, which is quite literally the ... More

E8
London > areas
The Guardian has called Dalston "the unlikely owner of Britain's coolest postcode"; this isn't matched - yet - by a bunch of hip hotels, but for "local lunacy" and a cracking night out, this is the place to be. The cool ... More

E9
London > areas
There's no shortage of green space in E9 with the East End's secret garden "Vicky" Park and the vast expanse of Hackney Marshes (with its commitment to Sunday footie) in the vicinity. But in the 20th century, the surrounding area of Hackney ... More

EC1
London > areas
Located just on the outskirts of the City, EC1 is a rather trendy part of town. Covering Clerkenwell and Farringdon, it's home to some very cutting-edge restaurants around Smithfield Market, including the Michelin starred St John with its particular brand of "nose ... More

EC2
London > areas
It would be amiss not to mention that the historic institutions of the Guildhall and Bank of England fall within EC2 but this part of the City of London is aesthetically defined by its towers. The steel structure of Tower 42, formally ... More

EC3
London > areas
The eastern side of the City of London sitting by the Thames is simply steeped in history. The plush hotels may be the ideal choice for business travellers but just wandering around the centuries-old landmarks will dust off the scene of a ... More

EC4
London > areas
Bordered by the River Thames to the south and Cheapside to the north, EC4 covers the south-western corner of the City of London and contains some notable London landmarks. St Paul's Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, is perched atop Ludgate Hill, ... More

N1
London > areas
N1 is the most central to London of all the N Postcode districts, with N2-N20 radiating towards the north. It generally covers the Islington area, a vibrant, inner-city district full of shops, boutiques and bars. The area spans from Islington High Street ... More

N7
London > areas
Holloway forms the heart of the N7 district and is one of the most densely populated and multicultural areas of London. A pulsating residential, business and shopping district, Holloway is fortunate to have a large number of luxury development projects taking place ... More

NW1
London > areas
NW1 is the home of the trendy Camden Town, widely regard as London's premier alternative hotspot for indie kids and thrill seekers. The town is located on the London canal network and its industrial heritage has made way for retail, tourism ... More

NW10
London > areas
A number of different areas make up the culturally diverse NW10 district. Leading the way are Willesden and Harlesden. Willesden has a sizeable Irish population as well as a large Afro-Caribbean community and, alternatively, was a regular location for filming on the ... More

NW3
London > areas
Hampstead Heath is the main attraction in NW3, an ancient 790-acre grassy park running from Hampstead to Highgate. The Heath is extremely popular with Londoners during the summer months as workers and families make the most of the sunshine and open space. ... More

NW5
London > areas
NW5 is home to the Kentish Town area of the city, another trendy part of North London that's home to more than a famous name or two (Giles Coran, Jon Snow and Bill Nighy, to take a few). The widely accepted explanation ... More

NW6
London > areas
Kilburn and West Hampstead take up much of the NW6 area, in another culturally diverse part of the city. Kilburn has the largest Irish population of any London district as well as a significant Afro-Caribbean community. Home to local landmarks such as ... More

NW8
London > areas
St John's Wood stands out in the NW8 district, famous for both Lord's Cricket Ground and Abbey Road Studios. Home to some of the most expensive properties in the world, much like neighbouring Hampstead Heath and Belsize Park, St John's Wood was ... More

SE1
London > areas
SE1 covers a large portion of central London south of the River Thames, taking in areas such as the South Bank, Southwark and Bermondsey. The South Bank is a narrow section of riverside development on the banks of the river and is ... More

SE10
London > areas
Greenwich and its proud maritime history dominates the SE10 district. Best known perhaps for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time, the area is also famous for having one of the best and most aesthetically pleasing views of ... More

SE11
London > areas
The residential area of Kennington takes up the majority of SE11 with the large frame of The Kia Oval dominating the skyline. London's second largest cricket ground is the home of Surrey County Cricket Club and traditionally hosts the last England Test ... More

SE14
London > areas
SE14 is mainly comprised of the New Cross area, known for its music culture and for being home to one of the most prestigious schools in the city. Goldsmiths, University of London can be found in New Cross, which is believed to ... More

SE15
London > areas
With Peckham High Street winding right across the middle of this district, it's no surprise to learn that that the Peckham area covers the majority of the SE15 postcode. Known perhaps largely for being the setting of the hugely popular British comedy ... More

SE16
London > areas
The residential areas of Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays form the heart of SE16, a district that falls just below the Thames and the core of central London. Located on a peninsula to the east of Tower Bridge, Rotherhithe is part of the ... More

SE17
London > areas
The inner-city district of Walworth forms much of SE17, home to Old Kent Road which is famous for being the equal cheapest property on a classic London monopoly board and the only one in south London. John Smith House can be found ... More

SE18
London > areas
SE18 covers the area just east of Greenwich, meaning it could be described as being close to or on the outskirts of London itself. The area of Woolwich is the dominant district, falling just below the Thames in the north of the ... More

SE3
London > areas
Named after the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich and Lewisham, Blackheath, which makes up most of SE3, is a largely smart residential area renowned for its substantial Georgian and Victorian houses. The heath hosts a free annual firework ... More

SE5
London > areas
A built-up, poorer part of South London, SE5's Camberwell is not bursting with hotels or attractions, although it is home to one of London's most important contemporary art spaces, the South London Gallery. With Camberwell College of Arts next door and King's ... More

SE7
London > areas
Largely residential Charlton makes up the SE7 postcode. Apart from the Thames Barrier, the area's most notable feature is Charlton House, widely regarded as the best-preserved ambitious Jacobean building in London. In the grounds of the grand mansion the oldest Mulberry Tree ... More

SE8
London > areas
Home to Britain's largest Buddhist community, SE8's Deptford has been touted as "the new Shoreditch" by estate agents owing to its trendy arts and music scene and up-and-coming affordable property. Features include the Albany Theatre, the Laban Dance Centre, the local market ... More

SW1
London > areas
The SW1 postcode district covers most of Westminster and is split into eight different sub-sections, each with an additional letter tagged on the end. SW1 covers some of central London's most famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and St ... More

SW10
London > areas
Centred on the famous Brompton Cemetery and taking up the area between West Kensington, Earl's Court, Chelsea and Fulham Broadway, SE10's West Brompton is a largely residential no-mans-land in West London. The Brompton Cemetery, with its beautiful basilica and row upon row ... More

SW11
London > areas
Comprising of Battersea and Clapham Junction, SW11 is home to Britain's busiest railway station as well as a complementary mix of trendy young professionals and well-to-do families. The area between Wandsworth and Clapham Commons is known as "nappy valley", where yummy mummies ... More

SW3
London > areas
The Chelsea district of SW3 includes Brompton and part of Knightsbridge as well as plush Chelsea. The area's two long high streets, the Kings Road and the Fulham Road, run parallel to the river, and nowhere in the neighbourhood are you ever ... More

SW5
London > areas
During the late 60s a huge influx of Australian and New Zealander travellers in SW5 saw Earls Court gain the nickname "Kangaroo Valley". Although there is still a large Antipodean population in the area, Earls Court is now the centre of the ... More

SW6
London > areas
This leafy area of West London is traditionally the home of the Sloane Ranger (whose affectionate nickname originated from Sloane Square). Today you're more likely to find Australians and South Africans queuing outside the thumping bars around Fulham Broadway but the Sloanes ... More

SW7
London > areas
The exclusive SW7 postcode covers South Kensington and part of Knightsbridge. South Kensington's concentration of prestigious and world-class museums is unique to London. In no other European city would you find the likes of such luminaries as the Natural History Museum, Science ... More

SW8
London > areas
The SW8 postcode takes in the area of South Lambeth and Nine Elms, as well as parts of Vauxhall and Battersea. Largely a residential area, SW8 is centred on the New Covent Market, a large wholesale fruit, vegetables and flowers market. The ... More

SW9
London > areas
With good transport links and a diverse ethnic and cultural mix, the Stockwell district of SW9 is one of south London's up-and-coming areas. Its name is thought to derive from "stoc", the Old English word for a tree trunk or post. From ... More

W1
London > areas
Known as West One or the West End, and comprising of Mayfair, Marylebone and Soho, the W1 postcode district is split into 14 sub-sections, each with another letter tagged on the end. For instance, the doctors, surgeons and private specialists of Harley ... More

W10
London > areas
The North Kensington district of W10 includes the areas of North Kensington, Queen's Park and parts of Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Town. Towering over the whole of W10 is Trellick Tower, the iconic 31-storey block of flats designed in the Brutalist style ... More

W11
London > areas
One of London's most famous postcodes, W11 includes upmarket Notting Hill - famed for the popular Portobello Road market - and Ladbroke Grove - which holds the annual Notting Hill Carnival street party over the August bank holiday - as well as ... More

W12
London > areas
Shepherd's Bush and White City make up W12, whose new centrepiece is the imposing Westfield Shopping Centre, the largest mall of its kind in Europe. With almost 300 shops, 50 restaurants and a 14-screen cinema, Westfield bravely ignored the recession to open ... More

W14
London > areas
The postcode area of W14 is primarily home to West Kensington, on the western edge of central London. The notable landmarks of the area are the Olympia, an exhibition and events centre, and The Queen's Club, a private sporting complex which hosts ... More

W2
London > areas
The 350-acre Hyde Park dominates the W2 district of London, not to mention the giant Paddington Station and Bayswater. Hyde Park is technically divided into two parts by the Serpentine Lake: the original Hyde Park area and Kensington Gardens. The park has ... More

W6
London > areas
On the north bank of the River Thames is Hammersmith, one of west London's key transport hubs and commercial and employment centres. As well as being the main centre of London's Polish minority, Hammersmith is the location of the offices of plenty ... More

W8
London > areas
The wealthy area of Kensington and its commercial centre, Kensington High Street, stands out in the W8 district. A densely-populated area, Kensington is located just to the west of Hyde Park and is surrounded by similarly swanky areas such as Chelsea, Notting ... More

W9
London > areas
The residential district of Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue is the main presence in W9, falling between Kilburn and St John's Wood. The area is mainly quite affluent, consisting of many large Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats. The area is ... More

WC1
London > areas
The WC1 district covers the modern Bloomsbury area of central London, just north of Holborn. On Great Russell Street lies the British Museum, a collection of human history and culture, and the area is also home to landmarks such as Russell Square, ... More

WC2
London > areas
The west central postcode of WC2 takes in part of the West End as well as the legal district around Holborn and the Strand. The centre point of the area is arguably Covent Garden, with its excellent shopping, famous cobbled piazza and ... More

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