London Neighborhoods Guide - Where to Go & What to Visit for Tourists

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
London neighbourhoods

London is an amazing city, but it can often be quite overwhelming to first-time visitors. It’s a sprawling city, with diverse neighborhoods scattered all over the place that can be difficult to navigate if you don’t know what you’re looking for. To help out new visitors to London, we’ve put together a brief guide to some of the most popular or significant neighborhoods in London to visit, with a few suggestions on things to see and do in those areas.

South of the Thames (South Bank/Southwark)

One of the most happening spots in the city, the neighborhood South of the Thames is bustling with people day and night. Come here for top attractions, museums, shops, restaurants, and much more. Check out our post that features some of the more popular South Bank London attractions.

Things to Do South of the Thames

  • Take in a show at the Southbank Centre.
  • Shop the amazing Borough Market for your perfect souvenir.
  • Take the kids to Shrek’s Adventure to see their favorite characters brought to life.
  • Take a themed walking tour of the city that focuses on pop culture icons like the Doctor or 007.
  • Scare yourself silly at the London Dungeon.
  • Marvel at the wide variety of marine life at the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
  • Ride to the top of the one and only Coca-Cola London Eye.

City of London

The financial heart of the city, the area technically known as the City of London is anchored by the Bank of England, the Mansion House, and the Royal Exchange. Come here to see where all the movers and shakers work.

Things to Do in the City of London

  • See a show at the popular Barbican Centre.
  • Visit the elegant house of Dr. Samuel Johnson, one of England’s best-beloved writers.
  • Roam the rich expanses of the Museum of London, with over 7,000 inspiring and astonishing objects to look at.
  • Visit the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral for a tour of some of the most significant church architecture in the country.
  • Crane your neck to look up the simply named Monument, which commemorates the Great Fire of 1666.

Marylebone

Pronounced “Marr-le-bone,” this happening upscale neighborhood filled with homes, shops, attractions, and more.

Things to Do in Marylebone

  • “Meet” your favorite celebs from David Beckham to the Queen herself at the original Madame Tussauds.
  • Explore the weird and wacky world of Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
  • Fans of the new BBC drama Sherlock will want to visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum to learn more about the inspiration and sources for this pop culture icon.
  • Visit one of the best art galleries in the country at the Wallace Collection, with one of the most impressive collections of Old Master paintings in the entire world.
  • Cheese lovers should stop by La Fromagerie for a delightful section of their favorite fare.

Regent’s Park

Spanning 410 acres, this former royal hunting ground is today home to many top outdoors attractions, including gorgeous gardens, playful parks, and intriguing museums.

Things to Do in Regent’s Park

  • Meet the animals at the London Zoo, home to some of your favorite critters from around the globe.
  • Explore the exhibits and artifacts at the Jewish Museum, which explores the unique history of Judaism and Jewish culture in England.
  • Take the kids to the Primrose Hill Playground for a rollicking good time.
  • Enjoy a Shakespeare play at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
  • Wander through Queen Mary’s Gardens, an unmatched collection of 400 different varieties of rose among 30,000 individual specimens.

Notting Hill/Bayswater

These two adjacent neighborhoods are lively and filled with tons of cultural events and activities, not least of which is the annual Notting Hill Carnival, a famed celebration of Caribbean culture in Britain.

Things to Do in Notting Hill / Bayswater

  • Hop aboard a rental bike and tour this neighborhood (and the whole city!) at your own pace and direction.
  • For another wonderful park option, the immensely popular Hyde Park is located in this area.
  • Those interested in contemporary art should head to Graffik, an amazing collection of exhibits honoring modern street art.
  • Kensington Gardens represent another wonderful botanical option for the nature lovers.
  • Snap a photo of the Peter Pan statue.
  • Shop the historic Portobello Road for unique souvenir options.

Covent Garden

Located east from Charing Cross, this shopping district boasts a ton of history and culture with several modern shopping and entertainment options alongside traditional architecture.

Things to Do in Covent Garden

  • Take a city bus tour (that you can actually pick up in many of these neighborhoods) for a chance to explore it all.
  • Spring for a show at the Royal Opera House to see Britain’s most talented performers.
  • For the art lovers, Courtauld Gallery offers more master works of art to enjoy.
  • Americans will value the chance to visit Benjamin Franklin’s House, to see where this inventor and statesman lived before the Revolutionary War.
  • See an avant garde performance or classic show at the Donmar Warehouse.

Bloomsbury

This artsy area is the legacy of the famous Bloomsbury Group – including greats like Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster – and is today still a thriving artistic and literary community.

Things to Do in Bloomsbury

  • Head a few blocks north to the world famous British Library, an unparalleled research resource and a fun place to tour.
  • Visit the British Museum for a chance to explore one of the country’s top collections of art and artifacts (including Ancient Egyptian artifacts).
  • Lit lovers won’t want to miss the Charles Dickens House, where this popular nineteenth-century author wrote Oliver Twist.
  • Explore the bizarre and singular world of Sir John Soane, whose house has been preserved exactly has he left it for generations to marvel at his ingenuity.

Greenwich

Greenwich is probably most famous as the site of the Royal Observatory, which calculates the official time observed by the entire planet. But it’s also filled with other attractions from museums to historic ships. A visit here is worth the short trip out east from Central London.

Things to Do in Greenwich

  • Antique lover? You must stop by the Clock Tower Antiques Market for your next great find.
  • Visit the Cutty Sark, a speedy nineteenth-century clipper ship which is today preserved as a museum.
  • If you liked the idea of the historic ship, then the National Maritime Museum is another great destination for you.
  • The Royal Observatory is definitely a must – where else can you stand on the Prime Meridian AND see the calculations at work?

Knightsbridge

London’s wealthiest neighborhood, Knightsbridge is home to major shopping venues and tiny boutiques, all selling the top names in fashion and design. Come here with a hefty budget if you want to purchase anything. Otherwise, there’s nothing wrong with some active window-shopping!

Things to Do in Knightsbridge

  • The big highlights of Knightsbridge are the two iconic stores, Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
  • You can also enjoy a tasty meal at one of the many amazing (and predictably pricey) restaurants in the area.
Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Summer in London is a great time to explore on foot like this couple
Blog

2 Days in London

Whether it’s a weekend away or a midweek sojourn, 2 days in London never disappoint. From the city’s world-famous landmarks to shopping in Oxford Street and Portobello Road, ultra-trendy Hoxton and the deer of Richmond Park, the range of attractions astounds even Londoners themselves. Plan it right and you’ll fill your days with delights, do it wrong, and you’ll end up spending all your time on the Tube. That’s why we’ve put together this handy 2 day London itinerary with easily interchangeable days just for you! Day 1Morning You could start your 2 days in London in a thousand different places. But we’d suggest heading to the gates outside of Buckingham Palace for the 11AM Changing of the Guard Ceremony. It takes place daily in the summer – when it’s also possible to enter the palace state rooms – and four times per week during the winter season. Combining pomp and tradition with stirring music and first-rate horsemanship, taking part is one of the biggest honors in the British military. Then slip by the pelicans of St James’s Park for views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, one of London’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Just opposite you’ll find Westminster Abbey, the church where all but two of England’s monarchs have been crowned since 1066. Afternoon Nearby Victoria Street has plenty of places to grab a bite to eat before you turn your attention to the thoroughfare known as Whitehall. Lined with grand government offices, stop by the easy-to-miss gates of Downing Street, home to the British Prime Minister. Then continue on to Trafalgar Square, whose bronze lions have guarded Nelson’s column since 1868. On the square’s north side stands the National Gallery. Spanning centuries of western art, collection highlights include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer and one of Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, as well as providing an encyclopedic introduction to British artists that’s sure to keep you busy for the rest of the afternoon. Evening Crossing the Thames by Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges will bring you to an area of riverside packed with attractions. Time it right and you’ll drift over the London skyline inside a glass pod of the London Eye just as the sun begins to set over the capital. It’s a sight well worth making the time for. Follow it up by admiring the street art of Leake Street tunnel on route to Waterloo’s range of bars and underground clubs. The Roof Garden & Bar of the brutalist form of Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Center is a trustworthy spot whatever your drink of choice. Elsewhere, the bar at Sea Containers House will have its riverside views competing for attention with chic interiors recalling the golden age of travel. Day 2Morning With half of your trip to London in 2 days already gone, there’s no time to lose, so shake off any fuzzy heads you might have and start the morning amongst the beefeaters of the Tower of London as you gaze into the display cabinets of the Crown Jewels. They include the largest clear-cut diamond in the world, known as Cullinan I. The smaller but better-known 105 carat Koh-i-Noor diamond is relegated to the regalia of less senior royals than the king or queen, most recently set in the crown of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. For a moment of quiet, head to St Dunstan in the East, a ruined church turned gardens, then cross the Thames at London Bridge for photographs of the much grander Tower Bridge. Continue straight on to Borough High Street, the old stomping ground of everyone from Charles Dickens to Jamie Oliver, whose street food stalls are sure to satisfy your stomach as it approaches lunchtime. Afternoon One of the hottest tickets in town remains The View from the Shard, offering vistas of London from 70 floors up which can stretch for 65 kilometers. In the summer months, spend the middle hours of the afternoon taking in one of Shakespeare’s comedies, tragedies or histories in the replica version of The Globe Theater. Outside of performance season, make some time for the contemporary art of Tate Modern instead, before heading to the pale stone walls of St Paul’s Cathedral, another of London’s important churches. It was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. End the daylight hours with a little shopping, by jumping on the Central Line for the quick ride to Oxford Circus, gateway to the stores of Oxford Street and Regent Street. The latter is known for its designer stores and as the main location for Hamleys, the world’s largest and oldest toy store. It has stood on the same site since 1881, having been founded in 1760. Evening Well-to-do Soho, bordered by some of London’s most upmarket neighborhoods, has some of the capital’s best shopping. However, it’s the streets around Hoxton Square, including Shoreditch High Street, where bars and nightclubs come into their own. With something for everyone, from old-style British pubs serving up warm ales to LGBTQ+ friendly haunts with the latest in cocktails, this once unloved part of the capital has been reborn into an area that simply not to be missed once for a place to spend an evening in London. When it comes to dining, London has some of the best chefs of the moment battling behind the scenes to serve up incredible dishes. If you’re looking to round off your 2 days in London by splashing out, you’ve more than 60 Michelin-starred restaurants to consider. It’s still possible to eat well on a budget though, with Camden hosting a range of flavors from around the world and Brick Lane the hub of South Asian cuisine. How to spend 2 days in London Opt for 2 days in London and you’re in for an action-packed couple of days. But if you’re concerned about prices mounting up as quickly as a Central Line underground train fills at rush hour, there is an answer. That’s traveling with Go City. Do so and you’ll be able to make incredible savings on admission to many of London’s top attractions, meaning you can do more for your vacation budget than would otherwise be possible!
Ian Packham
London Eye
Blog

Best Things to Do Near the London Eye

London’s South Bank is full of surprises—here’s what not to miss.
Neal's Yard in Covent Garden
Blog

Things to do in Covent Garden, London

Opera houses, street performers, transport museums and perhaps the most famous piazza in the UK… welcome to Covent Garden!
Ian Packham

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.