Districts available to visit in London

The City

The City of London is the oldest part of the capital and the financial heart of the country. It is worth visiting for an eclectic mix of the ancient, old and modern.

Waterloo and around

The area around Waterloo station is mainly known for its arts venues and bars on the South Bank.

West End Theatre district

The major theatres in London can be found in this part of the West End, which also contains many shops, restaurants and bars.

Whitehall and St James's

Whitehall and St James's two main attrations are the Palace of Westminster, home to the UK's parliament, and Buckingham Palace, home to the UK's monarch.

This area contains the Inns of London, the lawyers' colleges that date to medieval times and separated the City of London to the east with the City of Westminster to the west. Also separating the two sides was the river Fleet. Paved over now, its existence can still be seen from street names and viaducts.

Tower Bridge to Wapping

This area follows the river from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London to Wapping, former site of the extensive London Docks.

Southwark

Southwark is one of the oldest parts of London. Sights to see include the Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral and the Shard, London's tallest skyscraper.

Millbank and Pimlico

The mainly office district of Millbank is notable for Millbank tower as well as the Tate Britain art gallery. By contrast, Pimlico is mainly residential and noted for its garden squares and Regency architecture.

Soho and Mayfair

Soho is the main entertainment district in London, and is primarily known for its multitude of restaurants, clubs and bars. Mayfair, by contrast, is nowadays focused on commerical activities, including company headquarters, art galleries and embassies.

Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury, with its numerous garden squares, was developed into a fasionable residential area by the Dukes of Bedford in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nowadays, it is the home of the British Museum and many of the University of London's departments and offices.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park, created in 1536 by Henry VIII, is one London's largest parks. Well known points of interest include the Serpentine lake and Speakers' Corner, where the public can freely discuss and debate.

Marylebone and Fitzrovia

Marylebone and Fitzrovia are two inner city districts of London and contain a high degree of residential properties.

Belgravia and Knightsbridge

Belgravia and Knightsbridge are known as exclusive residential districts. Of the two, Belgravia is more residential while Knightsbridge is also noted for its high-end shops.

Fulham

Before developing into a major residential suburb, Fulham was predominantly known for Fulham Palace, the summer residence of the Bishops of London, and market gardens serving the population of London.

Chelsea

Chelsea, a predominantly residential area southwest of central London, has always attracted wealthy residents. The main place of interest is the former Chelsea Royal Hospital.

Kensington

Kensington contains and is perhaps best known for its cluster of major museums. Other notable attractions include Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall.

Paddington, Bayswater and Notting Hill

Paddington is best known for its station, designed by the famous Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. By contrast, Bayswater and Notting Hill offers more residential areas to explore.

Finsbury and Clerkenwell

Finsbury and Clerkenwell are mixed-use districts north of the City of London. Greatly changed by the arrival of factories and workshops during the Industrial Revolution, the area is known today as for modern loft-living and professional services.