A local’s guide to visiting Tottenham Court Road, Central London; its best shops, things to do, hidden gems, and even a secret rooftop close to Oxford Street!
At the heart of Central London, we have several neighborhoods filled with history, artsy hidden gems, shops and various food spots; Covent Garden, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square are but a few.
Going higher up on The Strand near Covent Garden, we also have some of the most beautiful historical sites in the city, and even secret sights like the female busts at Milford Lane.
Tottenham Court Road, located in the very heart of the city near Charing Cross Road and Oxford Street, brings a fast pulse to Central London.
Whether you’re looking for things to do when it rains, free viewpoints or spots to eat breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner, there are some really cool spots to discover in this central area!
7 Cool Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road, Central London
Back when I used to work in Fitzrovia, just off Oxford Street, I’d walk up Tottenham Court Road towards Euston Road every day to go back home to North Finchley.
Tottenham Court Road is a very, very long street lined with amazing shops; homeware shops, budget shops like Flying Tiger, cheap eats like the Japanese Canteen…
You can easily spend a couple of hours unraveling its secrets.
When you’re done, you can walk down Euston Road towards King’s Cross and St Pancras to discover even more hidden gems; the Newton statue in front of the British Library, the multicolor Argyll House, or Coal Drops Yard and its many cool shops.
For now, if you’re going to be staying around Oxford Street, these are what I consider the best places to visit around Tottenham Court Road!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Visit the Timothy Oulton Shop for its Quirky Vibes
You’ll find lots of instagrammable shops and concept stores in London, and one of my ultimate favorite is Timothy Oulton, in the middle of Tottenham Court Road, close to Goodge Street Station.
This is a huge furniture and homeware shop, ultra-luxurious, where the brand’s iconic designs are dramatically displayed.
Inside Timothy Oulton are to be found – notably, a full-size horse sculpture, a replica of the Apollo capsule with a quilted venus decor on the walls, floor-to-ceiling stacks of books, and even an astronaut!
The furniture showroom reads more like a museum or an art gallery than a store, and it’s open every single day – amazing if you’re looking for quirky spots in London!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Marvel at the Outernet at the Now Building
Outernet London at the Now Building offers a completely free immersive experience that changes every few minutes, with experiences that follow the seasons.
For instance, during the spring, you can find a butterfly chase experience, and falling presents scenes around Christmas time – it’s free to access, you don’t need to book, and it’s a great spot to visit with kids.
We’re right outside Tottenham Court Road Station, at the end of Oxford Street, and I can’t emphasize enough how breathtaking a moment at Outernet is.
If you go in the morning, why not pop by Donutelier on Charing Cross Road for some French pastries before you visit?
Then, you can go shopping on Oxford Street, or discover the street’s hidden gems – or why not make your way to the Soho area for street art, unique desserts and more shopping?
For instance, you’ll find at Carnaby Street a secret Shakespeare sculpture, which you’d only normally expect around Shoreditch and London Bridge!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Visit Forbidden Planet for Nerdy Memorabilia and Comics
Those in search of nerdy things to do in London would do well to visit the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue, a short walk away from Tottenham Court Road Station.
We’re close to other Seven Dials, Covent Garden and Soho shops, and most importantly, we’re in one of the biggest shops for comics, graphic novels, collectibles, TV and movie merch, sci-fi… and so much more.
There are quite a few shops of the like in London, but these usually revolve around Harry Potter.
At Forbidden Planet, you’ll find everything from posters to keyrings, action figures, toys, books, and gifts for fans of Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Marvel, Doctor Who…, that you can buy any day of the week.
When you’re done shopping for souvenirs and collectibles, why not enjoy one of the best fish and chips in London at Ben’s nearby?
Or, you could visit one of Central London’s free museums, like the British Museum a short walk away, or the dreamy and oh, so inspiring Sir John Soane’s Museum!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Dive Into History at the British Museum
Located on Great Russell Street, the British Museum is easily accessible from Tottenham Court Road Station, about a 10-mn walk that takes you to the wonderful, posh area of Bloomsbury.
It’s free to access for permanent exhibitions, and you’ll find all sorts of cultures and art types in the British Museum, with Greek sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens to Assyrian colossi, the Rosetta Stone, Asian, African, and Middle Eastern galleries.
The outside of the British Museum showcases beautiful Neoclassical architecture, and if you come early in the morning/late in the afternoon, you’ll find it’s much less crowded.
Don’t forget to pop by the museum shop; it’s filled with books about society, art, trade, even philoshophy, and it also carries lots of trinkets that make for great souvenirs!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Enjoy the View from the Post Building Rooftop
Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter, there can be very clear days in London when you can enjoy immaculate views from one of the many free rooftops of the city.
Close to Tottenham Court Road, you have one of the newest-opened rooftops at The Post Building, a former Royal Mail sorting office.
We’re in between New Oxford Street and High Holborn, really close to the British Museum.
You could literally visit the museum, get a cheap noodle box from Oodles Chinese in Holborn, then make your way to the roof garden.
From the 9th floor of the Post Building, you’ll find striking, panoramic views of London’s landmarks, like the British Museum itself, the BT Tower, the Shard, the City of London, Canary Wharf and the London Eye.
Make sure you take a photo ID with you – you might not need a ticket, but you do need an ID to go up!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Treat Yourself to Discounted Fashion at TK Maxx, Charing Cross Road
Another one of my favorite things to do near Tottenham Court Road is shopping on Charing Cross Road and nearby Soho.
Charing Cross Road is where you’ll find one of the best TK Maxx shops in London.
It might not look big from the outside, but this TK Maxx is established over four floors, and you’ll find anything there from scented candles to Modbox and Gold Label bits, discounted clothes, stationery, makeup and skincare, and even food!
Like many of the shops in London, TK Maxx on Charing Cross Road is open every single day, and whether you’re looking for cheap things to buy, gifts, or quirky souvenirs, this store has it all.
My favorite things to buy there are the handbags and the scented candles, namely from DW Home and Sand and Fog: the Charing Cross Rd branch offers dozens of options for all budgets.
When you’re done shopping, you can make your way to the Leicester Square Sculpture trail to discover cartoon and movie-themed statues around the square.
It’s also a Shakespeare location, with the playwright’s statue right in the middle of the garden…
And a must-visit spot for Paddington fans!
Best Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road: Discover Goodge Street’s Shops
If you feel like you’ve enjoyed Tottenham Court Road enough and would like to see something a little different, I’d tell you to make your way to the Fitzrovia area, and explore Goodge Street.
This is one of the best shopping streets in London, and it offers a blend of independent shops, from vintage to boho, concept stores, small grocery shops and restaurants, and even colorful places you wouldn’t expect in the first place!
Shopping in Central London is amazing: you can literally find anything you might be wishing for.
On and around Goodge Street, you’ll come across one of the best Oxfam shops in the city, various bookshops and stationery shops, and lots, lots, lots of small restaurants and cheap eats (like Icco Pizza, perfect for a quick, affordable halal pizza!).
7 Cool Things to Do in Tottenham Court Road, Central London
Somebody has to say it: changing Tube lines at Tottenham Court Road is a total nightmare – thankfully, it’s more than just a hub for commuters.
Unique shops, historic museums, immersive digital art…
No matter what you enjoy, there’s a little something for every type of traveler/digital nomad/Londoner.
I’ve shared with you some of my personal favorite things to do in Tottenham Court Road; they blend modern creativity, historical sites, and, of course, shopping – you’ll hopefully have found here all you need to start unraveling its secrets!
And if you’re looking for more hidden gems and quirky things to do, these are a few guides I’ve written that you may love to use for your own bucket list: