A local’s guide to the most beautiful bow fronted shopfronts in London, from Bloomsbury to Mayfair and Muswell Hill – wonderful places filled with history!
I have lost count of how many times I have told you about vintage spots in London, whether it is retro cafes or vintage boutiques where it feels good to feel a little bit of decades past.
Today, we are jumping even further back in time to look at the bow fronted windows of London, some of which are located in posh neighborhoods like Bloomsbury, Chelsea, or even Piccadilly.
Where to Find London’s Beautiful Bow-Fronted Shopfronts?
Today, we will wander through the shopping arcades of the city and its beautiful districts to discover commercial architecture with its vintage facades.
These are reminders of the 17th and 18th centuries that so deeply shaped London, and perfect to add to your bucket list if you’re into the secret of the city.
Beautiful Bow-Fronted Shopfronts in London: Woburn Walk, Bloomsbury
Woburn Walk and its Regency style bow fronted windows are some of the most local, sophisticated, and historic examples of commercial architecture in London.
With their black painted timber and iron railings, Woburn Walk was designed in 1822 by the architect Thomas Cubitt, around the same years that the covered passages like Galerie Vivienne or Passage des Panoramas were appearing in Paris.
Woburn Walk was the first purpose built pedestrian shopping street in London; you feel like you are in A Little Princess, or just like a princess yourself, in what seems to be a movie set.
Curved Shopfronts in London: Artillery Lane, Spitalfields, East London
Artillery Lane, specifically number 56, is located in the Spitalfields neighborhood between the City of London and East London.
This is the oldest shopfront in London and dates back to 1756-1757, and it is now a Grade II listed building.
Although it is magnificent on its own, all of Artillery Lane is full of beautiful vintage shopfronts dating from the Georgian era.
Beautiful Bow-Fronted Shopfronts in London: Santa Maria Novella, Piccadilly, Central London
While the Santa Maria Novella brand was born in 1221 in Florence, the magnificent perfume boutique located in Piccadilly offers a beautiful bow fronted shopfront.
You can find all the elegance of the St James and Mayfair neighborhoods in the surrounding area here.
In fact, if you want to see even more bow fronted shop windows, you would do well to head toward Burlington Arcade, the Ritz, or even Piccadilly Arcade.
Beautiful Bow-Fronted Shopfronts in London: Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, North London
The neighborhood of Muswell Hill in North London is one of my favorite village-like areas.
I used to pass through it often by bus when I lived in North Finchley and was heading into central London.
Muswell Hill is known for its magnificent Edwardian architecture, very historic and appropriately posh.
But, the shopping parades on Fortis Green Road offer us some beautiful bow fronted shopfronts, like Cheeses of Muswell Hill, which take us back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Curved Shopfronts in London: Camden Passage, Angel, North London
Camden Passage was originally a path that farmers used with their livestock and was later built in 1767 – it was not until the 60s that this place began to be seen as an antiques hub.
Here, many of the small independent boutiques feature bow fronted windows, which were specifically designed so that one could better admire the trinkets and jewelry.
We are surrounded by beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture, and today, Camden Passage also includes several restaurants, grocery shops, and cute cafes.
Don’t forget to treat yourself to a carrot cake and a colorful latte at Redemption Roasters nearby, where you can find walls filled with white sculptures in the basement, as well as a secret garden in the back.
Bow-Fronted Shop Windows in London: Hatchards, Piccadilly, Central London
One of the most beautiful bookstores in London, Hatchards in Piccadilly, is also the oldest bookstore in the UK, founded by John Hatchard in 1797.
Its black and classic bow fronted shopfront windows are iconic, both for Londoners and on social media.
It is one of the most historic indie shops in London.
We are in a Georgian Regency period building, and when you enter, you find yourself in a large bookstore where you can buy everything, including, of course, magnificent books about London.
Beautiful Bow-Fronted Shopfronts in London: Royal Arcade, Mayfair, Central London
The Royal Arcade in Mayfair is the oldest shopping arcade in the West End; it opened in 1880 and was originally called The Arcade before gaining its royal title after a visit from Queen Victoria.
You can find many hidden gems in Mayfair, but at the Royal Arcade, you find an incredible succession of identical bow fronted shopfronts that make it a perfect photo spot.
It is located in one of the most beautiful parts of Mayfair, close to department stores, the shops of Oxford Street, and magnificent art galleries and secret gardens like Brown Hart Gardens and Mount Street Gardens.
Beautiful Shopfronts in London: Brushfield Street, Spitalfields
Located in Spitalfields like Artillery Lane, Brushfield Street – specifically number 42 – dates back to the 1780s and features artisan storefronts that are much simpler than those in Mayfair or Bloomsbury.
It’s not bow fronted, true, however, it is still a very historic place, since Spitalfields was historically a district for trade and manufacturing.
You are in a Georgian setting, and although the street has been restored, you can still admire of those beautiful windows from a bygone time.
Curved Shopfronts in London: Bramble & Moss Florist, Richmond, West London
Richmond is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods to enjoy nature in London, with its waterfront and village feel, and that is where you find Bramble & Moss Florist.
The shop is located on Hill Rise and is truly one of the most beautifully maintained shopfronts, dating back to the Victorian/Edwardian era.
Bow-Fronted Shop Windows in London: Goodwin’s Court, Covent Garden, Central London
I have mentioned Goodwin’s Court in Covent Garden several times in my guides to London’s secret alleys and the hidden gems of the neighborhood, and you find yourself in an alleyway that dates back to 1690.
Originally called Fishers Alley, it is probably one of the most instagrammable places in London, especially if you love history and architecture.
You will find a row of bow fronted windows there that were originally offices and shops, which may have inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.
Where to Find London’s Beautiful Bow-Fronted Shopfronts?
It is important for me to discover the vintage shopfronts and other bow fronted shopfronts of London because they bear witness to a bygone time that made London what it is today.
Many of the bow fronted windows I have shared with you survived the Blitz and the urban modernization that London underwent in the 1960s.
I love seeing an architecture there that is different from the shops in Soho, London Bridge, or Oxford Street, and I love getting lost in the hidden streets and courts that dot the city.
If you like slow walks through London and discovering beautiful, hidden places full of history, I also recommend these guides and spots that I particularly love: