A local’s guide to the oldest, historic neighborhoods in London – from the Square Mile to Rotherhithe, these are must-visit places for travelers and locals!
The time has come, after sharing some of the most secret areas in London, for me to tell you about some of the oldest neighborhoods, those still filled with a captivating atmosphere of the past.
Whether you live in London or are planning your first trip to the city, you’ll find in this guide some of my favorite neighborhoods.
Temple, the Square Mile, Southwark – all the places have participated in making London what it is today, London as we know it.
It’s hence interesting to understand what each neighborhood was once famous for, how it has evolved, and what really cool things you can do there today.
8 Most Beautiful Historic Neighborhoods in London
For the purposes of this guide, I’ve chosen to include the historic neighborhoods I know best.
Those whose gorgeous streets I’ve trodden many times and told you about countless times as well, like Temple, Rotherhithe, or Covent Garden.
I have, hence, chosen to leave out some others, like the beautiful Greenwich area, Canary Wharf, or Westminster.
For each of these historic areas, I’ll also link to specific guides I’ve written so you can fill your London bucket list more easily.
Historic Neighborhoods in London: The City of London
I’ve recently created a complete City of London itinerary for you, and whether it’s spring, summer or autumn, the City of London just has that vibe.
Founded by the Romans as Londinium, the City of London, also known as the Square Mile, is the oldest neighborhood in London.
Here collide some of the city’s most beautiful ruins, skyscrapers, and famous landmarks.
The City of London is namely where you will find derelict church gardens, St Paul’s Cathedral, and even free rooftops and viewpoints at Horizon 22 and One New Change.
This area also houses some smaller, must-visit areas like Barbican, Farringdon, or the breathtaking Smithfield neighborhood.
In each, you will find plenty of free historical sites to visit, like the Charterhouse or the ruins of the St Alphage Church and its secret garden.
I could write about the City of London for days.
Whether you’re after historic churches like St Giles Cripplegate, would like to enjoy some nature at the Barbican Lakeside Terrace, or are down to admire some historical buildings, this area is filled with hidden gems.
Read: The Best Vintage Cafes in London
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Temple
Located between the historic Fleet Street and the Thames River, Temple is not only famous for the medieval Temple Church, but also renowned for its historic inns and legal offices.
Around Temple is where you’ll find many of London’s secret streets, hidden courtyards, historic buildings and tucked-away gardens.
From Lincoln’s Inn Chapel to Fountain Court, there’s a lot to see there.
In addition, you’ll find a low, yet free roof terrace atop the Temple Tube station, where you can not only have a little picnic, but enjoy art installations all year round.
Wuirky, and great if you’re in London on a budget.
The Royal Courts of Justice is a grand building to visit if you’re in the Temple area.
Other nearby landmarks include the Temple Bar Memorial, the secret statue of Mary Queen of Scots on Fleet Street, and St Bride’s Church with its hidden crypt in the basement.
Read here my guide to the historic Temple area and its hidden gems, from Fountain Court to the secret poetic sundial in Elm Court, photogenic columns facing Temple Church and more.
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Liverpool Street and Spitalfields
I’ve written extensively about Liverpool Street and Spitalfields in the past, and these two East London neighborhoods, while they’re today known for their lively atmosphere, are also two of the oldest in London.
Spitalfields, whose name is derived from the priory and hospital St Mary’s Spittel founded in 1197, is today known for its bustling market, its street art and its vintage shops.
In the 17th century, Spitalfields welcomed the French Huguenots, refugees fleeing religious persecution who specialized in silk weaving, and later, waves of Eastern European and Jewish immigrants.
Spitalfields and Liverpool Street became famous for all fields fashion, from textile to jewelry, and in historical streets like Fournier Street, you can still admire the Georgian townhouses built by the Huguenots.
Some still carry inscriptions of the past.
And if Spitalfields and Liverpool Street are today some of the busiest neighborhoods in London, you can still find peaceful spots and hidden gems there:
- The Charnel House ruins below Bishops Square, right outside the Old Spitalfields Market
- Exchange Square, a secret garden located right behind Liverpool Street station
- The Loom near Broadgate Circle, a neon art installation celebrating East London’s textile history
Read: 7 Must-Visit Shopping and Dining Squares in London
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Rotherhithe
If some of the first mentions of the Rotherhithe area date back to the 12th century, this maritime neighborhood is still very secret.
It’s a local place from which you can get some great views of London, from the City to Tower Bridge.
Located on the south bank of the Thames River, Rotherhithe offers some of the prettiest streets in town, cobblestone and all, as well as Victorian warehouses turned into residential spaces.
Gorgeous pubs like the Mayflower, the historic St Mary’s Rotherhithe church and the Brunel Museum, a quite secret museum celebrating the work of the Brunel engineers (father and son who worked on the Rotherhithe Tunnel), are three must-visit spots when you’re walking around Rotherhithe.
And if that’s not enough to motivate you to walk the Thames Path down to Rotherhithe, maybe the area’s significance in the departing point of the Mayflower ship in 1620 will!
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to London’s Instagrammable Places
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Covent Garden
While shopping in Covent Garden might be one of the first reasons you’d visit this bustling area, it’s actually also one of the oldest neighborhoods in London, originally known as the Convent Garden of Westminster Abbey.
The Covent Garden Piazza as we know it, with, in the middle, the famous Apple Market with its restaurants, cafes and shops like Ladurée, Whittard of Chelsea and Shake Shack, was only designed and constructed in the 1630s by architect Inigo Jones.
But in the 13th century, Covent Garden was but a garden where monks grew fruits and vegetables, and became, a few centuries later, the first architect-designed square in London.
The Covent Garden Market, housed in a gorgeous Neoclassical building, would have to wait two more centuries before being completed, with a quite similar Victorian glass and iron design as the Smithfield Meat Market or the Leadenhall Market.
The Covent Garden area is filled with hidden gems; from the oldest restaurant in London, Rules Restaurant, to colorful places like Slingsby Place and Neal’s Yard, and a row of colorful telephone booths in Broad Court that make for a great photo spot.
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to Multicolor Places in London
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Clerkenwell
Where Fleet Street is the most renowned place in London for printing and publishing, the Clerkenwell area, close to Smithfield and the City of London, was, in the 16th century, another place filled with printing shops.
But that’s not all that Clerkenwell area is known for.
We are still able to admire St John’s Gate, built in 1504 as part of the Priory of the Order of St John, as well as historic pubs like the Jerusalem Tavern, which dates back to the 14th century.
Clerkenwell is located close to Barbican, Holborn and Chancery Lane, and if you fancy a walk in a tiny village right inside London, make sure you stop by Exmouth Market.
Macellaio, for a fancy Italian meal, or Pizza Pilgrims for some of the best Neapolitan pizza in London, are two of my favorite places to eat in town.
And while we’re at it, let’s keep things Italian for a bit – did you know that Clerkenwell is also known as Little Italy?
The area got this nickname from the significant Italian population who immigrated to Clerkenwell from the end of the 19th century.
That’s why and how we’re able to visit a unique Roman Catholic church in Clerkenwell, St Peter’s Italian Church, which features the kind of Renaissance architecture and decor we can also see in churches in Rome.
Read: How to Spend 10 Days in London: A Complete Itinerary
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Southwark
Like the City of London, Southwark is an area dating back to Roman times, and known for many, many landmarks and hidden gems.
Did you know that both London Bridge and Bermondsey are part of Southwark?
Near Borough Market, probably one of the most famous markets in the world, is located the 12th-century Southwark Cathedral.
It itself neighbors the ruins of Winchester Palace, a huge ship replica, and, at the end of Clink Street, a Shakespeare mural.
Clink Street is a historic street you will definitely tread at some point; in medieval times, it was home to the Clink Prison, now turned into a captivating museum.
Further down on Southbank, the Globe Theatre is a replica of the original Globe Theatre constructed in 1599 – a place where visitors can still attend Shakespeare plays.
Keep walking down Southbank to find a secondhand book market, many cool coffee shops and street food spots at Kerb, the Tate Modern museum, and the Millenium Bridge that leads to St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London.
Read: 13 Things to Do in Crystal Palace, South East London
Historic Neighborhoods in London: Islington
Located in North London, Islington was originally a medieval village, one of the first mentions of which dates back to the 11th century.
Today, if we can still sense the history when walking around, Islington has evolved into a much livelier area.
This is one of the historic neighborhoods in which streets like Essex Road and Upper Street were used by farmers to bring cattle and produce to the City, streets we can still walk to this day.
Another great example of this type of rural street is Camden Passage, now lined with vintage shops, bakeries and cafes.
Buns from Home makes great cinnamon buns, and you’ll also find boutique grocery shops like Le Coq Epicier in Camden Passage.
Former home to writers like George Orwell and Charles Dickens, Islington is also renowned for its Georgian townhouses, and from Islington High Street to Angel, you’ll conveniently find charity shops filled with books.
Afterwards, if you fancy an elegant snack, I’d recommend popping by Belle Epoque Patisserie – a French pastry shop with classic pastries, from croissants to Paris-Brest.
Read: Dark Academia in London: A Secret London Itinerary
8 Most Beautiful Historic Neighborhoods in London
These are but some of my favorite historic neighborhoods in London – from maritime areas to industrial blasts from the past, these are must-visit places when you’re in London.
Covent Garden, with its Neoclassical architecture, the City of London and its hidden ruins, or Rotherhithe and its once-bustling warehouses are all areas that can, and do teach us countless things about London’s past.
And if you’d like to discover some other areas in the city, why not keep going with the lively Bethnal Green or Brick Lane?
Or, if you prefer something a little bit more sophisticated, make sure you visit Marylebone and Fitzrovia in Central London!