7 Must-Visit Shopping Courts and Dining Squares in London

A local’s guide to the best shopping squares, food courts and dining squares in London to tread off the beaten path – secret places to make new memories!

While shopping on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Soho definitely makes for one of the most popular activities in London, what I like is finding new secret places tourists are unaware of.

Secluded shopping spots, secret food courts and dining squares are such places, usually tucked away in some of the poshest areas in London, like Chelsea, Marylebone or Fitzrovia.

What’s for sure is that walking around Marylebone or Fitzrovia makes you feel like you’re discovering tiny villages, right in the heart of London – so what’s better than doing some shopping and enjoying delicious cuisines while you’re at it?

7 Must-Visit Shopping Courts and Dining Squares in London

In this guide to dining squares, food and shopping courts, I’ve decided to tell you about some of the prettiest places I’ve come to find in London.

Pavilion Road or Duke of York Square, for instance, are both located in Chelsea, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in London – and beyond restaurants and clothing shops, they also offer some quaint little grocery shops worth a visit.

Without further ado, these are the coolest shopping and dining squares to visit in London as soon as you’ve got the chance, and if their atmosphere pleases you, make sure you also pop by London’s markets for some extra lively vibes, too!

Best Shopping and Dining Squares in London: Pavillion Road, Chelsea

Nestled in the heart of none other than Chelsea, which makes for a perfect spot to see some nature in London as soon as spring comes around, Pavilion Road is the first place we’ll pop by for artisan shops and restaurants.

This is where you’ll find a branch of Bread Ahead Bakery, renowned for their amazing doughnuts, along with London Cheesemongers, or even Granger & Co, famous for their delicious Australian brunch specialties.

We’re just a stone’s throw away from Sloane Square, hence close from the Duke of York Square and the Harrods department store, and if you happen to visit London during Christmas, you’ll find Pavilion Road to be one of the best spots to visit for some gorgeous Christmas lights.

Read: The Best Cheap and Free Things to Do in London With Kids

Best Shopping and Dining Squares in London: Duke of York Square, Chelsea

Also located close to Sloane Square and King’s Road, one of the prettiest streets in London (where you’ll find luxury charity shops, too!), the Duke of York Square is a secluded little square in which you feel the poshness as soon as you enter it.

Complete with high-end restaurants like Polpo and other cheaper eats like Comptoir Libanais with its aesthetic decor, the Duke of York Square is a place where you’ll also find luxury shops galore, from Aesop to Joseph – and another great spot for Christmas decorations.

Read: Free Things to Do in Central London When It Rains

Best Shopping and Dining Squares in London: Charlotte Place, Fitzrovia

Located in the boho Fitzrovia area, where you’ll find Circolo Popolare and some of the best Neapolitan pizza in Central London, Charlotte Place is a tiny pedestranized street in which you’ll find a few quaint coffee shops and restaurants.

We’re two steps away from Goodge Street and its lively bars, cafes and eateries, among which Reverend JW Simpson, a secret bar with amazing nonalcoholic cocktails, and Italian Bear Chocolate, with their cakes and hot chocolate specialties.

Well, in Charlotte Place, you’ll also find one of the best Italian delis in town, Salumeria Dino, great for a quick yet tasty lunch – so don’t miss out when you visit!

Read: The Best Vintage Shops in London

Shopping and Dining Squares in London: St Christopher’s Place, Marylebone

While Maya Magal, my favorite jewelry shop in London, has shut its St Christopher’s Place doors, it’s still one of the most colorful shopping and dining squares in town, and hence very much worth a visit.

St Christopher’s Place’s proximity to Oxford Street (about 30 seconds, roughly) means you’ll probably visit when in London, and you’d do well – from L’Occitane to Crome and Sunday in Brooklyn, there are lots of entertaining spots to check out there.

James Street, right off St Christopher’s Place, is also a colorful street you just can’t miss, as it also hosts some of the most instagrammable cafes in London, from Dyce to Feya Cafe, along with a vegan Crosstown Doughnuts further down the road, on Picton Place.

Read: The Best Harry Potter Things to Do in London

Best Shopping and Dining Squares in London: Gabriel’s Wharf, Southbank

If Gabriel’s Wharf, on Southbank, is a place I mostly visit whenever I want to get to the crazy, quirky Vendula shop and its colorful handbags, you’ll find an eclectic mix of street food spots and boutiques there worth a visit.

Whether you visit London in 3 days or 10, or maybe live here, chances are you’ll spend some time around the London Bridge and Southbank at some point; that’s where, indeed, are located famous landmarks like Borough Market or the London Eye, and even a Shrek immersive experience.

One must-visit food spot at Gabriel’s Wharf is the Gourmet Pizza Company, which makes for a perfect laidback pizza place to visit on a week night.

Also, close to Gabriel’s Wharf is located another must-visit spot – the Oxo Tower, with its various cafes like Caffè Nero, independent concept stores like Brand Academy (and Coffee Academy, right outside, for amazing hot chocolate!), and its roof terrace.

Read: 7 Things To Do in London Bridge in One Hour

Shopping Courts and Dining Squares in London: St Martin’s Courtyard, Covent Garden

Everything an influencer, tourist, or person interested in arts, architecture and food might wish for is located around St Martin’s Courtyard, in the Covent Garden area.

One of the most colorful places you’ll find in town, St Martin’s Courtyard gives way to a huge floral installation on Slingsby Place, at the end of which you’ll find Mi Scusi, a pretty Italian restaurant with tasty flavors.

Close to Long Acre, St Martin’s Courtyard also offers great shops like Stanfords (gorgeous bookstore focused on travel), The White Company, & Other Stories and, on the other side, the London Graphic Centre.

One of my favorite places to go shopping in Covent Garden, and a perfect spot for breakfast and brunch at Dishoom when Saturdays and Sundays come round.

Read: 15 Historical Places to See Ruins in London

Best Shopping and Dining Squares in London: Kingly Court, Carnaby Street

If you’re ever looking for fresh new things to do in Soho, make sure you visit Kingly Court, which has an opening right through the vibrant Carnaby Street.

Restaurants like Pizza Pilgrims (best pizza in Central London, hands down), Shoryu Ramen and The Good Egg can be found at Kingly Court, an open-air court with colorful tables in the middle perfect to enjoy food with some friends.

When you’re done, I’d recommend you check out the Shakespeare’s Head pub to notice a tiny sculptural head of the playwright (a tiny and exciting little hidden gem!), and you’ll also find some really great shops around Carnaby Street to visit absolutely, like Nobody’s Child, a pro MAC Cosmetics store, and Stock X.

Read: 15 Themed London Itinerary Ideas Off the Beaten Path

7 Must-Visit Shopping Courts and Dining Squares in London

These are but some of the best shopping and dining squares I’ve spent time at over my years living in London – going further out to the suburbs, like Walthamstow or Edmonton, you’ll find other open-air shopping centers and food courts.

Start with those, allow yourself to discover new lively places, and when you’re done, if you’d like to come across something new, check out these guides I’ve already written for you guys:

• The Most Secret Alleys in London
• The Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street
• The Best Free Rooftops in London
• The Prettiest Christmas Shop Windows in London

Until next time!

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