A local’s guide to the most beautiful areas in Central London to have on your bucket list for your first trip to London, with hidden gems, food spots and shops!
If you’re only staying in London one day, two days, or three days, chances are you won’t try and venture too far off Central London.
And that’s understandable.
Fortunately, there are some really beautiful neighborhoods to visit around Central, from Seven Dials and Covent Garden to Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury.
So I wanted to show you the it-places to visit if you want to walk around cobblestone streets, rows of historical indie shops, spots with free museums and cute cafes as well.
7 Pretty Areas in Central London to Visit on Your First Trip
From Seven Dials to Belgravia and Bloomsbury, you’ll see here some really lively areas of Central London, alongside quiet mews streets and historical lanes, peaceful backgrounds for a stroll.
Obviously, since we’re going to be visiting Central London, it’s bound to be crowded in some places, but you’ll find in this guide some off the beaten path spots as well.
Whether you’re into vintage shopping, finding new photo spots, tucked away gardens or historical shops, you’ll find everything you need in this guide!
Beautiful Areas in Central London: Seven Dials and Covent Garden
Seven Dials and the broader Covent Garden area are probably two of the first places you’ll walk around when visiting London, aside from Oxford Street, London Bridge and Big Ben.
Covent Garden Piazza in the heart of the neighborhood is filled with makeup, accessories and clothing stores.
All around the square, do walk along very aesthetic streets like Henrietta Street and King Street, and visit the secret St Paul’s Church just off the piazza.
You’ll also find secret alleys around Covent Garden (like Cecil Court or Goodwin’s Court), lots of wonderful shops like Stanfords, and colorful spots like St Martin’s Courtyard and Slingsby Street.
On the other hand, going down Neal Street towards Seven Dials will bring you to a village-like quarter, cozy, with seven narrow streets forming a star around the Sundial Pillar.
Don’t miss out on Monmouth Street, with its small, independent shops and the multicolor Neal’s Yard, before visiting the street food market and vintage shops in the vicinity.
Pretty Neighborhoods in Central London: Mayfair
Mayfair’s hidden gems are plenty.
From secret gardens like Brown Hart Gardens and Mount Street Gardens to Georgian and Edwardian buildings, and secret food courts like Mercato Mayfair, you’ll find it all there.
Mayfair is located really close to Oxford Street, and makes for one of the best spots to admire Christmas lights and decorations from November.
The classical townhouses make for wonderful photo spots, and if you’re find stunning fine dining restaurants in the area, there’s also a really cute pastry shop to visit for upscale snacks: Pasticceria Marchesi.
Some of the most beautiful places to visit in Mayfair are, in my opinion, Burlington Arcade, New Bond Street, and Conduit Street, along which you’ll find many art galleries and couture shops.
Walk a little further from the heart of Mayfair and you’ll reach more secret, village-like areas; Shepherd Market is a great example of that, with small streets and an old time atmosphere.
Beautiful Areas in Central London: Marylebone
Marylebone is another posh neighborhood located close to Oxford Street, and it’s one known for its elegant Georgian and Victorian buildings and classic atmosphere.
There, you’ll come across vintage shopfronts like Paul Rothe and Son, winding streets like Marylebone Lane, and many independent cafes.
I particularly like strolling down the secret mews that populate Marylebone; lesser-known than the colorful Notting Hill streets, but wonderful all the same, like Devonshire Mews South.
One place you shouldn’t miss when in the area is the Wallace Collection; it’s a stone’s throw away from Oxford Street and a historical building with stunning stairs and a hidden cafe.
If you’re looking for free things to do in London, that’s a beautiful museum I can’t stop raving about, and one perfect to visit when it’s raining in the city.
Pretty Neighborhoods in Central London: Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia would almost boast the same vibe as Marylebone, only this gorgeous area close to Tottenham Court Road was once populated by artists and writers, a more old school boho kind of area.
Many of the streets in Fitzrovia house Georgian and Victorian buildings, small terraces and houses, another place that feels like a proper village in the heart of Central London – Charlotte Place is a great example of that.
Goodge Street is one of the liveliest places to visit in Fitzrovia; there sit charity shops like Oxfam, Icco Pizza (great for halal, cheap pizza), and lots of independent cafes.
Close to Fitzrovia, you’ll find other really beautiful spots like Great Portland Street, and you’re also not too far from Tottenham Court Road and its cool shops.
Beautiful Areas in Central London: Belgravia
Now on to another place that has that village feel in the heart of London, but also mixes ultra-poshness to that – Belgravia, with its white facades, grand Georgian and early Victorian terraces and townhouses.
Lovers of secret gardens, you’ll find quite a few ones in Belgravia, like Belgrave Square, Eaton Square, and Chester Square, alongside charming mews streets (Belgravia Mews), and cobblestone lanes like Wilton Mews and Kinnerton Street.
From Belgravia, it’s short walk to famous attractions like Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Knightsbridge – all absolute must-sees when it’s your first trip to London.
If you visit London at Christmas, don’t miss out on a visit to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
It’s a huge Christmas market and fair all rolled into one, with stunning lights, hot chocolate, and a wonderful ice rink.
Pretty Neighborhoods in Central London: Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury is one of Central London’s most historically rich neighborhoods, famous for its Georgian squares, elegant terraces, combined with a literary and intellectual history.
Museum Street is in my opinion one of the must-visit streets in Bloomsbury, alongside Marchmont Street and nearby lanes that offer a mix of boutiques and cafes in a Regency-style setting.
On Bloomsbury Street, you’ll find an Oxfam bookshop – great if you’re hunting for used books and are visiting London on a budget.
One of London’s best museums is located in the area on Great Russell Street; it’s none other than the British Museum, with its collections of Assyrian, Egyptian, Roman and Greek pieces.
You’ll also find the historic Charles Dickens Museum, and other literary spots tucked into side streets of Bloomsbury, including the London Review Bookshop, one of the prettiest bookshops in town.
When you’re done visiting Bloomsbury, you’ll find another historic area of London, Holborn – it’s also filled with hidden gems, namely the Sir John Soane’s Museum with its countless sculptures.
Beautiful Areas in Central London: Soho’s Historic Streets
Many times I’ve told you about Soho’s hidden gems, its shops and gorgeous cafes like Elan on Wardour Street.
Like Covent Garden and nearby Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square, Soho is one of the Central London areas you’ll visit first when you get out on the town.
And while Soho’s famous for its street art, theaters and small cafes, it’s also one of the historical neighborhoods to visit, which still bear traces of French Huguenot and Italian immigration waves.
In the Soho area, you’ll come across Georgian, Victorian and early 20th-century buildings with beautiful architecture.
One gorgeous street to see is Carnaby Street with its many shops and stunning Christmas decorations in winter; the famous department store Liberty London is located at one end of the street.
You’ll find a secret food court tucked right off Carnaby Street, Kingly Court: it’s a great spot for anything from halal burgers to unique desserts.
In addition, I’d recommend you pop by Greek Street, Dean Street and Old Compton Street when in Soho: these are probably the most famous streets in the area, and dotted with music venues, quirky shops, cafes and theaters.
7 Pretty Areas in Central London to Visit on Your First Trip
I’ve been in love with London’s old areas ever since I can remember.
Recently, I even shared with you the most beautiful industrial neighborhoods of the city, those that have been turned into homes while retaining their old world charm.
And while I’ve written lots about Central London shopping spots and other hidden gems, I’d never taken the time to share with you some of the best things to do by area, from the first day you land in London!