15 Secret Neighborhoods in London To Visit and Walk Around

A local’s guide to the most secret neighborhoods in London, from Whetstone to Rotherhithe – off-the-beaten-path, lesser-known areas of London to discover!

Famous for its iconic landmarks and gorgeous free museums, London is a city I have always loved for the plethora of hidden gems and local areas.

Having lived in places like North Finchley, Greenwich and West Hampstead has certainly added a bit of oil to that fire, posh areas with each their unique character.

Walking around Rotherhithe, in South-East London, Wapping or Greenwich, provides a deeper insight into layers of maritime London history.

But change the scope a bit by making your way to Stoke Newington or Chiswick, and you will discover a very village feel, right in the heart of London.

15 Secret Neighborhoods in London To Visit and Walk Around

Whether you’re currently living in London or are planning your first trip ever, these secret areas are places where walking feels like a dream, with beautiful buildings, cobblestone streets, and historical gems at every corner.

The secret alleys and natural spots lover that I am very much felt the need to share with you those lesser-known areas, if only to make your London trip even more special.

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Whetstone, North London

Whetstone, North London, can be reached from the Totteridge & Whetstone station, and it is a local, family-friendly neighborhood minutes away from North Finchley.

The golf courses around Whetstone, along with the presence of Totteridge Village nearby easily shows you’re one in the richest parts of London.

What’s also interesting to see in Whetstone, apart from the very local clothing, artisan and grocery shops, is the gathering of many cute cafes and restaurants, amazing to enjoy as soon as it is spring or summer in London.

Read: London Foodie Itinerary Around Covent Garden

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Muswell Hill, North London

If the charity shops of Muswell Hill are not enough to make you travel all the way to North London, chances are the Alexandra Palace Park, with its beautiful – free views of London, will.

In addition, for those who love finding new secret cafes and restaurants, Muswell Hill Broadway is the very place to do so, and you will also come across unique shops such as Londonworks there.

Architecture and history lovers, you might want to take a moment to admire the Victorian and Edwardian houses in this stunning North London neighborhood, located close to Highgate Wood.

Read: 15 Themed London Itinerary Ideas Off the Beaten Path

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Rotherhithe

Located in South-East London, Rotherhithe is one of my personal favorite places in town.

Cobblestone streets, old warehouses and immaculate views of the City of London are what awaits in this secret little village.

Rotherhithe bears much historical significance, what with being the departing point of the Mayflower ship carrying the Pilgrims to America, and you will find quite a few hidden gems in the area, from the beautiful Mayflower Pub to the Brunel Museum.

Lose yourself in the tiny, beautiful streets, check out the few sculptures disseminated all around the neighborhood, and why not walk back to London Bridge when you are done, to discover even more hidden places around Tower Bridge?

Read: Dark Academia in London: A Secret London Itinerary

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Westow Hill, Crystal Palace

Westow Hill is one of the most secret historic neighborhoods I’ve been given to admire while visiting Crystal Palace and Norwood.

Victorian architecture, vintage shops, countless secret, instagrammable cafes…

This area is the gift that keeps on giving.

Westow Hill is part of the Crystal Palace Triangle, which simply offers some of the best shopping streets in London, along with so many cafes and unusual sights and markets that I feel all fuzzy inside whenever I visit.

If you’d like to catch a break, in this Crystal Palace area are to be found two excellent cafes.

First, you have Colairo’s with their cute floral decor, and The Vault Collective, a cafe hidden inside a plant shop, which offers some of the best vegan breakfast in town.

Read: London Foodie Itinerary Around Piccadilly & Soho

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Stoke Newington

Stoke Newington, also known as Stokey, offers gorgeous streets that make the whole area feel like a village, namely Church Street, with its many independent boutiques, beautiful bookshops and coffee shops.

One of the lesser-known street art neighborhoods in London, Stoke Newington also offers its share of large charity shops and local restaurants like La Rosetta, perfect for a proper Italian pizza.

If you would like to have a taste of nature, Clissold Park, with its small lake, is a great place to write or read when it’s sunny out before enjoying the Farmers’ Market on a Saturday, but if you’re more into unusual places, then Abney Park Cemetery it is.

One of the Seven Magnificent Cemeteries of London, it is a Victorian cemetery which features beautiful sculptures and even a derelict chapel!

Read: Paris in London: An Unusual Itinerary to French Places in London

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Dalston

At one end of Stoke Newington, the scope changes drastically, and from a cute little village area, we’re entering one of the most vibrant places in London, complete with many cafes, markets, charity shops (Traid is my favorite!), and colorful buildings.

The Ridley Road Market is one of the secret markets North London currently offers, complete with fresh fruits and veggies, clothing and even rows upon rows of spices, but if you’re looking for more of a quiet moment, then I have just the spot for you.

There is indeed a secret garden in Dalston, the Eastern Curve Garden, a cute community garden with a cafe inside and events taking place on the regular – a peaceful, very local spot to enjoy when the days are nice and warm.

Read: A Quirky Bookish Itinerary in London

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Greenwich

The gorgeous Greenwich neighborhood is one I always recommend to people looking to find some relief and nature in London, because of its village feel, and because of its historical landmarks.

The Cutty Sark, a 19th-century tea clipper, hides in the distance gorgeous views of Canary Wharf, especially a sunset, and a walk along the Thames River is always a good idea during the warm months.

The National Maritime Museum is another place you can visit, like the Royal Naval College and its Painted Hall, dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the UK.

Don’t forget to get lost in between the stalls of the cute little Greenwich Market, and enjoy some vegan doughnuts, cupcakes and other goodies at the colorful Ruby’s of London.

Read: Italy in London: An Unusual Itinerary to Italian Places in London

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Deptford

Easily reachable by walk from Greenwich, Deptford is a place where artists and hipsters come to blend, with one of the most important streets there being Deptford High Street, which hides a unique market.

Called the Deptford Yard Market, this street food, cafe and independent shop market might remind you of Coal Drops Yard, and there, one specific shop always tugs at my heartstrings.

Called Forest, this jungle-vibes plant shop with another branch in East Dulwich is one perfect place to get inspired and feel a whiff of nature in London.

All along Deptford High Street are located plenty of street food restaurants, cute and secret coffee shops, and other independent and budget shops!

Read: Morocco in London: An Unusual Itinerary to Moroccan Places

Secret Neighborhoods in London: West Hampstead

West Hampstead, in North West London, is easily reachable with the Jubilee Line, which also happens to lead to the gorgeous Canary Wharf area – and we have here another neighborhood with really cute village vibes, namely with the quaint West End Lane.

A few of my favorite study cafes in London are located around West Hampstead and Kilburn High Road, accessible about 5/10 minutes away on foot.

Indeed, Costa Coffee on West End Lane, for instance, was revamped into a perfect coworking space.

Walk past Costa Coffee and you’ll reach even more hidden spots of North West London, but not before you try out some amazing desserts at Lola’s Bakery!

And then, if you decide you’d actually rather go shopping, a few stations away from West Hampstead is located the London Designer Outlet in Wembley Park.

Not only do you have the opportunity there to shop for cheap Yankee Candles, but also really affordable clothes from famous brands such as Guess, Nike, Adidas, and even discounted Kurt Geiger handbags and shoes!

Read: A Local’s Fashion in London Itinerary from Museums to Shops

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Smithfield

If you’re the type of person who goes out of their way to discover new historical neighborhoods and other ruins in London, then Smithfield, close to Clerkenwell and Barbican, is a hidden gem you have to know about.

Filled with historic and beautiful pubs such as The Fox & Anchor, the secret chapel at the Charterhouse, the hidden church garden at St Bartholomew the Great and the adjoining medieval gate, Smithfield is an it-place to visit for history lovers.

Do not miss out on the colorful architecture at the Smithfield Market, one of the largest wholesale meat markets in Europe.

While the market has been in operate for over 8 centuries, the current building was completed in 1868 with a purple, blue and green Victorian design and makes for one of the most unusual sights in London!

Read: Fitzrovia’s Hidden Gems: A Quirky Itinerary in London

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Clerkenwell

If you do end up visiting Smithfield’s hidden gems, like the Charterhouse and the Smithfield Market, you’ll find yourself right on the edge of the cute Clerkenwell neighborhood, one highlight of which is the Little Italy area.

If you would like to find even more village-like areas inside Clerkenwell, then Exmouth Market is a place I would recommend you visit, and if you can, have lunch at Macellaio, an excellent Italian restaurant I swear by.

Several medieval sites are located around Clerkenwell, too.

These include the Museum of the Order of St John, the unexpected St John’s Gate, a striking piece of history right in the heart of Central London and closer to Smithfield, the St Bartholomew the Great Church.

Read: How to Spend 10 Days in London: A Complete Itinerary

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Richmond

Located in South-West London after Putney and the secret River Cafe, Richmond is one of the secret neighborhoods that feels like a village as soon as you step out of the Tube station.

For whoever is into natural spots and would like to maybe go hiking for a couple of hours, Richmond Park, one of the London’s biggest Royal Parks, offers gorgeous landscapes, wild deer and stunning views of London.

If you happen to visit London at Christmas, make sure to pop by Kew Gardens nearby, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with incredible glasshouses, and a gorgeous garden to admire Christmas decorations.

Read: The Best Cafes for Chai Latte in London

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Crouch End

One of North London’s best hidden gems, Crouch End, in addition to being the name of a Stephen King’s horror novel, offers a kind of boho vibe like its neighbor Muswell Hill.

The Broadway is namely a place you’ll want to visit in Crouch End, complete with a historic clock tower, and small cafes and cute bakeries like Dunn’s Bakery, a must-visit historic bakery for delicious breakfast.

Read: The Prettiest Streets in Covent Garden

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Wapping

Like Rotherhithe I mentioned earlier in this guide, Wapping in East London is known for its maritime history and cobblestone streets, but if there’s one thing that always attracts me to this place, it’s the Docklands.

In addition to the picturesque beauty of the Wapping Docklands, which boast warehouses converted into residential spaces, the area also offers a secret street food market on Saturdays, with a favorite Italian food spot of mine, Amalfi of Azz.

Another unmissable sight in Wapping?

My, the Prospect of Whitby, of course, London’s oldest riverside pub.

Not only does it date back to 1520, but by walking down the stairs on the right of the pub and looking up left, you will see a former execution dock.

Read: How to Spend 3 Days in London: A Fun Itinerary

Secret Neighborhoods in London: Chiswick

Located off in West London, the Chiswick area is one of the poshest places in London, one in which you will find beautiful bookshops like Foster’s Books and Bookcase, along with very British brands like Oliver Bonas.

West London’s hidden gems are many, but few are as stunning as the Chiswick House, a classical villa built in the 18th Century, and whose vibe might remind you slightly of the Wallace Collection in Marylebone.

Walk around the winding street of Chiswick to enjoy beautiful autumn colors from September to November, and soak in the calming atmosphere for a special day out!

Read: The Best Colorful Lattes in London

15 Secret Neighborhoods in London To Visit and Walk Around

London’s secret neighborhoods are a big part of why I enjoy walking around the city so much.

When even East London areas like Hackney or Hoxton start being more and more frequented with tourists, I like fleeing far West or, even better, to North London, which always feels local no matter how many years pass.

Each of these lesser-known areas provide insight into London’s history and diversity of cultures.

If there’s one thing they all have in common, though, especially if you’re visiting London for the first time, it’s that walking through them will make you feel like you may be, deep inside, a Londoner too.

Until next time!

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