A first-timer's guide to London's go-to neighborhoods

Roam the museums in Kensington and eat your way through Hackney

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Less than $3 per week

View Profile

The Explainer

Talking Points

The Week Recommends

Newsletters

From the Magazine

The Week Junior

Food & Drink

Personal Finance

All Categories

Newsletter sign up

Culture & Life

the week recommends

A first-timer's guide to London's go-to neighborhoods

Roam the museums in Kensington, and eat your way through Hackney

Newsletter sign up

Visitors can spend months in London and still only scratch its surface

(Image credit: Karl Hendon / Getty Images)

By Catherine Garcia, The Week US published 24 January 2025

London is many things — a cultural hub, an economic center, a city shaped by both its history and modern innovations. A monolith it is not. Each one of its 32 boroughs, or neighborhoods, has its own distinct feel and flair. Getting to know at least some of them and what they have to offer is key for any visitor, especially a first-timer. Start with these six classic London zones, filled with iconic attractions and hidden surprises.

Hackney: paradise for food lovers

Pick up a snack at one of Hackney's many markets (Image credit: VictorHuang / Getty Images) With its "hipster hot spots" like Hoxton, Shoreditch and Dalston, Hackney is where "new things start in London," Afar said. Most any kind of cuisine at every price point is available, with chefs "innovating in all corners of the borough." Facing Heaven could be the poster child for the movement. At this "neon-lit" Szechuan establishment, "inventive" vegan dishes like chile-oil sundaes and "haute sandwiches" are inspired by McDonald's. There is also a "slew" of Michelin-starred restaurants, including Brat, named not in honor of Charli XCX but rather the Old English word for turbot (you can order a charcoal-grilled version for the table). Hampstead: wide open spaces

The 'truly beautiful' Hampstead Heath covers 790 acres (Image credit: Oliver Strewe / Getty Images) In this charming section of Camden, the "undisputed highlight" of the area is Hampstead Heath, Condé Nast Traveler said, a 790-acre expanse of woodland, fields, meadows and three open-air swimming ponds. The view from Parliament Hill is "to die for," with the "whole of London's skyline" rising up, and nearby Parliament Hill Lido serves "fabulous coffee and wonderful falafels." London is filled with parks, but the "truly beautiful" Hampstead Heath is a singular treat.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Kensington and Chelsea: options for everyone

Beautiful homes like these are tucked away in South Kensington (Image credit: Alexander Spatari / Getty Images) With its museums, music venues, gardens and palace, Kensington is "undoubtedly" one of London's "most fascinating spots," Secret London said. Standouts include the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the "spectacular" Royal Albert Hall, a "treasured" concert space. The Kyoto Garden, home to several resident peacocks, provides lovely photo opportunities, as does the Churchill Arms, a pretty pub "almost completely hidden by an avalanche of flowers." Just around the corner is Kensington Palace, one of London's "most palpable tourist attractions."

Mayfair: the lap of luxury

At Christmas, the streets of Mayfair are illuminated by light installations (Image credit: shomos uddin / Getty Images) Mayfair is a "posh" destination in Westminster for upscale shopping and dining, Fodors said, a neighborhood filled with "gorgeous Georgian townhouses and glamorous boutiques." Check out the latest exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts before heading to the legendary Selfridges to discover new designers, Savile Row to find a bespoke suit and Fortnum & Mason to pick up tea and jams. Dinner should be spent at the art-filled Mount St. Restaurant, where classic British fare like the omelette Arnold Bennett is given a modern spin. You cannot go wrong with the rich lobster pie for two, a beauty of a dish topped with a perfectly flaky crust that is deftly portioned and plated at the table.

Soho: where the fun never ends

Soho buzzes with activity day and night (Image credit: fotoVoyager / Getty Images) Soho is a "pulsing, boozy district at the very heart of town," Afar said, and visitors who are "happy to be kept up late" should make this section of Westminster their first stop. It feels like "London in miniature," with "every kind of restaurant crammed into a maze of historic streets and alleyways." This might be the "best place to get a drink in the city," but there is more to do than just grab a pint or a Pimm's Cup. Plan a night out at the Soho Theatre, which hosts several shows a night featuring some of Britain's "best stand-up, sketch and theater performers." Southwark: history by the riverside

The Tower Bridge connects the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark (Image credit: AaronP / Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images) On the south bank of the River Thames is Southwark, the place where "for centuries" Londoners went to "escape the rules and decency of the city and let their hair down," travel writer Rick Steves said. You can spot glimpses of yore around every corner, like the historic Borough Market with its "fun carnival atmosphere" and "fantastic stall food," and the Clink Prison Museum, which until 1780 was where "law-abiding citizens threw Southwark troublemakers." Southwark is also home to the Tower Bridge, Shakespeare's Globe, The Shard and the Tate Modern, its galleries filled with "mind-bending 20th-century art."

Catherine Garcia was a guest of Mount St. Restaurant

Explore More

United Kingdom

travel destinations

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Social Links Navigation

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger – a 'thin' yet 'heart-warming' sequel

Talking Point The second instalment of a local man setting up a community bank sees Rory Kinnear return

By The Week UK

Published 24 January 25

Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: 'titans of Western art' reunited in 'standout' show

The Week Recommends Exhibition explores the complex artistic landscape of Florence at the turn of the 16th century

By The Week UK

Published 24 January 25

Crossword: January 24, 2025

The Week's daily crossword puzzle

By The Week Staff

Published 24 January 25

You might also like

Fukuoka: a Japanese metropolis with vibrant history, superb eating and less tourists

The Week Recommends A harborside Japanese city that meshes the ancient and the very modern

By Scott Hocker, The Week US

Published 22 January 25

A beginner's guide to exploring the Amazon

The Week Recommends Trek carefully — and respectfully — in the world's largest rainforest

By Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Published 21 January 25

Where in the world to hop on a hot air balloon

The Week Recommends Float above California vineyards, Swiss Alps and the plains of the Serengeti

By Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Published 20 January 25

The 8 best items to buy from beloved museum gift shops

The Week Recommends Enjoy these artsy products from the comfort of home

By Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Published 16 January 25

Hang 10 at El Zonte, a surfer's paradise in El Salvador

The Week Recommends Catch some waves and a great cup of coffee

By Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Published 15 January 25

4 tips for keeping your resolutions

The Week Recommends New Year's resolutions seem made to be broken, but with a few adjustments, you can give yourself a shot at sticking with it

By Theara Coleman, The Week US

Published 14 January 25

Chemnitz: an 'unlikely renaissance' for the 'forgotten' town

The Week Recommends The birthplace of Germany's industrial revolution is hoping to reinvent itself

By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK

Published 14 January 25

TV to watch in January, including 'Severance' and 'The Night Agent'

The Week Recommends Two hit series are back this month for much-anticipated second seasons

By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US

Published 13 January 25

View More ▸

Contact Future's experts

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Advertise With Us

The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.Visit our corporate site.

Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street