Districts · London
London by district
Think of central London as a horseshoe around the Thames. Westminster and Whitehall lie on the west bank, Covent Garden and Soho north of them, Bloomsbury north again, the City of London and St Paul's to the east, and South Kensington to the west. The south bank has Bankside and Borough. Most first-time visits live in these areas and use the tube between them.
About these names
Zone 1 covers almost everything a first visit needs. Beds, meals and tickets are cheaper the further out you go, but tube trips add time.
- Westminster and WhitehallWestminsterseeeatSuits: Big Ben, the Abbey, Parliament and royal LondonBusy by day and quiet at night; a morning cluster.1 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Covent Garden, Soho and the West EndCovent Garden, SohoseeeatsleepSuits: Theatres, restaurants and the National GalleryThe busiest, loudest evenings; hotels are dear.2 sights · 3 eatsDistrict guide →
- BloomsburysleepseeeatSuits: The British Museum, garden squares and a calm baseCentral, quiet and walkable; near several tube lines.1 sights · 1 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- The City and St Paul'sThe CityseeeatSuits: St Paul's, the Millennium Bridge and Tate ModernQuiet at weekends; busy with office workers on weekdays.2 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- South Kensington and KnightsbridgeSouth KensingtonseeSuits: The V&A, the Natural History Museum and Hyde ParkMuseum district; a tube ride from the West End.2 sightsDistrict guide →
- Victoria and PimlicoVictoria, PimlicosleepSuits: Coach and rail links to Gatwick and the south coastPractical, with many mid-price hotels and a short walk to Westminster.1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- East London (Shoreditch and Brick Lane)Shoreditch, WhitechapeleatseeSuits: Street art, curry houses and marketsA separate half day by tube or the Elizabeth line.District guide →
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: London Gatwick Airport (LGW) (38–55 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): East London (Shoreditch and Brick Lane). See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Westminster and Whitehall (Westminster): Busy by day and quiet at night; a morning cluster. Suits: Big Ben, the Abbey, Parliament and royal London.
- Covent Garden, Soho and the West End (Covent Garden, Soho): The busiest, loudest evenings; hotels are dear. Suits: Theatres, restaurants and the National Gallery.
- Bloomsbury (Bloomsbury): Central, quiet and walkable; near several tube lines. Suits: The British Museum, garden squares and a calm base. Price band $$$.
- The City and St Paul's (The City): Quiet at weekends; busy with office workers on weekdays. Suits: St Paul's, the Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern.
- South Kensington and Knightsbridge (South Kensington): Museum district; a tube ride from the West End. Suits: The V&A, the Natural History Museum and Hyde Park.
- Victoria and Pimlico (Victoria, Pimlico): Practical, with many mid-price hotels and a short walk to Westminster. Suits: Coach and rail links to Gatwick and the south coast. Price band $$.
- East London (Shoreditch and Brick Lane) (Shoreditch, Whitechapel): A separate half day by tube or the Elizabeth line. Suits: Street art, curry houses and markets.
- Sleep area Bloomsbury: suits The British Museum, garden squares and a calm base, price band $$$.
- Sleep area Victoria and Pimlico: suits Coach and rail links to Gatwick and the south coast, price band $$.
- London Gatwick Airport (LGW), 38–55 min by the usual route.
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR), about 23 km14 mi from the centre, 38–55 min by the usual route.