Street · London
Carnaby Street
Worth 30–60 minutes if you like fashion or 1960s pop history, especially combined with Liberty and Kingly Court; skip it if you only want big department stores, which are on Regent Street and Oxford Street next door.
Map to the start
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Length
250 m0.2 mi
approximate
Walk end to end
4 min
without stops
Traffic
Car-free
Best time
10:00–12:00 on a weekday; late afternoon for the street decorations lit up in November and December10:00 AM–12:00 PM on a weekday; late afternoon for the street decorations lit up in November and December
At a glance
- Length
- 250 m0.2 mi
- Start
- North end at Great Marlborough Street
- End
- South end at Beak Street
- Traffic
- Car-free
- Currency
- GBP
Decide
What the street is for, and when to be there
At a glance
A short pedestrian street in Soho that was the center of 1960s mod fashion and is now lined with fashion and sneaker brands, with Liberty and the Kingly Court food courtyard just off it.
Getting there
Oxford Circus (Central, Victoria and Bakerloo lines) is 3 minutes' walk from the north end; Piccadilly Circus is about 6 minutes from the south end. Buses run along Regent Street.
Traffic and walking hours
Car-free. Pedestrianized since the 1970s; delivery vehicles are allowed in early in the morning only (check current loading hours).
Hours change for events and holidays: check locally.
Morning, afternoon, night
Best time: 10:00–12:00 on a weekday; late afternoon for the street decorations lit up in November and December
05:00–11:005:00 AM–11:00 AM local time
Shops open about 10:00 (12:00 on Sundays, check). Before that it is delivery vans and street cleaners; a quiet time for photos.
Best time: 10:00–12:00 on a weekday; late afternoon for the street decorations lit up in November and December
See & do
The stops in walking order, then where to shop and what to eat
Walk this street
↓ about 2 min · 120 m390 ft
↓ about 1 min · 70 m230 ft
↓ about 1 min · 70 m230 ft
Minutes are walking time at an easy 5 km/h3 mph with a margin for crowds; add time for shops. The GPX opens in Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google My Maps.
Where to shop and what it costs
- LibertyDepartment store in a 1920s Tudor-style building at the Great Marlborough Street end: fabrics, scarves, homewares, beautyWorth a walk through even without buying£20–500 (≈ US$30–700) / itemPrice check →
- Fashion and sneaker brand storesInternational and British streetwear, denim and sneaker labels along the whole street£25–200 (≈ US$35–300) / itemPrice check →
- Independent boutiques on side streetsSmaller clothing, vintage and gift shops on Newburgh Street, Ganton Street and Foubert's Place£15–150 (≈ US$20–200) / itemPrice check →
Typical buys
- Coffee to go£3.5–5.5 (≈ US$5–8) / cupPrice check →
- T-shirt from a fashion brand£25–70 (≈ US$35–95) / itemPrice check →
- Sneakers from a brand store£80–180 (≈ US$110–250) / pairPrice check →
- Liberty-print scarf or small accessory at LibertyFabric by the meter is also sold£30–250 (≈ US$40–350) / itemPrice check →
- Lunch dish in Kingly Court£12–25 (≈ US$16–35) / dishPrice check →
Ranges, not quotes: prices move with season and exchange rates; the equivalent in your currency is approximate. Checked Sep 2026.
Eat on or near it
- Kingly CourtA three-story courtyard of restaurants entered from Carnaby Street; good for a sit-down lunch out of the crowds.
- Dishoom Covent GardenAbout 20 minutes' walk east through Soho; expect a line at peak times.
- Monmouth Coffee, Seven DialsWell-known coffee roaster about 15 minutes' walk east.
Sights on the street
- Liberty buildingThe timber-framed facade on Great Marlborough Street is one of the most photographed shop fronts in London.
- Carnaby street decorationsOverhead installations change through the year, with the biggest display in November and December.
- Soho streets to the eastWalk east along Broadwick Street into the center of Soho for pubs, record shops and small restaurants.
Practical
Getting a ride there, what goes wrong, and access
Show the driver
Show the driver
Please drop me at the north end of Carnaby Street, on Great Marlborough Street by Liberty.
Please drop me at the north end of Carnaby Street, on Great Marlborough Street by Liberty.
Cars cannot enter Carnaby Street; Great Marlborough Street is the easiest drop-off side.
Safety, traffic and scams
Pickpockets and bag snatching in the Oxford Circus and Regent Street crowds medium
Phone snatching by thieves on bikes or e-scooters on the surrounding streets medium
Scams and traps
- Charity collectors with clipboards pressing for bank details on the street: you can say no and walk on, and never give card details on the spot.
- Cheap souvenir shops on nearby streets advertising 'closing down' sales for months; compare prices before buying.
Accessibility
- Flat and paved with no traffic, so easy for wheelchairs and strollers, though very crowded on Saturday afternoons.
- Kingly Court has upper floors; check with individual restaurants about step-free access.
- Oxford Circus station is not step-free; Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street (Elizabeth line) are the nearest step-free stations (check).
Photo tips
- Stand at the Beak Street end and shoot north to frame the overhead decorations along the street.
- Early morning, before 10:00, gives you the street almost empty.Early morning, before 10:00 AM, gives you the street almost empty.
A line of history
The street took its name from Karnaby House, built nearby in the late 17th century. In the 1960s its small boutiques made it the center of mod fashion and the 'Swinging London' image, and it was closed to traffic in the 1970s.
Combine with
- Regent StreetParallel to the west: flagship stores and department stores in a long curved street.
- SohoWalk east for pubs, restaurants and theaters in the evening.
More streets in London: Portobello Road
Questions people ask
Is Carnaby Street still about 1960s fashion?
Mostly in name: today it is mainly mid-range fashion and sneaker brands, with a few nods to its history. Liberty and the side streets are more distinctive.
When are the Christmas decorations up?
Usually from early November into January; exact dates change each year (check).
Deep dive
Sources; hours, rules and prices change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialCarnaby London (official street site)
- officialVisit London
- secondaryWikivoyage: London/Soho