Last Updated on 3 May, 2023
London is full of historical gems, from stunning gardens, and beautiful stately homes to must-see royal residences. This city has got it all and then some. No wonder planning a trip to London can be such a difficult task because you most certainly don’t want to miss out on any must-see gems like London’s famous square for starters! Read on for some of the most famous to include on your London itinerary.
11 Must-See London Squares
So we have crossed on the list, London prettiest streets, now we take you on a journey of beautiful and historic squares in London.
Note that London has many amazing little squares and I have lived on quite a few. From Hyde Park Square, Gloucester Square, Oxford Square, Cambridge Square, Montagu Square, Portman Square, Bryanston Square, Pembridge Square, Powis Square, and Nordland Square to name a few but none are as popular and famous as the ones below. Many of which are world-famous.
Some of these squares play host to movie premiers and international and political events. So lets discover London’s most famous Squares.
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a vibrant hub with a unique park and statue near Chinatown. It is located in the heart of London’s Westend which is also one of the main hubs of London nightlife. You can find the residence of the Second Earl of Leicester, Robert Sidney, here.
Other notable figures like Sir Isaac Newton, the Prince of Wales, and William Hogarth have resided here. While exploring Leicester Square, be sure to check out the historical museums, glamorous casinos like Empire Casino, cool pubs, exhibition centers, and restaurants in the area. Leicester Square welcomes 2.5 million visitors every week from around the world as well as those travelling from around the UK.
Other things to do near Leicester Square include checking out Her Majesty’s Theater, shopping at Japan Center, seeing a Westend show and dining at Café de Paris, hearing bells at Swiss Glockenspiel, and grabbing a nicely brewed coffee at Picturehouse Central. In addition, also makes sure you stop by Covent Garden which is only a short walk away.
Want to stay near Leicester Square, check out these hotels nearby.
Parliament Square
Located just a few meters from the Palace of Westminster, Parliament and 10 Downing Street is Parliament Square. The square features statues of renowned personalities, including Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela.
Meters from Parliament Square where you will also find iconic buildings like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the House of Parliament, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, London Eye, Thames River, and Buckingham Palace are other London attractions. Want to stay nearby, then check out these hotels close by.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is known as the Heart of London, and Buckingham Palace is just walking distance from here.
Trafalgar Square was designed in 1830 to commemorate the win of the Britishers against the Spanish and French fleets in the Battle of Trafalgar. This vibrant square features Nelson’s Column, a marble column standing tall at 145 feet.
The northern side has the National Gallery, and you can see light fountains lit up at night. There is a statue of George Washington presented to the English by the State of Virginia.
The top things you can do at Trafalgar Square are visit St. Martin-in-the-fields, tour National Gallery, see Fourth Plinth, Whitehall, National Portrait Gallery, etc.
Also stop by Café in the Crypt, The National Gallery Café, and many pubs and bars nearby like The Rooftop at the Trafalgar, The Admiralty, and the Walkers of Whitehall.
Soho Square
This is a garden square in Soho. It is famous for world-class organizations like 20th Century Fox, the British Board of Film Classification, Dolby Europe Ltd., Tiger Aspect Productions, Fin London, etc.
The famous gardener’s hut looks like a Tudor construction done 500 years ago, but it was built in 1925 to make it an access point for the electricity substation in the middle of Soho Square.
The major things to do at the Soho are shop at Carnaby Street, do a self-guided Beatles Tour, go for a Rock n Roll Tour, dine at Kingly Court, check out The Piano Bar Soho, grab some sumptuous food at Berwick Street Market, take your kids at Hamleys Toy Store, and listen to some Jazz music at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Grosvenor Square
The Grosvenor Garden Square is located south of Oxford Street in the Mayfair neighbourhood. It was built as a fashionable residency in the 18th century.
The Grosvenor showcases the American presence in London. There is a nod to British and American history found here. Grosvenor Square is now on the verge of a residential renaissance with more luxury residential buildings being developed.
There is plenty to do nearby with plenty of amazing restaurants in Mayfair perfect for brunch, Italian food, and Japanese, as well as cool and trendy bars and pubs in Mayfair worth checking out.
Be sure to also make a quick stop in Brown Hart Gardens and Mount Street Gardens.
Russell Square
Russell Square is a large garden square in Bloomsbury in the London Borough of Camden built on the firm of James Burton. The buildings are well preserved, with the area counted as one of the most peaceful areas in London.
Thackeray’s Vanity Fair exclusively had a glimpse from Russell Square. Other historical buildings you can see here include Cabmen’s Shelter, Kimpton Fitzroy London and British Museum. Moreover, you can also visit places like Café Tropea to sit, relax, and enjoy a hot English breakfast with a cup of coffee.
Sloane Square
Sloane Square is located on the boundaries of Chelsea and Belgravia. It is southwest of Charing Cross in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
This Square is famous for being a sweeping vision to map the modern Chelsea. You will find many cultural institutions like Kings Road, International Designers and popular department stores, Peter Jones, and the Royal Court Theater.
Moreover, at Sloane Square, visitors will also find high-end shopping stores of various renowned fashion brands, which range from Hugo Boss to Club Monaco as well as those extending into Sloane Street.
Colbert and The Botanist are popular places to eat in Chelsea and well worth checking out, in addition to the cool cafes in Sloane Suare.
Want to stay local you can find amazing hotels Sloane Square Hotel, The Cadogan Belmond Hotel. Be sure to also stop by Saatchi Gallery and Holy Trinity Church as well as music institution like the Cadogan Hall.
St. James’s Square
St James’s Square is located within the of St. James’s district in the heart of Westminster and is known as the Garden Square. You can find Neo-Georgian and Georgian architecture here. The well-known businesses and military clubs are located here.
It is famous for its chic restaurants, old English shops, members’ clubs, and the Royal Park. Buckingham Palace is a few minutes away from this square. The elegant homes constructed here are a sight to see, reflecting the significant royalty.
When in St. James’s, you can explore places like St. James Palace, Duck Island Cottage Garden, Whitehall Palace, Horse Guards Parade and Green Park. You can stay at hotels like Sofitel St James.
Cinematic lovers can visit the Institute of Contemporary Arts to watch film screenings and see the innovative exhibitions. Street shops you can visit are Dover Street Market and Jermyn Street or eat at Prestat, Fortnum & Mason, and Paxton & Whitefield.
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Belgrave Square
Belgrave Square is a large 19th-century garden square in Westminster. The Square lies east of Chelsea, southwest of the Gardens of Buckingham Palace, and south of Hyde Park. It is famous for its grand Regency Architecture, sought-after residences, and fashionable streets.
Other notable structures one can find here are embassies of countries like Spain, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Germany, Serbia, and Romania. You can also find fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels, leisure walking streets, and much more.
You can also find attractions like Jose de San Martin Statue, eat at Muse or Petrus by Gordon Ramsay, or check out some local shopping markets near Belgrave Square. Be sure to also stop by at some of these Belgravia brunch spots or these cool bars and may a meal at these restaurants.
Kensington Square
Kensington Square is a garden square located in Kensington. The buildings here have historical and architectural merit.
Hyde Park is just a walking distance from Kensington Square. It is famous for its unaltered houses, boutique shops, private residencies, cafes, and pubs.
While in the area be sure to check out the historical High Street Kensington for a little retail therapy. You can find everything from Cos, H&M, TK Maxx, Whole Foods, Hobbs, and many more.
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Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is located Mayfair. The Square is famous for housing the resident Winston Churchill, and you can also find the Lansdowne house, public places for tree plantation, and Alexander Munro’s statue.
Alongside, you can find famous hotels near the Square such as the Connaught Hotel in addition to the famous shopping street that lines designer boutiques.
A stop in Mount Street is not to be missed. You can find labels such as Oscar de la Renta, Gina Shoes, Christian Louboutin, Nicholas Kirkwood and many more.
There are plenty of eateries near by, from Lailat cafe, Connaught Pattisserie, as well as plenty of Italian, Japanese, India restaurants, cool pubs and bars nearby in addition to amazing brunches in Mayfair worth a taste.
Map Of London’s Famous Squares
