Chinatown
Chinatown is a vibrant enclave where East meets West, nestled between Soho, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. A captivating oasis of Asian cuisine and culture, adorned with ornate Chinese gates and colorful lanterns.
Where Far East meets West End
From dim sum delights and hidden tea houses, to the lively bars and clubs of Lisle Street, Chinatown offers a genuine taste of the Far East in the centre of our cosmopolitan city, where heritage and culture combine to create a sensory escape that has long been woven into London’s rich and diverse tapestry.
Centred around the main artery of Gerrard Street and encompassing Lisle Street to the south, parts of Shaftesbury Avenue to the north, Newport Court and Little Newport Street to the east and lower Wardour Street to the West, Chinatown is home to almost 100 different restaurants serving a dazzling mix of cuisine from across east Asia.
Take a Tour
Take a tour of the neighbourhood and experience a day in the life of Chinatown.
Want to know more?
Check out our Journal for or the Chinatown website for stories and inspiration.
Like what you see?
Book a personal tour with one of our team.
Why Chinatown?
Neighbourhoods don’t come more central than this. Perfectly positioned between Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Soho, Chinatown is literally at the centre of it all, a 24/7 melting pot of culture and diversity. With so many sounds, sights and scents, Chinatown is a treat for the senses, but also one of the West End’s most well connected enclaves.
From Original, to Oriental
Soho came into being after the Great Fire of London, the first houses of the post-fire regeneration being built along the newly created Gerrard Street around 1685, so the street really was the birth of Soho. However it wasn’t until the 1950’s that the Chinese community started to populate the area, relocating after the war from London’s original Chinatown in the East End.
All That Jazz
Ronnie Scott’s eponymous jazz club originally opened in a basement on Gerrard Street before crossing over to Frith Street
Walk The Walk
One of Chinatown’s major benefits is that most of the streets are pedestrianised, keeping the London traffic to a minimum
The First Post
Westminster’s first office for ‘Penny Post and Two-Penny Post’ was located at 39 Gerrard Street and set the template for the modern post office
Open The Gates
Chinatown’s famous gates were only erected in the 1980’s, despite the area being home to mainly Chinese immigrants since the 1950’s
Soho
Soho is surely the epitome of London life, the beating heart of the West End, a vibrant enclave where history, creativity and a sense of rebellion collide to create a truly original and unrivalled neighbourhood. Globally recognised for its bohemian spirit, Soho has been a haunt for artists, writers, poets and musicians for centuries. Modern Soho is a paradise for creatives, culture vultures, foodies and night owls.
Seven Dials
Seven Dials is a charm-packed lifestyle & gastronomy hub connecting Covent Garden with Soho, defined by seven characterful cobbled streets radiating from the unmistakable sundial dating from the 1690’s.
Carnaby
An enclave of only 14 streets in the north west corner of Soho, yet Carnaby is very much a neighbourhood in its own right. Carnaby Street is world renowned as the epicentre of Swinging London in the 1960’s, and has continued its association with fashion and youth culture to this day.
Covent Garden
One of London’s most iconic and recognisable destinations, perhaps from the outsider’s perspective nothing more than a hub for tourists, shoppers, theatre goers or opera aficionados, but scratch the surface and there is so much more to discover about this thriving community…
St. Martin’s & Strand
St. Martin’s Lane is Covent Garden’s western border, a bustling thoroughfare linking Seven Dials with Trafalgar Square and a gateway to the wider West End. Strand is the southern boundary of Covent Garden running parallel to the River Thames and linking the cities of London & Westminster. A neighbourhood that offers everything from river views and world class theatres, to green open space and village vibes.
Holborn & St. Giles
Holborn is the gateway from the City of London to the West End and home to the UK’s legal profession. Situated around the grand garden square of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, it’s home to many top law firms, barrister’s chambers and the London School of Economics & Political Science.
Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury is a little slice of bohemian paradise in the heart of London, historic streets lined with handsome Georgian townhouses, leafy garden squares and a vibe that oozes culture & creativity.
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