Today I want to share my guide to the best west London areas with you. This part of the UK capital is full of beautiful neighborhoods, and they’re worth discovering. From elegant Kensington to colorful Notting Hill, there’s an area to fit your style. I’ve included an interactive west London map of them all, too.
West London Areas
I’ve written a lot about various areas of London on the blog over the years. I’ve published posts about pretty London neighborhoods and under-the-radar London neighborhoods.
I’ve even created a London neighborhoods map with all my favorite places on it. It’s a great resource if you want to discover the UK capital.
But today I want to focus on west London areas and show you my top picks for this part of the city.
Whether you like beautiful houses or vibrant markets, manicured gardens or pretty shopfronts, there’s a west London neighborhood for you. Read on to see my favorites.
1. Notting Hill
Since it’s one of the best-known west London areas, I’ll start with Notting Hill. This part of the UK capital is famous for its colorful houses, Portobello Road Market, and great shops and restaurants.
There are a lot of exciting things to do in Notting Hill, from exploring the high streets to discovering the hidden lanes and mews. The annual Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street party, too.
If you want to discover this west London neighborhood, my self-guided Notting Hill walk and Notting Hill guide can help.
2. Holland Park
Right next to Notting Hill, Holland Park is another of my favorite west London areas. From the beautiful gardens in the park itself to the pastel houses and the Leighton House Museum, this area has it all.
I love visiting Holland Park to take in the stunning Kyoto Garden and say hello to the resident peacocks. When winter ends, the formal flower beds are home to some of the best spring gardens in London.
Beyond the green space, Holland Park Mews is one of the prettiest London mews. It’s surrounded by streets packed with elegant homes. The high street is full of great Holland Park restaurants, cafes, and shops, too.
If you want to explore more of the area, I’ve published a self-guided Holland Park walk you can do.
3. Kensington
Right by Holland Park, Kensington is another of my favorite west London areas. I lived in the neighborhood for years, and I couldn’t get enough of its pretty mews streets and elegant houses.
Kensington Church Street is packed with beautiful antiques shops and tearooms. Kensington High Street has everything from a Whole Foods to side streets with some of the best restaurants in London.
In spring, Kensington shows off some of the best wisteria in London, and in autumn the leaves in Kynance Mews always have me reaching for my camera.
Speaking of natural beauty, Kensington Gardens is one of the best green spaces in the city. The park is home to Kensington Palace, one of the famous royal palaces in London.
If you want to discover more of this west London neighborhood, I’ve published a self-guided Kensington walk and a Kensington guide that will help.
4. South Kensington
Adjacent to Kensington, South Kensington is another of the best west London areas. From big museums like the V&A to the cafes around South Kensington station, this area has a lot to love.
Add to that the South Kensington restaurants on Old Brompton Road and the shops on Fulham Road, and the high streets are highly entertaining.
The same goes for the side streets. Cranley Mews is gorgeous, and The Boltons are packed with beautiful houses.
If you’re interested in seeing more of this part of west London, my self-guided walk in South Kensington is just the thing.
5. Earls Court
Right by South Kensington, Earls Court is another of the best west London areas. It often gets overlooked in favor of its neighbor, but this neighborhood is worth exploring in its own right.
That’s not least because of the pastel houses that grace Earls Court’s side streets. Child’s Street is one of my favorites, and Redfield Lane is a must-see.
It’s not just the side streets I love in Earls Court, though. The high street has lots of restaurants and bars, and The Troubadour on Old Brompton Road is an institution.
6. Chelsea
Not far from Earls Court, Chelsea is another of my top picks for west London areas.
From the twin floral extravaganzas of the Chelsea Flower Show and Chelsea in Bloom, to the Chelsea Physic Garden and Chelsea Embankment, the area has a lot of natural beauty.
Then there’s the King’s Road, which is one of my favorite places to go shopping in London. It’s packed with great stores, and the weekly Duke of York Square Market is my go-to place on Saturdays in London.
If you’re up for exploring more of this area of west London, my self-guided Chelsea walk will show you the best places in Chelsea.
7. Fulham
Just beyond Chelsea, Fulham is another of the best west London areas. It has a great local feel, too.
From Parson’s Green with The White Horse pub (Sloaney Pony if you’re a Londoner), to Fulham Palace, this London neighborhood has a lot going for it.
There’s great shopping and entertainment on Fulham Road, and New King’s Road is packed with restaurants and cafes. The award-winning Harwood Arms pub is a great place to go on a self-guided food tour of London, too.
The Hurlingham Club is one of the best places on the Thames in London, too. If you’re a member (or know one), it’s a fun place to sit outdoors, enjoy something from the barbecue, and soak up the sun on a sunny afternoon.
8. Chiswick
Also on the Thames, Chiswick is another of my favorite west London areas. Like Fulham, it’s a great place to live like a local (or just live) in the city.
Packed with places like Chiswick House (it’s one of the best English Heritage sites in London) and the historic Fuller’s Brewery, there’s a lot to discover here.
The high street in Chiswick is home to great restaurants, pubs, and shops, and the side streets are full of beautiful houses and heritage buildings.
Walking the Thames Path from Hammersmith to Chiswick is a great way to take in the river and see some of the prettiest houses and most historic pubs in these west London neighborhoods.
9. Shepherd’s Bush
Back up by Holland Park, Shepherd’s Bush is a popular west London area to live in. Along with adjacent White City, it’s more affordable than some of the other places on this list, and it has good transport links into central London.
With a big shopping mall, a Soho House called White City House, and a thriving restaurant and bar scene, these areas are great west London neighborhoods to call home.
West London Areas Map
West London Areas
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to west London areas and that it’s made you want to head out and discover more of the UK capital. If you do, my west London walks are good places to start.
If you want to see more of the city, take a look at my south London blog post. Happy exploring!
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