12 Really Cool Old Streets in London
There’s something unique about walking around old streets in London. It makes you not only a traveler but also a local and brings you back decades and often, centuries. Although it is one of the world’s most modern metropolises, London is filled with such incredible history. The old streets in London tell tales of a bygone era and exploring them takes you on a journey of discovery into the city’s forgotten past. Home to a treasure trove of old streets, the British capital is a haven for history buffs who will find the old streets of London a delight to visit.
I’ve never been that fond of history, but I do love all kinds of arts, architecture, and seeing places that many have trodden before me. So if you’re looking for something new and exciting to do… How about taking a stroll around the city admiring its natural preservation, and the ancient architecture of the oldest and most famous streets in London? From picturesque cobbled streets and stunning mews to ancient roman roads, read on for the oldest streets in London you just can’t afford to miss.
12 Really Cool Old Streets in London to Visit
Just because cobbled streets in London are stunning doesn’t mean I’ll only talk about that today. Actually, most of the old London streets I’ll mention here are not even cobbled anymore. Since long, they’ve been replaced with tar, and most look brand new. Later on, I’ll write about the most beautiful old streets in England, but we’re going to focus on old street names in London for today.
Within some of the famous places in London, you will see chunks of Roman roads in London lined by contemporary office blocks, and picturesque gardens growing out of historic London buildings. If you’re keen to go on a bit of time travel, check out all these old streets in London that feel as if they’ve been frozen in time. You’re in for a treat!
Famous Old Streets in London: Watling Street
Stretching from Westminster to Canterbury, Watling Street is one of the old streets of London. Trudged by Celtic traders, marched by Roman soldiers, and steeped in stories, the street makes for one of the most historical and fascinating of London streets.
Today, this old London street comprises the A2 and A5 motorways that run diagonally across Britain from Dover in southeast England to Anglesey in northwest Wales. However, the road has existed throughout all of British history. It was previously a Neolithic pathway, one of the Roman roads in London, a medieval royal highway, and a turnpike for coach travel.
Plan to take two days to travel along Watling Street, one of the most famous streets in London. Exit the south coast and stay over in or around Towcester, which is convenient as a halfway point to one of the old streets in London. Seeing St Paul’s from Watling Street makes it one of the old London street names that you really need to visit. There’s also a Konditor bakery, one of the best bakeries in London in that street, and you should definitely pay it a visit if you’re looking to treat yourself in the midst of all that sightseeing in London.
Old Streets in London: Fleet Street
With Fleet Street, we’re onto one of the streets full of history in London. Tracing its origins from the cut-throat world of newspaper journalism, Fleet Street’s lengthy association with the printing industry along with its many connections to Britain’s literary heritage make it one of the most famous places in London.
Formerly the home of London’s newspaper industry, Fleet Street is one of the coolest old streets in London. Originally, this old London street emerged from the western part of the City of London, crossing the River Fleet across a small island at Ludgate Circus and leading to Westminster via the Strand.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Cafes in London Bridge
Although a shadow of its former glory as a bustling culture capital, over two millennia of life give this iconic street a fascinating history. As one of the old streets in London, Fleet Street is today still regarded as the spiritual home of the newspaper industry. Here, visitors to Fleet Street can explore several historic London buildings associated with the print profession. The fact it’s so close to St Paul’s one of the best landmarks in London is just a bonus – you can also walk from there to the Millenium Bridge and the Tate Modern – what I deem to be one of the best things to do around London Bridge.
Best Old Streets in London: Old Street
Not too long ago, I wrote about the very best cafes in Old Street, because I know it’s a busy place bustling with great coffee shops. Stretching 1.6km within northeast Central London, Old Street is one of the old streets in London. This old London street runs west to east from Goswell Road in Clerkenwell in Islington Borough, through St. Luke’s and Old Street Roundabout, to the crossroads where it meets up with Shoreditch High Street to the south, Kingsland Road to the north, and Hackney Road to the east in Shoreditch within Hackney Borough.
Of ancient origin, Old Street rests on the route of one of the old Roman roads in London that connects Colchester to Silchester, skirting around the walls of the present-day City of London. Today, Old Street has attracted a host of tech and IT companies, with its roundabout being nicknamed the “Silicon Roundabout.”
One of the most famous places in London, Old Street is also home to several historic London buildings from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Old Street also boasts a thriving nightlife and in recent years has become a favorite of notable graffiti artists like Banksy and Jef Aerosol. In fact, Banksy has featured a number of his artworks on “Shoreditch Bridge.” If you’re a fan of coffee, there’s one of the most famous coffee shops in East London on Old Street, Grind. Awesome place if you’re looking for cafes to work in London.
Old Streets in London: Frith Street
Located in the Soho area of London, Frith Street is one of the most lively old streets in London. Stretching approximately 285 meters long, this old London street is situated to the south of Soho Square and to the north of Shaftesbury Avenue. One of the most famous places in London, the street traverses the three streets of Compton, Bateman, and Romily. I love Frith Street. Nearby, you have one of the best Italian cafes in London, Bar Italia, which is a coffee shop you can’t miss – especially if you’ve ever tried Italian coffee in Italy.
Laid out in the late 17th century, Frith Street is named after a wealthy builder, Richard Frith. During the 18th and 19th centuries, numerous literary and artistic people came to live in Soho with some of them settling in the historic London buildings that lie along this street. Today, visitors to Frith Street can explore art galleries, coffee shops, and jazz clubs, among other attractions.
Shad Thames
Shad Thames is a historic riverside street situated adjacent to Tower Bridge in Bermondsey. It is also an informal name for the surroundings of the street. During the 19th century, the area was home to a host of warehouses including London’s largest warehouse complex. As a Victorian Warehouse District, Shad Thames is today one of the most photogenic streets in London.
One of the cobbled streets of London, Shad Thames has Tower Bridge (one of the most beautiful bridges in London) at its western edge. It stretches along the southern part of the River Thames behind a row of converted warehouses, before taking a 90-degree turn south across St. Saviour’s Dock.
After the last of the warehouses closed in the late 20th century, the area was redeveloped with offices, shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. One of the coolest features of this old London street is the overhead crisscrossing of goods gantries that linked the warehouses, many of which still retain their interior fittings. So if you’re looking for instagrammable places in London, Shad Thames could be an awesome background for a quick photoshoot.
Old Streets in London: Brick Lane
Without a doubt, Brick Lane is one of my favorite places in London – I’ve actually written a while back about the best things to do in Brick Lane and mentioned that you can get decadent multicolor bagels there. Brick Lane is one of the old streets in London located at the East End of London, within the Tower Hamlets borough. This old London Street stretches from Swanfield Street in Bethnal Green to the north, crossing Bethnal Green road, before arriving at the busiest, most commercial section which traverses Spitalfields. The southern edge of Brick Lane is linked to Whitechapel High Street via Osborn Street.
One of the popular streets in London, Brick Lane is a haven for bargain hunters, fashionistas, and foodies. While most of the best charity shops in London will be gathered around Bethnal Green and Shoreditch, there are lots of vintage shops in Brick Lane that’ll allow you to shop for awesome second hand clothes. Famous for hosting lots of curry houses, today Brick Lane forms the heart of Britain’s Bangladeshi community with its environs dubbed “Banglatown.”
If you’re headed for a cool moment in one of the best cafes in Shoreditch, it’s worth taking some time to explore this iconic street. Visitors can choose from over twenty curry restaurants, along with a host of street food vendors, vintage boutiques, bustling bars, and independent art galleries.
Old Streets in London: Greek Street
Situated in Soho, Greek Street is one of the oldest streets in London. Stretching south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue, this old London street is named after a Greek church built in the late 17th century on the adjacent Crown Street. Although Greek Street is home to several historic London buildings from the 18th century and before, its appearance is mainly the 19th century.
One of the most famous places in London, Greek Street is known for its many restaurants and cafes, as well as its distinctly cosmopolitan character. Here visitors can peruse the art gallery, whisky shop, a variety of bars, and new office blocks.
Old Cobbled Streets in London: Kynance Mews
One of the most popular streets in London, Kynance Mews is located in South Kensington district, within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. A favorite among Instagrammers, Kynance Mews is one of the most picturesque of the mews of London. Once you visit here it will be easy to see why the cobbled street is popular with those seeking the perfect photograph.
An old London street, Kynance Mews comprises 33 residential properties situated on a road that starts from Gloucester Road to the east, before being traversed by Launceston Place. The residences are located within an array of historic London buildings lining the old cobbled streets, whose western edge ends in a cul-de-sac.
One of the famous places in London, Kynance Mews is best visited around May when the plants and trees along the mews have come into leaf or flower. At this time, you can take Instagram-worthy selfies near the arches of these London streets, which will by then be topped by hanging green branches, bold red leaves in autumn, and blooming wisteria in spring.
Best Old Streets in London: Haymarket
Situated within the St. James’ area of the City of Westminster, Haymarket is one of the old streets of London. One of the most famous places in London, it is a broad street that connects Pall Mall and Piccadilly. Dating back to the Elizabethan period, Haymarket primarily served as a street market for the sale of fodder and other types of farm produce.
This old London street is also situated within the West End, the theatre district of London, and has been a theatrical location from the 17th century. One of the most popular streets in London, Haymarket is home to a host of attractions including the Theatre Royal, New Zealand House, Her Majesty’s Theatre, several notable restaurants, and a cinema complex.
If it’s your first time in London, then you’ll probably be visiting Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square at some point (by the way, there are lots of delicious halal restaurants in Leicester Square that you could have lunch at). Well, you’ll just be a stone’s throw away from Haymarket, so it’s worth including it in your itinerary. There are also lots of amazing Japanese shops in London around Piccadilly and Soho, so you could definitely do that as well if you’re feeling like shopping.
Old Streets in London: Cheyne Walk
Located within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Cheyne Walk is one of the old streets of London. One of the most famous streets in London, Cheyne Walk stretches parallel to the River Thames. Before the Chelsea Embankment was constructed thereby reducing the width of the river, this old London street fronted the river along its entire length. You probably know how much I love the whole West London area, what with having told you about the most instagrammable cafes in Chelsea and amazing coffee shops in South Kensington some time ago. So if you’re headed there, pass by Cheyne Walk.
Today, Cheyne Walk is a charming riverside street lined with mostly untouched Queen Anne and Jacobean-era homes. These historic London buildings have served as residences for many famous people in art, music, politics, and literature, some of whom continue to live there to this day. They include rock star Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, novelist George Eliot, and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Old Streets in London: Alderman’s Walk
Alderman’s Walk is an alley near Liverpool Street Station, located adjacent to St. Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Church. One of the old Roman roads in London, Alderman’s Walk has for centuries been a busy part of the city.
One of the most famous streets in London, Alderman’s Walk dates back to when the church was built. However, the notable history of this old London street begins in the 17th century when it served as a passageway leading to the house and gardens of politician Sir Frances Dashwood.
Today, this old street of London attracts visitors with its lush courtyards and rows of nice seating and planting. Here you can also explore the refurbished Dashwood House – a large Victorian office block, along with the new modern office block. And pro-tip, since Liverpool Street is so close to Whitechapel, I’d recommend visiting the awesome (and free!) Whitechapel Gallery after grabbing one of the best Full English breakfast in London at nearby Grounded or Dulce Coffee.
Old Streets in London: Roupell Street
A visit to Roupell Street – one of the London streets of the 1800s, feels like a step back in time into Victorian London. Described as a handsome street of 19th-century workers’ cottages, this old London street was first developed in the 1820s by the wealthy Roupell family.
One of the famous places in London, Roupell Street is home to many historic London buildings that house beautiful old houses. It’s a photogenic street with vintage-style lamps and the occasional old car. Roupell Street’s distinct uniformity in appearance has attracted many filmmakers to use the old street as a setting for a variety of films.
12 Really Cool Old Streets in London to Visit
The old streets in London boast a truly remarkable history that reveals interesting tales of the city’s past. Comprising some of the oldest parts of London, these old London streets are truly in a league of their own when it comes to charm. Relatively untouched historical gems, the old streets in London are a rarity in the British capital, and well worth a visit if you happen to wander down their area. I really didn’t want to talk about London streets that no longer exist, and tried to focus on places that you can still visit whether you’re a local or traveler.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: cool, I’ve learned about old streets in London. They’re beautiful and all, but I’d really like to show you some other bits and pieces about London that are really worth a sight. So if you’re a sucker for famous landmarks in London and stunning places to go sightseeing, here’s what I suggest:
- The most stunning bridges in London
- The coolest famous streets in London with colorful houses in Notting Hill
- The most beautiful parks in London
Until next time!
PS. Did you know you can find secret Japanese gardens in London? Perfect for cherry blossom time!
Having previously lived in both Paris and Rome as a fashion makeup artist, she enjoys the freedom that freelancing offers and loves to spend her time seeking out new and exciting spots in London.