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Nov 25, 2023 · Discover the most secret alleys in London, old cobblestone streets, and hidden passageways that make for historic, unusual places to visit in London!
- Neal’s Yard
- Goodwin’s Court
- Craven Passage
- Wine Office Court
- Ely Place
- Cecil Court
- St. Martin’s Court
- Rope Walk
- St. Christopher’s Place
- Dansey Place
One of the most colorful alleyways in London, Neal’s Yard’s buildings, shutters, and doors, and painted in every color of the rainbow. It’s also filled with shops, restaurants, and cafes, so you can marvelat all the colors while you sit down for a cup of tea or coffee and a snack.
Goodwin’s Court is a perfect example of London’s alleys that are lined with shops. So perfect, in fact, that it’s said to be the basis for Diagon Alley in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Originally built in 1690, the shops and offices feature elegant windows, wood trimmings, and iron and brass fixtures that give Goodwin’s Court a classiclook.
Named for William Craven, Craven Passage is mostly a tunnel that goes under Embankment Station, but in the open-air portions, you can find the Ship and Shovel, a pub that’s been around since the 16th Century. Under the tunnel is The Arches Shopping Centre, which includes bars, restaurants, a comedy club, and a theatre.
Tucked away off Fleet Street, Wine Office Court is an alleyway that is home to one of London’s oldest pubs. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was founded in 1538 and the current building constructed after the Great Fire of London, opening in 1667. The Cheese is a grand old traditional pub and the main attraction for Wine Office Court, but there are other mon...
The only gated alley on this list, Ely Place is the last privately-owned street in London. It’s also home to another of London’s oldest pubs—Ye Olde Mitre. Mitre, of course, isn’t just a great classic pub for a drink and a traditional British meal, it’s also part of the Campaign for Real Ales even though the pub is owned by Fullers, but CAMRA membe...
A great example of a Victorian alleyway, Cecil Court is lined with shops that were built during the period and is wide enough that the sunlight really lights up the street. It’s also the location of one of the city’s famous blue plaques, this one dedicated to composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who lived in the home of a barber with his family when h...
St. Martin’s Court is one of the more beautiful shopping alleys in London. It’s a little more modern than the others on this list, but it is decorated with greenery and art that help make it a top shopping destination. It’s also home to very high-class shops and restaurants like The White Company and Jamie’s Italian from famed chef Jamie Oliver.
Running along the train lines in Bermondsey, Rope Walk is best known as the home of the Maltby Street Market. Lining the alleyway are old warehouses that have been turned into shops, wine bars, cafes, and restaurants that will make your trip down this not-so-secret path memorable. It may not be as pretty as the others, but it has its own certain ch...
Another of London’s beautiful alley shopping centers, St. Christopher’s Place features a number of high-end shops and eateries. It’s also almost always decorated for some occasion or home to an event, be it a concert, charity drive, or public artexhibit. It’s arguably one of the most happening alleyways in all London, so you don’t want to miss it o...
In the heart of London’s Chinatown, Dansey Place brings the charm of the city’s Chinese community to London’s alleys. While part of Dansey Place resembles what we think of as a traditional alley, the rest of the alley is filled with Chinese art and architecture including pagodas, gateways, and paper lanterns. It is perhaps one of the best ways to s...
Mar 8, 2021 · London does a beautiful alleyway. They come in all flavours: perfect shortcuts, purposeless meanderings, grimy with a frisson of danger, blossom-strewn and cinematic. Here are some of our...
- Artillery Passage, Spitalfields. Prior to the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII in the 16th century, Spitalfields was owned by the Priory of St Mary Spital.
- Goodwin’s Court, Covent Garden. A favourite on Harry Potter walking tours, I’ve lost count of the number of groups I’ve seen here saying it’s the inspiration for Diagon Alley (or Knockturn Alley – there never seems to be a consensus!)
- Pickering Place, St James’s. Just to the left of Berry Bro’s and Rudd – where there’s been a shop since the 1690s! – You can find this historic alley leading to London’s smallest public square.
- Emerald Court, Bloomsbury. If you’re searching for London’s narrowest alley, you might read online that it’s Brydges Place, just off St Martin’s Lane.
- Ely Court. It’s not the most narrow and probably not the oldest, but there’s just something about Ely Court that makes it my favorite secret spot in London.
- Goodwin’s Court, Cecil Court, And Leadenhall Market, Also Known As Diagon Alley. Together, these three delightfully charming streets are believed to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter book series.
- Holly Bush Steps. For every well-known “secret” street in London, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of little lanes, paths, and steps that aren’t anything special – except that they’re extraordinarily special.
- Crawford Passage. Just how tiny is this narrow lane which runs parallel to Farringdon Road in the cozy London neighborhood of Clerkenwell? Try about 5 centimeters (1.97 inches!)
Jul 12, 2023 · Ready to explore London’s secret alleyways and dig into the history of what makes each one special? From the birthplace of the London Stock Exchange to the inspiration for Diagon Alley, read on for our guide to London’s secret alleyways.
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Jan 25, 2018 · Colourful spots are hiding around every corner of the city, if you know where to look. From boisterous blues to playful purples, here’s a hue-mungous list of our favourite colourful places.
