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SW1 Area Guide

A locals' guide to SW1

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Where do SW1 locals go?

Inn the Park

Inn the Park

A fantastic place to watch the world go by, with an outdoor terrace to enjoy sunny days and stunning views of Whitehall and Buckingham Palace.

Rubens Hotel

Rubens Hotel

An institution over 100 years old, this stunning hotel is beautiful inside - you really are stepping back into a grander era!

St James's Square

St James's Square

Beautifully maintained, this garden square is a real retreat from the hustle and bustle of central London - it's amazing how quiet it is!

Parliament Tour

Parliament Tour

Informative guided and audio tours of the beautiful and ornate parliament building. It's great to see the place in real life, rather than just on the tele!

Delicias de Portugal

Delicias de Portugal

Super favourite amongst locals and professionals in the area. Great selection of salads, sandwiches, pastas, wines, meat and cheese, and take away lunch. Usually the queue starts on the street outside of the shop.

The Pantechnicon Rooms

The Pantechnicon Rooms

There's a shortage of good dog-friendly restaurants in London, however Pantechnicon absolutely nails it. It is certainly the best Sunday roast in town.

Smythson

Smythson

Luxurious leather goods with a very high price tag, but perfect for special occasions and treats.

Wulf and Lamb

Wulf and Lamb

Super Instagrammable and super delicious vegan dishes - worth it!

St John's Smith Square

St John's Smith Square

If you're a fan of classical music, this stunning venue is a must. The architecture is awe-inspiring too...

The Grenadier

The Grenadier

A local pub tucked away and open since 1818. It gets incredibly busy with people coming after work and is one of the most haunted pubs in London! They serve a fantastic beef Wellington too!

Browns

Browns

Set alongside Chelsea's upmarket boutiques, Browns is the perfect place to pick up designer women's clothing.

The Goring Hotel

The Goring Hotel

A luxurious spot for upmarket afternoon tea and beautiful rooms for a romantic getaway.

Tachbrook Street Market

Tachbrook Street Market

A great street food market open 2 hours every lunchtime.

A. Wong

A. Wong

This upmarket Chinese restaurant is great for a peking duck feast!

Oddbins

Oddbins

As well as selling a wide range of beer, wine and spirits, the Oddbins in Pimlico does free tasting sessions too!

Why not explore the nearby areas of West End, Soho, Covent Garden, Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Holborn, Bloomsbury, Victoria, Marylebone and Westminster

"Installed in 1868, the world's first traffic light was gas powered and operated by a policeman at all hours of the day and night. Unfortunately, just a month later a gas leak caused an explosion that halted the introduction of further lights for another 40 years."

When you think of the history and pageantry that has happened at Westminster Abbey, it gives you goosebumps!

Jamie Newson-Love

Say hello to the Queen at London's most recognisable landmark, Buckingham Palace.

Sigita Ranger

Reminiscent of a charming village green, I love eating lunch in picturesque Vincent Square.

Hayley Thomas

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What locals say about SW1

  1. Lillington Gardens Estate was declared a conservation area in 1990. You can walk all the way through the gardens from the top of Tachbrook Street down to Rampayne Street. I live there and it's quiet and lovely. Tate Britain is nearby on Millbank and Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery is to be found just over Vauxhall Bridge.

  2. I am a French girl and, for me, Victoria is the heart of London and it's great to come to this country and to be in the heart. This is a fantastic place, with something all hours, see people moved like beats

  3. Pimlico is so close to the heart of London yet can be so peaceful! I can walk to so many places from here and there are so many transport options too. A 15 minute walk and you have big Ben and the London eye, yet Pimlico is away from all the noise. There are so many parks locally too, so lots of green spaces. Brilliant place and highly recommend, and out of the congestion zone.

  4. Belgravia is a peaceful and beautiful area with sites and views. It is like a dream come true living in the luxury. it has fun places and it is calm

  5. Pimlico is very central, and is surrounded by beautiful parks, as well as markets.

  6. Belgravia is a lovely yet high-end area with beautiful parks and squares.

  7. I love this area because there are lots of lovely places to go and you learn about the past.

  8. Victoria is as central as you can be with the amazing Georges Square Park just a few minutes away. Lovely walks and beautiful buildings. I feel at home and wstminster council embrace you like a family would. Amazing surroundings, culture and tourist spots keeps it interesting

  9. Close to the river, near both Victoria Station and the Chelsea area.

  10. Pimlico is a lovely diverse area with people from different walks off life and backgrounds, that has everything to offer, Great ressturants and Bar's (Al Dar, Caffe Concerto,e.g), fantastic transport links, very close to main shopping areas: Oxford & Regent St, Knightsbridge (Harrods), Kings Rd and High St Kensington. all of these benefits makes Pimlico a lovely area to live in.

  11. Walking distance to all the action one way, and the peace of the park the other!

  12. Eccleston Square is by far the best part of Pimlico. Private gardens with Tennis Courts along with a 60 second walk to Victoria or across Eccleston Bridge to Belgravia. Atmosphere in Pimlico is both quiet and busy depending on if you are on a square of main road.

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About SW1

SW1 is the postcode district in South West London incorporating the areas of Whitehall and Buckingham Palace, the areas between Buckingham Gate and Victoria Station, the areas east of Buckingham Gate, the triangular area between Victoria Station, the Houses of Parliament, and Vauxhall Bridge; eastern part of Pimlico, the triangular area between Vauxhall Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, and Victoria Station; Pimlico proper, the areas of Belgravia, the area between Sloane Square and Victoria Station, south of Kings Road, the areas of Belgravia, north of Kings Road, Knightsbridge (part) and the areas of St. James's. SW1 is split further into the following smaller postcodes of SW1A, SW1E, SW1H, SW1P, SW1V, SW1W, SW1X, SW1Y.

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Why not explore some other local areas
West End area guide
Soho area guide
Covent Garden area guide
Mayfair area guide
Fitzrovia area guide
Holborn area guide
Bloomsbury area guide
Victoria area guide
Marylebone area guide
Westminster area guide

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Feedback about living in SW1 has been submitted directly by the public and may not neccessarily reflect the views of Foxtons. The description of SW1 was modified from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons licence. Land Registry data is Crown copyright.

All the views and contributions contained within Foxtons Local Life are those of the contributors. All content is assessed before publishing for taste, however free opinion is encouraged. Foxtons accept no payment or sponsorship for content that is posted about SW1.

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