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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.

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!

The Goring Hotel

The Goring Hotel

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

Oddbins

Oddbins

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

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!

Browns

Browns

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

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.

Dolphin Square Fitness Club

Dolphin Square Fitness Club

Peace and quiet, where one goes to ponder and work out all at once!

Hardcore Lobster & More

Hardcore Lobster & More

Perfectly cooked lobster and burgers - a welcome alternative to restaurants serving similar dishes.

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!

Colbert

Colbert

An amazing French restaurant on Sloane Square with some outside seating! Eggs Benedict and Royale served all day long.

The Botanist

The Botanist

Overlooking Sloane Square, this chic restaurant also has a well stocked bar where they serve classic and adventurous cocktails.

Smythson

Smythson

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

Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols

A designer emporium for fashionistas that boasts not just fashion, but beauty and food as well!

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.

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

"Did you know, Big Ben does not refer to the clock as a whole, but just to its bell? The tower is actually named Elizabeth Tower!"

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

Jamie Newson-Love

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

Hayley Thomas

Belgravia is not only popular because of its location, but for its elegant properties too.

Christopher Sellwood

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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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