A Guide To Chinatown In London
Chinatown is one of London’s most vibrant and exciting areas- packed with bustling people at all hours of the day and filled with amazing food; it can actually be a bit overwhelming! If you’re looking to maximise your time in the best accommodation In Bayswater, the Hyde Park International London, you’d be crazy to miss out on Chinatown.
Despite its name, Chinatown is home to many varieties of Asian foods from many different cultures, so you need to explore the area to get the most out of it. Head in with a local who knows the best spots, or follow this hand guide to make sure you don’t miss out.
A Little Bit of History…
Chinatown appeared in its current location in the 1950s when a small group of Chinese restaurants opened near each other on Gerrard Street. In the subsequent years it grew and grew; then in the 1970s it was a pretty well established area for Chinese and Asian culture.
Gerrard Street started as the focus, and now the area known as Chinatown extends from Leicester Square in the South, to Shaftesbury Avenue in the North.
How to Get There…
After enjoying the best Breakfast Hyde Park London has to offer at The Hyde Park International, you can hop on the Central Line at Queensway Station and either change to the Northern Line at Tottenham Court Road, or walk to Leicester Square.
It’s super simple, and well worth the journey for foodies and culture addicts alike.
How to Get Around…
It’s super easy to get around Chinatown; it’s a relatively small area and all the streets are interconnected and largely pedestrianised.
If you are interested in learning more about this amazing area, then hop onto a Chinatown walking tour led by a knowledgeable local.
Things to See and Do…
You will find plenty of fascinating pieces of Chinese architecture around the area, including the largest Chinese Gate in the UK on Wardour Street.
You’ll see many street signs in Chinese, as well as buildings with Chinese stylings.
Keep an eye out for the many festivals held in the area, honouring ancient Chinese culture and tradition; they are pretty spectacular!
You can also hit the shops. Chinatown is famous for its unique and downright bizarre shops. Shop for incredible ingredients you won’t find anywhere else in the city, or incredible and memorable souvenirs. Just make sure you grab a Chinese Lantern to show your friends at home!
Places to Eat…
The first thing you will notice about Chinatown is the sheer amount of food places. There are street food carts, restaurants, dessert bars, bubble tea vendors- the list really is very long.
Honestly there are too many incredible places to eat in this small area for me to mention here, so we won’t go through them all. I will say this though, if you are in the mood for dumplings, you’re in the right place! All you have to do is pick a spot to eat, and you won’t be disappointed.
Many of the restaurants are extremely busy, but the turnover is extraordinarily fast so don’t despair- you’ll get a table!
So there you have a quick guide to one of London’s most intriguing areas. Ensure you maximise your London weekend packages, and pay this incredible area a visit.
Chinatown and Soho are pretty much connected, so if you’re looking for a whole different experience, head there after the sun has set- parties and delicious food can be fround pretty much everywhere!