London evolved as many villages became part of the urban area over hundreds of years. The city still feels like a place of many parts, with many of the old village centres retaining their own character and identity. Exploring London’s ‘villages’ is one of the great things about living here. There are lots of different areas to discover, but here’s a small sample of London’s diversity.

South Bank

This riverside area stretches from Blackfriars Bridge in the east to Westminster Bridge in the west, and is known as an arts and cultural hotspot. It includes the Southbank Centre, the London Eye, the National Theatre, the British Film Institute, restaurants and shops, and a famous skateboarding park in the ‘undercroft’. Strolling along the South Bank gives a great view across the Thames to the City and the Houses of Parliament.

Shoreditch

To the east of the city centre lies Shoreditch, an area now famous as the home of UK ‘hipster’ culture. This began in the late 1990s, when several start-up media companies based themselves around Shoreditch High Street. The area is now filled with alternative and quirky shops, bars and clubs, as are the surrounding areas of Hackney and Dalston.

The City of London

‘City’ with a capital ‘C’ refers to the original site of the Roman settlement, and is now the business and financial heart of London. It’s also known as ‘the Square Mile’ because of its size. It’s one of the foremost financial centres in the world, containing the London Stock Exchange and the headquarters of many multinational companies.

Notting Hill

This area in west London is famous for the Notting Hill Carnival, a huge street festival mostly performed by the area’s Caribbean residents. The Carnival is a vibrant two day event that attracts up to 1.5 million people. Notting Hill is also home to Portobello Road Market, which specialises in antiques and second-hand clothes.

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge is one of the most affluent and exclusive areas of London – despite the fact that until the 19th century, it was known as a dangerous place full of highwaymen and robbers! The area is famous for expensive restaurants and shops, including the world-famous Harrods.

Soho

Part of London’s West End, Soho is a vibrant and eclectic area of London that is known for its entertainment and nightlife. There are lots of theatres, cinemas, bars and restaurants in Soho, and also a great music scene – The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie and Queen all recorded music in the area.

Stoke Newington

Stoke Newington is a great example of a London ‘village’, being to the north of the city centre and maintaining a strong community feel. It’s known for having lots of independent businesses, a thriving famers’ market, and for being very multicultural, with many ethnic groups represented within the area.

Stratford

Definitely an ‘up-and-coming’ area of the city, Stratford shot to fame recently as the main site for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. The area is the focus of lots of major development work and is rapidly becoming a hub of entertainment and culture. Westfield Stratford City, a shopping mall in the area, is one of the largest in Europe.