Ina
- May 6, 2022
- 6 min read

Discover London's Prettiest Streets

Updated: Apr 28, 2023

Whether it’s the first time you’re visiting London or you’re a born-and-bred Londoner, taking casual strolls across the most beautiful streets in London is always a great pastime. London is an attractive tourist destination for many reasons, one of which is the street life brimming with energy, color, and creative inspiration. Get ready to fall in love with the most adorable British houses as you check some of the most Instagrammable places in London.

The city’s vibes, charm, and architecture change so much all the time. And if we’re adding the four-seasons dynamic, you’ll notice everything is so full of surprises, that you’ll never feel bored, even if it’s the tenth time you’re back to your favourite mews to catch a glimpse of the famous pink house featured in Love Actually. Promise!

Without further ado, here’s my list of the prettiest streets in London, covering some of the loveliest roads within our capital. The main criteria for this subjective selection would be pretty architecture, exquisite floral displays, and jaw-droppingly colourful facades.

You can find the exact location by using the handy map at the end of this article. So put your comfiest shoes on, grab your smartphone/camera, and just indulge in an Instagram-worthy hunt for all these beauties. Oh, and one last thing: many of these idyllic streets are located in or near Notting Hill, South Kensington, Paddington, and Primrose Hill.

Notting Hill - This neighborhood is known for its colorful houses, charming cafes, and vintage shops. The most famous street in Notting Hill is probably Portobello Road, which is lined with antique markets, independent boutiques, and colorful facades.
South Kensington is a beautiful London gem, known for its stunning architecture, museums, and upscale shops and restaurants.
Paddington is a fascinating part of "historic" London, known for its beautiful Victorian-era architecture and charming mews.
Primrose Hill - A picturesque neighborhood located near Regent's Park, much loved for its charming cafes, independent boutiques, and colorful houses.

Ready? Let's go! The first stop is the cream of the crop:

Kynance Mews, SW7 (Gloucester Road)

Probably the most Instagramable pretty street in London and one of the most attractive streets in the world, leafy Kynance Mews is hidden away in tranquil South Kensington, a short walk from the Gloucester Road station. Therefore, if you’re visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum or you’re attending a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, the cobbled Kynance Mews is very easy to reach. The best seasons to visit are spring and fall. 🚇 Gloucester Road tube station.

Kynance Mews is one of the best places for spotting wisteria blooms in London

Because of its global popularity on social media, it’s recommended to go there midweek, early in the morning (9 or 10 am) if you want to have the whole street to yourself, otherwise, you would have to wait for up to 15-30 minutes to get a clean shot without any Insta influencers in it (and you’d have to be super quick). In the spring (around April), Kynance Mews becomes the Mecca of wisteria spotters and in the fall (usually early- to mid-October), its iconic arches overflow with trailing ivy and deep-red Virginia creeper leaves, turning it into a hotspot for autumn-loving tourists and photographers.

Kynance Mews in the autumn, when leaves turn into stunning pungent reds

Pembroke Place, W8 (High Street Kensington)

Conveniently located just to the south of Kensington High Street, Pembroke place is a multi-coloured little square. To enjoy its peak beauty, I recommend a visit during a sunny spring morning – you’ll witness the most amazing display of cherry blossom pom-poms. It’s moments from the Design Museum London and the sublime open spaces of Holland Park and Kyoto Gardens. 🚇 Kensington High Street tube station.

Ennismore Gardens Mews, SW7 (Knightsbridge)

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the affluent Knightsbridge you'll find a duo of unforgettably zen hamlets: Ennismore Mews and its twin Ennismore Gardens Mews. Both win the award for uber bohemian getaways in central London. Expect a charming little road filled with a rich array of pastel facades, lush greenery, charismatic cobblestone, wrought iron Juliette balconies, lined with oh-so-photogenic potted plants, bohemian bikes, and the cutest flower boxes. 🚇 South Kensington tube station.

Bywater Street, SW3 (Chelsea)

Just off the King's Road in Chelsea, West London, there’s another delightful beauty lined with pastel-toned English houses. The lively frontages and the dominating peacefulness are hard to beat in this animated area of London, because Bywater street is a no-through road, so as a result is an unsurprisingly quiet nook away from the hum of the buzzing capital.

🚇 Sloane Square tube station.

Chalcot Crescent, NW1 (Primrose Hill)

If you need another little escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, head to the particularly quiet, ultra-charming Primrose Hill area in North London, for a wonderfully-curved street of candy-coloured houses and grand Victorian dollhouse-like architecture.

If you can’t decide what colour you'd like to paint your dream home, this delightful road is a fountain of 19-century eye-candy inspiration. One of the pastel townhouses was even immortalized in the movie Paddington as the Brown family’s fictional home.

A few steps away there’s another “nest” of “typically English” townhouses. Their high windows and lofty ceilings echo the Regency design of majestic villas by neighbouring Regent’s Park. Tall and narrow, in pastel shades of blue, pink, and yellow, it’s no wonder Chalcot Cres, Chalcot Square, and Chalcot Square Gardens had a steady stream of famous residents including actor Jude Law, model Kate Moss, playwright Alan Bennett and the chef Jamie Oliver still lives here.

🚇 Chalk Farm tube station.

Regent's Park Road, NW1 (Primrose Hill)

Just across Primrose Hill and in the heart of the Primrose Hill village, you can explore another blissful, curvy row paved with plenty of charm and colour - Regent's Park Road, nestled just moments away from Chalk Farm tube station (on the Northern Line), Regent's Park boating lake and ZSL London Zoo. It's lined with beautiful architecture and charming storefronts.

🚇 Chalk Farm tube station.

Lancaster Road, W11 (Notting Hill)

Thanks to Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, Notting Hill is probably London’s most popular neighborhood and the bountiful source of endless colourful streets. Famously known as "the road with the Colourful houses in Notting Hill," Lancaster Rd. is an architectural rainbow and without a question, the belle of Notting Hill.

🚇 Nearest tube station: Ladbroke Grove, on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.

I like to wander around these streets, particularly on grim/rainy/cold mornings in March or April because they're lined up with adorable blooming trees and there's nobody around.

My personal favourite house on Lancaster Road, visually enhanced by a magnificent Magnolia tree.

The colours are much more intense and joyful, so don't be surprised if you'll find yourself super energized. Plus, there aren't many people around, so it's all nice, quiet, and saturated with weather-defying brightness. If bold and loud colours excite you, this is your place.

St. Luke’s Mews, W11 (Notting Hill)

Apart from its number 27 famously being featured in the rom-com “Love Actually”, St Luke’s Mews is also one of the loveliest streets in London. Think vivid homes lined with cute potted greenery, charming cobbled streets, and a sprinkling of enchanting street lamps. To complete this picturesque scene, Juliette balconies branch out at leisure.

To satisfy the most exigent tastes, this absolutely idyllic street ticks almost all the boxes with a gorgeous spectrum of colours, ranging from classic red brick, vibrant blues, sunshine-yellow accents, and deep blacks to the rose-pink number 27. Yes, this is the quintessential London mews, bursting with character all year round. 🚇 Ladbroke Grove tube station, on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.

Lansdowne Road, W11 (Notting Hill)

One of Notting Hill's finest streets is Lansdowne Road. If this technicolor collection of dream homes won't quench your aesthetic thirst for pastel shades, nothing will. A truly Disney-meets-Barbie with a Victorian twist, once home to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 🚇 Get off at the Holland Park tube station on the Central Line.

If you love any shade of blue, you must add Lansdowne Road, London W11 to your must-visit London list.

Elgin Crescent, W11 (Notting Hill)

Down the road, there's another photogenic gem: Elgin Crescent, the undisputable contender for one of the most Instagrammable places in London. Lined with vibrant-coloured terraced houses that date back to the mid-1800s, it's impossible to not fall in love with all the quaint details, distinctive architecture, and, of course, the pretty tones. 🚇 Holland Park tube station, Central Line.

Any Instagrammer's dream - Elgin Crescent's rows of brightly-coloured houses are a picture-perfect hotspot.

Conduit Mews, W2 (Paddington)

Within walking distance of Paddington Station, there’s another narrow yet endearing cobblestone spot decorated with cute little houses – each an eccentric splash of colour in its own right. BTW, did you know that all London mews residences were once stables? Now they’re usually worth millions.

🚇 Paddington tube & rail station.

Bathurst Mews, W2 (Paddington)

Nestled among the cobbled passages of Hyde Park Estate, historically known for being home to the last two riding schools in central London, Bathurst Mews is one of the biggest mews-street in the city, boasting over 60 rainbow houses.