A crossroads of arts, culture, and nightlife, the West End has long been the nucleus of London’s entertainment. Mayfair, Marylebone, and Piccadilly jostle with galleries and boutiques, Covent Garden’s chic bistros swell with pre-theater diners, and every hour feels like happy hour in Soho. As interest in London’s East End piqued, the West End held its own, maintaining tradition while adapting to modern travel tastes. Experiential tourism, storytelling-backed shopping, greener transport and hotels, and nightlife beyond the clubs have all contributed to what the West End has to offer. Here’s where to find art, eccentric afternoon tea, gifts with a conscience, and cold pints in the heart of London’s West End.
Art and culture in London’s West End
Photo: bemissu /Shutterstock
Storied museums rub shoulders with independent galleries in the West End. The Royal Academy of Arts, the cornerstone of Mayfair’s art scene since 1768, is an artist-led institution free from the constraints of government-funded museums. Kerry James Marshall makes his British debut this fall with his powerful chronicles about the everyday life of Black Americans. Rose Wylie, considered Britain’s most rebellious artist, is coming up in early 2026. But of course, the open-submission Summer Exhibition is the crown jewel of this autonomous gallery’s calendar, where works by prominent artists hang beside future household names.
The RA event’s programme curates intermittent evening experiences, usually tied to the current exhibition, such as workshops and curator talks. Free drop-in-and-draw sessions are held on the first Friday night of the month. I’d recommend “bookending” the RA with an idle around Hatchards, London’s oldest bookstore, which hosts author events and signings on evenings throughout the week.
Smaller but equally mighty in its approach, the 67 York Street Gallery in Marylebone Village champions emerging artists through revolving exhibitions. The curators work directly with fine artists, illustrators, photographers, and ceramists, with recent shows exploring pop art, connections with strangers, and travel-inspired illustration. It’s open daily and free to visit, with the exhibited artist sometimes in situ for a casual chat.
For a snapshot of the biggest modern artists, swing by Moco Museum London, the brand’s third venture after Amsterdam and Barcelona. Modern contemporary art and innovation are the themes at this Marble Arch gallery, with works from Banksy, Yayoi Kusama, KAWS, and even Robbie Williams on show. The basement is dedicated to digital art, including an infinity mirror room. For time-strapped travelers, Moco London feels more manageable than the Tate Modern, that hefty Bankside landmark.
As for a street art fix, the Photographer’s Gallery has branched out from its brick-and-mortar building with the Soho Photography Quarter. Located east of Regent Street, there’s an outdoor exhibition here all year, focused on photographic arts. I passed it by chance while taking a shortcut to Carnaby Street and appreciated finding a shady spot to stop for a coffee away from the Oxford Street hustle.
Last but not least, Outernet London at The Now Building is a ground-breaking digital exhibition space said to be the largest in Europe – it’s also London’s top-visited tourist attraction. This urban gallery partners with artists, musicians, and sound engineers for a carousel of digital displays, many of which are interactive. I spent a good 20 minutes here, engrossed in scenes of Antarctica’s underwater world and contributing my avatar to Cem Hasimi’s Rain Walk.
Immersive shopping in London’s West End
Photo: Elena Rostunova /Shutterstock
Regent Street, one of the world’s first shopping boulevards, is undergoing a renaissance with a slew of stores adding out-of-the-box retail experiences. Hot on the heels of the Rue Duphot flagship, Maison Diptyque stands out as a place to pick up souvenirs while supplementing a London itinerary with something unusual. My 90-minute fragrance consultation took me on a private jaunt around the emporium, imitating a Parisian apartment, learning about the trio of free-spirited artists who founded the French-British brand in the ‘60s. Desmond Knox-Leet’s sketches and Christiane Gautrot’s fabric designs are on show, while the tour itself focuses on how the friends’ shared love for travel and nature inspired each scent.
Besides the Second Life Services Salon which offers refills and recycling, sustainability finds its place in the basement’s artist-led events, with repurposing candle jars running alongside sensory fragrance workshops. Tickets for events and fragrance tours are usually redeemable against any purchases made in the store on the day.
Where to eat in the West End
Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea. Photo courtesy Morgans Originals
High tea, Sunday lunch, pub grub, and Michelin-starred cuisine – London’s West End has the lot. Mayfair’s grand hotels are the natural stage for a traditional afternoon tea – or even something more off the wall. Now approaching its 10th anniversary, the Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Sanderson Hotel delighted me with its fantastical cakes and color-shifting spritzes. An assortment of vegan and gluten-free menus inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ensures that all explorers can take a tumble down the rabbit hole. I particularly liked the “Drink Me” bubble tea and petit fours topped with edible toadstools and chess pieces.
Hanover Bar is the newest addition to the West End’s skyline hangouts. Open to guests and non-residents of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, this cozy venue is all about casual dining and elevated cocktails with views as far as Hampstead Heath from the terrace. I sat indoors, enjoying the cityscape through floor-to-ceiling walls and sharing a platter of burrata, seared tuna, and dynamite crab cakes with a friend. Cocktails are themed by the season: Natsu (summer), Aki (fall), Fuyu (winter), and Haru (spring). My tastes leaned towards the colder months, and I settled for a gin and mezcal-based potion infused with grapefruit and jasmine. With an occupancy of only 50, it’s wise to reserve a table.
Mercato Mayfair is the place for a quick solo lunch between sights or an evening with friends. Housed in the deconsecrated St. Mark’s Church off Oxford Street, this covered bazaar partners with sustainable eateries and local distilleries and breweries (try Jim & Tonic’s Smokey Negroni). If you’re traveling as a group, you can follow your nose to sushi, bao buns, lobster rolls, and plant-based Mexican before reconvening in the nave or clerestory.
As for a good ‘ole British pub experience, head to Mayfair’s Shepherd Market. Melding traditional comfort grub with global eats, this Georgian-era square springs to life in the early evening as workers clock off for the day. Ye Grapes has a typically broody interior with a dark-panelled bar offers plenty of leaning potential while you check out what’s on tap. Ask the bartenders to suggest an ale and pair it with pie and mash, or go on a weekend for a Sunday roast.
Eco-luxe stays in the London West End
Photo courtesy Treehouse Hotel London
For first-time visitors in particular, the West End prevails as the most convenient base in London. Mayfair has the monopoly (pun intended) on posh hotels and the completion of the Elizabeth Line has streamlined the commute from both Heathrow and London City Airport. Once the bags are unpacked, it’s possible to get around Central London predominantly on foot or with the countless rental bikes stationed throughout the West End. Cycleways C27, C10, and C52 pass through the West End.
Steps from Regent Street on the cusp of Mayfair and Marylebone, The Treehouse served as my basecamp in the West End. This whimsical, Green Key eco-certified hotel peers over All Souls Church and is topped by one of the loveliest rooftop bars in the capital. Besides midday tipples and nightcaps at The Nest, Madera Restaurant serves Mexican-inspired fare using seasonal British ingredients and spicy margaritas.
The recently revamped Haymarket Hotel is another contender for laid-back West End luxury with a twist. Lodged in a townhouse designed by the British architect John Nash, this bouji hotel has eclectic rooms and a subterranean swimming pool. West End theaters, Embankment, and South Bank are all within strollable distance.
Mandarin Oriental is the first hotel to open in Mayfair in over a decade. Set in Hanover Square, this GSTC-certified property is steps from London’s prestigious restaurants and is topped by the aforementioned Hanover Bar. It’s surprisingly petite, with only 50 guest rooms floating above the neighborhood’s largest indoor pool. In the spirit of Mayfair, an integrated art exhibition links the public spaces.
