Westminster Area Guide

Tucked right at the heart of London, Westminster is more than just the political hub of the UK; it's a vibrant community, a slice of history, and an embodiment of urban sophistication. This guide provides an extensive exploration of living in Westminster.

Please note Westminster consists of a series of villages, each unique in its own right. We detail these below.

Pros of Living in Westminster:

Central Location: Right at the heart of London, Westminster is close to many iconic landmarks, shopping districts, and places of interest.

Rich Heritage: Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey are just a few of the historical treasures in the area.

Excellent Schools: See schools by area, below.

Superb Transport Links: Being central has its perks, including seamless connectivity to other parts of the city. See links by area, below.

Cons of Living in Westminster:

Cost of Living: As with most prime areas of London, Westminster can be expensive. Rents by area detailed below.

Tourist Traffic: The borough's iconic landmarks can draw large tourist crowds, especially during peak seasons.

Noise and Hustle: The central location means the hustle and bustle never really die down.

Top Independent Schools in Westminster (and average fees):

Note: The fees mentioned are average yearly rates. Always check with the schools directly for up-to-date tuition details.

Westminster School - £27,600

St. James School - £20,000

Fairley House Review - A specialist independent school that offers children with dyslexia and dyspraxia the support needed to help them re-enter mainstream education. - £36,000

Grey Coat Hospital - £18,500

Conway School - £19,200

Francis Holland School - £21,500

Portland Place School - £22,000

Westminster Cathedral Choir School - £19,700

City of London School for Girls. An academically selective London school for high achieving girls, which has a reputation for its impressive GCSE and A Level results and well-rounded single sex education. £20,500

City of London School for Boys. An all-boys school for the academically strong with an iconic location, a long tradition of single-sex education, and consistently high results and entry to top universities. £20,500

Queen's Park Community School - £20,100

Marylebone Boys' School - £19,000

Halcyon London International School - A forward-thinking IB co-ed school where wellbeing is a priority and a challenging academic programme is enriched by the pioneering use of technology. £27,000.

Harris Westminster Sixth Form - £18,300

Soho Parish Primary School - £17,600

St. Vincent's RC Primary School - £18,700

American School in London - One of London’s most expensive day schools, can this US-centric all-through school in Westminster justify its worth by boasting some of the capital’s most impressive facilities for students and a high-achieving college-preparatory programme?  £30,500

Millbank Academy - £19,200

St. Augustine's CE High School - £20,500

Pimlico Academy - £18,800

Schools by Westminster area immediately below.

Westminster areas in detail

1. Bayswater:

• Rental Prices: £2,200 - £2,800/month for a 2-bedroom flat.
• Schools: Hallfield Primary School, St. James & St. John School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Nuffield Health, The Life Centre.
• Best Restaurants: Hereford Road, Gold Mine.
• Markets: Take a walk to the Weekly Notting Hill Market. It's less than 10 minutes away and awesome. (Veg - Mondays to Wednesdays; New Goods Thursdays AM; Fashion - Saturdays,; Hot food, antiques in permanent shops). 
• Transport: Brilliant tubeline connectivity -  Bayswater (Circle, District), Royal Oak (Circle, Hammersmith & City) and Queensway (Central)
• Best For: Young professionals, multicultural families - those trying to get in early on an area being gentrified in real time (the new Whiteleys on Queensway is to be opened this year, the new William in 2026. Queensway itself being pedestrianised, shops refitted).

2. Belgravia:

• Rental Prices: £3,500 - £5,500/month.
• Schools: Eaton Square School, Knightsbridge School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Fitness First, KXU.
• Best Restaurants: Amaya, Pétrus.
• Markets: Pimlico Road Farmers' Market.
• Transport: Victoria Station (Victoria, Circle, District).
• Best For: Affluent individuals, diplomats.

3. Covent Garden:

• Rental Prices: £3,000 - £4,200/month.
• Schools: St. Clement Danes C of E Primary School, Royal Ballet School
• Gyms & Yoga: Jubilee Hall Gym, Good Vibes.
• Best Restaurants: The Ivy, Frenchie.
• Markets: A kind of ossified market experience, but Covent Garden Market will always be a draw
• Transport: Covent Garden (Piccadilly), Leicester Square (Northern, Piccadilly).
• Best For: Theatre lovers, singles, anyone who wants to wake up and feel they are in the heart of tourist London.

4. Fitzrovia:

• Rental Prices: £2,700 - £3,400/month.
• Schools: All Souls C of E Primary School.
• Gyms & Yoga: PureGym, Fierce Grace.
• Best Restaurants: The Ninth, Roka.
• Markets: Fitzrovia Market (monthly).
• Transport: Goodge Street (Northern), Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern).
• Best For: Artists, media professionals.

5. Hyde Park:

• Rental Prices: £3,000 - £5,000/month.
• Schools: Connaught House School.
• Gyms & Yoga: The Third Space, The Serpentine Lido.
• Best Restaurants: Serpentine Bar & Kitchen, The Lido Café.
• Markets: None, but close to Knightsbridge shopping.
• Transport: Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly).
• Best For: Nature enthusiasts, dog owners, families.

6. Knightsbridge:

• Rental Prices: £3,500 - £6,000/month.
• Schools: More House School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Equinox, Yoga Quarter.
• Best Restaurants: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Zuma.
• Markets: Well... Harrods?!?
• Transport: Knightsbridge (Piccadilly).
• Best For: The affluent, fashionistas.

7. Lisson Grove:

• Rental Prices: £2,000 - £2,700/month.
• Schools: King Solomon Academy.
• Gyms & Yoga: The Gym, Yoga Place E2.
• Best Restaurants: The Seashell of Lisson Grove, Café Laville.
• Markets: Church Street Market.
• Transport: Marylebone (Bakerloo), Edgware Road (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Bakerloo).
• Best For: Families, professionals.

8. Maida Vale:

• Rental Prices: £2,300 - £3,000/month.
• Schools: St. George's Catholic School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Bannatyne Health Club, Yoga in Maida Vale.
• Best Restaurants: The Truscott Arms, The Waterway.
• Markets: Maida Vale Farmers' Market.
• Transport: Maida Vale (Bakerloo).
• Best For: Professionals, artists, water lovers.

9. Marylebone:

• Rental Prices: £2,500 - £3,500/month.
• Schools: Sylvia Young Theatre School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Third Space, Indaba Yoga.
• Best Restaurants: Chiltern Firehouse, Trishna.
• Markets: Marylebone Farmers' Market.
• Transport: Marylebone (Bakerloo, National Rail).
• Best For: Urban families, professionals, those who want to walk to the West End without living in it.

10. Mayfair:

• Rental Prices: £4,000 - £6,000/month.
• Schools: Mayfair School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Matt Roberts, Triyoga.
• Best Restaurants: Scott's, Sexy Fish.
• Transport: Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria, Jubilee).
• Best For: Elite, celebrities.

11. Millbank:

• Rental Prices: £2,400 - £3,200/month.
• Schools: John Betts Primary School.
• Gyms & Yoga: DW Fitness First, Embody Wellness.
• Best Restaurants: Atul Kochhar's Mathura, Rex Whistler Restaurant.
• Markets: None, but close to Tate Britain.
• Transport: Pimlico (Victoria).
• Best For: Political enthusiasts, art lovers.

12. Paddington:

• Rental Prices: £2,200 - £2,900/month.
• Schools: Paddington Academy.
• Gyms & Yoga: Paddington Recreation Ground, Frame.
• Best Restaurants: Pearl Liang, The Frontline Club.
• Transport: Paddington (Circle, District, Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City, National Rail, Heathrow Express).
• Best For: Travelers, professionals.

13. Pimlico:

• Rental Prices: £2,400 - £3,200/month.
• Schools: Pimlico Academy.
• Gyms & Yoga: Dolphin Square Fitness Club, Light Centre.
• Best Restaurants: The Cinnamon Club, Cambridge Street.
• Markets: Tachbrook Street Market (meat & fish, plus prepared dishes & home goods).
• Transport: Pimlico (Victoria).
• Best For: Families, political workers.

14. Queen's Park:

• Rental Prices: £2,000 - £2,700/month.
• Schools: Queen's Park Primary School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Queen's Park Fitness Centre, Yoga Loft.
• Best Restaurants: Ostuni, Caldo.
• Markets: Queen's Park Farmers' Market.
• Transport: Queen's Park (Bakerloo, London Overground).
• Best For: Young families, professionals.

15. Regent's Park:

• Rental Prices: £2,500 - £3,500/month.
• Schools: St. Christina's School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Regent's Place Health Club, Triyoga.
• Best Restaurants: The Greenhouse, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza.
• Markets: None, but close to Camden Market.
• Transport: Regent's Park (Bakerloo).
• Best For: Park enthusiasts, families.

16. Soho:

• Rental Prices: £2,900 - £4,200/month.
• Schools: Soho Parish C of E Primary School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Gymbox, Triyoga.
• Best Restaurants: Gauthier Soho, Barrafina.
• Markets: Berwick Street Market.
• Transport: Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern), Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly, Bakerloo).
• Best For: Singles, nightlife enthusiasts.

17. St James's:

• Rental Prices: £3,500 - £5,000/month.
• Schools: Westminster City School.
• Gyms & Yoga: DW Fitness First, Yogacentric.
• Best Restaurants: Wiltons, The Ritz.
• Transport: Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria, Jubilee), Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly, Bakerloo).
• Best For: Affluent individuals, cultural aficionados.

18. Victoria:

• Rental Prices: £2,600 - £3,800/month.
• Schools: Francis Holland School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Fitness First, Yogacentric.
• Best Restaurants: A. Wong, The Goring Dining Room.
• Markets: Cardinal Place Food Market.
• Transport: Victoria Station (Victoria, Circle, District, National Rail).
• Best For: Commuters, urban professionals.

19. Vincent Square:

• Rental Prices: £2,400 - £3,200/month.
• Schools: Grey Coat Hospital.
• Gyms & Yoga: DW Fitness First, MoreYoga.
• Best Restaurants: Grumbles, The Cinnamon Club.
• Markets: Strutton Ground Market.
• Transport: St. James's Park (Circle, District).
• Best For: City workers, families.

20. Westbourne Green:

• Rental Prices: £1,900 - £2,600/month.
• Schools: Wilberforce Primary.
• Gyms & Yoga: Westbourne Green Community Gym, Yoga BodySpace.
• Best Restaurants: Beany Green, The Ledbury.
• Markets: Golborne Road Market.
• Transport: Westbourne Park (Circle, Hammersmith & City).
• Best For: Professionals, young families.

21. Westminster City Centre:

• Rental Prices: £3,200 - £4,800/month.
• Schools: Westminster Under School.
• Gyms & Yoga: Fitness First, Central London Community Centre.
• Best Restaurants: The Cellarium Café & Terrace, The Cinnamon Club.
• Markets: Strutton Ground Market.
• Transport: Westminster (Circle, District, Jubilee).
• Best For: Politicians, city professionals.

Note: This list is based on my last training data cut-off in 2021. For the most up-to-date details, please consult local directories, housing websites, or WhichSchoolAdvisor.com and other sources

Westminster Ratings