What is it?
Fatigued from the craziness of Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus? Here's an easy solution to your woes: just a short walk away is the colourful respite of Carnaby, the birthplace of Swinging London back in the '60s, as well as a meeting place for rockers, mods, punks and skinheads alike.
Why go?
Decked with independent shops and bars, with the culinary delights of Kingly Court around the corner, shopping in Carnaby is adds a little bit of edge and uniqueness to the stress blur that can be the London shopping experience.
Don't miss:
Every year the Carnaby Christmas lights dazzle the central London streets. They're typically pretty special: they are full of neon colours and have even included spaceships and tributes to rock bands. For 2024, Carnaby Street will be decorated with several six-metre-long sculptural light forms made from 60,000 energy-efficient LEDs, and to be more sustainable, these same lights will be used - in a different formation - for the next four years too.
When to visit:
Carnaby Street shops are open Monday–Saturday 10am–7pm; Sunday 12pm-6pm
Restaurants are open Monday–Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-10pm
Ticket info:
No tickets are needed to check out Carnaby Street.
Time Out tip:
Weekends are typically the busiest time, so for a less crowed shopping experience, avoid peak hours.