Fitzrovia, the London district you've probably never heard of

Fitzrovia Chapel - Dating back to 1891, Fitzrovia Chapel stands in Pearson Square, surrounded by the steel and glass of the modern Fitzroy Place development. The building's interior is exquisitely decorated with marble and mosaics. Pictured is the elaborate baptistery. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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The Wheatsheaf - Popular with London's bohemian set in the 1930s, this pub in Rathbone Place was frequented by the likes of English novelist George Orwell and Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) - In 1936, Dylan Thomas met his future wife, Caitlin Macnamara, in The Wheatsheaf. In fact, the poet liked to boast that he and Caitlin (still in a relationship with artist Augustus John at the time) were in bed together ten minutes after they first met.

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Newman Arms - The Newman Arms at 23 Rathbone Street appears in George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen-Eighty Four' as the "proles" pub, and is featured again in 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying.' (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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George Orwell (1903–1950) - English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic, Orwell is known the world over for coining the sinister phrase, "Big Brother," from his 1949 dystopian novel 'Nineteen-Eighty Four.'

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Pollock's Toy Museum - This delightfully quaint museum is located at 1 Scala Street. The premises includes a small toy shop.

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Pollock's Toy Museum - The museum's collection consists mainly of rare and valuable Victorian dolls, but visitors can also admire an astonishing array of teddy bears, tin soldiers, and puppets, among other yesteryear playthings. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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The Beatles - Just around the corner from Pollock's Toy Museum is the site of the Scala Theatre in Charlotte Street. The Beatles filmed in and around the theater during the making of 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964). Demolished in 1969, today it is the site of an apartment block.

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Favorite filming location - Fitzrovia remains a favorite filming location. A branch of Bertorelli's Italian Restaurant on Charlotte Street was prominently featured in the film 'Sliding Doors' (1998), starring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah.

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BT Tower - A modern Fitzrovia landmark, the BT Tower, once known as the Post Office Tower, has loomed over the district since 1964. A revolving restaurant set near the top of the structure was bombed in 1971 by the IRA. The tower has remained closed to the public ever since.

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Tree-top view - Were you still able to enjoy the views from the top of the BT Tower, this is how Fitzroy Square would look.

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Charlotte Street - One of the main commercial arteries through Fitzrovia, Charlotte Street bustles with restaurants, cafés, several notable pubs, and some fine hotels.

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Gilded address - Notable residents of Charlotte Street include the English Romantic painter John Constable (1776–1837), famous among other works for 'The Hay Wain' of 1821.

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Fitzrovia mural - The Fitzrovia mural on Goodge Place, near Goodge Street, depicts modern and historic landmarks and public figures.

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Fitzroy Square - One of London's most elegant Georgian squares, Fitzroy Square was developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to provide London residences for aristocratic families.

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Charles FitzRoy (1737–1797) - A 1804 map featuring the Fitzrovia area. The district is named after Charles FitzRoy (later 1st Baron Southampton), who first developed the northern part of the area in the 18th century.

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Georgian splendor - A wealthy enclave noted for its Georgian architecture, Fitzrovia was named by the Sunday Times in 2016 as the best place to live in London.

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George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) - The renowned Irish playwright lived at 29 Fitzroy Square from 1887 until his marriage in 1898.

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Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) - The celebrated English writer also resided at 29 Fitzroy Square, from 1907 to 1911.

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James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) - The America artist (pictured, self-portrait) lived at 8 Fitzroy Square. He painted 'At the Piano' in 1859 in London.

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Fitzroy Tavern - The Fitzroy Tavern, situated on the corner of Charlotte Street and Windmill Street, was famous from 1920s to the mid-1950s as the meeting place for many of London's artists, intellectuals, and bohemians. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Stars of yesteryear - Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila pictured in 1949 throwing money for charity onto the ceiling at the Fitzroy Tavern in aid of an annual outing for the needy children of Fitzrovia.

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Sign of the times - A quirky sign on the wall of the Fitzroy Tavern, preserved from World War Two.

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Blue plaques - Dozens of blue plaques—historical markers that commemorate a link between a location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site—can be seen in Fitzrovia. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Famous residents - Buildings where the famous lived are clearly marked: Samuel Morse, for example, lived at 141 Cleveland Street. (Photo:Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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The Yorkshire Grey - Lots of historic pubs enliven Fitzrovia. The Yorkshire Grey on the corner of Langham Street and Middleton Place regularly hosted English author and playwright J. B. Priestley during World War II. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Colville Place - Two of London's oldest surviving residential walkways can be found in Fitzrovia—Colville Place (pictured), and Middleton Place.

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Celebrity hangout - Singer and model Sophie Ellis-Bextor seen during a photo shoot in Fitzroy Square. The area today lures as many celebrities to its clubs and bars as it did 100 years ago.

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Grange Langham Court Hotel -

This striking four-star hotel property is a preferred option for those seeking to chill out in Fitzrovia. The rooms are beautifully decorated with antique furniture in brilliant colors. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Fitzrovia, the London district you've probably never heard of

This upmarket neigborhood brims with history, and is a celebrity hangout

21/10/19 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Fitzrovia

Mention Fitzrovia and most people will scratch their heads in confusion. Yet this central London district is one of the most celebrated neighborhoods in the capital, an upmarket enclave of great historical significance and once home to many of London's artists, intellectuals, and bohemians. Previously voted the best place to live in London by the 'Sunday Times,' Fitzrovia today is still a celebrity hangout, and its hotels, pubs, and restaurants remain some of the most alluring destinations in the city.

Browse the gallery and start exploring fashionable Fitzrovia.