Carnaby Street Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Carnaby Street. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Rock n Roll Soho Walk With London's Funniest Music Nerd

• The Beatles London Walk

• London Christmas Lights Bike Tour With Local Guide

• Rock and Roll Walking Tour of Soho London

• London Rock n Roll Beatles Private Black Cab Tour

Visiting Carnaby Street is free—it’s a pedestrianized street in London’s Soho district, where there are many options for shopping and dining. Plenty of London sightseeing tours make a stop on Carnaby Street: Shared walking tours of Soho start at US$20, while private tours generally cost at least US$100.

Yes, Carnaby Street is definitely worth visiting, whether you browse its shops or dive into its 1960s history. Smack in the center of Soho, the pedestrian street is a great place for a stroll en route to Regent Street and other major attractions. You can also visit Carnaby Street on a pop culture-focused tour of Soho—you'll learn about all the 1960s stars, from the Beatles to Brigitte Bardot, who frequented the area and made it one of London's most influential neighborhoods.

Per one customer who booked the Rock n Roll Soho Walk With London's Funniest Music Nerd, "You can tell from the first step that Robin loves doing these tours and has a wealth of knowledge and fun stories. He connected artists and bands as we walked through Soho. Anyone with an interest in the start of rock and roll will be in heaven. I was transported back; 'Those were the days.' This tour could have gone on and on. Maybe a part 2? Highly recommend."

Carnaby Street is famous for being one of London’s top shopping districts. Located in the center of town, near Oxford Street and Regent Street, this always-buzzing destination boasts dozens of boutiques, entertainment, and dining options. It’s been a hotspot since the 1960s when it was the heart of the Swinging London scene. Its central location also makes it a perfect starting point to explore nearby landmarks like the National Gallery, the British Museum, Big Ben, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge.

It’s easy to get to Carnaby Street via public transportation. Oxford Circus is the closest London Underground station, served by the Bakerloo, Central, and Victoria lines. Piccadilly Circus station is also nearby, served by the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines. And numerous bus lines frequent the area, making getting around simple.

That depends on your tastes. Carnaby Street is home to over 100 boutiques and fashion brands, boutiques, jewelry retailers, and more, meaning you’ve got plenty to choose from. British brands include everything from classic Barbour to edgy Emin + Paul, while Liberty is one of the city’s most cherished department stores.

Yes, Carnaby Street is pedestrianized. The street was converted to a pedestrian-only thoroughfare in 1973—just in time to become a see-and-be-seen gathering place for the city’s burgeoning punk scene (which inspired London fashion designers like Vivienne Westwood). Today that makes browsing, window-shopping, and strutting your stuff even easier.

While individual stores’ opening hours vary, most boutiques on Carnaby Street are open from mid-late morning until later in the evening (note, however, that due to Sunday trading laws, most stores are only open from 12–6pm on Sundays). Weekends are a busy time to visit; aim for weekdays for a calmer experience.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Carnaby Street. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in London:

• Buckingham Palace

• Tower of London

• Westminster Abbey

• London Eye

• Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in London.