I’ve got that Kinks’ song going round and round my head now – one week he’s in polka-dots the next week he’s in stripes, because he’s a dedicated follower of fashion – during the Swinging Sixties all the beautiful people used to flock down here to buy their Mary Quant miniskirts and patterned kaftan scarves and they’d stand around the shopfronts showing off their new boots and hairdos. They called them the ‘Carnabetian Army’. One shop even made their models change in the window à la Amsterdam – you couldn’t get away with that nowadays. (But to be fair you couldn’t get away with it back then either – the gathering crowd got the boss arrested for obstructing the highway!)
Music scene during the Swinging Sixties
Photo: londondrum.comIn its heyday you had The Beatles and the Rolling Stones drinking in the surrounding pubs and clubs (Paul met Linda in the Bag O’Nails). You’d be mixing with the Animals, the Small Faces and The Who… Jimi Hendrix only lived a few streets away (his flat has been turned into a museum now). But that was over fifty years ago. That was before a branch of Starbucks moved in. Now it’s just a colourful shortcut between Regent Street and Oxford Street.
Clothes shops in Carnaby Street
There are still plenty of fancy dress shops (that’s what I call all the clothes shops down here) but I can’t see me wearing any of it – I’m staring at a pair of sequinned pyjama bottoms at the moment. The next shop along is selling a bright purple shirt with bobbles on the cuffs. Or how about some velvet trousers with tassels on the ankles? Does anybody actually wear this stuff?
Photo: londondrum.comThe most interesting building is that big pub on the corner that was supposedly opened by two of Shakespeare’s distant relatives. There’s a statue of him poking his nose over the windowsill like he’s staring into the street… notice how he’s missing a hand after it got blown off in the Blitz.
It’s also worth popping inside Kingly Court if you fancy something to eat. It’s like a little indoor beach scene with illuminated trees and tables.
I also recommend… If you enjoy this then try Oxford Street (you can walk it in 7 mins) and Regent Street (you can walk it in 6 mins). If you’re into the Swinging Sixties then you might like to visit the Jimi Hendrix flat at Handel & Hendrix in London
How to get to Carnaby Street
| Fare zone | Cash | Oyster & Contactless | Travelcard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single fare | Single fare | Daily cap | One day | ||||
| Peak | Off-peak | Peak | Off-peak | Anytime | Off-peak | ||
| Bus | n/a | 1.75 | 5.25 | 6 | |||
| Train (zone 1) | 7 | 2.90 | 2.80 | 8.90 | 8.90 | 16.60(zone 1-4) | 16.60(zone 1-6) |
| Train (zone 1-2) | 7 | 3.50 | 2.90 | 8.90 | 8.90 | ||
| Train (zone 1-3) | 7 | 3.80 | 3.10 | 10.50 | 10.50 | ||
| Train (zone 1-4) | 7 | 4.60 | 3.40 | 12.80 | 12.80 | ||
| Note: Prices are correct as of | |||||||
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More things to do in Soho
Your comments (5)
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Ask a question, or share your experience of Carnaby Street
PH Yeah anyone who is expecting Austin Powers to run down it with a big brass band are going to be disappointed.
Sim How far is Oxford Street from Carnaby Street?
Craig Hi Sim. It’s only a two-minute walk from the top end. You just go past Liberty, past the London Palladium in Argyll Street, and then you’ll be standing in Oxford Circus.
AlexB It is worth us seeing Carnaby Street? Is there anything else nearby to do?
Craig Hi AlexB. Personally I think it’s only worth visiting if you actually want to buy some clothes. There’s nothing really to ‘see’ anymore – it’s just a shopping street. There are a few other famous shops nearby like Liberty and Hamleys (Selfridges isn’t too far away either). The only real attraction nearby is Jimi Hendrix’s old flat – londondrum.com/attractions/handel-and-hendrix-in-london.php. After that you have to walk down Regent Street to get to places like Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.
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