St Christopher's Place — Attraction in London

St Christoper's Place

St Christopher's Place

St Christopher's Place is a charming pedestrianised shopping street in Marylebone, central London, nestled between Oxford Street and Wigmore Street1]. This hidden gem offers a unique blend of boutique shopping, fine dining, and historic character, making it one of London's most distinctive retail destinations[2.

Location & Access

Located just off Oxford Street's north side, St Christopher's Place is easily accessible via Bond Street Underground Station, which offers step-free access4. The area lies within the W1 postal code and is part of the Stratford Place conservation area1]. Unlike the bustling Oxford Street, this pedestrianised quarter provides a peaceful retreat from the crowds while remaining perfectly positioned for West End exploration[2].

History & Heritage

The street has a fascinating transformation story. Originally known as Barrett's Court in the 18th century, named after local landowner John Barrett, the area was once a slum situated near the infamous Tyburn Gallows at what is now Marble Arch[6. The last public hanging at Tyburn took place in 17836].

In the 1870s, the area underwent significant redevelopment under the patronage of Octavia Hill, joint founder of the National Trust, who transformed it into social housing[6. The street included various historic trades including lampmaking, chandlers, cheesemongers, drapers, and bookmakers6]. By 1967, many properties had become empty and rundown, but property developer Robin Spiro saved the area from demolition, believing that a small-scale shopping thoroughfare could preserve the past while serving modern needs[6.

Shopping Experience

St Christopher's Place offers a more intimate shopping experience compared to Oxford Street's major chains. The area features smaller retail units and higher-end boutiques1], creating an atmosphere similar to nearby South Molton Street. Visitors can explore:

Independent boutiques and contemporary designers[3 British heritage brands3] Galleries and jewellery shops[3] International cosmetic companies and male grooming salons[3] Well-known brands including Mulberry, Reiss, The Body Shop, and Whistles[9]

The shopping hours are generally Monday-Sunday: 10am-8pm, though individual store hours may vary[2].

Dining & Entertainment

The area boasts over 20 fantastic restaurants and is renowned for having one of London's largest concentrations of pavement dining[4. The diverse culinary scene includes:

Notable Restaurants Côte Brasserie - Modern French cuisine with extensive outdoor seating[11] Isola by San Carlo - Mediterranean-inspired Italian dining with al fresco terrace[12] Flat Iron Marylebone - Steak restaurant with large heated outdoor terrace overlooking the quarter[13] Harry's Bar - Traditional Italian dishes with outdoor seating[9]

Diverse Cuisine Options The dining scene spans multiple cuisines including Lebanese, Turkish, Japanese, Italian, and Thai[3]. Popular spots include: BAO - Practical cold dishes and freshly folded dumplings[9] Cocochan - Japanese bar devoted to sushi and sake[9] Crosstown - Award-winning handcrafted doughnuts and small-batch ice cream[9]

Historic Pub The Lamb & Flag pub, housed in a listed Georgian building, provides a glimpse into the area's fascinating past while serving as a popular spot for evening drinks[3].

Atmosphere & Character

St Christopher's Place successfully combines the energy of central London with a more relaxed, village-like atmosphere. The area features:

Historic piazza with colorful streets[2] Continental-style outdoor dining perfect for al fresco meals[4] Gothic arched doorways from the Victorian era[8] A vibrant yet intimate setting that feels removed from Oxford Street's hustle...

Over the bank holiday weekend, I visited Sofra with a friend for my birthday dinner. We were both craving something Mediterranean and upon looking at the large and appealing menu at Sofra, we decided to dine there. We decided to order from "mothers menu" as it seemed authentic and we went for the lamb tagine with excitement, as we were told by the waiter that it was their most popular dish. A few minutes later, the waiter returns to inform us that the lamb tagine is sold out. So my friend and I are going back and forth with the waiter, enquiring about what each of the other dishes are and almost every dish we ask about somehow needs the lamb tagine base or meat, preventing us from ordering anything that looks at all appeasing. Other items we enquired about on the menu were apparently non existent. The waiter told us he'd never seen those dishes in the entire time he'd worked there. In the end, as we were hungry, we ordered what was available. I ordered a beef moussaka as I had last had it in Greece and enjoyed it. When my friend's food arrived, I can't remember the name of the dish, it was swimming in oil, from all the fried bread. The dish consisted of the fried bread, chicken breasts in a tomato sauce. I tasted this and it tasted extremely stale. My beef moussaka had a lot of vegetables, maybe too many. If I'm honest, I think I was served the vegetarian one instead. There were peppers, carrots, onions, courgettes, potatoes possibly, and obviously aubergines, which were extremely bitter. I couldn't even eat a quarter of the moussaka, it was just difficult to eat. The best thing about the dish, was the salad that came with it. When the waiter came back to ask if the food was OK, I said it just wasn't for me. He apologised and asked if I wanted anything else from the menu. I wasn't really in the mood to try something else I didn't want, so I politely declined and asked for the bill. He brought it over, and as my friend paid for both our meals, she mentioned that it was my birthday and the waiter wished me a happy birthday, took the payment, and left. That's it! Not even a complimentary dessert or anything after the the lack of food from the menu, despite it being a bank holiday, and the atrocious meal I was served! My honest review of this place, from my experience, is that its really not worth it. I'd rate it just a 2/10. There are plenty more places, mere yards away, that seem...

St Christopher Place as a small retail area off Oxford Street is lovely.

Isola Italian Restaurant- I love Italian cuisine, I won't be going back there. I cannot adequately describe the quality of the Calamarata Mazar, good luck if you could find the Rosmary in the Foaccia Rosmari.

I ate the food as presented as quite frankly having not had breakfast or lunch and it was 4:15 pm I was very hungry.

Staff were reluctant to engage with us, did not look around their tables to see if other customers wanted service, head down, eyes down walk away quickly.

Just a reminder, customers are not obliged in any way to pay the'service charge', I pay a tip if the whole Restaurant experience exceeds my expectations not as an additional tax imposed by Restaurant management on any meal let alone this one.

Refused to pay, didn't pay, the 'service charge' manager was not happy.

Other customers left happy with food and service and remarked out loud they were looking forward to coming back later that day for dinner.

Mixed experiences, others may also be...