Bedford Square

One of the best preserved Georgian squares in London, in fashionable Bloomsbury, with many of its houses now Listed. Sadly, most are now offices and the gardens are private but look out for all the Blue Plaques denoting famous former residents.

Bedford Square WC1
Tube: Tottenham Court Road

Henrietta Street

First laid out in 1631, and rebuilt through the centuries, moving more and more up-market in the process, this street now typifies late Georgian/early Victorian style. Jane Austen's brother Henry lived at No.10 and she stayed here when visiting London.

Henrietta Street WC2
Tube: Covent Garden

Estorick Collection

This Listed Georgian building houses the modern Italian art collection of the late Eric and Salome Estorick (whose clients included Lauren Bacall, Burt Lancaster). Canonbury Square itself is a collection of good Georgian houses, including one writer George Orwell lived in.

39a Canonbury Square N1

Tel: +44 (0)20 7704 9522

Tube: Highbury and Islington

www.estorickcollection.com

Goodwin's Court

The buildings in this lovely tiny alley hidden off St Martin's Lane date to 1690 - and a walk down it makes the centuries fade away. Still lit by gasllights, the Georgian bow-fronted former shops, brass door knobs and knockers and black doors evoke a lost age.

Goodwin's Court WC2

Tube: Leicester Square

Elder Street

The Spitalfields area has many interesting buildings, including these well preserved Georgian houses in two of London's earliest surviving terraces. Built in the 1720s, many have been carefully restored. The nearby Dennis Severs’ House shows off a Georgian interior.

Elder Street E1

Tube: Liverpool Street

Artillery Lane

Still in Spitalfields, you can find the two finest Georgian shopfronts in London at 56 and 58 Artillery Lane. Built in around 1715, for the weavers who were common in the area, the frontages were rebuilt in 1756-7. Note the Chinese-Rococo details on 58’s wrought iron fanlight.

Artillery Lane E1
Tube: Liverpool Street