Is Chinatown worth it?

Worth it if…Lives up to the hype · +2Lantern-strung pedestrian streets off Leicester Square with about 80 East Asian restaurants

Worth it, with conditions. 4.5 from 35,542 Google reviews for the atmosphere, but it's a few streets, and the biggest restaurants rate only 3.7–3.9.

Hype59How famous and hyped it is

Reality61Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in

The gap+2Lives up to the hypeHow we score

4.5 ★ Google · 35,542 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

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Is it worth it for you?

Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 first-timers vote

It's on the way between Leicester Square and Soho; a 20-minute wander costs nothing.

Why Reality is 61

Lives up to its fame3/54.5 from 35,542 Google reviews for the atmosphere, but it's a few streets, and the biggest restaurants rate only 3.7–3.9.

Value for money4/5Free to visit; food runs from cheap bakeries to mid-priced restaurants, though weekend prices and some tourist-facing places disappoint.

Can’t get it elsewhere3/5London's only real Chinatown, but it's smaller than famous Chinatowns elsewhere and plenty of top Chinese food in London is outside it.

Easy to do4/5Two minutes from Leicester Square tube, open late, no tickets; only weekend and festival crowds slow you down.

What people loved

Colourful, photogenic streets of red lanterns and gates, right between Soho and Leicester SquareHuge range of cheap-to-mid-priced food: dim sum, roast duck, hand-pulled noodles, bakeries and bubble teaFree and easy to fold into any West End evening; lively late at nightAsian supermarkets and snack shops are fun to browse even if you don't eat

What wore them down

Small — essentially two or three streets — so it's a walk-through, not a destination in itselfBig, touristy Gerrard Street restaurants are mediocre on Google (Golden Dragon 3.9, Four Seasons 3.8, London Chinatown Restaurant 3.7)Very crowded at weekends and during Lunar New Year; food can be expensive at peakQuality varies a lot by restaurant; research before sitting down

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: No booking to visit; popular dim sum and dumpling spots recommend reserving at weekends

EntryFree, open public streets; no ticketsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

LayoutBounded by Shaftesbury Ave, Rupert St, Charing Cross Rd and Leicester Square; Gerrard Street is the pedestrianised spineSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

RestaurantsAlmost 80 restaurants plus Asian supermarkets (SeeWoo has traded here since 1975) and bakeriesSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

HoursStreets always open; each venue sets its own hours, some open until 4am Fri–SatSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Getting thereLeicester Square (Piccadilly/Northern) 2–3 min walk, or Piccadilly Circus; about 5–10 min walk from Trafalgar Square / Covent GardenSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

EventsHosts London's Lunar New Year celebrations (late Jan/Feb) with lion dances; very crowded thenSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Time needed20–30 min to walk through; 1–2 hours with a mealSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 16, 2026

In their words

“Please keep in mind that it can get very crowded and the food can be quite expensive”

Multi Vitamins · Google review · 2 months ago

“A night walk through the West End should definitely include Chinatown.”

MATTHAIOS KEKKIS · Google review · a month ago

“This is a very lively, nice place. Lots of restaurants and pedestrian friendly.”

Osolot W · Google review · a month ago

Tips from people who went

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One thing people should know

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Questions people ask

Is Chinatown London worth visiting?

Yes as a free 20–30 minute stop or dinner spot in the West End; it's compact, so don't plan a half-day around it.

What is the nearest tube to Chinatown London?

Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines), a few minutes' walk; Piccadilly Circus is also close.

When is Chinese New Year in London's Chinatown?

Celebrations follow the Lunar New Year (late January or February), with decorations, lion dances and a parade; expect very large crowds.

Is Chinatown London open late?

The streets are always open; individual restaurants set their own hours, and some stay open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Better fits, according to people who went

Worth it if…Reality 64 −18Borough Market★ 4.6City, Tower & South Bank · MarketBigger, more varied food grazing if eating is the main goal.

Worth it if…Reality 61 −20Covent Garden★ 4.6West End & Bloomsbury · ShoppingAnother free West End wander, five minutes east, with street performers and shops.

Dishoom — photo by Dishoom Covent Garden

Worth it if…Reality 54 −7Dishoom★ 4.7West End & Bloomsbury · FoodA nearby West End food destination if you want one standout meal rather than a stroll.

Worth itReality 90 +35Hampstead Heath★ 4.7North & East London · ParkWild heathland with swimming ponds, Kenwood House and the Parliament Hill skyline view

Sources

Verdict by The Hype Gap editors. No one paid for it. Facts checked Oct 16, 2026. How we score · Standards