Celebrities in London, Where To Spot Famous Faces

Celebrities in London are pretty common, and there are plenty of places to spot them if you’re lucky.

Celebrities in London are common place, you just need to know where and when to look. Celebrities gravitate to the bustling British city and particular times of the year. From Princess Kate to Taylor Swift, Sienna Miller, Sir Elton John, Tom Cruise, The Beckhams, Harry Styles, Margot Robbie, Rhianna, Kate Moss , Kylie Minogue, Hugh Grant, Chris Martin, Elon Musk, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney and more, this is where they like to wine, dine and be seen.

Wimbeldon always attracts a lot of famous faces, as does the Chesea flower show and summer in general.

This is a guide to where to spot famous names, and the bars and restaurantrs they love.

Chelsea: Glamour with a Local Heart

Chelsea has long been the spiritual home of London’s well-heeled elite—a mix of old money, stylish expatriates, and famous names who want elegance without intrusion. 

The Bluebird on King’s Road remains a quintessential haunt. Once a garage, now a sophisticated bar-restaurant, it’s a favourite of Victoria Beckham, who often opts for a vodka soda with lime, maintaining her famously minimalistic taste. The outdoor terrace bustles in summer with models, actors, and the occasional footballer given the Chelsea geound is just down the road, sipping rosé and Negronis as Range Rovers hum quietly by.

Princess Kate was often seen dining there before her marriage, as well as with her sister Pippa Middleton and even dated William there on multiple occasions before they married. And it is said Princess Diana was also a fan.Kylie Minogue, and the entire cast of Made In Chelsea (MIC) are frequent diners there too.

Just across in the same postcode, Beaufort House serves as a quieter corner for Chelsea’s media crowd. With velvet booths and a members’ club upstairs, its allure lies in discretion and the Made In Chelsea cast are often spotted there. Tom Hardy is known to favour it for low-key evenings, enjoying an Old Fashioned, the kind of drink that suits his gruff charisma. The bartenders here pride themselves on balance—both in flavour and in guarding secrets.

The Hollywood Arms is an upscale drawing room style pub which has seen Kate Middleton sneak in by the back door on more than a few occasions and reportedly enjoy a gin and tonic. Her children are believed to have been at a pre-school nearby when they were younger.

The Phene Arms also hosts famous faces from time to time including George Best who was a local for over 15 years, footballer Sol Cambell, Mark Knopfler, and Hugh Grant was noted as being a local resident who joined a fight to save the pub from being turned into a private house in 2012. Gwyneth Paltrow has been seen at The Grenadier in Belgravia. Margot Robbie likes the Ivy Chelsea Garden and bought a round of cocktails using her own gin brand for the whole restaurant.

Singer song writer James Blunt owns the gorgeous country style pub, The Fox And Pheasant which is a country style pub with first class food, great wines and even a dart board fro locals. In summer patroms spill outside drinking in the sunshine.

Zuma Knightsbridge often hosts celebrities and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen dining there some years ago with a group that included Jay-Z. Rhianna has been seen at Nozomi Japanese and celebrated her 24th birthday there, other famous faces who have dined there include Jay-Z, Jennifer Lawrence, Lindsay Lohan, Lewis Hamilton, Henry Cavill, Kelly Brook, Katie Price and Jennifer Lawrence.

Soho: Electric and Unapologetically Famous

No district captures London’s nightlife pulse like Soho, and celebrities love it for precisely that reason. The area’s energy makes even the most famous faces feel like part of the crowd. The Devonshire pub is a favourite of Ed Sheeran. The Groucho Club, one of London’s most storied private members’ clubs, remains a magnet for actors, comedians, and artists and has seen Harry Styles, Lily Allen ( who was a long time regular), Noel & Liam Gallagher, Bono, Madonna, Sienna Miller, Rachel Weisz, Bill Clinton, the late Princess Diana, Tracey Emin and more. 

Gauthier Soho is a high end resaturant and Tom Cruise has been seen there dining on the gourmet vegan tasting menu. The Dog and Duck Pub hosted Princess Kate and Prince William in 2023 before King Charles’ Coronation weekend.

L’Escargot is the oldest French resaturant in London and was a favourite of Princess Diana who was seen there often.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been spotted here enjoying a dirty martini, while Benedict Cumberbatch prefers a classic gin and tonic. The Groucho thrives on its rebel spirit—its walls hung with provocative art, its members fiercely protective of its unpretentious cool.

Another Soho favourite is Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a shrine to live music and sleek sophistication. Adele and Ed Sheeran have both been guests on quiet nights, hidden behind candlelight and a sea of saxophone melodies. The signature whisky sours and espresso martinis come with a soundtrack that slips perfectly between nostalgia and modern rhythm.

Across Frith Street sits Bar Italia, more café-bar than cocktail lounge, yet iconic in its own right. It’s where Noel Gallagher was once seen taking a late cappuccino after a gig. The place hums past midnight, its Formica tables and neon signs glowing with Soho grit. It’s not the drinks that make Bar Italia famous, but its role as London’s afterhours heartbeat—a blend of music culture, history, and caffeine.

La Bodega Negro in Soho is said to be one of Margot Robbie’s favourites In Covent Garden, a venue she has described as “an illicit tequila den” and Robbie has also been seen at The Devonshire in Soho. at The Ivy, Ricky Gervais was seen having lunch with Eric Bana.

Mayfair and the Art of Indulgence

Where Chelsea charms and Soho thrums, Mayfair seduces. Behind its Georgian facades lie some of London’s most exclusive watering holes. Sexy Fish, on Berkeley Square, has become synonymous with celebrity glamour. Part restaurant, part aquatic fantasy, it’s a kaleidoscope of marble, coral, and glass sculptures by Damien Hirst. Kate Moss is. a regular and other famous names that have been seen here include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Anna Wintour, Jennifer Lawrence, Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Rita Ora, Lewis Hamilton, Noel Gallagher, The Hilton sisters, and more.

The clientele is as dazzling as the décor. Harry Styles has been known to enjoy its signature Sexy Fish Negroni, while Rita Ora prefers the Geisha Martini, a delicate mix of sake, lychee, and passionfruit. The venue’s bar is as famous as its menu—crafted for the Instagram era but powered by timeless allure.

A short stroll away lies Claridge’s Bar, within the legendary Claridges hotel. It is the epitome of quiet sophistication, the kind of place where martinis are stirred, not shaken, and celebrities appreciate anonymity. Cate Blanchett has been seen here, ordering a glass of vintage Champagne while tucked into a corner booth. Kylie Minogue had high tea there with her grandmother in the 1990s and is still seen there today. J-Lo was seen there in late 2024 as well as Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner. Known for its art deco interior and impeccable service, Claridge’s Bar remains a cornerstone of London’s high society drinking culture.

La Petite Maison is a celebrity hot spot and is reportedly a favourite of Gwyneth Paltrow as well as Harry Styles, The Beckhams, Paul and Stella McCartney, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Kim Kardashian , and Claudia Schiffer.

Scotts is a seafood restaurant where Taylor Swift, Nigella Lawson, Elle Macpherson, Keanu Reeves, Bono, Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Madonna, Shakira, Lily Allen, Michael Caine, Tom Cruise, John Cleese, Stephen Spielberg, Kate Moss, Stella McCartney, Mario Testoni, Chris Martin, Bill Clinton, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Sarah Ferguson and many celebrities go.

Cecconi’s Mayfair is another super popular celebrity spot all year round but especially in warmer months. Jay Z, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Kate Moss, Madonna,Kevin Spacey, Prince Andrew, Sinitta, Hugh Grant, Claudia Schiffer.

Dukes Bar, part of Dukes London Hotel was famously frequented by Princess Diana. The bar is known for its martinis. Gymkhana is an upscale Indian restaurant reportedly frequented by Ed Sheeran.

Sketch is a fabulous venue and a favourite of Taylor Swift (who loves the pink gallery room), Sir Elton John, Kate Moss, Bella Hadid, Hugh Grant, Russell Brand and many more.The Dover opened in 2023 and serves old school Italian American food a favourite of Bono, Harry Styles, Margot Robbie, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Damian Lewis, Lily Allen and Victoria Beckham.

For Mayfair opulence with a modern twist, Annabel’s in Berkeley Square beckons. The reimagined members’ club, famous for its floral façade, is a playground for the international elite. Inside, under chandeliers and mirrored ceilings, Dua Lipa and Idris Elba have mingled over mezcal cocktails and ginger-infused margaritas and have a host of famous names including J-Lo, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster. The bar’s meticulously themed rooms—from jungle lounges to celestial basements—turn every night into theatre.

Whisky Mist is a Mayfair Bar where Elon Musk met his former wife Talulah Riley. And Oswald’s is an extremely private exclusive member’s club where Victoria Beckham celebrated her 50th in 2024 and was famously spotted being carred out piggy back by David. Rod Stewart has also been seen leaving there.

The Wolseley is a grand all day cafe restaurant i art deco style. and a great place to spot famous faces. Taylor Swift goes a lot. Park Chinois is Rhianna’s go-to haunt on a late night out.

The Dorchester’s various bars and restaurants have hosted a huge amount of celebrities from The Beatles to Rod Stewart, Kate Moss, The Kardashians, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Ben Stiller, Stevie Wonder, Meg Ryan, Mariah Carey, Naomi Cambell, Tom Cruise, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and more.

Nobu in Old Park Lane Mayfair is co-owned by Robert De Niro and is also a popular celebrity venue and has hosted a lot of big names including Sir Elton John, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Katy Perry, Kate Moss, Will and Jaden Smith, Rosie Huntingon Whiteley, Cheryl Cole, Kylie Minogue, Claudia Shiffer, Naomi Campbell, Tom Cruise, Ronnie Wood, Jason Statham and more.

Pollen Street Social was a Michelin star restaurant celebrities gravitated to including Claudia Schiffer, and Delaunay in Central London has hosted Taylor Swift, Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Shoreditch: Edgy Cool and Creative Energy

Over in the East End, Shoreditch offers a different kind of glamour—a little wilder, less polished, but irresistibly cool. The Shoreditch House, Soho House’s east London outpost, has long drawn artists, designers, and musicians. 

Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine is a known admirer of its rooftop bar, where she favours natural wine and herbal gin cocktails, often watching the sunset over London’s skyline. With exposed brick, candlelight, and views of the city’s heartbeat, it’s the epitome of understated East London luxury.

Gloria is an Italian restaurant that hosted J-Lo in 2024. The Old Blue Last was where Kylie Monigue unexpectedly performed in 2014.

Nearby, Callooh Callay presents a whimsical escape, with hidden doors and playful drinks that recall Alice in Wonderland. Robert Pattinson has been spotted there, ordering a Smoky Old Fashioned in the bar’s backroom “Jubjub” lounge. The venue’s reputation for inventive cocktails and surprise menus keeps it among the city’s most creative bars.

Boundary Rooftop Bar and Restaurant has great views and a trendy, upscale feel and a well heeled crowd. Elon Musk was a regular here a few years ago.

Knightsbridge and Hidden Extravagance

No list of celebrity-frequented bars is complete without The Blue Bar at The Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge. With its signature powder-blue interior designed by David Collins, it has become a sanctuary for discreet indulgence. Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell have both spent evenings there, sipping vodka martinis in the low glow of crystal lamps. The bar’s drinks list is elegant and imaginative—crafted for people who appreciate artistry as much as potency.

Close by, Mandarin Oriental’s Mandarin Bar offers gently modern opulence. George Clooney and Amal Clooney have reportedly enjoyed champagne cocktails here while overlooking Hyde Park. The atmosphere is polished but unpretentious—ideal for those who prefer elegance to spectacle.

Marylebone:

The Chiltern Firehouse is a sensationally stylish, luxurious upscale hotel and restaurant and a famous celebrity hot spot in London. Kylie Minogue celebrated her 50th here in a full takeover, and it is one of Taylor Swift’s favourites. Other famous names that have been seen here include Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Cruise, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Piven, Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Harry Styles, Rita Ora, Kate Moss, Dua Lipa, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Chris Martin, LILY ALLEN, Elie Goulding, P.Diddy, Will.i.am, Cara Delevingne, Nigella Lawson, Gordon Ramsey, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Stephen Fry.

The Devonshire pub is a favourite of Ed Sheeran.The Devonshire pub is a favourite of Ed Sheeran. and more.

The Lore of The Land is owned by Guy Ritchie and the Beckham’s are often seen there and Cruz Beckham has performed there.

Notting Hill

The Cow is a Notting Hill pub with a great atmosphere and Tom Cruise and David Beckham have been seen there, as has Victoria Beckham on occasions although she has stated she is not a pub person.

Dorian in Notting Hill and Core by Clare Smyth are upscale restaurants where the Beckhams are often spotted. David Beckham held a celebrity studded 50th birthday at Core by Clare Smyth and Tom Cruise was one of the guests.

Casa Cruz in Notting Hill is a trendy. copper-clad Argentine restaurant where Taylor Swift dined wih a large group of celebrity friends recently. 192 is a favourite of pop singer Kylie Minogue.

Where Glamour Meets Glass

The beauty of London’s bar scene lies in its diversity. From Soho’s creative heartbeat to Mayfair’s marble-coated luxury, from Chelsea’s calm elegance to Shoreditch’s avant-garde edge, each district offers a stage—and celebrities, knowingly or not, play their part. They toast the city’s timeless allure one cocktail at a time, scattering a little starlight onto London’s already enchanting nights.