I stumbled upon Fitzrovia during one of those aimless London walks that end up being the most rewarding. Tucked between the tourist crowds of Soho and the chaos around King's Cross, this neighborhood feels like a secret that locals are reluctant to share.

The area never quite decided what it wanted to be, and that's exactly its charm. You'll find Georgian terraces sitting alongside modern offices, art galleries next to medical facilities, and the BT Tower rising 189 meters above it all like some retro-futuristic landmark that somehow works. The streets follow a loose grid pattern - unusual for London - which makes wandering around surprisingly logical.

What struck me most was learning about its literary past. Virginia Woolf walked these streets, along with George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Rimbaud. The neighborhood earned its bohemian reputation honestly, though today's version feels more polished than gritty. Tom Driberg coined the name "Fitzrovia" in the late 1930s, and it stuck despite the area never having official boundaries.

Charlotte Street buzzes with restaurants and small shops, while Fitzroy Square offers one of those perfect London garden squares that make you understand why people put up with the weather. The mix is genuinely eclectic - you might pass a celebrity heading to an upscale gallery, then turn the corner to find a perfectly ordinary corner shop.

The Sunday Times called it the best place to live in Londres back in 2016, though I suspect that's driven up prices considerably. There's definitely wealth here, but it doesn't feel as sanitized as some other central areas. Medical students from nearby institutions mix with media types and long-term residents who remember when this was more affordable.

What I appreciate about visiting Fitzrovia is how walkable everything feels. You're close enough to Oxford Street's shopping chaos if you want it, but the neighborhood itself moves at a more human pace. The transport links are excellent - multiple tube stations within easy reach - but you might find yourself just strolling rather than rushing to the next destination.

Discover all of Fitzrovia's hidden stories with our complete Londres audio guide, which covers the literary connections and architectural details you might otherwise miss while exploring this surprisingly layered corner of central London.