Considering moving to Pimlico?
Or perhaps you’re there already and want to find some hidden gems to help you make the most of your time.
Either way, this handy guide will provide you with all the information you need to make the most of living in this leafy, relaxed area tucked neatly between the Thames and Victoria Station.
Introducing Pimlico
Right in the heart of London, Pimlico is a beautiful upscale residential area in Westminster known for its garden squares and its regency architecture.
Pimlico is very well connected to the rest of the city, making it ideal for young professionals who want good connections to both work and play. More on that later.
It’s also an area rich in history. Many famous Londoners have walked Pimlico’s pavements or even taken up residence here. For example -
- Walter Bagehot: Famous British journalist and essayist who wrote primarily about the intersection between government and economics.
- Dame Edith Evans: Renowned for her career on stage in London’s theatres, and in films towards the end of her life.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: This world-famous composer not only revolutionised Western music, but he composed his first symphony in Pimlico.
- Lord Alfred Tennyson: One of Britain's foremost poets, and proud resident of the area.
- Sir Winston Churchill: Does he need an introduction? Britain’s most famous prime minister lived in Pimlico for many years.
Suffice to say, this is an area practically dripping with history. Every street and building has something interesting to say, and wandering through Pimlico is a fine way to acquaint yourself with London’s rich past.
Pimlico area guide
Now we’ve piqued your interest, let’s get right into the guide. The following sections contain everything you need to get settled into Pimlico and to supplement your aimless wandering with purposeful strolls.
Pimlico architecture
Pimlico's architecture is so distinct that it has its own conservation area:
Walk around in this area is an experience to savour. The regency style buildings and well-planned streets, with their blocks and grand garden squares, are a sight to behold.
There are over 350 Grade II listed buildings and churches in this part of Westminster - so many in fact, that there are now an array of conservation areas to preserve the beautiful architecture.
The government says that "the Pimlico Conservation Area is characterised by a highly disciplined and formal street layout based on a grid pattern" with many buildings "characterised by classical four and five storey
stuccoed terraced houses with projecting Doric porches, triglyph friezes, balustraded balconies at first floor level and stucco dressings."
You can find out more about the Pimlico conservation area here.
Dolphin Square
As well as being renowned for its high quality serviced apartments to rent, Dolphin Square is another site of historic interest.
Built pre-World War II, this iconic landmark has been a mainstay in Pimlico for decades thanks to its distinctive architecture, grand facade, and large gardens (let's face it: what other residential complex in London gives so much of itself to green space?)
Battersea Power Station
Over the river from Dolphin Square you can see the iconic Battersea Power Station, a truly formidable building that once supplied a fifth of London’s electricity and is now undergoing conversion into apartments.
By Alberto Pascual - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pimlico shops
In Pimlico you’re also surrounded by some incredible shops. This area has stunning vintage shops, a host of independent stores, and much more.
Here's a little taste of what you can find:
- Rippon Cheese is an independent, family-run cheese store famed for stocking over 500 cheeses from all over the world.
- Pimlico Trove is a gift shop packed with colourful and quirky items from artisan crafters all over the UK.
- Cave is a vintage shop with a twist, and with a strong focus on reabsorbing forgotten objects into our daily lives.
Food and drink in Pimlico
Looking for somewhere to eat in Pimlico? Check out our comprehensive guide to Pimlico restaurants.
There's a wide range of cuisines available across this part of town - from delicious British gastropubs, through Italian, Turkish, via Asian and all the way to Australian.
You could try Goya for some tasty Spanish tapas or go for some world-famous cosy French dining at Grumbles - whose doors have been open for over 50 years. If you’re wanting something really fresh, why not try some Japanese sushi and sashimi at Ichiriki Sushi House.
What you can expect from Goya
There’s so much to choose from that you can always just stroll the picturesque streets and stumble across some fantastic places to eat. And if you fancy going further afield, well: London is your oyster. This city truly has everything to offer to the discerning gourmand.
Pimlico transport links
Pimlico is plugged directly into the London transport network, making it ideal for getting to anywhere in the city with ease. Pimlico has its own underground station, and the Victoria Line connects up to the Circle Line, making it your ticket to the whole city.
A 2 minute tube ride from Pimlico or a 10 minute walk from Dolphin Square gets you to Victoria Station, one of the biggest transport hubs in the country. Inside you’ll find the Gatwick Express and trains to hundreds of destinations, and just up the road is Victoria bus station, where you can jump on a coach to most of Europe!
Other terminus stations like Charing Cross, Paddington, London Bridge and Clapham Junction are just a short tube ride away too, putting vast swathes of the United Kingdom within easy reach.
There are also plenty of bus routes that come through Pimlico, including night buses, so you never have to wait long for one, or for a taxi to drive past. Then, there are beautiful broad roads and well-kept pavements, which makes Pimlico a treat to walk or cycle around, especially beside the River Thames.
Pimlico property
This area is bursting with places to live, from flats and apartments in modern developments, right up to 12 bedroom, multi-million pound mansions. We’re guessing most of our readers are toward the former end of that spectrum, however!
If you are considering moving to Pimlico, we’d be remiss not to suggest Dolphin Square. We offer apartments ranging in size from studio to three-bedroom, and tailored to the needs of individuals, couples, groups of friends, and families.
Living in Pimlico puts you right in the heart of London, deep in a richly cultural area and near to so much of what makes London unique. To take a look at our apartments, click here. We think you’ll like what you see, and we’d love to show you around!
Pimlico wellbeing
When you settle in a place, you’ll most likely want to find ways to relax and recharge. At Dolphin Square we’re proud to offer our Moroccan Spa to help you do both of those things, and there are countless more options outside your front door.
There are a selection of other gyms and fitness facilities within a short walk of Dolphin Square, and you’re near to several Boris Bike stations, too. These give you the opportunity to rent a bike at a moment’s notice, and set off on one of London’s many cycle paths. There’s no better way to explore the city, and to keep fit at the same time!
This area offers myriad green spaces to relax in, too. In the surrounding streets you'll find the Pimlico Garden & Shrubbery, St George's Square, Churchill Gardens, Bessborough Gardens, Warwick Square, Eccleston Square Park, and many more. Each presents an opportunity to wander and explore, and to take a pause from the hustle and bustle of old London town.
This is one of our favourite things about Pimlico: The perfect balance between London’s historic, touristic, and secret sides. You can switch from one rhythm to another with ease and, depending where your mood takes you, curate any sort of experience simply by ambling gently around the neighbourhood. It’s harder and harder to escape from London’s bustle nowadays, so make sure to take the opportunity in Pimlico.
What’s close to Pimlico?
Then, once you’ve made the most of this neighbourhood, you can explore one of many exciting areas on Pimlico’s doorstep. We’re right beside the historical and beautiful district of Westminster, for example, with all of its tourist attractions and parliamentary offices. Westminster is arguably the most distinctly London part of London, so having it so close by is a privilege.
You can also easily walk to other upscale areas such as Chelsea and Kensington, maybe even meandering around St James’ Park and up to Oxford Street. It all depends how adventurous you’re feeling, what the weather’s like, and how comfortable your shoes are!
Then. slightly further afield, are trendy and iconic areas such as Soho, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and London’s West End (and the fantastic surrounding bars and restaurants) - all less than 20 minutes away, and all offering countless hours of distraction to the curious visitor.
Need we say more..?
Pimlico is, quite simply, an amazing place. It may not be up there with London’s most well-known neighbourhoods, but it maintains a dignified presence that surprises and delights visitors nonetheless. Wandering Pimlico’s streets you’ll be sharing space with some of Britain’s cultural heavyweights, and you’ll get a real taste for the unique blend of atmosphere and moods that makes London special.
And living here? Well, that’s another thing entirely. That’s deciding to spend a significant amount of time in one of London’s most rewarding areas. To throw yourself into this special place and learn about it on a deeper level, rather than just scratching the tourist surface.
If you make that decision, consider using Dolphin Square as your base. We guarantee you’ll love it.
