Numerous bus routes link Chinatown to other areas of London and taxis are readily available in the area. The nearest Underground stations to Chinatown are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, which are connected to the Piccadilly, Northern and Bakerloo Tube lines. Its central location makes it an easy place to get to by public transport. London’s Chinatown is close to key attractions such as Leicester Square, Theatreland and Soho. The main focal point is Gerrard Street, which runs through its centre. Geographically, Chinatown is bound by Shaftesbury Avenue to the north, Rupert Street to the west, Charing Cross Road to the east and Leicester Square to the south. However, a decline in shipping and large-scale destruction of the area during the Second World War saw this quarter dwindle by the mid-20th century.
Chinese employees of the East India Company settled at the docks in the late 19th century and helped to create a Chinese community. The original London Chinatown was in Limehouse, in London’s East End. With other businesses and services moving in, by the 1960s and 1970s the neighbourhood had become a hub for Chinese culture. Once home to Huguenot and Maltese immigrants, the area of Chinatown as we know it today started to form in the 1950s, when a handful of Chinese restaurants opened. This bustling neighbourhood is home to a large East Asian community, who gather together for events and activities throughout the year, in particular during London's Chinese New Year celebrations. Enjoy a taste of the far east by exploring London’s Chinatown.