London’s Alleys and Passages - Archive Articles

London’s Alleys: Church Path, SW14

This is the remains of a once much longer path that later lost its southern half and would once have linked two main roads running through Mortlake in south London

London’s Alleys: Globe Yard, W1

This is a narrow slip of a passage that runs behind some of the posh shops on Mayfair's South Molton Street.

London’s Alleys: Cockpit Yard, WC1

This is a rough looking former stables mews that today is a mix of municipal yard and arts centre.

London’s Alleys: Buckingham Arcade, WC2

This covered passage runs through a block of buildings on Strand, giving access to the grander buildings behind.

London’s Alleys: St Michael’s Alley, EC3

This winding passage snakes around a cluster of alleys in the City and is probably more famous for the former coffee house that can be found here.

London’s Alleys: Plumtree Court, EC4

This is a fairly wide modern rebuild of an old alley near Holborn that came into existence around 300 years ago.

London’s Alleys: Langley Court, WC2

This is an annoying alley in Covent Garden that's been here for centuries and left scarcely a mark in the history books.

London’s Alleys: Christys’ Walk, SE1

This is a fairly new passageway that was created to give people an alternative to the busy Bermondsey Street or polluted Tower Bridge Road, and is named after a local hat maker that opened 250 years ago in 1773.

London’s Alleys: Spring Mews, W1

This is a narrow passage in Marylebone that once led to horse stables for the rich folk who lived here and is now more of a back access for a replacement mansion block

London’s Alleys: Helen’s Place, E2

This is a cobbled passage in Bethnal Green that runs around the back of a Victorian block of flats and at first glance doesn't seem that interesting, but read on.

London’s Alleys: St Chad’s Place, WC1

This is a nice passageway in King's Cross that leads from a covered entrance through to a cobbled (setts) alley, above a railway and ends in an ornately decorated building.

London’s Alleys: Carmel Court, W8

This is a rather charming residential alleyway that can be found close to Kensington High Street and offers a mix of appearances as you walk along it.

London’s Alleys: St. Ermin’s Hill, SW1

This is a dank dirty passage that slips in between the London Underground's former head office and a posh hotel.

London’s Alleys: Smiths’ Court, W1

This concealed alley and courtyard in Soho looks like a twee cottage courtyard that's been around for decades but is actually a fairly recent conversion because until 2010 most of the cafes that now fill the space were garages for cars.

London’s Alleys: Dover Yard, W1

This is a passageway near Green Park with a yard in the middle and offers two very different appearances depending on which side you approach it from.

London’s Alleys: Denmark Place, WC2

This is an alley that slips behind the back of the modern Outernet building and was the scene of a disaster in 1980 that killed 37 people.

London’s Alleys: St Swithin’s Lane, EC4

The lane is one of the earlier London roads to be laid out, and the area shows up as fully developed by the 1300s, with houses along the lane, and St Swithin's church at the southern end.

London’s Alleys: Dirty Lane, SE1

This is a new alley that runs underneath a railway through a long line of brick arches that have been polished up to become a row of posh shops.

London’s Alleys: Thavies Inn, EC1

This is a courtyard space hidden behind a fairly distinctive building at Holborn Circus, which will soon not be there.

London’s Alleys: Abchurch Yard, EC4

This is a yard and narrow alley that snakes around the sides of a City of London church that's over 800 years old.

London’s Alleys: All Souls’ Place, W1

This is a narrow alley that sits right next to the main entrance to the BBC's Broadcasting House, and there's some unexpected art and heritage down here.

London’s Alleys: Spring Mews, SE11

This is a brand new alleyway and courtyard in Vauxhall that runs through the middle of a modern mix-use development in an area that's never had public access before.

London’s Alleys: St Martin’s Court, WC2

This is a wide and often very busy alley just off Leicester Square that is now surrounded by theatres and a famous oyster bar.

London’s Alleys: Piccadilly Place, W1

This is a narrow gap off busy Piccadilly that leads to a service road at the rear and seems to serve little purpose other than to separate two large buildings.