I’ve got that Kinks’ song going round and round my head now: “One week he’s in polka-dots, the next week he’s in stripes, ‘cause he’s a dedicated follower of fashion.” During the Swinging Sixties all of the beautiful people used to flock down here to buy their Mary Quant miniskirts and patterned kaftan scarves.
They called them the ‘Carnabetian Army’ and they’d stand around the shopfronts showing off their new boots and hairdos. One shop even made their models change in the window à la Amsterdam – you couldn’t get away with that nowadays. (But to be fair you couldn’t get away with it back then either – the gathering crowd got the boss arrested for obstructing the highway!)
Music scene during the 1960s
In its heyday you had The Beatles and Rolling Stones drinking in the surrounding pubs and clubs (Paul McCartney met Linda in the Bag O’Nails). You’d be mixing with the Animals, the Small Faces, The Who… Jimi Hendrix only lived a few streets away (his flat has been turned into a museum now). But that was fifty years ago. That was before a branch of Starbucks and Boots moved in. Now it’s just a colourful shortcut between Regent Street and Oxford Street.
Clothes shops in Carnaby Street
There are still plenty of fancy dress shops (that’s what I call all the clothes shops down here) but I can’t see me wearing any of it – I’m staring at a pair of sequinned pyjama bottoms at the moment. The next shop along is selling a bright purple shirt with bobbles on the cuffs. Or how about these velvet trousers with tassels dangling from the ankles? Does anybody really wear this stuff?
The most interesting building is probably the big pub on the corner that was supposedly opened by two of Shakespeare’s distant relatives. Check out that statue of the bard poking his nose over the top windowsill like he’s staring into the street. Notice how he’s missing a hand that got blown off in the Blitz.
It’s also worth popping inside Kingly Court if you fancy something to eat. It’s like a little indoor beach street with illuminated trees and tables.
If you enjoy this then try Oxford Street (you can walk it in 7 mins) and Regent Street (you can walk it in 6 mins). If you’re into the Swinging Sixties then you might like to visit the Jimi Hendrix flat at Handel & Hendrix in London
The author Craig Cross owns city-guide.london and has spent the last decade reviewing the capital’s landmarks, attractions and hotels. His guidebook London Squire is available from Amazon
Your comments and questions
PH Yeah anyone who is expecting Austin Powers to run down it with a big brass band are going to be disappointed
Sim How far is Oxford Street from Carnaby Street?
Craig Hi Sim. It's only a two-minute walk from the top end. You just go past Liberty, past the London Palladium in Argyll Street, and then you'll be standing in Oxford Circus
AlexB It is worth us seeing Carnaby Street? Is there anything else nearby to do?
Craig Hi AlexB. Personally I think it's only worth visiting if you actually want to buy some clothes. There's nothing really to 'see' anymore - it's just a shopping street. There are a few other famous shops nearby like Liberty and Hamleys (Selfridges isn't too far away either). The only real attraction nearby is Jimi Hendrix's old flat - city-guide.london/attractions/handel-and-hendrix-in-london.php. After that you have to walk down Regent Street to get to places like Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square
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