How many bars and pubs are there in London's busiest areas?
We counted 1,200 bars and pubs within 1 km of the centres of 14 London areas. Soho is the most crowded at 91.4 per km²; Canary Wharf is the least, at 8.3.
Mapped
1,200
in 14 areas
Busiest area
91.4/km²
Soho
Average rating
4.4★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Bars and pubs by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soho4.4★ average | 28791.4/km² | 91.4 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Covent Garden4.4★ average | 25882.1/km² | 82.1 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Shoreditch4.4★ average | 16151.2/km² | 51.2 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Marylebone4.3★ average | 10132.1/km² | 32.1 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Islington (Upper Street)4.4★ average | 6721.3/km² | 21.3 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Camden Town4.3★ average | 5918.8/km² | 18.8 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Brixton4.5★ average | 4012.7/km² | 12.7 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Kensington (High Street)4.5★ average | 3812.1/km² | 12.1 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Hackney (Mare Street)4.5★ average | 3611.5/km² | 11.5 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Clapham4.4★ average | 3310.5/km² | 10.5 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Greenwich4.4★ average | 3310.5/km² | 10.5 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Notting Hill4.4★ average | 3210.2/km² | 10.2 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Peckham4.4★ average | 299.2/km² | 9.2 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Canary Wharf4.4★ average | 268.3/km² | 8.3 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
Where is it least crowded?
- Canary WharfMODERATE
26 bars and pubs within 1 km (8.3 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- PeckhamMODERATE
29 bars and pubs within 1 km (9.2 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- Notting HillMODERATE
32 bars and pubs within 1 km (10.2 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
Fewer bars and pubs is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 1,200 bars and pubs in the 14 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up481 (40%)
- 4.0 to 4.4593 (49%)
- 3.5 to 3.936 (3%)
- Below 3.58 (1%)
- Under 10 reviews82 (7%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Simmons Bar13 outlets · 3 areas
- Be At One6 outlets · 3 areas
- The George5 outlets · 2 areas
- The Crown4 outlets · 2 areas
- Coach & Horses Mayfair2 outlets · 1 area
- Blue Posts2 outlets · 1 area
- The Ship2 outlets · 1 area
- The Green Man2 outlets · 1 area
- Duke Of York2 outlets · 1 area
- Coach & Horses2 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
Drop a pin on the street you have in mind and see every competitor around it on a map, with ratings and review counts. The scan is free with an account.
Questions
Is London saturated with bars and pubs?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 14 area centres we mapped, density runs from 8.3 per km² in Canary Wharf to 91.4 per km² in Soho. 6 of the 14 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which London area has the most bars and pubs?
Soho, with 287 within 1 km of its centre (91.4 per km²). Next come Covent Garden (258) and Shoreditch (161).
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in London?
4.4 out of 5, across the 1,118 bars and pubs with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Brixton (4.5), the lowest Camden Town (4.3).
Which bar chains are most common in London?
In the areas we mapped: Simmons Bar (13 outlets in 3 areas), Be At One (6 outlets in 3 areas), The George (5 outlets in 2 areas).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of London.