How many restaurants are there in London's busiest areas?
We counted 3,633 restaurants within 1 km of the centres of 14 London areas. Soho is the most crowded at 296.7 per km²; Greenwich is the least, at 19.7.
Mapped
3,633
in 14 areas
Busiest area
296.7/km²
Soho
Average rating
4.5★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Restaurants 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soho4.5★ average | 932296.7/km² | 296.7 | 4.5★ | INTENSE |
| Covent Garden4.4★ average | 759241.6/km² | 241.6 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Shoreditch4.5★ average | 443141.0/km² | 141.0 | 4.5★ | INTENSE |
| Marylebone4.5★ average | 344109.5/km² | 109.5 | 4.5★ | INTENSE |
| Camden Town4.4★ average | 16953.8/km² | 53.8 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Notting Hill4.5★ average | 14847.1/km² | 47.1 | 4.5★ | INTENSE |
| Islington (Upper Street)4.6★ average | 14345.5/km² | 45.5 | 4.6★ | INTENSE |
| Kensington (High Street)4.4★ average | 12740.4/km² | 40.4 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Brixton4.5★ average | 11837.6/km² | 37.6 | 4.5★ | HIGH |
| Peckham4.4★ average | 10533.4/km² | 33.4 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Hackney (Mare Street)4.5★ average | 10232.5/km² | 32.5 | 4.5★ | HIGH |
| Canary Wharf4.4★ average | 10031.8/km² | 31.8 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Clapham4.4★ average | 8125.8/km² | 25.8 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Greenwich4.5★ average | 6219.7/km² | 19.7 | 4.5★ | HIGH |
Where is it least crowded?
- GreenwichHIGH
62 restaurants within 1 km (19.7 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
- ClaphamHIGH
81 restaurants within 1 km (25.8 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- Canary WharfHIGH
100 restaurants within 1 km (31.8 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
Fewer restaurants 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 3,633 restaurants in the 14 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up2,017 (56%)
- 4.0 to 4.41,154 (32%)
- 3.5 to 3.9182 (5%)
- Below 3.567 (2%)
- Under 10 reviews213 (6%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- itsu22 outlets · 6 areas
- McDonald's21 outlets · 6 areas
- PizzaExpress15 outlets · 4 areas
- Bella Italia8 outlets · 2 areas
- Steak and Company6 outlets · 2 areas
- Wasabi Sushi & Bento6 outlets · 2 areas
- Rudy's Pizza Napoletana4 outlets · 2 areas
- Burger King4 outlets · 1 area
- Chipotle Mexican Grill3 outlets · 1 area
- OAKBERRY ACAI3 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 restaurants?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 14 area centres we mapped, density runs from 19.7 per km² in Greenwich to 296.7 per km² in Soho. 14 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 restaurants?
Soho, with 932 within 1 km of its centre (296.7 per km²). Next come Covent Garden (759) and Shoreditch (443).
What is the average rating of restaurants in London?
4.5 out of 5, across the 3,420 restaurants with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Islington (Upper Street) (4.6), the lowest Canary Wharf (4.4).
Which restaurant chains are most common in London?
In the areas we mapped: itsu (22 outlets in 6 areas), McDonald's (21 outlets in 6 areas), PizzaExpress (15 outlets in 4 areas).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every restaurant 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.