While stalking celebs is usually the preserve of the paparazzi, a bit of star spotting can be great fun for residents and visitors in any city.
Labelled “Swinging London” during the emergence of pop culture in the 1960s, the UK capital has retained a certain something that continues to draw big names to soak up the unique atmosphere.But amateur celeb spotters need to know where to look if they want to meet their idols in the flesh, and below are a few suggestions of where to start.
Hollywood Actors in the West End
London’s West End theatre district is world renowned as one of the best, and its reputation acts as a huge draw to big Hollywood names. Actors including Nicole Kidman, Kevin Spacey, Daniel Radcliffe, Christian Slater, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes have all taken a turn at treading the boards of London’s famous theatres in recent years.
Wannabe celeb spotters should do their research to discover who is playing where – ideally it would be great to see the play beforehand, but there is no rule saying those who didn’t enjoy the performance can’t linger at the stage door for a chance to meet their Hollywood hero.
Where do famous people eat in London?Ok, so they may just sip mineral water and push lettuce leaves around their plates, but nevertheless these are some of the stars favourite restaurants in London:
- Bombay Brasserie, 140 Courtfield Close, South Kensington. Stars spotted eating ethnic include Will Smith, Goldie Hawn, Mick Jagger, Tom Hanks, Danny DeVito Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman and Bruce Springsteen.
- Fifteen, Westland Place, Islington. Owned by Jamie Oliver and the seat of his global empire. Frequented by friends of the food crusader.
- The Ivy, 1 West Street, London. Perhaps the best known of London’s favourite celebrity restaurants, The Ivy is as close to a sure thing as you can get for celeb spotting in the centre of London. You name them, they’ve eaten here.
- J Sheekey, 28-32 St Martins Court, Covent Garden. This seafood specialist is a great place for star spotters to get a proverbial bite. Big fish customers include Kylie and Hugh Grant.
- Zuma, 5 Raphael Street, Knightsbridge. Uber-cool eatery attracts top name A-listers like Beyonce, Jay-X and the Beckhams.
Stars Frequent London’s Clubs and Bars
The chic watering holes of London attract well known faces on a nightly basis. Some popular drinking spots include:
- Aura, 48-49 St James’s Street, Mayfair. Previous patrons include Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson Naomi Campbell and Billy Zane.
- Chinawhites, 6 Air Street, Westminster.
- The Golden Heart, 110 Commercial Street, Shoreditch. Popular with the arty crowd, this bar has played host to Tracy Emin and boasts supermodel Kate Moss and Babyshambles singer Pete Docherty as regulars.
- The Hawley Arms, 2 Castlehaven Road, Camden. This is the place that poured Amy Winehouse one too many pint. Currently beloved of girl of the moment Peaches Geldof and her crew.
- The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Road, Camden. A favourite haunt of the kings and queens of the indie scene.
- Mahiki, 1 Dover Street, Mayfair, London. If you want some blue blood with your blue bols then this is the place to be as it is a favourite haunt of the young British royals, fans of William and Harry take note.
- Mo*vida, 8-9 Argyll Street, Soho. Great place to spot soap stars, WAGS and reality TV has beens. A pap's heaven.
- No 5, 5 Cavendish Square, Marylebone. A favourite of the A-list, with customers including Charlize Theron and Samuel L Jackson.
- Nobu Berkeley, 15 Berkeley Street, Westminster. Nobu has very high standards, a fact which is appreciated by celeb customers such as Maddoona and Gwynneth Paltrow.
- Taman Gang, 141 Park Lane, Mayfair. Model magnet venue enjoyed by Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell among others.
Where do the Stars Shop in London?
For celeb spotters whose wallets won’t stretch to a slap up meal or whose wardrobe won’t pass muster on the door of a chic nightspot, celebs can be found in their natural (and free!) habitat - the shops! Department stores such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and, of course, Harrods are favourite with big names across the board, while the boutiques of Bond Street exert an unexplainable pull on the stars of stage and screen. For more relaxed shop-and-spot opportunities try Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and the market at Camden Lock.
London is a Star-Spotter’s Paradise!
Big names love the big city, and any wannabe pap who spends enough time on its trendy streets will eventually run into a famous face. Celeb spotters should be prepared – a camera and autograph book will ensure you can prove your once in a lifetime encounter.
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