Middle Eastern Neighbourhoods

There are several distinct Middle Eastern neighbourhoods in London.

Edgware Road,W2

Edgware Road remains the heartland of London's Middle East community. Between Marble Arch and the Marylebone flyover the signboards of shops are lettered in elegant wafts of ripples, curves and dots. Names end in "oush" (Fattoush, Tarboush, Maroush) and "Lebanese" becomes the adjective of choice. Around the junction with Connaught Street there is a cluster of Arabic-style cafés complete with pavement tables occupied by patrons smoking sheesha.

Although Edgware Road almost resembles Qasr el Nil Street in Cairo at any time of the year, summer sees the Arabic presence swollen even further by the addition of huge numbers of families of Gulf Arabs escaping the heat back home. The semi-nocturnal habits of the Middle East - where locals shop and socialise by night to avoid the worst of the heat - are transferred to Central London and Edgware Road is at its buzziest and busiest around midnight. It is then a slice of the real Middle East in W2.

Bayswater, W2

Cheaper rents here means there's less of a Gulf Arab presence and more of a Levantine one. Both Queensway and Westbourne Grove have numerous Middle Eastern-owned cafés and restaurants. Café Rapallo, on the ground floor of the area's landmark Whiteleys shopping centre, remains popular with a younger, more female, crowd.

Kensington and Chelsea, W8

There's another Middle East to be found in this wealthy enclave, mainly populated by Iranians. You'll find a grouping of Iranian restaurants and grocers around Kensington Olympia and King's Road. Side streets off Knightsbridge have a smattering of Middle Eastern delis.

Shepherd's Bush, W12

Shepherd's Bush has a truly Levantine feel to it with Syrian, Egyptian and Lebanese communities living to the West of Shepherd's Bush Green. Consequently there are some good spots for Middle Eastern dining. Try Abu Zaad (29 Uxbridge Road) for some excellent Syrian food. A stop off at the always buzzing Market by the Green is a must for stocking up on Levantine ingredients as are the numerous food shops which line Uxbridge Road.