4 Beautiful Covered Shopping Arcades in London

Step inside London's most elegant Victorian shopping passages — glass roofs, luxury boutiques and 200 years of retail history.

Burlington Arcade — Mayfair's 1819 icon

Opened on 20 March 1819 and built to the order of Lord George Cavendish to designs by Samuel Ware, this 179-metre arcade off Piccadilly is still patrolled by uniformed beadles — and still sells luxury goods as it always has.

Piccadilly Arcade — Edwardian elegance

Opened in 1909 to the design of Thrale Jell, this Grade II listed arcade runs from Piccadilly to Jermyn Street with 28 shops — including Royal Warrant holder Benson & Clegg.

The Royal Arcade — a Victorian time capsule

Completed in 1880 by architects Archer & Green, it keeps its saddled glass roof, decorated stucco arches and Ionic columns — and earned its 'Royal' prefix when Queen Victoria patronised its shirtmaker.

Leadenhall Market — the City's glass-roofed gem

Rebuilt in 1881 by City architect Horace Jones, this Grade II* listed covered market pairs cobbled floors with a wrought-iron-and-glass roof — and stood in for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.

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