London, the esteemed “capital of capitals,” has long been synonymous with wealth, sophistication, and cultural refinement. It is the celebrated royal postcode, a ritzy financial district, and the generational residence of many aristocrats.
London is the largest urban economy in Europe. As such, the city brims with bounties of prosperity, from minted neighborhoods to majestic mansions and an endless trove of upscale bars, clubs, and restaurants.
London is also a rising leader in the realm of pop culture. The city’s live music scene is among the most vibrant in the world, raking in a profit of £6.1 billion in 2024. As pointed out by the Evening Standard, London is also becoming the “new Hollywood” — film production capital here was a record-high £5.64 billion in 2021. That year, over 209 films were being produced in London, and several American studios were also buying studio spaces here.
As such, the British capital is among the most star-studded in the world.
Read on to learn about the celebrities who live in London.
David & Victoria Beckham
David Beckham is one of the generation’s most celebrated footballers, renowned for his signature free-kick takers. In his illustrious 20-year career, he had garnered 19 awards. He was also the first ever English player to win league titles in four countries (Spain, the United States, the UK, and France) and the first from his country to play 100 UEFA Championships.
Victoria Beckham is a singer and fashion designer, renowned for being a member of the 1990s pop band, Spice Girls – the band sold 100 million records worldwide. She established her own eponymous designer brand in 2008.
Both celebrities married with much fanfare in 1999 and accumulated a net worth of £355 million. The couple reside in their £31 million luxury townhouse, nestled in west London’s premier locale, Holland Park. The residence is outfitted with six bedrooms, a gym, a mini football field, an indoor pool, and a detached wing for their son Brooklyn. With beige tones, chevron patterns, and soaring windows, the interiors are decorated with elegant minimalism.
The power couple are out and about in London's most vibrant locales. They have been spotted at Harry’s Bar and Texture in Marylebone and The Lore of the Land in Fitzrovia.
Benedict Cumberbatch, CBE
Benedict Cumberbatch is an English actor noted for his outstanding performances in Sherlock, Hawking, 12 Years a Slave, and Patrick Melrose. The Sunday Times called him one of the “100 Makers of the 21st Century.” He was also ranked fifth in Tatler’s list of "Most Fascinating People in Britain."
Cumberbatch lives with his family on the fringes of Hampstead Heath in a £3.5 million Victorian townhouse. London-born and bred, he has fostered a deep bond with the city – he has shared that some of his fondest childhood memories are from his family home in Kensington.
Cumberbatch’s favourite brunch spot is Blacks, a private club in Soho. He told The Standard that he particularly enjoys their foie gras, terrines, and lamb roasts. He has also been spotted at Giacobazzi's in Hampstead and The Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba is an English actor, rapper, and DJ. He is renowned for his performances in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Beasts of No Nation, and Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw. He is one of the world’s highest-grossing actors and was featured in The Times' "Most Influential People in the World" list.
Elba grew up in East London, in the neighbourhoods of Hackney and Canning. Today, he lives with his family in a Chelsea five-bedroom mansion. Elba’s home features a private garden, and soaring windows presenting panoramic views of the leafy west London neighbourhood. Designed with an opulent, modern aesthetic, plush white walls, abstract art, and sleek furniture adorn the interiors.
Idris Elba owns a high-end wine bar called Porte Noire in Kings Cross. He has been frequently seen jogging or strolling around the minted neighbourhood.
Dame Helen Mirren DBE
British actor Helen Mirren has forged an illustrious career spanning six decades, with noteworthy performances such as her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen and her role in the television series Prime Suspect.
Mirren has been emphatic about her love for London. She told The Standard: “It's only when you go away and live in another city that you appreciate how incredibly beautiful London is.” She currently lives in a 19th century Georgian townhouse in Wapping, as her husband is deeply involved in the east London art scene. Worth £1.6 million in 2012, the residence features four/five bedrooms, independent staff quarters, and delightful views of the communal garden and Thames.
Mirren’s property collection also includes a vacation home in Tiggiano, a mansion in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills, and a luxury property in Lake Tahoe.
Some of Mirren’s favourite London spots include Corelli's, a restaurant in Battersea Park, and Blacks Club in Soho.
Harry Styles
British singer Harry Styles is known for being in the 2010 boy band One Direction. Styles forged an immensely successful solo career thereafter and is now admired for his distinctive aesthetic, showmanship, and philanthropy. Some of his work, such as his album titled Fine Line, has been regarded as among the best of his generation. He has three Grammy Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards, three American Music Awards, and three MTV Video Music Awards under his belt.
Styles boasts an impressive property portfolio, which includes a property in London. In the past, he had owned a Grade II-listed Georgian stucco and a four-bedroom home in north London.
Currently, he resides in a £4 million Grade II-listed 18th-century villa in Hampstead Heath. According to an agent from Glentree Estates, Styles bought the building, which was once a detached mansion, to “restore it to its former glory." Having bought the left-side of the formerly detached home, Styles went on to buy the other half of the house to re-unify both fragments. It has been speculated that Styles took on this ambitious project to build a “fortress for privacy.” Reportedly, he spent nearly £20 million on this venture.
The British pop artist has been spotted relishing sushi in Central London and biking around his north London neighbourhood. He has also been papped at Sketch in Mayfair and Cottons Rum Shack and Restaurant in Camden.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson is a British actress and activist best known and most admired for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series. Time Magazine named her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She is also one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, with a net worth of $85 million.
Oxfordshire-bred Watson made London her home after her rise to stardom, and she now owns a mansion in Canonbury Place in the north of the capital. A 2017 photoshoot revealed glimpses of the interiors— walls in a bright shade of yellow and the space, embellished with offbeat ornaments and antiques. The 2,271-square-foot home was reportedly worth $3.3 million in 2016 when Watson purchased it. She also owns a luxury vacation abode in Meribel, France.
Watson has been spotted in restaurants in Kensington and Covent Garden. She particularly frequents Café Pacifico, a high-end Mexican restaurant.
London is the prestigious postcode of countless celebrities from around the world, including Hollywood stars, musicians, and beloved pop culture icons. The city’s regal architecture, picturesque cityscape, and moneyed economy have forged the ideal homestead for the rich and famous. From world-famous singers like Harry Styles to Hollywood legends like Benedict Cumberbatch, these are some of the celebrities who live in London.
