Where to spot supercars in London

London is one of the best cities in the world for spotting supercars. On a summer evening in the right part of town, you can see more exotic cars in an hour than most people see in a year. Here's where to go, when to go and how to make the most of it.

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge is the heart of London's supercar scene. The streets around Harrods on Brompton Road, including Hans Crescent and Basil Street, are the classic spots, along with Sloane Street and the luxury hotels along Knightsbridge itself. Expensive cars come and go all day as their owners shop, eat and stay in the area, so it's worth walking a loop of the side streets rather than waiting in one place.

Mayfair

Just across Hyde Park, Mayfair is the other big hotspot. Park Lane's grand hotels, such as The Dorchester, regularly have supercars and limousines parked outside, and the area is home to several luxury car showrooms. Berkeley Square, Mount Street and the streets between them are good for everything from Rolls-Royces to rare classics. Mayfair tends to be calmer than Knightsbridge, which makes it easier to take a good photo.

Chelsea and South Kensington

Sloane Square, the King's Road and the streets of South Kensington are full of interesting everyday exotica: classic Porsches, restored Land Rovers, modern supercars and plenty of performance SUVs. It's a great area for spotters who like variety rather than just the most expensive cars.

What you're likely to see

Super-SUVs and luxury cars are everywhere in central London, so you'll quickly fill your collection with Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Range Rovers, Lamborghini Urus SUVs and Mercedes G-Classes. Modern Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens are common in summer too. The real prizes are the hypercars and limited editions that only appear a few times a year.

When to go

• Summer is peak season. From June to early September, many overseas visitors bring their cars to London, so look out for cars on foreign plates. Some of the rarest cars in the world turn up during these months.
• Evenings and weekends are busiest, especially Friday and Saturday nights, when cars arrive at restaurants and hotels.
• Afternoons are good around the shops in Knightsbridge, and quieter for photos.
• Weekday mornings are quieter, with fewer cars about but no crowds to work around.

Car events in and around London

For a guaranteed day of spotting, plan around one of the big car events. Dates change each year, so check before you go. For the whole year, see our UK car events calendar.

• London Concours, usually held in June in central London, brings together rare classics and modern supercars.
• Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, usually in early September, shows some of the rarest cars in the world.
• The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run leaves Hyde Park early on the first Sunday in November. The day before, many of the veteran cars are on show in Pall Mall at the free St James's Motoring Spectacle.
• Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and the Goodwood Revival in September are in West Sussex, an easy day trip from London. Our Festival of Speed guide has tips for the day.
• Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey, the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, holds car events throughout the year.
• Weekend car meets take place around London most weekends. Search social media and local car clubs for the latest.

Spotting etiquette in London

Central London is busy, and the supercar scene works best when spotters are considerate. Don't block pavements or shop entrances, never step into the road for a photo and don't crowd owners or follow cars. Hotel forecourts are private property, so take your photos from the public pavement and do what security staff ask. Keep people's faces out of your photos where you can.

Make it count

With CarSpot, every car you snap becomes a collectible card with its specs, estimated value and rarity tier, and you can see your London spots on a map. New to spotting? Start with our car spotting guide for beginners, then browse the supercars and hypercars in the CarSpot database to see what to look out for.