Beacon Hill / Charles Street, Boston

Beacon Hill / Charles Street, Boston

Most of the commercial activity in Beacon Hill nowadays centers around its primary street, Charles Street. In the not-so-distant past, this area was renowned for its antique shops, but in recent decades, upscale, independently owned boutiques specializing in gifts, jewelry, and women's clothing have established a presence and occupied the valuable commercial real estate in this affluent neighborhood.

Even if you don't visit any of the shops, you'll be captivated by the design and character of the homes and buildings, as well as the evident dedication of their owners to not only preserve but also showcase them in the best possible light. While many of the street's buildings date back to the 19th century, some received new facades during the 1920s due to widening efforts. The Charles Street Meeting House, designed in 1807, was constructed for a Baptist congregation known for practicing immersion in the nearby river.

For the most celebrated architecture in Beacon Hill, head to Upper Mount Vernon and Chestnut streets, where you'll find Federal-style mansions designed by Charles Bulfinch in the early 1800s. (The charming one-story structures between 50 and 60 Mount Vernon originally served as stables for the elegant residences on the adjacent block at 13, 15, and 17 Chestnut Street.)

Don't forget to take your time exploring Louisburg Square, a picturesque cobblestone street surrounding a central private garden that epitomizes Beacon Hill for many. The neighborhood's delightful Christmas Eve tradition of carolers, bell ringers, and candlelit windows originated here in the 1860s. Additionally, don't forget to wander down Cedar Lane Way and the block-long Acorn Street, the latter of which features cobblestone streets and charming small houses. These dwellings were originally constructed for the coachmen whose employers resided in the mansions on either side.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boston. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Beacon Hill / Charles Street on Map

Sight Name: Beacon Hill / Charles Street
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Boston, Massachusetts

Create Your Own Walk in Boston

Create Your Own Walk in Boston

Creating your own self-guided walk in Boston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Beacon Hill Historic Houses Tour

Beacon Hill Historic Houses Tour

Boston’s historic neighborhood of Beacon Hill is quite a charm! One can spend hours here, admiring the elegant uniformity and restraint of the architecture; at times, perhaps, imagining people from the past in their horse-drawn carriages. Federal-style and Victorian row houses, narrow streets lit by antique gas lanterns, brick sidewalks and lavender-hued windows adorn the area, which is...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Harvard University Walking Tour

Harvard University Walking Tour

The United States’ oldest institution of higher education (and, of course, among the most prestigious), Harvard was established in 1636. Reverend John Harvard, who bequeathed his entire library and half of his estate, is the University’s namesake. Presidents, billionaires and Rhodes Scholars are only some of the illustrious graduates; in fact, Harvard has more Nobel Prize-winning alumni,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Historical Cambridge MA Walking Tour

Historical Cambridge MA Walking Tour

Once a quiet New England farming village-turned capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, today's Cambridge, MA is a university town that dazzles visitors as the home of renowned Harvard University – alma mater of many intellectuals, literary geniuses, celebrities, and wealthy and powerful. Many of America’s elite have spent some time at Harvard, and their contributions to Cambridge have...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Boston Introduction Walking Tour

Boston Introduction Walking Tour

The capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and it had played a key role in the country's struggle for independence. Founded in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England, it witnessed many events of the American Revolution, including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston.

...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
North End Food Tour

North End Food Tour

Boston’s North End is famous primarily for its Italian food. By far not as big as New York's Little Italy, this one-square-mile waterfront community is the oldest in the city, and is packed to the brim with a cornucopia of Italian eateries – restaurants, cafes, espresso bars, pizza and sandwich shops – lined next to each other within just a few short blocks to ensure visitors both a...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Boston's great churches are among the most precious of the city's numerous architectural jewels. What makes them special are their unique styles, elegant facades and long history.

Starting with the Old North Church, which towers in the city’s North End, this journey surely feels like taking a step back in time. Legend was made there, in the very place that Paul Revere waited for...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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