Los Angeles – North of Downtown and the Valley
The neighborhoods north of downtown Los Angeles are the place to experience the (relatively) peaceful daily life of the city. East of glamorous Hollywood, the neighborhoods of Westlake and Silverlake feature relatively quiet streets with beautiful views of downtown skyscrapers. To the north, Griffith Park offers plenty to do and see at the observatory or on nature hikes in the shadow of the famous Hollywood sign. At the northern end of the park are a series of attractions, and nearby are the Warner Bros. and Universal Studios. Universal Studios boasts a famous theme amusement park, which is an amazing outing for the whole family.
How much time do you need for a tour north of downtown LA and in the Valley?
For a tour of the northern neighborhoods of Los Angeles, you should set aside half a day or a few hours. For a visit to Universal Studios, it's recommended to dedicate a full day separately.
10 Must-See and Do Things North of Downtown LA and in the Valley
- A Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium
- The beautiful homes of Silver Lake neighborhood and the reservoir at its heart
- Humming that I won't have the recipe again, at MacArthur Park
- The unique provisional architecture of the Loomis House
- The stunning design of Frank Lloyd Wright at the Hollyhock House
- A view from Griffith Observatory of the iconic Hollywood sign
- The Los Angeles Zoo
- Vintage trains at Travel Town Railroad and the Los Angeles Steam Engine Museum
- See where the famous movies were made on a Warner Bros studio tour
- Spend a whole day with the kids at Universal Studios Hollywood
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What are North Downtown LA and the Valley?
- The neighborhoods north of downtown Los Angeles are pretty standard residential areas with occasional sites and attractions related to the city's history and the film industry
- The neighborhoods in North Los Angeles border the luxury cities lighting up the Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood strip to the east. They may lack Hollywood's glamour, but they offer a taste of everyday Los Angeles life
- This is a hilly area on the southern slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains, combining bustling streets along main roads with quiet areas uphill featuring estate homes
Map of North Downtown LA and the Valley
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Tour Itinerary through North Los Angeles Neighborhoods and the Valley
- Adjacent to downtown Los Angeles is the Echo Park neighborhood with the green Elysian Park. The park is home to the famous stadium of the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Nearby to the west is the charming MacArthur Park, famously mentioned in a 1960s song.
- To the north is the renowned Griffith Park, home to the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory.
- In the northern part of Griffith Park, on the edge of the San Fernando Valley, lies the Los Angeles Zoo along with transportation and train museums.
- Also nearby are the Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.
- Universal Studios also hosts the company's theme amusement park, one of Los Angeles' most popular attractions (alongside Disneyland in Anaheim).
Visiting North of Downtown LA and the Valley
Dodger Stadium
Together with the Staples Center (now known as Crypto.com Arena), the Dodgers' baseball stadium is one of the most famous sports venues in Los Angeles and the entire USA. The stadium is located north of downtown Los Angeles, on the northern side of Chinatown, in the southern part of Elysian Park. It is the easternmost hilly section of the ridge at the foot of which flows the Los Angeles River, which is primarily a transportation hub.
The stadium opened in 1962, about 4 years after the team's move from Brooklyn. In addition to the many games during the MLB regular season, the stadium also hosts concerts and other sporting events. The stadium is an important part of the city's skyline, on the edge between the northern neighborhoods on the southern slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains and downtown LA.
Address: Vin Scully Ave. 1000, Los Angeles
Elysian Park in Echo Park and Silver Lake
The largest park in central Los Angeles is located north of downtown on a hilly section at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. The park is part of the Echo Park neighborhood, centered on Sunset Boulevard, full of trendy restaurants and cafés. The main attraction in the park is the Dodger Stadium in its southern part. The park features several beautiful green spots with viewpoints over downtown and the stadium. The best viewpoint is Angels View, in the southern part of the LAPD police academy.
Silver Lake is a neighborhood in northern Los Angeles between Elysian Park and Hollywood. The neighborhood's homes are built on hilly terrain, allowing for ground-adjacent housing and luxurious mansions. At the heart of the neighborhood is the main water reservoir of Los Angeles, Silver Lake.
MacArthur Park
The park, named after General Douglas MacArthur, is located west of downtown Los Angeles, and west of Koreatown. This small park offers walking paths along a lake filled with ducks, featuring a fountain at its center. The fountain with the backdrop of the Los Angeles downtown skyscrapers creates a unique view of the park. This park was the subject of the famous song performed by Richard Harris in the late 60s.
Lummis Home – El Alisal
The unique home of the Los Angeles Times editor of the past, is located in the neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, slightly north of downtown. Charles Fletcher Lummis built the house using river stones and rocks he gathered from the nearby river. He constructed his home in the early 20th century, embodying ideals of provisional construction inspired by indigenous building techniques. The house is a stunning combination of primitive technology with a familiar western appearance. Today, the house is operated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Visitors can explore the house and the beautiful adjacent gardens.
Address: 200 E Ave 43, Los Angeles
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Hollyhock House
The Hollyhock is one of the unique architectural gems of Los Angeles and the entire West Coast. It is the first house designed in the city by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Built in 1921 on a large estate owned by Aline Barnsdall, it's surrounded by green gardens and local art institutions as part of the Barnsdall Art Park complex. The house was inspired by Mayan temples with Wright's unique touch. Today, you can visit the house and park to learn a lot about this giant of American architecture.
Address: 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
Click here for the museum's current opening hours…
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is one of the most famous attractions in Los Angeles and the city's largest central park. It sits on the eastern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains range, offering a wide variety of attractions and scenic views over the entire metropolis. On its southern side, adjacent to Hollywood, is the famous Hollywood sign that has become the city's symbol.
Beneath the sign stands the famous Griffith Observatory. In the northern part of the park, there are several attractions such as the zoo and a series of museums. Between the observatory and the zoo, along the northern edges with the museums, you'll find vast green spaces of nature, trees, creeks, and more. At the heart of the park lie the remains of the old Los Angeles Zoo, before it was moved to the northern complex.
Los Angeles Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo, established in 1912 as the Griffith Park Zoo. In 1966, it moved north from the heart of the park to its northern edges and was renamed the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The zoo showcases more than 1,200 species of animals, including some rare ones. It excels in its breeding program and efforts to preserve endangered species. Within the zoo grounds is also a large botanical garden with many subtropical plant and tree species. It's a delightful place for a family outing; not as impressive as San Diego's giant zoo in Balboa Park, but it has its own charm.
Address: Zoo Dr. 5333, Los Angeles
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Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum
The unique museum is located next to Ventura Freeway and on the bank of the Los Angeles River at the northern edge of Griffith Park. It was privately opened in 1956 by an association of steam locomotive enthusiasts who wanted to preserve the technology that had become obsolete by then. The museum features displays of miniature train models, unique steam locomotives, and detailed explanations of the groundbreaking 19th-century technology. For train enthusiasts, this is a must-visit site in Los Angeles, as well as the Travel Town Railroad nearby.
Address: Zoo Dr. 5202, Los Angeles
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Travel Town Railroad
The Los Angeles Railway Museum is also located at the northern end of Griffith Park, a short drive from the Steam Locomotive Museum. It opened in 1952 with the aim of preserving and narrating the role of rail lines in the development of the Pacific coast. The museum features a display of unique vintage locomotives, luxurious carriages, and tons of information about the train operators and entrepreneurs who built the rail lines.
Address: Zoo Dr. 5200, Los Angeles
Click here for the museum's current operating hours…
Autry Museum of the American West
The historic and almost ethnological museum is located at the northeast corner of Griffith Park, next to the I-5 freeway and not far from the zoo. The museum presents the history of Los Angeles and Southern California, based on the settlement of the Native American tribes and later the settlement of pioneers who came from Mexico. The museum holds a huge collection of Native American art pieces.
Address: Griffith Park, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles
For the latest museum hours, click here…
Warner Bros. Studios
The famous studios of Warner Bros. are located next to the northwest corner of Griffith Park, in the city of Burbank in the San Fernando Valley. The studios were founded in 1923 by four brothers of the Wonsal family, sons of Jewish immigrants from Poland who settled in Baltimore. The brothers changed their name to Warner and opened the studios in California after trying their hand at producing short films when the industry was still in its infancy.
You can visit the studios where some of the world's most famous movies were produced, such as the Harry Potter films, Casablanca, The Lord of the Rings, and of course, the animated films of Bugs Bunny. The company has prepared and markets a guided tour of the studios called the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, where you can discover all the behind-the-scenes secrets of their most well-known productions.
Address: Warner Blvd. 3400, Burbank
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Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a very popular theme park located a short drive from Hollywood. Based on the historic active studios of Universal's production company, a theme park was also opened where you can enjoy all the fun and experiences from the films produced by the company. The attractions include tours through the settings of some of the world's most famous movies and TV shows, such as The Simpsons, Jurassic World, Harry Potter, and more.
Click here for all the information on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood…
