Street Stories: Campbell Street
May 10, 2026
Campbell Street or Lebuh Campbell is a one-way street within George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was named after Sir George William Robert Campbell, who served as the Penang Inspector General and also, the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang between 1872 and 1873. The street is called Sin-kay (新街) in Hokkien and San-kai in Cantonese, which both also mean ‘the new street’ and ‘new chickens (prostitutes)’. Why? What significant buildings you could find out in Campbell Street? What to eat along the street?
