London doesn’t really have a downtown area. The tourist attractions are all spread out across London as are the hotels and accommodation options with it comes to where to stay in London. As a first-time visitor, this can be overwhelming as you decide what’s the best areas to stay in London.
I have also linked some of my London posts throughout this post to help you visualise some of the places I mention below as well as links to help you put together your London itinerary.
Deciding on the best areas to stay in London can be a bit difficult, especially in a city as populated as London, but, the good thing is that London has a well-regulated and interconnected public transportation system of bus and trains that can get you to between your hotels and must-see tourist attractions London.
When exploring London it is always beneficial to have access to something like a London Pass with access to 90+ attractions offering incredible savings on entry fees to attractions in London.
CONTENTS
- 1 The Best Areas To Stay In London At A Glance
- 2 Choosing Where to Stay In London
- 3 Best Areas to Stay in London
- 3.1 Staying In Southwark & Waterloo
- 3.2 Staying In Chelsea and Victoria
- 3.3 Staying In Shoreditch
- 3.4 Staying In Brixton
- 3.5 Staying In Kensington, Knightsbridge & Earls Court
- 3.6 Staying In Camden
- 3.7 Staying In Covent Garden
- 3.8 Staying In Soho
- 3.9 Staying In Leicester Square
- 3.10 Staying In Westminster and Southbank
- 4 Where To Stay In London First Time
- 5 Best Area To Stay In London For Families
- 6 Where To Stay In London For A Weekend
- 7 Best Places To Stay In London On A Budget
- 8 Best Area To Stay In London For Nightlife
- 9 Best Area To Stay In London For Tourist Attractions
The Best Areas To Stay In London At A Glance
- Bloomsbury & Fitzrovia – Best areas to stay in London for museums, affordable B&Bs, universities, access to Tottenham Court Road.
- Marylebone & Mayfair – Best areas to stay in London for shopping, hotels, restaurants, smaller museums, access to Hydeparl, embassies and some nightlife.
- Soho, Oxford Street, Covent Garden & Westend – Best areas to stay in London for shopping, restaurant, cinema, nightlife, opera, National Gallery.
- Camden – Best areas to stay in London for food and clothing markets, pubs, alternative music, regents canal.
- Greenwich – Best areas to stay in London for museums, Greenwich Maritime line, parks, sweeping views of Thames River and pubs.
- Westminister – Best areas to stay in London for historically significant buildings, parliament, Downing Street and other government sights.
- City of London – Best areas to stay in London for the financial district, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shard and St Pauls
- Southwark – Best areas to stay in London for markets, pubs and groceries, affordable hotels.
- Victoria & Chelsea – Best areas to stay in London as it has a mix of high-end and low-budget accommodation, independent boutiques, wealthy homes and residents.
- Kensington and Knightsbridge – Best areas to stay in London for shopping, cafes and french pastries, museum hotels, high-end hotels and a great place to spot celebrities.
- Nottinghill – Best areas to stay in London for restaurants, pubs, markets and antique shops.
Choosing Where to Stay In London
Depending on what you want to do and the sites you want to see, you can choose the London district that is closest to your preferred entertainment sites. But, with London’s interconnected public transportation system, you can quickly get around London once you get your Oyster card or you have it combined with the London Pass, allowing you to explore via public transport and tours. Further below I have provided additional recommendations on places to stay in London for nightlife, or if traveling with kids or if you are looking for budget areas to stay in London.
Getting Around In London
Getting around London is super easy as we have the London underground, buses, overground and we have the MNBA ferries on the Thames too. Pro Tip; some of the stations in London look far apart but its a lot quicker to walk between them than to use the underground to get between.
Below I have also shared both the London Tube map and the map of the London Boroughs, this will give you an idea of where the best areas to stay in London mentioned below are located on the map. You can also download the tube map below as well as download it from the Transport for London site where you also have a journey planner you can use to help you plan your journey and fares around London.
The trains and buses are almost always on time, and the stations or bus stops can tell you how long before the next bus or train. Or, you can download the Transport for London Live Bus Countdown app. To get around you’ll need to get an oyster card which is quite easy at one of the Oyster machines at the train station or the airports. The card can be topped at any oyster machine or online.
The card is valid on the trains (tube), bus, and river routes. For all areas not covered by the tube, the bus can help. You can also use a contactless bank card in place of the Oyster card, but you need to keep in mind your bank’s conversion rates and bank fees you may incur.
Also Read: How to get from London Airports to central London
London Tube Map
London Tube Map – You can save to your device and zoom in.
Know What Areas In London Provide Better Access to Attractions
Below is a map of the boroughs in London to give context to the guide below on the best areas to stay in London. You can refer to this map below if confused about some of the places mentioned below. When looking for where to stay in London many tourists want to be close to the tourist attractions so some of the best places to stay in London include; Southwark, City of Westminister, Camden, Southwark, Greenwich, City of London, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea.
Safe Places To Stay In London
When it comes to nice areas to stay in London, there are plenty. If you are looking for popular places to stay in London there are plenty of areas for that too. I think what is sometimes harder for people to judge especially new visitors to London, is the safe parts of London or the safest London neighborhoods.
All of the places I have mention below are places that I would happily stay in myself but have also recommended them because of the ease to get to, their close proximity to tourist attractions but also because they are pretty safe. While deciding what neighborhood to stay in London, might be difficult, I have hopefully made it slightly easier for you to make that decision.
For places I wouldn’t recommend you stay in, these include Waltham Forest, Newham and some parts of Tower Hamlets. None of these are included below anyway.
Map Of The Boroughs In London
Map Of The Boroughs In London
Best Areas to Stay in London
Below are some of the best hotels in London and the best areas to stay in London for tourists visiting the city. So whether you are visiting for a day, a week or sticking around for a few months, the below should give you an idea of where to stay in London to get the most of your exploring of London attractions.
Staying In Southwark & Waterloo
Southwark is the best area to stay for: Museums and attractions, markets, pubs and gourmet food and groceries.
This is one of my favourite places to hang out in London as I have detailed on one of my posts covering London Southbank. Staying in London’s Waterloo and Southwark – and by Southwark, I mean Borough High Street area, Bermondsey, Blackfriars, Elephant and Castle, London Bridge areas because Southwark as a borough is quite big. Staying in Waterloo and Southwark means you have tourist attractions right on your door step.
Big Ben, Tate Modern, St Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, the Shard, to name a few are all within walking distance. There are plenty of options to stay in this area from Airbnb to holiday rental apartments in London to beautiful hotels in every budget from frugal to Luxury budgets.
Some of which I have covered on the blog, like waking up to London views from The Shangri-La Hotel within the Shard. For budgeting tips when visiting London, check out my post on money-saving hacks for trips to London.
Tourist attractions near Southwark and Waterloo: Big Ben, Tate Modern, St Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Tower of London.
Some of the best hotels around hear include:
- Park Plaza Waterloo, Park Plaza Westminister Bridge, Hamptons – Close to Waterloo Station and a short walk to Big Ben, Westminster Abbe, Southbank and London Eye.
- Ibis Blackfriars, Novotel, Hilton Bankside, Travel Lodge Blackfriars, Premier Inn – Close to Blackfriars Station and a short walk from Tate Modern and St Pauls Cathedral.
- Grange Hotel Tower Bridge, Hilton Tower Bridge, Shangri-La At The Shard – Close to London Bridge Station and only a short walk to Tower Bridge, Tower Castle, that’s if you cannot already seem them from your hotel room.
Staying In Chelsea and Victoria
Chelsea is the best area to stay for: big townhouses, upscale homes, boutiques as well as some low budget towards Victoria.
If you want to enjoy a spot of shopping, then you will enjoy the high-end stores in Chelsea. Located on the River Thames, it’s amongst one of the more affluent areas of London. If you choose to stay in Chelsea in London, make sure to check out the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square and the Saatchi Gallery located at the Duke of York Square.
If you’re a football fan (soccer in America), take in a match at the Chelsea football club stadium at Stamford Bridge, or enjoy a tour of the stadium. You also have Sloan Square and Knightsbridge which are a mecca for London’s upscale boutiques.
Tourist attractions near Chelsea include: Harrods, Sloan Street, Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum and Battersea Park.
Some of the best hotels in the area include:
- San Domenico House Hotel
- Sloane Square Hotel
- Knightsbridge Hotel
- Draycott Hotel
- Harrods Knightsbridge Apartments
Staying In Shoreditch
Shoreditch is the best area to stay for: Edgy and artsy vibe, Asian cuisine, galleries and clothing, night clubs
Shoreditch, like Southbank, is one of my favourite places in London. This could once have been described as desolate and rough, Shoreditch has transformed into a chic London neighbourhood. Located in the east end of London, it’s home for a lot of creative personalities and neighbour to the district of Hoxton. The eastern area of Shoreditch is primarily residential, and the westerns section has the nightlife.
The west of Shoreditch hosts several nightclubs and bars located in the Shoreditch high street area. You have streets filled with colourful street art as this place forms a backdrop to many of London’s coolest street tours, some of which I have documented on the blog.
If you are a lover of food then this post on exploring Shoreditch through food spots might be one to check out. For Cheap hotels in Shoreditch check out my recent post.
Tourist attractions near Shoreditch: Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane Vintage Markets and Street Art.
Some of the best hotels in Shoreditch include:
Staying In Brixton
Brixton is the best area to stay for: Carribean vibes and influence, markets, nightclubs and live music.
Located in South London, Brixton is a lively area that never sleeps with a down-to-earth vibe. This multicultural area offers a multiplicity of ethnic culinary fare. Enjoy street food, clothes, and more in Brixton Market. Visit the first free public library in London at the Brixton State Library. You can also visit the O2 Academy Brixton, a large venue for live stage shows.
A lot of cool cafes with an elegant flair have sprouted in recent years. Definitely, a great place to stay in London especially if you want to hang out with the London locals as well as whether you are staying a little bit longer in London as prices might be a lot cheaper than say, Kensington or even Waterloo and Southwark.
Tourist attractions near Brixton: Brixton Market, London nightlife, Pop Brixton, Brockwell Lido.
Some of the best hotels in Brixton:
Staying In Kensington, Knightsbridge & Earls Court
Kensington is the best area to stay for: Shopping, museums, luxury, cafes and celebrity spotting
Kensington is an upscale neighbourhood in West London with plenty of celeb appeal and lifestyle. The commercial heart of the district is Kensington High Street which can often be seen crowded with shoppers and tourists. You can browse antiques at stores along Kensington Church Street or more chic boutiques on Kensington High Street.
This is among the expensive neighbourhoods in London so expect to pay a premium to stay in Kensington, Knightsbridge and Earls Court. This is the area where you will find department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols in addition to the famous luxury boutiques.
Some of the entertainment areas include the Natural History Museum where you can see dinosaurs, and the Science Museum which gives you a hands-on experience of many of London’s museums to check out during your visit. Take in vintage furnishing at the Kensington Palace and enjoy live classical concerts at the Grand Royal Albert Hall. A short walk you could be exploring at Kensington Palace. For hotels in Kensington click here.
Staying In Camden
Camden is the best area to stay for: Markets, younger crowd, punk vibe, pubs, live music and alternative music.
Camden is a charming area to stay. You’ll enjoy the Camden market in Camden Town which sells a variety of crafts and cultural items. It’s a perfect market for souvenirs from your trip to London. Among London’s markets, the likes of Borough Market, Portobello Market, Camden Market is another unmissable market in London.
The market is located alongside the Regent’s Canal. The area is popular with tourists, teenagers, and gothic personalities. It has a thriving nightlife with live music, clubs, and old schools pubs. You can’t stay in Camden without visiting the Shaka Zulu Restaurant or the London Zoo. There are also several parks including the popular Regent Park. For additional inspiration on things to do in Camden see the link post.
You can easily access the area using the northern line of the London Underground from the Camden Town Train Station. Although more suited to the younger crowds, a short ride on the canal you will find yourself in Marylebourne and Paddington with plenty of accommodation suited to the young at heart and those with children as it has plenty of quieter spots without feeling like you are living in the middle of an entertainment hub.
Tourist attractions near Camden: Camden Market, Regents Canal, Regents Park, Amy Winehouse Statue, Jewish Museum, Freud Museum.
Staying In Covent Garden
The best area to stay for: theatre shows, restaurants, 24-hour London, pubs, markets, cinema, nightlife
Located in the Westend of London, Covent Garden is the main entertainment and theatre area. You can enjoy live theatre shows at the Royal Opera House or live shows at the Apollo Theatre. Check out my post on the best shows in the Westend to check out.
Other entertainment activities include the London Transport Museum. Take in some of the street performers on your way to enjoy the architectural beauty of the St. Paul’s Church, which is not too far from here.
The Covent Market – also known as the Apple Market – has loads of crafts, fashion stores for you to shop to your heart’s content. This is also where you will find the little Instagram paradise that is Neals Yard. There are hotel accommodations available and many restaurants and entertainment spots to choose from. For more hotels in Covent Garden click here.
Tourist attractions near Covent Garden: London Transport Museum, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, London Theatreland, Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden Market, the famous London telephone boxes with the ballerina.
Some of the best hotels in the Covent Garden include:
Staying In Soho
Soho is the best area to stay for: nightlife, shopping and 24-hour restaurants and casinos.
In the West End is the London red-light district of Soho. From its fashionable history for the aristocracy, it’s been one of the main entertainment districts in London since the 19th century. Today, it’s the energetic heart of the West End with an eclectic mix of eating and entertainment options and is never quiet.
Firth, Old Campton, and Beak are the main areas of activities at night with multiple jazz clubs and restaurants while theatre fans can head to Shaftesbury Avenue for shows. For hotels in Soho check out my guide to hotels in London Soho.
Tourist attractions near Soho: London nightlife, gay and LGBTQ night clubs, theatres, casinos and boutiques. Great for celebrity spotting.
Staying In Leicester Square
Leicester Square best area to stay for: nightlife, shopping and 24-hour restaurants and casinos
Also located in the West End, Leicester Square is one of the entertainment areas of London. Find the famous Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and China Town nearby. It is the site of British movie premieres and also some of the more expensive movie theatres in London. Tourists and locals enjoy visiting the restaurants and bars in the nights as the area comes even more alive.
Tourist attractions near Leicester Square: Theatres, 24-hour nightlife and restaurants, casinos, National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden.
Some of the best hotels in the Leicester Square include:
Staying In Westminster and Southbank
Southbank is the best area to stay for: river views, tourist hot spot, riverside entertainment
The city of Westminster located in Central London is also a part of the famous West End area. It is home to some of the most famous monuments and buildings in London on the north bank of the River Thames. These include the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Palace of Westminster – aka House of Parliament, and the Westminster Cathedral. You shouldn’t miss the 150+-year-old Big Ben, one of London’s most famous landmarks. Trafalgar Square is also in Westminster and the area is one of the easiest to go around by foot. For more hotels in Westminister and Southbank click here.
Tourist attractions near Southbank and Westminister: Big Ben, Westminister Bridge, Downing Street, National Theatre, Somerset House, Southbank Food Market, London Eye.
Some of the best hotels in Near Westminister’s Big Ben include:
- Premier Inn County Hall
- Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
- The Walrus Bar and Hostel
- St Ermin’s Autograph Collection Hotel
Where To Stay In London First Time
Best Area To Stay In London For First Time Visitors
If you are looking for the best area to stay in London as a first-time visitor then my next question to ask would be whether you are coming for a short visit, say a weekend, 2-3 days in London or a week or more. If it’s a short visit, choosing where to stay in London for the first time, I would recommend Southwark and Waterloo as they are super close to tourist attractions and really walking distance.
This gives you access to Big Ben, Tate Modern, London Eye, St Pauls, Tower Bridge Borough Market, the shard and more, among some of the 20 top tourist attractions to see in London. In the area, you also have a wide range of hotels within walking distance to tourist attractions too.
For budget accommodation, within this area, I would remember looking at my post on the best hostels in London as that gives you an overview of hostels in London Bridge, Waterloo, St Pauls and Liverpool street.
For mid-range places to stay for first-time visitors, you have the likes of Hilton, Hampton, which are in Waterloo, which means a 10-minute walk to Big Ben or London Eye to 5 minutes bus to Trafalgar Square and the Westend. Then Ibis, Novotel and Holiday Inn and Hilton which are a short walk to Jubilee Line’s Southwark station which are a short walk to Tate Modern, St Pauls Cathedral and Tower Bridge.
For something a little Lux in this area then you are looking at Mondrian on Blackfriars Bridge, Grange Hotel next to St Pauls or The Shard in London Bridge. For additional hotels for first-time visitors to London see the link above for Southwark, Waterloo and London Bridge.
If you are a first time visitor in London then I would look for places to stay within zones 1-4, as the gives you more leeway on places to stay, whether you want budget accommodation, luxury hotel or whether you want an apartment and also don’t mind commuting. So I wouldn’t really root out places even as far and wide as Canary Wharf or Hampstead Heath depending on budget and plans for your exploring.
Best Area To Stay In London For Families
Where To Stay In London With Kids
This is usually a tough one to answer as the answer depends on whether you are a family looking to save money or money is no object. If you are looking at quiet places to stay with kids as well as amenities for children then look at Greenwich, there are some Lovely flats in the area to rent as well as the beautiful Greenwich park for the kids to run around until their little hearts are content.
You also have places the around Hyde Park like Marylebone, Mayfair, Knightsbridge Paddington, and Kensington. You have the beautiful Hydepark with Pedlos on the Serpentine, there are beautiful cafes and galleries in the park, you can also find the beautiful Little Venice here as well as the and you are also close to the shopping Mecca that is Oxford street as well as theatres but not too close that you will be hit with the noise or hustle and bustle.
There is a great choice of hotels and homes to rent here too. The only thing to be aware of is that it tends to be pricier than places like Greenwich but you can still find bargains.
The other place to consider for the best areas to stay in London for families is surrounding Regents park. This is where you can find the Regents Park Zoo, the beautiful park is perfect for kids. Here you have Primrose Hill too with great views of London and again you are not too far from Paddington for Little Venice. So look at places in Fitzrovia, Primrose Hill, Bloomsbury. Other places to consider are Battersea Park area. Again plenty of hotel and rental home options.
Where To Stay In London For A Weekend
Visiting London For 2 Days or Shorter Visits
If you are looking for where to stay in London for a weekend or short visit then the response would be same as above for where to stay in London first time as that included where to stay to be located fairly central in London to maximize the time you have in the city.
Best Places To Stay In London On A Budget
Best Place To Stay In London For Backpackers
For best places to stay in London on a budget, I would check out my post on hostels as that also includes student halls which can usually be rented during the summer and most. If hostels are not your thing then check out Travelodge which you can now find fairly way located but even though this is a budget accommodation, I have found that the prices are not really budget when they are centrally located. You need to book well in advance for them. For budget accommodation, this is a list of budget accommodation in London which you can then filter down by location as recommended above.
Best Area To Stay In London For Nightlife
Shoreditch & Camden
If you are coming to London for the nightlife then the best area to stay in London for nightlife are Shoreditch, Brixton, Camden and the Westend. Shoreditch is more of the younger crowd say, 19-25 years, there are plenty of bars, pubs and music events to cater to that audience, in addition, you also have Camden Market here which is a much visit.
You then have Shoreditch and Brixton both places which have been revived in recent years and I guess I would classify both these areas as places that are still very hype and filled with creatives but more suited I guess to 25-year-olds and up. Shoreditch has plenty of Street Art, you have cafes, design studios, markets, restaurants over a background of London’s Business district. You can see what I am talking about in a couple of posts I have made on the blog covering Shoreditch.
Brixton
Brixton is similar to Camden but like I said for a slightly older crowd, and by old I mean 25 year olds, 30 years old and up, a more sophisticated crowd, the work hards and play hard with a touch of creative streak as you have jazz events, cool cafes with a little more adult ambiance to them but you also get to mingle with plenty of locals too. There are markets too. I wouldn’t consider it central but its easily accessible and not always on the radar of tourists mostly.
Soho & Westend
You also have Soho and Westend which are perfect places to stay in London for nightlife as they are alive with enterainment, bars, nightclubs, casinos, shops and all. This place is alive and always awake. Again you can still find a quiet spot to sleep and prices in this area are a little steeper than most parts in London.
Best Area To Stay In London For Tourist Attractions
Best Area To Stay In London England For Sightseeing
So, you want to the best areas to stay in London for tourists or want to be close to the sightseeing attractions in London? Then ideal locations would be London Bridge, Borough, Waterloo, Pimlico, Westend, Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Kings Cross, Blackfriars, Kensington, Shoreditch Battersea, Vauxhall and Greenwich.
This includes their immediate surrounding area as they easily accessible to tourist attractions in London and usually within walking distance to sightseeing as I have highlighted above. With over overall not going in too a lot of detail, I think that kind of gives you an idea of the places to start your search for where to stay in London depending on your plans and budget need.
Have you decided where you will be staying when you visit London? If you’ve been to London, tell us which area was your favourite and why.
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Most times, I just wonder why every spot is scattered round London. These definitely helps as we have been trying to figure out where to stay in London for the first time visit we have coming up in November. I am looking for somewhere to stay close to Big Ben, can you recommend some budget hotels in London close to tourist attractions.
Hi Dan, if you are looking to stay in Big Ben, then I would suggest looking at hotels under Waterloo and Southwark Area as well as Blackfriars, Borough and London Bridge above as they are all really central. Plenty of easy access to Big Ben as well as many other tourist sights in London. These areas are perfect for where to stay in London for first-time visitors.
Excellent list. I visited London many years ago when I was a child. I believe I was 7 years old. Now that I am in my 30’s I want to go back but I am worried about the rise in crime. It seems like there is something bad happening in London on a weekly basis. Not sure where to stay in London or which is the best areas to stay really Which area would you say has the least amount of crime?
Hi Nicole, yes that is always on the news lately. I assure you not every area of London is a crazy as the news makes it. If you are looking for where to stay in London, there are plenty of places to choose from and the places I have mentioned above are all pretty safe. However to answer the last part of your question as to which areas have the least crimes that would be pretty most all the places listed above. If you are looking for tips on where to stay in London for first-time visitors, that is covered in the post, but what I didnt cover are perhaps places to stay away from. I would say, and I am sure I will get stoned for this one, I wouldnt book a place in Hackney, Bethnal Green areas. Unless you have grown up there and can handle yourself, this is not somewhere I am even comfortable exploring these days.
Just visited London town last summer Bianca. We searched high and low for where to stay in London for a weekend. We ended up staying in the Battersea area at an Air BnB and had a lovely time. Battersea Park is beautiful and there are a number of fantastic restaurants to choose from. If you’re spending any time in London, do as Bianca suggests and get an Oyster pass. London has a terrific mass transit system and you can get just about anywhere within a reasonable time. I used my Oyster pass every day and it was well worth the money.
Thank you for your comment. I am glad you have a great time staying in London’s Battersea. That is such a beautiful place to stay in London. I hope you managed to check out the beautiful Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park and right on the embankment.
Westminster, always been one place have longed to visit, particularly the House of Parliament. Was wondering what the price range could be for some of the best hotels around.
It’s not to far from Waterloo or even London Bridge, Elephant and castle all have affordable places to stay in London. As far as staying in Westminister itself it depends on your style of comfort. There are hostels as I shared in my post on London Hostels that are stone’s throw from Big Ben. You also have Plaza, Travel Lodge, Ibis and Hamptons for mid-range, there is a Marriott and Royal Horse Guards hotels for something in the luxury arena.
My friends and I are planning to visit London sometime next year, although we are first-time visitors we really love good music, classical. where will be the best place to stay in order to access London’s finest tunes?
You have a couple of options, by that do you mean live shows, what sort of genre? If you want show music and love theatres then definitely near the Westend or even near Waterloo, London Bridge as they are all accessible to the Westend. If you love live music then I would check out Camden Town which as plenty of live music venues and frequently hosts live bands. Shoreditch is the same. They also have a more jazzy side of tunes though. Hope that helps, then the rest is really more about what your budget easy. I have provided links above which you can the filter out to find your perfect stay in London within your budget and areas of London you prefer.
Oh Wow! You have outdone yourself here ma’am! We are excitedly planning a trip to London next year and have been trying to figure out where to stay in London. Looking like you have covered all bases here; best area to stay in London for first-time visitors, best areas to stay in London as a tourist, best areas to stay in London for sightseeing, best areas to stay in London with family, literally everything we are trying to figure out. I am visiting with my daughters, and you seem to have covered the family aspect, but we also want to stay near tourist attractions and you have covered where to stay as first-time visitors to London. Really you have made our life easier! Not sure whether to pretend I know what I am talking about when I speak with my husband later or whether to face up and tell the family about your post. Either way, thank you!!!
That’s amazing Janet! Glad you found it…and definitely share the post with family…they may just be planning a return trip after you visit our amazing city.
I am visiting Dublin next year for work but will have a week to spare I have been looking for tips on best areas to stay in London as a tourist, I really couldnt have found a better guide. Thanks for this. Now if only you had similar for Dublin as I still haven’t secured where I will be staying when I arrive in March next year…
Hi Naima, Dublin is such a cool city. My husband is currently working there at the moment. So maybe I will have neighbourhood guide soon. All the best with your London visit.
I visit London for work a lot and will be heading back for the first time for a holiday with my wife and kids. This is amazing. You not only have the best area to stay in London for tourists but the best hotels for tourist as well. Amazing list of places. Thanks!
That’s awesome to hear. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for finally doing a guide on where to stay in London neighborhoods and best areas to stay. We will be visiting London next year and it looks like I have plenty of time to work my way through these areas to find a place for our week long trip in London in April.
I am a student and I will be visiting London for a couple of weeks for a course and want to know where to stay in London for a month. Please help?!
Hi there, if you have a month in London. Firstly I am not sure of what budget you have so I will make a general assumption in my recommendation. Have you looked into Airbnb, or appartments? Depending on when you are coming to London there are plenty of options for accommodation. If coming in the summer you do have the option to rent student halls, there are cheaper hotels, bed and breakfasts. This really depends on your budget. Have a look at booking.com, airbnb for options. Hope that helps
Amazing post Bee. We are heading to London and I knew I could count on your for tips on where to stay in London central location hotels in the city.
Thank you!!! 😀
Hi Bianca, we are going to be in London over Christmas and new years and wanted to get your advice on where to stay in London on new years eve.
Hi Julietta. My namesake! 😀 If at all possible have a look at some of the apartment options above. You can certainly book apartments on booking.com these days. As far as where to stay in London for new years eve, you want to be as close as possible to London Eye as this is where all the fireworks happen. Have a look at hotel and apartment options in Piccadilly, Waterloo, Westminster, Blackfriars and London Bridge as you will have plenty of access to transportation for the new years fireworks. All those areas allow you plenty of access to tourist sights and be able to see the new year eve celebrations too.
Hey, we only have 48 hours in London, do you know where to stay in London for 2 days to make the most of the time we have. We are flexible with our budgets.
Hi Jona, If you have 2 days in London I would highly recommend close to the tourist attraction to make it easier to explore. Places above near Westminster, Waterloo, London Bridge all have plenty of amazing hotels considering you have a flexible budget; Plaza in Waterloo, Sofitel in Piccadilly, Vista Hotel on Trafalgar, there is also Strand Palace hotel and Walforf Hotel on Strand. You can also held toward London Bridge, there are a couple of hotels right next to Tower Bridge and Tower of London. If you want luxury there is also the Shard too. Hope that helps.
Hi, can you recommend where to stay in London cheaply? We will be in London for about a week and looking for where to stay in London during Christmas?
Hi Linda, Christmas and December in general tend to be quite expensive so finding someone to stay in London that is cheap is bit of a task. Please check out my other post on hostels for additional options as hostels also do have private rooms. Otherwise above I also have places like Ibis, Travel Lodge, Holiday Inn which are all fairly reasonable in price.
Hi Bee, can you recommend the best area to stay in London with family?
I had no idea London had so many amazing neighboorhoods. We have been search for where to stay in London near attractions and stumbled on your blog post. My oh my this post blew my minds. You have really shewn a light on so many amazing areas to stay in London that I wasnt even aware of. Thanks to you my wife have booked an apartment in Mayfair as she also wants to stay somewhere good for shopping in London as I believe its close to Oxford Street and Knightsbridge for Harrods.
Thats great. I am so glad you and your wife found somewhere perfect to stay in London. I hope you enjoy your stay.
I absolutely love your blog. I am moving to London in 2 months and have been trying to figure out the best neighborhoods to stay in London while I search for apartments. Not sure if I will be able to find something before I arrive or whether to hotel/hostel it and look for something when I arrive. Either way. Great guide. THANK YOU!
Hi Bee. Can you recommend where to stay in London Shoreditch. I am super excited for my first trip to London and heard that Shoreditch is a pretty cool area to stay in London. Would appreciate your response and opinion.
Hi Hannah, Shoreditch is a pretty cool place to stay there are markets, cafes, shops street art and its an all round great place to stay in London. You might also want to check out my post on cheap hotels in Shoreditch London as well as my posts on shopping in Shoreditch as well as streetart in Shoreditch. I hope that helps
Hi Bee, my husband and I are keen walkers and are looking for tips on the best place to stay in London for walking. Any places in London you can recommend for us to stay?
Hmm I would say Anywhere near the river so that you can walk along the Themes Walk and Southbank/Northbank embarkment. That means places like London Bridge, Waterloo, Blackfriars, Vauxhall, Battersea, Westminister all great places. But all places near Hydepark, Greenwich all have amazing parks great for walks. Hope that helps.
My girlfriend and I are only in London for a short visit and wanted tips on where to stay in London for a weekend. These tips are pretty awesome. I still haven’t got a clue where we are staying yet but wanted to thank you for your post.
Thank your for your comment. I hope you manage to find a cool spot to stay in London.
We are flying to London in March and have been trying to figure out the best areas to stay in London on vacation. I must say I am impressed with your blog and most of all this post. I already feel like I know many parts of London making finding where to stay in the city a lot easier. Thanks Bee.
Thats great to hear Alex. Have a great time in London.
We are visiting London soon and wondered if you can recommend the best place to stay in London in December? We would love to be close to the tourist attractions too as we are hoping to see the beginning of 2019 in London too.
Hi Belinda, you might also be interested to check out my post on places to stay in London for NYE but the above provides details on choosing the best location what your activity plans in London. If you are staying in London into the new year, then my other post also covers best place to stay in London new years eve and which hotels allow you to see the fireworks. All the best and enjoy your stay in London
We have a quick and dirty weekend in London end of January and wondering if you can recommend the best area to stay in London for young adults? If possible somewhere with easy access to night clubs or simply the best areas to stay in London for nightlife please?
Hmm, you might want to consider places like Shoreditch, Waterloo or Westend. These places have plenty of access to cool bars, evening activities and definitely fit well in the category for those looking for where to stay in London for nightlife. All the best and have a great time in London
Its like you read my mind! I have heard so much about Brixton but havent seen many posts about what to stay in London that includs Brixton. I am visiting London in February and looking for where to stay in London for a week, so glad I came across your post. My eyes have been opened to other neighbourhoods to stay in London. Thanks for that.
Thats great Kelli. Glad I have opened up the city for you to choose a place to stay in London. Have a great trip.
We are visiting London in May of 2019 and wondering where to stay in London with family but cannot seem to decide on whether we should hotels or Airbnb? You have done a great job of answering many of the questions we had about which area to stay in London. Which would you recommend between hotel or Airbnb in London
Hi Marta, thats a tough one. I use both Airbnb and hotels when I travel. It really just depends on what is available in the area of the city I want to stay in. I would say have a look at both and see which offers you bang for your buck in facilities, area of London and access to tourist sights. Hope that helps.
Wow, this is amazing! You have made my day with this post. I have been racking my brain about where is best to stay in London for sightseeing. I will be in London for a couple of days so have been trying to figure out where to stay in London for 3 days as well as be as close as possible to the tourist attractions. You have answered all my questions in one post. Thank you so much Bee.
Aww that is music to my ears. Have and amazing stay in London Verinda.
We are going to be spending quite a bit of time in London and wondering where to stay in London for a month? Any places you can recommend?
Hi, I would recommend getting an apartment instead of a hotel. There are plenty of apartment or aparthotel in London. I would recommend looking at Booking.com for apartments and compare with offers on Airbnb to see which offers a better deal for your budget then look at some of the neighborhoods mentioned in the post above.
This is a great post, now just need to figure out how long to stay in London.
Haha…London is such a great city I am sure you will no doubt want to return again and again no matter how long you choose to stay in London. Either way, have a great time.
Absolutely love this guide. Makes it easier to decide what neighborhood to stay in London. Thank you so much! Really helpful!
Thats great news! I love hearing feedback from readers. Thank you so much Norman.
Hi Bee, there is a lot on tips of where to stay in London, just wondering if you know of places where not to stay in London England?
Hmm thats a tough one. London a majority safe city to live and explore but in terms of places I wouldnt recommend to tourists. I would say places like Tottenham Hale, Edmonton and surrounding areas. I wouldnt even feel safe there myself let alone send tourists there.
We are looking for places to stay in London Zone 2 or even 1. I have only ever been to London a layover so wondering where should I stay in London first time. Also only have a few days and would love to be near attractions.
Hi Bee, we are looking for where to stay in London with a Baby. Anywhere you can recommend on your list?
Hi there, this all depends on your budget. There are plenty of places to stay in London with family. Are you looking for somewhere quiet with parks or you want an apartment or hotel with lots of family facilities. If you are looking for hotels or apartments I would recommend, Westend – Hyde park, Kensington, Fitzrovia, Pimlico, Greenwich. All lovely places with lots of great options for hotels, apartments as well as within reach of tourist attractions.
This is by far one of the best guides to where to stay in London I have seen. Not only the best areas to stay in London but hotel recommendations too! Thank you so much!
Thanks Becca. Hope you manage to find a cool place to stay in London.
Thank you for the good writeup. We are on the hunt for the best area to stay in London for first time visitors 2019 March. Just the type of post I was hoping to find. We would love to stay near as many tourist spots as possible and your post is spot on with the details. Will have a look at your other London post too. Thanks
Thats great that you found the post useful. Thanks for your comment.
OMG Just discovered your blog while looking for where to stay in London for cheap. Your blog is giving me life right now. Amazing! Following for such as I am going to Paris after London. Will check your other write-ups.
Glad you found me. Hope you find the other posts on Paris just as useful.
Wow, I have been killing myself trying to figure out good areas to stay in Londno and you have nailed all my questions in one post! From cheap places to stay in London, quirky places to stay in London, I have also head a lot about some of these places but not a lot of posts go into so much details. Thank you so much for this post. Was after the best area to stay in London for sightseeing but got more than I was hoping for. Thank you soo much. Looking forward to my trip to London even more now.
You are most welcome. I have you find a great place to stay in London. Safe travels.
I am a solo traveller and have been trying to figure out the best place to stay in London for solo travellers. This post is great for helping you decide on the best area to stay in London when visit. Thank you for providing such an amazing guide for as newbies on just how to decide on the best area to stay in London first time visits.
Thank you so much for your feedback. Yes, London is big and it can be a little daunting for those trying to find the best area to stay in London when visiting for the first time. I am so glad you found the post useful. I have also tried to also recommend both short term and cheap long term accommodation in London as well as those looking for the best hotels in London for each of those areas in London I would recommend for tourist. Have an awesome stay in London.
My sister recommended I check out your blog as I am visiting London in June for 5 days and looking for where to stay in London during my trip. She was totally right. Your post is so useful. I have been wondering where should I stay in London first time and your post is so informative and really detailed with all the cool things to see in each area in London too. Thank you!
Thank you Jason and thank your sister for me for sharing my blog. I am really glad you found this useful. Have an amazing time in London and if you have any questions at all about what to do in London need an opinion about a hotel or area in London, please dont hesitate to reach out.
I am visiting London for a weekend in and have been looking for tips on where is the best place to stay in London for nightlife and your blog post answered so many of my questions and love that you have also included links to hotels too which make finding a places to stay so easy Thank you so much!
Hi Rick, that is great. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I hope you have an amazing time in London for your weekend.
Such an amazing post Bee. I have been looking for where to stay in London in your 20s as I have a semester in London for my study abroad part of my course and have been looking for a detailed guided on the best areas to stay in London not just for hotels but also somewhere with nightlife too. Thank you so much for this guide.
Hi Ashley, thats really great. So glad you found the post useful I hope you have an amazing semester in London.
Thank you so much for putting this together. We have been looking for where to stay in Dulwich London as we have heard so much about it from our friends moreover we are also looking for where to stay in London with a baby. Would you recommend Dulwich?
Hi Lexi, Dulwich is an amazing place to stay in London. Can be a little expensive but is a great place to stay in London for families are it’s fairly residential and, there are cool cafes, there are parks for walks with the little ones. It really is perfect if you are going to rent a home as there aren’t that many hotels there considering its a fairly residential part of London.
This is by far one of the best where to stay in London blog posts I have seen. I am visiting London for 2 days in March and have been wondering about how to stay safe in London at night as well as where to stay in London first time and your post has really made calm my nerves about where to stay in London for my solo trip to London. I just feel as if I know many of the areas to stay in London as if I have already been to London. Thanks you so much.
That’s awesome Samantha. I am really glad you found the post helpful. London is a pretty safe city to visit. To stay safe in London simple use common sense and do alleyways on your own. Stick to public and well light areas even if it takes a bit longer to get to where you want to go.
Aw, this was an extremely good post. I am visiting London from India in and was wondering if you can tell me where to stay in London for Muslims.
Hi Raja, you can pretty much stay anywhere you like in London, it really doesnt matter your religion but if you want to stay somewhere where there are a lot of Muslims and generally good access to Halal food. East London is great place where you will find a mix of people but also popular with Muslims as you have Brick Lane’s popular Indian food. Also Slough but its really far especially if you are visiting to simply explore and no live. I hope that helps.
This is such a great guide. I have been searching for tips on the best inexpensive places to stay in London or just best economical places to stay in London as everything I found seems so expensive. This is really informative. Thanks.
Wonderful blog! I am wondering if you would know best area to stay in London flying into Gatwick?
Hi Jack, the best area to stay in London flying into Gatwick would be anywhere with easy access to Gatwick express or Thameslink to Gatwick. Thames link passes through Kings Cross, London Bridge, Blackfriars, Croydon. For Gatwick Express you need to stay near Victoria, Pimlico, Southwark or Waterloo. You can also catch the Gatwick train(none express coming from Victoria) from Clapham Junction so you can stay near here too. I have linked to additional posts for hotel recommendations for those areas.
Hi, we are going to be in London for a weekend and are looking for the best area to stay in London for theatres?
Hi Lin, the majority of Theatres are in the westend. So for the best area to stay in london for theatres, you need to look at Waterloo and London Eye area, Victoria, Soho, I have also linked to posts with specific hotel recommendations. The one on Soho lists many places to stay right in the heart of Theatreland. Hope that helps.