Where To Stay in London: Best Areas and hotels
When deciding where to stay in London, you have a wide range of neighborhoods and accommodations to choose from.
There are luxurious 5-star hotels, cozy apartments with stunning views, and everything in between. Some areas in London are better than others, with proximity to tube stations and popular attractions.
I’ve explored most of the city over multiple visits and compiled the best areas to stay in London for each type of traveler.
Best Places to Stay in London
If you’re short on time and looking for the best places to stay in London, these are my top picks for each category!
I recommend reading on for an overview of each area/neighborhood in London so you can pick the best area for you.
Best 5-Star Hotel: The Savoy – Covent Garden
Best Budget: Cosy 1 Bedroom – Southwark
Best for First-Timers: The Z Hotel Strand – Covent Garden
Best for Couples: The Ampersand Hotel – 5-star hotel in Kensington
Best for Families: London Bridge Flat – two-bedroom flat in Southwark
Best for Nightlife: Broadwick Soho – rooftop bar!
Best for Solo Travelers: Kensington Studios – studio flat
Best Views: Locke at Broken Wharf – on the river in City of London
Best Areas To Stay in London
While there are many neighborhoods to choose from, the best one for you is an area that suits your preferences, is close to sights you want to see, and feels comfortable.
Whether you’re interested in nightlife, shopping, museums, or something else, each neighborhood has something unique to offer.
These are some of the best areas to stay in London!
Kensington
Kensington is one of my favorite neighborhoods in London. It’s trendy, somewhat upscale, has tons of restaurants and coffee shops, has multiple tube stations, and feels incredibly safe.
South Kensington in particular is a lovely, quiet area close to Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, and a few museums. There are bus stations throughout the area for nearby sights and a few tube stations to quickly get you across the city.
Kensington has many hotels and flats, including a 5-star hotel in South Kensington.
I stayed in a flat in South Kensington and loved having a kitchen to make my morning tea and a living room to relax in when I wasn’t out exploring.
Stay in Kensington if you want to be within walking distance of Kensington Gardens, museums, coffee shops, and restaurants.
Where To Stay in Kensington
Luxury:
The Ampersand Hotel (5-star hotel)
Milestone Hotel Kensington (5-star hotel)
Mid-range:
Budget:
Things To Do in Kensington
Natural History Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
Holland Park (Kyoto Garden)
Kensington Palace and Gardens
Related post: 25+ Free Things To Do in London
City of London
The City of London is a large neighborhood north of the River Thames. It’s a lively area with people rushing off to work on weekday mornings in their suits.
The City of London, most commonly referred to as the City, is the historic financial district in London, also called The Square Mile.
There is a mix of historic and modern buildings, with skyscrapers making this area look much more like a modern big city compared to other neighborhoods in London.
Many of the main bridges in London connect from the south bank of the River Thames to the City of London, including London Bridge.
The City of London has some top tourist attractions as well, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky Garden, and Leadenhall Market.
This neighborhood is incredibly well-connected with many tube stations and bus stops, so you’re likely to be within walking distance of one no matter where you stay.
Stay in the City of London if you want to be in a 5-star hotel, centrally located, and in the heart of the busy city.
Where To Stay in the City of London
Luxury:
The Ned (5-star hotel)
The Westin London City (5-star hotel)
Vintry & Mercer (5-star hotel)
Mid-range:
Things To Do in the City of London
Tour St. Paul’s Cathedral
Visit the Sky Garden
Walk through Leadenhall Market
Explore Saint Dunstan-in-the-East
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is one of the most popular neighborhoods to stay in London for tourists. It’s an upscale neighborhood with no shortage of things to do and places to eat.
In addition to being centrally located, there are also plenty of tube stations in Covent Garden to hop between London neighborhoods.
Covent Garden is a hub for theater and performance arts, with multiple theaters throughout the neighborhood, the famous Royal Opera House, and street performers in The Piazza.
This area has everything you need within walking distance of the hotels. It’s a convenient, luxurious area to stay in London, and prices are a bit higher here.
Stay in Covent Garden if you’re visiting London for the first time, want to stay in a luxurious hotel, and enjoy shopping.
Hotels in Covent Garden
Luxury:
The Savoy (5-star hotel)
St Martins Lane (5-star hotel)
Mid-range:
Things To Do in Covent Garden
Go shopping at Covent Garden (mall)
Visit The Royal Opera House
Tour the London Transport Museum
Soho
Soho is a lively, LGBTQIA+-friendly neighborhood with bars, clubs, restaurants, a theater, and shops. It’s just to the west of Covent Garden and north of Westminster.
Similar to Covent Garden, Soho is also centrally located and walkable, with many conveniences near the hotels and flats. It’s a trendy area with cool coffee shops and various cuisines at the restaurants.
Formerly London’s red-light district, Soho has more “risqué vibes,” as described by Visit London. Bits of this sex-positive history remain throughout the neighborhood.
Stay in Soho if you want to have fun nights out, enjoy a high-energy area, and are looking for a London neighborhood with a thriving nightlife.
If you are looking for a quiet, private, and/or family-friendly area, this probably isn’t for you.
Where To Stay in Soho
Luxury:
Mid-range: Core of London
Budget: Astor Oxford Street
Things To Do in Soho
Visit the bars/clubs
Check out Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Attend a show at Prince Edward Theater
Go shopping on Regent Street
Westminster
Westminster is the home of some of London’s biggest icons, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Tate Britain, one of my favorite art museums in London, is also in Westminster.
This area is rich with Gothic architecture and history. It is one of the most popular areas for tourists to visit in London.
Buckingham Palace is where you can watch the world-famous changing of the guards ceremony, which happens daily or every other day, depending on the time of year.
The Westminster Bridge connects Westminster to the South Bank, where you can ride the London Eye or take a walk along The Queen’s Walk. The bridge is a popular photo spot for visitors with the Big Ben clock tower in the background.
Westminster is a great place to stay for families and first-time visitors. It has tons of attractions, easy tube access, proximity to art museums, and lovely parks.
Where To Stay in Westminster
Luxury:
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences (5-star hotel)
The Guardsman (5-star hotel)
Mid-range: The Regency by Nestor
Budget: The Eaton Townhouse
Things To Do in Westminster
Tour Westminster Abbey
Take a photo with Big Ben
Visit Buckingham Palace
Explore the Tate Britain
Ride the London Eye (across the Westminster Bridge)
Mayfair
Mayfair is located South of Oxford Street. It is an incredibly high-end area, popular for celebrities when they visit London. It’s known for its elegant shopping scene with some designer stores for those looking to spend some serious money while in London.
Mayfair isn’t just one of the most expensive neighborhoods in London; it is one of the most expensive districts in the world. Fun fact: It is also the most expensive property on the British Monopoly board.
Hyde Park and Green Park, two lovely parks in London, are on the border of Mayfair. As this area is more of a small, exclusive neighborhood, there are no tube stations within Mayfair.
If you want a luxury-filled stay and don’t plan to take the tube all over the city, then stay in Mayfair.
Where To Stay in Mayfair
Luxury:
Mid-range:
Things To Do in Mayfair
Stroll through Hyde Park
Go shopping on Bond Street
Marylebone
Marylebone is located North of Oxford Street. It is an upscale area but with a small-town vibe. There are boutique shops and a few museums that are popular with tourists, including the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Marylebone is bordered by Regent’s Park, which has a lovely boating lake and is home to the London Zoo. Like its neighbor, Mayfair, celebrities also choose to live in and stay in Marylebone.
Stay in Marylebone if you’re a foodie looking for high-end dining or a shopaholic looking for high-end fashion stores. Anyone looking for a classy and upscale area to stay will be content with either Mayfair or Marylebone.
Where To Stay in Marylebone
Luxury: The Prince Akatoki London
Mid-range: Holmes Hotel London
Things To Do in Marylebone
Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum
Explore The Wallace Collection Art Museum
Go shopping at high-end stores
Tour Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Walk through Regent’s Park
Southwark
Southwark is a neighborhood on the south bank of the Thames, with London Bridge and Tower Bridge. It’s a popular tourist hub due to the Tate Modern art museum and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
It’s also home to The Shard, Borough Market, and Butler’s Wharf. There are plenty of restaurants and pubs in this area, as well as some nightlife.
My favorite view of Tower Bridge is in Southwark. The buildings in this neighborhood are beautiful and full of history. With so many attractions brings many people — this is a bustling area, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for a quieter, cozy area to stay in London.
When I stayed in Southwark, I enjoyed walking around the neighborhood and taking in views of Tower Bridge. It’s lively, exciting, and incredibly picturesque.
Stay in Southwark if you want to be near Tower Bridge, have easy access to a major tube station, and be within walking distance of major attractions like the Tower of London.
Where To Stay in Southwark
Luxury:
The Dixon, Autograph Collection (4-star hotel)
Hilton London Tower Bridge (4-star hotel)
Shangri-La The Shard (5-star hotel)
Mid-range:
Budget:
One Bedroom Apartment (views of the Shard)
Things To Do in Southwark
Visit the Tate Modern
Eat at Borough Market
Attend a show at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Take in views of Tower Bridge and the Shard
Tips For Deciding Where To Stay in London
Stay Near a Tube Station
Your trip will be significantly easier if you stay within walking distance of a tube station. The closer the better! Luckily, there are many tube stations throughout the city, and finding accommodation close to one isn’t too difficult.
Some more “suburban” neighborhoods are farther from tube stations, but these are usually local neighborhoods and not places visitors would stay.
Determine Your Priorities
Take note of the items at the top of your must-see list in London and look at them on a map to see which areas in London they are located.
London is incredibly well-connected via public transportation, and for the most part, it’s easy to get from one neighborhood to another.
While it is nice to stay within walking distance of your top priorities, it’s not completely necessary if you’re near a well-connected tube station.
Hotel vs. Apartment
London has both hotels and apartments (called flats) to book for short-term stays. When searching for where to stay in London or any other destination, I use the map view on Booking.com and adjust the filters to my preferences.
Hotels are ideal for people who want to stay somewhere with room service, daily cleaning, and other amenities that typically come with hotels.
Many hotels are located in popular areas that have plenty of activities and sightseeing nearby. London has some incredible luxury hotels, like The Savoy in Covent Garden.
Apartments are perfect for solo travelers, couples who want more privacy, or families/groups who need a few bedrooms and a kitchen.
Some apartments even have a washing machine if you need to do laundry. Apartments can also be found in less touristy areas, giving you a more local experience during your stay in London.
I love staying in both types of accommodations! It really comes down to location and your preferences.
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