The best places to stay in London
London is one of the most exciting cities in the world. With its many incredible areas to explore, exciting events, and fascinating museums, London has something to offer every type of traveller. However, the number of areas London has to offer can become overwhelming! For this reason, it can take a lot of work to choose where to stay in London. In this blog post, I will go through the 11 best places to stay in London. It includes areas for first-time visitors and those of you who are returning, hoping to find somewhere new and exciting to experience!
This blog post is for you if you are looking for what each area offers, which landmarks and museums are nearby, and more. For each place I mention, I will also go through precisely this. I will cover the metro stations in each area and how convenient the location is compared to the others. I will also include the best London budget hotels and some of the most unique luxury boutique hotels in London. On top of this, I will cover what the particular place is most famous for and what kind of person each area of London would be perfect for!
The best things to do in London
If you are a first-time visitor to London, there are endless things to do in the city. Big Ben, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and more are some of the most famous places. There are also many incredible and fascinating museums like the Natural History Museum, The British Museum, and Tate Modern. If you are a book lover, you will also be sure to fall in love with this city. London has many beautiful bookshops like Daunt Books and John Sandoe Books.
If you would like to know more about things to do in London, you can find all of my London guides here.
How to get to London
Depending on where you are arriving from, flying to London is arguably the best option for anyone travelling abroad. London has an incredible amount of direct flights worldwide, making it one of the most convenient places to travel to. One of my favourite places to find the best flight deals is via Skyscanner, which calculates the best and cheapest flights for you. You can find the cheapest flights here.
Are you ready? Let’s start with all the best neighborhoods to stay in London.
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This blog post includes a Skyscanner affiliate link. It does not charge you extra but it helps me continue doing these posts for you so thank you if you decide to use it.
Best places to stay in London
City of London – Great for first-time visitors
If you are a first-time visitor wondering where to stay in London, the city centre is one of the best choices. One of the best things about staying in this area is that you will be close to everything.
City of London Highlights:
This area’s famous landmarks and museums include London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky Garden, the Museum of London, and many more! Some metro stops in the City of London include Black Friars, Liverpool Street, and Moorgate. This part of London is very well connected and an excellent choice for those who want to easily reach other parts of the city.
Accommodation in City of London:
- Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s – one of the coolest hotels in London
- The Ned London
- Locke at Broken Wharf
- Cove – Cannon Street
Pro: Close to everything, convenient metro links
Con: Can be a bit expensive
The West End – For the Theatre and Music Lovers
Another excellent choice for first-timers is the West End. This area of London includes Covent Garden, Piccadilly, and Leicester Square. The West End is perfect for those who love events, theatre, and shopping!
West End London Highlights:
It is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in London if you love theatre shows. Whether day or night, music or theatre shows are always playing in the West End. It is also a great place to stay if you are visiting for the fantastic shopping opportunities in London. Oxford Street is the UK’s most famous shopping street, and it is located in the West End! Other highlights in the West End include Piccadilly Circus, The West End Theatre, Covent Garden, The National Gallery, and more. The West End is also well connected, and some of the most popular metro stops include Covent Garden, Leicester Garden, and Tottenham Court Road.
Accommodation in the West End:
Pro: Great shopping, fun events and theatre shows, good nightlife
Con: Can be a bit expensive and noisy
Westminster – Many tourist attractions
If you plan to visit all the tourist attractions, then Westminster is one of the best places to stay in London. Westminster has some top London attractions, including Westminster Abbey and more. It is an excellent place for those who want to be close to good transport links to most parts of London and walking distance to multiple highlights. It is perfect for you if you want to be able to see many attractions in a short amount of time. Westminster is an ideal place to stay if you are waiting for a weekend or less.
Westminster Highlights:
Some Westminster highlights include Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and more. All of which are within walking distance of each other. The most popular metro stops include Westminster Station and St. James Park.
Accommodation in Westminster:
- The Landmark London
- Holmes Hotel London – one of the coolest hotels in London
- The Clermont London, Victoria
Pro: Near other lovely neighborhoods, including Victoria, Proximity to other great London attractions
Con: Can be a bit overpriced, busy day and night
South Bank – Good transport links
South Bank is another of the best neighborhoods to stay in London, with a good base and excellent transport links. It is also a great central location with many fantastic London attractions. The South Bank is well known for its arts and entertainment experiences.
South Bank Highlights:
The South Bank is one of the best places to stay in London for complex artistic venues. Some of the places you will find are the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. The South Bank is also home to four orchestras, two of them being the National Poetry Library and the London Philharmonic. Some famous tourist highlights in the South Bank of London are the London Bridge, Borough Market, The London Eye, and Tate Modern.
Accommodation in South Bank:
- Shangri-La The Shard, London – one of the coolest hotels in London
- Vintry & Mercer
- Native Bankside
Pro: Beautiful views, near Borough Market and other great attractions
Con: A bit noisy
Soho – Bustling atmosphere
Situated in the borough of Westminster, you will find the lively area of Soho. If you want to be as central as possible, Soho is where to stay in London. The streets of Soho are bustling with life and are an excellent place for people who love the liveliness of city life. It is also close to many major attractions in London, which makes it another fantastic destination for anyone wanting to explore the prominent tourist landmarks.
Soho Highlights
A few of the best tourist highlights in Soho include Buckingham Palace, Oxford Circus, the Theatre of London, and much more. While it is one of the most popular and best places to stay in London for tourists, it is still possible to find some of the best London budget hotels in this area!
Accommodation in Soho
- The Stafford London
- The Cavendish London – one of the coolest hotels in London
- The Henrietta Hotel
- The Resident Soho
Pro: Near other lovely neighborhoods, including Victoria, Proximity to other great London attractions
Con: Can sometimes be a bit overpriced, busy day and night
Kings Cross & St Pancras – Ideal for Business Travellers
Kings Cross is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in London for business travellers and culture lovers alike. This area of London is next to the biggest station in London, Kings Cross. It is an ideal destination for those who want to be near well-connected train journeys inside and outside London. It is also an excellent destination for those who love shopping and indulging in great restaurants.
Kings Cross & St Pancras Highlights
Some highlights in Kings Cross include the Harry Potter Platform 9 3⁄4, The British Library, and Coal Drops Yard. I especially recommend stopping by Coal Drops Yard. It is a fabulous destination with over 50 stores and restaurants.
Accommodation in Kings Cross & St Pancras
- The Standard
- Pullman London St Pancras – one of the best London budget hotels
- Kimpton Fitzroy London
Pro: Great for business travellers, easy access to transport, great shopping and dining
Con: Very busy and noisy
Marylebone – For lovers of Class and Luxury
Marylebone is one of my favourites out of all the best places to stay in London. If you love class, luxury, and elegance, you will love it too! While Marylebone is still centrally located, it is more of a low-key neighborhood than any of the others mentioned. If you are not much for noisy environments but still want to be near some of the best things to do in London, consider Marylebone as your accommodation site.
Marylebone Highlights:
Marylebone is located in the west end of London and is well known for its gorgeous Victorian architecture, fantastic shopping options, and luxury boutique hotels. Some of the highlights in Marylebone include Daunt Books, The Wallace Collection, and Pachamama, one of the best restaurants in London.
Accommodation in Marylebone:
- Zetter Townhouse, Marylebone
- The Mandeville Hotel – one of the coolest hotels in London
Pro: Charming architecture, luxury hotels, central, great shopping
Con: Can be expensive
Kensington & Chelsea – The most romantic area in London
If you are picturing yourself on a romantic European escape to a luxury boutique hotel, Kensington & Chelsea is the perfect choice for you. Kensington is a royal borough with beautiful architecture, colourful streets, and charming, independent shops. It is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in London for couples. On Saturdays, you will find the lovely food market in the heart of Chelsea in the Duke of York square.
Kensington & Chelsea Highlights
One of the most iconic attractions in Kensington is the incredible Natural History Museum of London. Another great highlight is the idyllic Kensington Palace Gardens and some of the best museums in London. Some of them include The Science Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum.
Accommodation in Kensington & Chelsea
- Blake’s Hotel
- The Ampersand Hotel – one of the coolest hotels in London
- Hux Hotel
- The Pelham London
Pro: Romantic atmosphere, safe part of London, great museums
Con: No nightlife, can be expensive
Shoreditch – Great dining options
Shoreditch is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in London for young people who want to experience great nightlife and fantastic dining opportunities. It is also great for anyone who wants to experience a more local side of London. It is less glamorous than the other areas mentioned above. Shoreditch is grittier but full of cool bars, cafés, and restaurants, making it a great place to experience for anyone that loves culture and great food.
Shoreditch Highlights
This area of London is known for its fantastic food options, unique street art, and vibrant nightlife. Shoreditch’s main highlights include the Boxpark: a hub of restaurants and shops, the Columbia Road Flower Market, vintage shops, and all of the fantastic restaurants and cafés.
Accommodation in Shoreditch
- Brick Lane Hotel – one of the best London budget hotels
- One Hundred Shoreditch
- Batty Langley’s
- Mondrian London Shoreditch
Pro: Vibrant nightlife, beautiful street art, bustling atmosphere, vintage shops, unique dining experiences
Con: Can have less safe areas, can be loud and noisy
Angel & Islington – The local & trendy area
If you want to stay somewhere trendy, filled with character, and gives you a completely unique experience of London that many tourists miss, you will have to stay in Angel & Islington. This is one of my personal favourite areas I have visited in London. In this area of London, you truly feel like a local blending in. There are many beautiful streets to explore, filled with lovely restaurants and bars. You will also find many unique independent shops to explore for hours! If you want that trendy atmosphere, relaxed and unique storefronts, and a quieter area where you will find the locals hiding, this is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in London for this!
Angel & Islington Highlights
Angel & Islington has many fantastic things to do and see. One of the best things to do in this area includes watching a movie at the trendy and unique Everyman Screen on Green cinema from 1913. Other highlights in Angel & Islington include the Camden Passage, The Old Queens Head Pub, The Narrow Boat, The Bar with No Name, and more.
Accommodation in Angel & Islington
- The Rookery – one of the coolest hotels in London
- Verv Islington – one of the best London budget hotels
- Nhow London
- South Place Hotel
Pro: Trendy atmosphere, unique independent shops, lovely bars and restaurants, a local experience
Con: Not much nightlife
Mayfair, Belgravia and Victoria – Straight out of a movie scene
Nestled in the heart of London, you will find the beautiful area of Mayfair. It is without a doubt one of the classiest and prettiest areas of London. If you have ever seen a movie set in London, you will likely have seen scenes from this part of London. It is often seen in movies and series because of its stunning architecture and charming storefronts. As you can imagine, such comes with a price. However, if you want a luxurious experience, Mayfair is one of the best places to stay in London.
Mayfair, Belgravia and Victoria Highlights
Mayfair is known for its luxury shopping, beautiful central location, Instagram-able cafés, and high-end London restaurants. Some of the most famous attractions in this area include Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James’ Park, and the Royal Academy of Arts.
Luxury accommodation in Mayfair
Pro: Best place for all things luxury, central, gorgeous storefronts
Con: No nightlife, quiet area at night, can be expensive
