Where to Stay in London [A Neighborhood Guide]

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.

London is one of the biggest, and most exciting cities in the world, but it can also be overwhelming for first timers, especially when it comes to finding accommodation.

Most first time visitors wonder where to stay in London, as the thousands of accommodation choices can be confusing and difficult to whittle down.

But don’t worry, we’re here to make the decision easier for you. We lived in London for two years, and know the best neighborhoods for tourists to put you close to the tourist attractions, but also stay safe, and be within convenient distance of places to eat.

If money is an issue for you, we’ll also share some inexpensive accommodation options and some more luxurious options, so you can find something within your budget.

There are literally thousands of places to stay in London, in fact, it has more 5-star hotels than any other city in the world! So don’t feel overwhelmed, take a look at this guide…

The Best Neighborhoods in London

There is no ‘best’ area of London to stay in, as everyone’s needs and interests are different.

As a rule of thumb, most properties in Central London (Zone 1 and 2) are the best for first timers, as this puts you near to London’s top attractions and will save you time getting around.

You can stay further out of the city to save some money, but sometimes the trade-off between saving money and saving time on commuting by being central cancels each other out, particularly on short getaways!

Wherever you stay in London, be sure to pick accommodation near a Tube station (London Underground) to save you time traveling around.

Kensington

First timers will love Kensington. It’s an upscale neighborhood close to Kensington Palace (home of Princess Diana), the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Kensington High Street is well known for its boutique shops, and you will find some of the best antiques stores in London on Kensington Church Street.

It has many upscale restaurants and trendy bars and cafes, the high-end neioghborhoods of Chelsea and Belgravia, as well as being close to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, two of the royal gardens worth exploring if the honking of London becomes too much.

If you stay close to the tube, it’s also conveniently served by the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines, making it an excellent location for exploring central London and the top attractions.

Some places we stayed in Kensington are:

Millennium Gloucester, South Kensington

We stayed at the 4-star Millennium Gloucester Hotel in South Kensington, which is one of the best areas to stay.

It is within walking distance to many restaurants, bakeries, cafes and pubs. You can also easily walk to Kensington Gardens and Palace and further to the Westminster area if you’re up for it!

The Millennium Gloucester Hotel is also across the road from Gloucester Road Tube (Piccadilly Line and Circle Line /Blue and Yellow), which made getting around London so easy!

The hotel rooms were small, which is expected in London, but it was comfortable and clean. They came with a desk area for our remote workers and Wi-Fi is included. We loved the Buckingham Palace mural behind the beds! Families will be happy to know there were lots of kids around.

Their hot buffet breakfast had plenty of options to suit all dietary conditions and was a hearty start to the day. The girls enjoyed a pizza in the Humphrey’s Café and Bar, which was delicious.

Hilton London Kensington

Another fantastic 4-star boutique hotel in London, especially for families, is the Hilton London Kensington located in between Kensington and Shepherd’s Bush, West London. We stayed here for two nights as guests of the hotel.

Our girls LOVED the interconnecting rooms, which is a great option for families, especially for teenagers who love their space.

The rooms were very light, spacious, comfortable and modern, with a work desk area. Wi-Fi is included in your stay. We had lovely views out over a residential garden across the road.

We found the service at the Hilton Kensington to be very friendly and accommodating. They knew we were going to Harry Potter Studios and so left Harry Potter themed treats for the girls, and delicious desserts for us!

The buffet breakfast had lots of options and was a perfect start to the day. I loved the kids breakfast section they had – the girls especially with the doughnuts available!!

The location of the hotel was excellent. It’s a give minute walk to Shepherd’s Bush tube station and five minutes in the other direction to Holland Park Tube, both on the red Central line.

You couldn’t find a better location if you plan on visiting Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios. Shepherds Bush Train station runs trains to Watford Junction (with only one quick change).

Close by is the stunning Holland Park and Kyoto Gardens ( a London park hidden secret) and Westfields Shopping Center is across the road – this is the largest shopping center in Europe with more than 265 shops and 50 restaurants.

On the Southern terrace closest to the hotel is a cluster of 17 restaurants, which is where we stopped for great Thai one evening.

YHA London Earls Court

Full disclosure, London doesn’t really do budget accommodation. Even hostels are the same price as a budget hotel in London, so unless you’re traveling alone and want to stay in a hostel for the social vibes, we’d personally recommend a hotel.

However, for those who insist on a hostel, YHA hostel is the best choice – they are a chain of hostels, so you can pretty much know what to expect at each one you stay at.

This YHA is a 5 minutes’ walk from Earl’s Court Tube Station (District Line and the Piccadilly Line) and has both shared dorms and private rooms. It boasts a 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities.

It also has an onsite café with breakfast and snacks throughout the day, and the common area has board games and a TV.

Soho and Covent Garden

This is the best area to stay in for nightlife, as it’s a stone’s throw from the West End and all the theatres, as well as the most prestigious clubs and bars in Leicester Square.

Also within walking distance of Soho is Oxford Street, known for its excellent shopping, and the London Transport Museum, The British Museum, and The Royal Opera House.

The tube stations in Soho are Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Piccadilly Circus, which connect you to the Victoria, Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Northern Lines.

It would also be possible to walk over to Westminster, through St James’s Park, to reach Buckingham Palace. You can also walk to the embankment for views of the London Eye over the River Thames.

Claridge’s

Claridge’s is a sophisticated 5-star hotel between Soho and Mayfair. It offers spacious and lavishly furnished rooms with a marble bathroom.

The onsite restaurant, The Reading Room, has a contemporary menu, and the 1930’s themed cocktail bar, Fumoir, is known for its craft cocktails.

Claridge’s is famous for its afternoon tea, which comes with a choice of over 50 types of tea.

Also inside the hotel is a juice bar, gym, and spa.

The Savoy

Located in the heart of Covent Garden, The Savoy is a beautiful and contemporary hotel nestled inside a heritage building.

Just like Claridge’s, The Savoy is known for its legendary afternoon tea.

The hotel opened in 1889, and has had prestigious guests such as Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra and Katherine Hepburn.

It has 195 guest rooms and 73 suites, each decorated with a lovely Art Deco style, and some have lovely views over the River Thames.

It has three onsite Gordon Ramsay restaurants, and two cocktail bars, American Bar and Beaufort Bar.

Marble Arch & Paddington

Nestled between Marylebone and Mayfair, the Marble Arch area is a great place to stay if you plan to explore other parts of the UK by train, since it’s conveniently located near Paddington Station.

Some top attractions in this area are Baker Street and the Sherlock Holmes Museum, as well as Madame Tussauds.

DoubleTree by Hilton – Marble Arch

DoubleTree by Hilton is just minute’s from the Tube Station and the shopping facilities of Oxford Street. Rooms are simple, but comfortable.

It’s famous for its onsite restaurants, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, Fire and Spice, offering authentic Indian cuisine.

Every morning, guests are treated to a buffet breakfast, and in the evening, soak up the ambiance in the champagne bar.

London Marriott – Marble Arch

The Marriott Hotel Marble Arch is a four star hotel with contemporary rooms with floor to ceiling windows, offering lots of natural light and views overlooking Marble Arch.

It has a fitness center, executive lounge, and a contemporary restaurant called The Pickled Hen, which serves traditional British food.

It’s also within walking distances of Hyde Park, and you can reach the boutique shops of Knightsbridge in just 20-minutes walk.

YHA London Central

Another YHA worth a stay is the YHA Central, located in Marylebone. It has comfortable dorm rooms, which are small but clean and well appointed.

The communal areas are what make this hostel though, with an onsite bar and restaurant, and plenty of common areas to meet other travelers.

It’s a short walk to Great Portland Street Tube Station, which serves the Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines, and you can easily walk to Oxford Street and Regent’s Park from here.

Notting Hill

Notting Hill is an area made famous by the movie with the same name. You know the one where Julia Roberts says “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

It’s an iconic area known for its colorful houses and vintage/thrift stores. It has lots of trendy restaurants and cafes, and a handful of bohemian outlets.

The famous Portobello Road is where to go for antiques and vintage fashion, whereas Westbourne Grove is where to go to eat.

It’s a trendy neighborhood, and it’s also very close to Kensington, Westminster, and other popular areas of London.

The Portobello Hotel

The Portobello Hotel is what I would consider to be quintessential Notting Hill. The chic, floral design with elegant Goergian touches make it unique and artistic.

It has boutique rooms, each individually styled with their own unique flare. You can expect character features in each room, from claw-foot baths to round beds.

The hotel also offers daily breakfast with organic coffee, and locally sourced produce.

Ruby Zoe Hotel London

Also within a short walk of Portobello Road is Ruby Zoe Hotel, which has sleek and modern rooms and a whimsical bar.

Breakfast is served daily, and it’s also been praised for being clean and comfortable every time!

Camden Town

Camden Town is a bit of a wild card neighborhood as people tend to love it or hate it. Some say it’s dangerous, but I’ve never encountered any problems there, especially if you stay in a group.

The worst that could happen is someone approaches you to ask for the time and their friend is trying to pickpocket you.

However, despite its reputation, it’s still the best place to stay in London if you love music. London’s music scene is probably the best in the world. Camden is where all the biggest and most prestigious venues are, and it has a ton of pubs and bars with nightly live music.

Since we travel with a teen now, Craig and I could duck out of an evening to enjoy the Camden nightlife with a few drinks at some pubs, some with live music, and all with a really cool Camden vibe.

Camden Market is also a cool place to shop for boutiques and antiques, as well as gorge on street food, and Camden Lock has a nice riverside walk you can do.

It’s also close to King’s Cross Station.

Holiday Inn Camden Lock

We stayed for four nights at the 4-Star Holiday Inn situated right on the Camden Lock. We were very surprised at the number of kids staying at the hotel. I wouldn’t normally typically consider Camden an overly family friendly place, nor for a place for tourists to stay, but we really enjoyed it.

Here’s one reason families love it! Kids ages 17 and under stay for free when sharing their parents’ room. Up to four kids ages 12 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn® on-site restaurant.

Our girls absolutely loved being able to grab some snacks as they came in after a long day exploring. Well played Holiday Inn.

Its location right on Camden Lock places it a two minute walk to Camden Markets, 15 minutes to Regents Park, and five minutes to the tube – ideal.

Their buffet breakfast had plenty of options and was the perfect hearty start to a day of exploring.

The hotel has a Camden vibe with local artwork adorning the walls, a 24-hour bar, and a very cool mural that shares the music history of this London neighborhood.

St Pancras Renaissance – a Marriott luxury hotel

Just outside the Camden Town district is the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, near to King’s Cross St Pancras Tube Station.

This five-star hotel has spacious and lavish rooms with a seating area and private bathroom.

The hotel also has an onsite bar, restarant, and a pool and sauna. There are also free bikes for guests to use.

The daily breakfast is pretty good too, with à la carte, vegetarian or vegan options available.

Final Thoughts

I hope this page helped you to find the best accommodation in London and area to suit your needs and budget.

There are so many places in London you can stay in, but we hope this guide helped you narrow down your options.

More London Travel Tips

Need more inspiration for visiting London? Check out these other guides…

• City Guide – things to do in London
• Insider London travel tips
• Our thoughts on why we loved our trip to London
• Is the London Eye Worth it? (Includes the River Thames Cruise)
• The best views in London (from above and below)
• Top Things to do in London for Teens
• Best Places to visit in London

FREE London Bucket List Printable PDF

We’ve created a simple one-page checklist of all the top things to do in London, UK and London itinerary guides for you! Pop your name in the form below to access.

Pin To Save On Pinterest