Choosing where to stay in London is not usually an easy decision, so we have decided to write a small guide about the most frequent areas and neighborhoods of London to stay in London to make your search for a hotel or accommodation a little easier.
With London being such a large city, I recommend keeping two things in mind when choosing where to stay in London: London transport zone and transport links to the airport.
What will you find in this article?
- Where to stay in London: Recommended areas
- Westminster_Pimlico_and_Victoria
- South Kensington, Knightsbridge and Chelsea
- Notting Hill, Bayswater and Paddington
- Center
- East Central London
- North Central London
- South London
- Recommended neighborhoods and hotels to stay in London outside zone 1
Where to stay in London: Recommended areas
When looking for a hotel in London, we have to take into account that London has 9 transport zones , with zone 1 of London being the most central, and therefore the best to stay. In zone 1 we find most of the tourist attractions of London and the most important squares and streets of the city, so staying a few minutes by metro or bus from zone 1 is undoubtedly one of the best options to stay in London. . We can include in zone 1 emblematic places such as Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, Kensington, Victoria…
But even so, it can be considered that zone 1 is very large and there are many possibilities, so here is a small guide with the different neighborhoods that you will find within zone 1. I have assigned a color and a number to each neighborhood so you can identify it with the map below:
Westminster Pimlico and Victoria
The areas of Westminster_Pimlico_and_Victoria are some of the most central neighborhoods and areas. Westminster is where Big Ben is, and Victoria Station is one of the largest and most important in the city. From Victoria Station there is a direct train to Gatwick Airport . So this area is undoubtedly one of the best to stay in London. But, being so central, it is not surprising that hotel prices are somewhat high.
From this area it is easy to walk to the River Thames, Big Ben and the London Eye , and from here you can take a pleasant walk to the center of London. The area from Victoria to Sloane Square is a very pretty typical London area, with many shops and many restaurants. In addition, one of the Big Bus tourist bus stops is located next to Victoria station. In Victoria there is one of the theaters that usually have one of the most famous musicals in London .
South Kensington, Knightsbridge and Chelsea
The Sloane Square area would be one of my favorites if I had to choose a hotel in London. Although it is not the tourist center of London, I love the typical London streets and Victorian houses. The Earl’s Court area has many hotels that are very well priced, with a restaurant area.
South Kensington is also a great option, with the natural history and science museums next to the station. From here you can also walk to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens without any problem, and let’s not forget that the famous Harrods department store is in this area. Knightsbridge may be a little higher in price, but it is an area with many restaurants and shops and one of the areas that I would definitely recommend.
Notting Hill, Bayswater and Paddington
To the north of Hyde Park, the area near the Bayswater metro station and the famous Notting Hill neighborhood is one of the areas chosen to stay by many tourists, as it has many hotels and they are usually a little cheaper. The area itself is great with restaurants and shops as well as Notting Hill’s famous Portobello Road flea market which is open on Saturdays. From here it is very easy to walk to Hyde Park and there are buses that run right into the center as well as the tube.
Hub
The most famous streets and squares in the very center of London are Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Trafalgar Square. Around these areas we find the most exclusive hotels in London, such as those located on Park Lane. Bloomsbury is the neighborhood where the British Museum is located, and it is another of the most recommended areas to stay in London since there are very good hotels here and you can walk to the center.
East Central London
The area known as The City in London is where St. Paul’s Cathedral is located and from here you can walk to London’s famous blue Tower Bridge. The area right next to the cathedral is a good area to stay, but in the office area of the city during the weekends and at night there is not much movement and even some shops and restaurants do not open.
North Central London
In the northern area within London’s zone 1 we find Regent’s Park, one of the most beautiful parks in London. Here is located the London Zoo and within walking distance of Little Venice and Camden Town . To stay in this area, I would recommend the Marylebone or Baker Street area, where the Sherlock Holmes museum and the famous Madame Tussauds London wax museum are located . Also in the north we have King’s Cross, one of the most important train stations in London with a direct connection to Luton airport.Next to King’s Cross we find the area of Euston and Russel Square. This area is a very good option when choosing where to stay in London, as there are many hotels, restaurants and good transport connections. A little further north we find the Angel area , a very cool neighborhood that I would definitely recommend.
South London
It is the south area of London (south of the Thames) I have to highlight the area around the Waterloo train and metro station. There are several hotels here that are very well priced and within 5 minutes of the London Eye . There is a perfect area to walk on the south bank of the river and there are many restaurants and there are always people so I consider it one of the safest options. Another possibility is the area around the London Bridge tube and train station, where we find Borough Market .
Recommended neighborhoods and hotels to stay in London outside zone 1
Outside zone 1 we also find neighborhoods where I would recommend that you stay away if you are going to visit London, in general, the farther from the center the cheaper it will be (unless it is one of the best neighborhoods in London). But don’t be fooled by the price of a hotel, since sometimes they can be very cheap and have no connection to the metro or be very far from the center… And what you save on a hotel, you are going to spend on transport and time. to get to the center of London… However there are some neighborhoods that I would recommend, such as:
- Hampstead (zone 2)
- Belsize Park (zone 2)
- Greenwich (Zone 2)
- Canary Wharf (zone 2)
- Richmond Upon Thames (zone 4):
- Kew (zone 4)