Where To Stay in London: Best Areas For Every Budget
When deciding where to stay in London, you have a wide range of neighborhoods and types of accommodations to choose from! London is a big city with tons of attractions, restaurants, great public transportation, and many places to stay.
I’ve explored most of London over multiple visits and have compiled the best areas to stay in London, as well as the top accommodations in each neighborhood!
As always, where to stay in London completely depends on your preferences. Whether you want to stay in a luxury, 5-star hotel or a local, inexpensive apartment, I provide multiple options for each neighborhood.
This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.
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! Otherwise, I recommend reading the remainder of the post for an overview of each area/neighborhood in London so you can pick the best area to stay in London 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 (2-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)
Tips For Deciding Where To Stay in London
Picking where to stay in London depends on your preferences and what you plan to do 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
Is visiting Westminster Abbey your top priority? Or maybe you want to spend your trip exploring the art museums? Take note of the items at the top of your to-see list in London and look at them on a map to see if most of them are close together.
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 — I just recommend it!
Hotel vs. Apartment
London has both hotels and apartments (or flats) to book for short-term stays. When searching for where to stay in London or any other trips, I typically search through Booking.com and Expedia to find them since they have both!
Hotels are ideal for people who want to stay somewhere with room service, daily cleaning, and the other amenities that typically come with hotels. Many hotels are located in hot spots with tons of activities and sightseeing nearby for tourists. Luxury seekers will be happy to hear London has some incredible luxury hotels as well!
Apartments are lovely for solo travelers, couples who want more privacy, or families/groups who want a few bedrooms and a kitchen. Some apartments even have a washing machine to do laundry while you’re there. Apartments are sometimes in less touristy areas, giving you a more local experience during your stay in London.
Both are great options and are completely dependent on your needs and preferences.
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 the sights most important to you, and one where you will feel comfortable and enjoy coming back to at the end of each day.
Whether you’re interested in nightlife, shopping, museums, or something else, each neighborhood has something unique to offer. I’ve gathered some of the best areas to stay in London for visitors!
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 during my trip and loved having a kitchen to make my morning tea and a living room to relax in when I wasn’t out exploring.
This west London neighborhood is a great area to base yourself from during your visit. You’ll be just a few steps away from some of the top sights/activities and conveniently located near pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Where To Stay in Kensington
Luxury:
The Ampersand Hotel (5-star hotel)
London Choice Apartments (2 beds / 2.5 baths)
Milestone Hotel Kensington (5-star hotel)
Mid-range:
The Resident Kensington (4-star hotel)
The Mews Apartment In Kensington (1 bed / 1 bath)
Budget:
St Simeon (2-star hotel)
Kensington Studios (Studio flat)
Top 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.
This area has an abundance of beautiful, luxury 5-star hotels.
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:
Budget:
Top Things To Do in the City of London
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Sky Garden
Leadenhall Market
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.
Explore the shops, walk through the pedestrian-only center, catch a show, and grab some high-quality food at one of the many restaurants. Covent Garden has everything you need within walking distance of the hotels in this area. It’s a convenient, luxurious area to stay in London and prices are a bit higher here.
Westminster, the home of Buckingham Palace, is also located next to Covent Garden! It’s just a one-mile walk or 19-minute Tube ride from Covent Garden Market to Buckingham Palace.
Where To Stay in Covent Garden
Luxury:
The Savoy (5-star hotel)
Covent Garden Hotel (5-star hotel)
St Martins Lane (5-star hotel)
Mid-range:
Top Things To Do in Covent Garden
Shopping at Covent Garden (mall)
The Royal Opera House
London Transport Museum
Near Covent Garden
Neal’s Yard
National Gallery
The British 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.
Soho is a high-energy area with a thriving nightlife. If you are looking for a place to stay in London for fun nights out, Soho is your spot! 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: Casa Camisa
Budget: Maria Flats
Top Things To Do in Soho
Bars/clubs
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Prince Edward Theater
Regent Street shopping
Westminster
Westminster is the home of some of London’s biggest icons, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Art history lovers will be happy to know Tate Britain, one of my favorite art museums in London, is also in Westminster.
This neighborhood is filled with Gothic architecture and the homes of the royal family. As such, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London! Staying in this area will give you quick access to explore when fewer people are around, like early morning.
Trafalgar Square in Westminster is where you can watch the world-famous changing of the guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, which happens daily or every other day, depending on the time of year.
The Westminster Bridge connects Westminster to South Bank, where you can ride the London Eye or take a walk through The Queen’s Walk. The bridge is a popular photo spot for visitors with the Big Ben clock tower in the background.
Westminster is overall a great place to stay, especially 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: Rochester Apartment
Budget: The Eaton Townhouse
Top Things To Do in Westminster
Westminster Abbey
Big Ben
Buckingham Palace
Tate Britain
London Eye (across the River Thames)
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.
Not only is Mayfair one of the most expensive neighborhoods in London, it is one of the most expensive districts in the WORLD! Something I learned while writing this post is that Mayfair is the most expensive property on the British Monopoly board — Park Place is the most expensive one in the original (American) version.
If you’re looking to live like a celebrity or otherwise rich person (or maybe you are one of those types of people), then Mayfair may be a great option for you.
Hyde Park and The Green Park border Mayfair, which are lovely parks in London. As this area is more of a small, exclusive neighborhood, there are no tube stations within Mayfair. There are tube stations on the perimeters though.
Where To Stay in Mayfair
Luxury:
Mid-range:
Budget: The Grazing Goat
Things To Do in Mayfair
Hyde Park
High-end shopping at Bond Street
Marylebone
Marylebone is located North of Oxford Street. It is also 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 The 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.
Foodies looking for high-end dining will have quality options in Marylebone. Shoppers looking for high-end fashion will be satisfied with the shopping scene here. 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
Top Things To Do in Marylebone
Sherlock Holmes Museum
The Wallace Collection Art Museum
High-end shopping
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Regent’s Park
Southwark
Southwark is a neighborhood on the south bank of the Thames, which is connected to the north bank via the London Bridge and Tower Bridge. It’s a popular tourist hub thanks 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 if that’s your thing!
My favorite view of Tower Bridge is in Southwark and it’s a popular spot to take photos too. 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 more quiet, cozy area to stay in London.
I’ve stayed in Southwark, specifically Butler’s Wharf, and really enjoyed walking amongst the people on the way to the tube station. It felt lively and exciting, especially coming from the suburbs of America.
Where To Stay in Southwark
Luxury:
London Bridge Flat (2 bedroom flat)
Mid-range: Apartment Near Tower Bridge (2-bedroom flat)
Top Things To Do in Southwark
Tate Modern
Borough Market
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
The Shard
More Places To Stay in London
Apartments For a Short Stay in London
Cheval Three Quays (City of London - views of Tower Bridge)
Lexham Gardens by Cheval Maison (Kensington)
COVE Cannon Street (City of London)
Wilde Aparthotels London (Covent Garden)
Cheap Places To Stay in London
Note: I do not share hostels or rooms with shared bathrooms on my blog. While these are all “cheap” places for London, there are even less expensive places to stay in London if you don’t mind a hostel.
Knaresborough Boutique Apartments (Kensington)
Pass the Keys West End Apartment (Camden)
Roland House Apartments (Kensington)
Places for Families To Stay in London
London Central Studios (Family studio in Paddington)
The Marloes (Flats in Kensington)
Native Kings Wardrobe (2 bedroom apartment in City of London)
Highest-Rated Hotels in London
41 (Westminster)
Pan Pacific London (City of London)
The Savoy (Covent Garden)
Claridge’s (Westminster)
Milestone Hotel (Kensington)
Other Posts You Might Like
Pin It For Later
