Where to stay in London | BEST area guide

Visiting London and don't know which area to stay in? In this guide Jessica Dante will tell you about some of the best areas to stay in when visiting London that tourists tend to like. Expect a range of areas, both touristy and close to the major sites plus areas that London locals enjoy more and you'll have more of a chance of making friends in when you visit London.

ARTICLES TO READ:
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About Love and London:
I'm Jess, I've lived in London for many years, and this channel is a London travel guide for anyone visiting the city that wants to experience it like you live here. Beyond talking about the usual London attractions, myself and my team show you some of the cooler things to do in London, that most travel guides don't mention. Watch our videos and you'll feel like you've got a Londoner friend telling you the best kept secrets in the city.

[alexmckee]

I just got back from London on Monday. You are 100% the reason for our success on what was a trip of a lifetime. Thanks for the content!

[terrym]

Bloomsbury is nice some parts are quiet and there are plenty of grassy squares to chill in and it’s close to tourist hotspots all within walking distance, walking best way to see London

[katecollins]

We went to London for the first time last June and decided to stay right in central London because it was a dream to walk out of my hotel and see Big Ben and the eye and all of the sights. However! I’m *huge* on having an authentic vacation and seeing as much as possible. I probably did 15 hours of research on London and your videos were a huge part of that! We jam packed so much into our 4-day trip - west London, east London, soho, notting hill, brixton, tottenham, etc. thanks for your videos!!

[quicksilver]

My wife and I stayed in West Kensington for a week (from Australia) in November 2023. We stayed in an Airbnb on the 3rd floor. I probably wouldn't stay in a place like that again (it was kinda dingy and was painful walking up and down 3 flights of steep stairs), but we really liked the area. We were only a hundred yards or so from the tube station, and there was lots of cool little shops, the Famous 3 Kings pub on the corner, and it was a simple tube ride into the city each day. We also saved a lot staying outside the inner London area.

[Hazzzaa]

I've been to London twice now, both times stayed near the Marble Arch corner of Hyde Park. I can definitely recommend this area. reasonably quiet at night, easy access to multiple Tube lines, and a short walk through the park to Piccadilly then just keep going onto Buckingham Palace and Westminster.

[MyGraceYou]

We are making our first trip to London the first week of September, 2-9 and have booked the week at The Stafford, St. James. When I mapped out everything we wanted to do in and around London, it seemed the hub or center of all of our points of interest. Looking forward to enjoying as much as our week there will allow.

[deryaturker]

It is so ironic I lived in London way before you were born/alive. Now after 40 years watching your videos to get ideas about visiting London😂 I will be visiting UK in October for 3 days. Your videos definitely helpful even for someone like me who lived in London for 5 years. Thanks

[Dfgh-tm]

Booked H10waterloo yesterday, saved 20% for booking through them directly, they had an offer on until June 1st. We got free breakfast included for booking on a mobile, then I got another 5% for becoming a H10 member which was free to do, so worked out at £64pp a night. Another one that also had an offer is Maldron Finsbury park because it's a new hotel, worth looking at if anyone's thinking of booking.

[travelingcreatives]

We’re going to London in two weeks! This video made me search for accommodations much easier. Thank you for sharing !

[marsgal]

For my upcoming trip I'm staying in Earl's Court. Zillions of hotels at decent prices, solid transit connections.

[eugeneshadwell]

I visit London two or three times a year and I've gotten into the habit of staying in Earls Court, which is pretty much next door to Kensington but a bit cheaper! There's not all that much in Earls Court (although it's a pleasant enough area) but it's a quick and easy Tube ride into 'the center of things' and you can often find some good hotel bargains if you shop around. Great video as ever, Jess!

[theasofiejoh]

After been to London over 10 times, I kind of found favorite hotel. St. Giles Hotel, it is right in centre, few minutes to Tottenham Court Road underground station with Central, Elizabeth, Northern line (so can take underground from/to Heathrow Airport to/from hotel with Elizabeth line), have British breakfast, and you can get easily to walk or travel to places around in London. Cost I think are usually around £140-180 a night. Is really nice distance to theatres. One time it was strike for underground, but then I was staying here, so I still could do much in centre, that was walkable distance. So it is close to Soho, Covent Garden, Seven Dials, Chinatown, Oxford street and like that. Might be negative is that it will not be local experience and it is big hotel with many rooms. But for local experience, you can travel easily to with transport.

[claytonsmith]

Just went to London for the first time, stayed in Westminster and really enjoyed it. Good restaurants, great access to St. James Park Station, close to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, etc and you can find decent budget hotels. Also felt tlike it was one of the cleanest/safest areas during our visit. Being able to walk to Buckingham Palace early in the morning before anyone is there to get pictures is pretty awesome.

[TheUluxian]

My first trip over I stayed in South Kensington, which I really enjoyed being right next to 3 FREE museums. The hotel I stayed at was reasonably priced, clean and quiet, and was just up the street from the Gloucester tube station, so super convenient to get to the thick of things. The only negative, as Jess mentioned, is a lack of restaurants. If you plan a night out, make sure you book a table.
My next trip I'm going to try the Paddington/Hyde Park area. Fewer attractions, but more food choices and a quick trip to Camden Town for some of that "eclectic" vibe

[Mrfrontrow]

Was in London for a week last year in April. We stayed a bit south of Shoreditch area. We were literally around the corner from the entrance to Liverpool Station. We stayed at the Hyatt Andaz. I highly recommend it. Super location and superb staff.

[gaylemcclelland]

I stayed in woolwich in May in the travelodge it was perfect for me because it was beside Elizabeth line and tube. Close to Greenwich and perfect for me as I'm autistic and wanted time away from the crowds

[Jeevesie]

The Lambeth/Waterloo area near the south bank has been my go to area to stay when visiting London the few times I have before, and I always feel like it hits the sweet spot between affordability (relative to other London spots that is) and connectivity to other places you'll wanna go in the city on a vacation. :)

[michelehood]

I’m planning a trip to London (my 5th!) in the next 24 months, and work for a big hotel chain in the US. Employee discount, baby! We’ve got several hotels throughout London, and I appreciate your tips about what each area has to offer. I’ll use it when I book ❤

[backyardgrillmaster]

Love the East side, I can and walk everywhere and the food is some of the best on town ! 😊 once I get off the tube from Paddington I'm on on foot until it's time to go home 7 days later. I found London really easy to get around by foot. 😊

[lindseyrea]

We stay near Queensway - just off Bayswater Road and opposite Kensington Gardens. It is close to Paddington Station so easy access to Heathrow, and there are buses on Bayswater Road that take you to Piccadilly Circus or Westminster. The Queensway shops have restaurants, pubs and several supermarkets. There are 2 tube stations. You can walk through the gardens to the V&A etc, or along Bayswater Rd to Marble Arch and the western end of Oxford St. We use the buses, rather than the tube.