SantoriniDave.com

Where to Stay in London

Updated: December 3, 2025
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com

Quick Tips

• If you are flying into Heathrow, staying in Paddington (for the Heathrow Express) or anywhere near a Piccadilly Line station is incredibly convenient. If arriving at Gatwick, a hotel near Victoria Station (for the Gatwick Express) will make your transfer seamless.
• Before you book a hotel, check its address on Google Maps and confirm it is no more than a 5 to 7 minute walk to the nearest Tube station. Even better is a hotel near a station served by multiple Tube lines (like Victoria, King’s Cross, South Kensington, or Waterloo), which drastically reduces your travel time across the city.
• For first-time visitors to London the Covent Garden neighborhood is ideal.

Best places to stay in London.
1. St. Pancras Renaissance • 2. Hilton • 3. Marylebone • 4. Connaught • 5. Montague on the Gardens • 6. Soho • 7. Z Soho • 8. Ham Yard • 9. Savoy • 10. Batty Langley’s • 11. Motel One • 12. Mandarin Oriental • 13. The Goring • 14. DoubleTree • 15. Park Plaza

Best Area to Stay in London

My Favorite Hotels in London

My wife and I at a London hotel.

My wife and I at The Savoy in London.

The most important thing to understand about London is that there is no single city center or “downtown.” The city is a vast collection of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and history, acting almost like a series of connected villages. London’s best attractions, museums, theaters, and restaurants are scattered widely across these different areas.

Because everything is spread out, you will rely heavily on public transport. This brings me to my number one rule for choosing a hotel in London: The best neighborhood to stay in is any neighborhood with a hotel near a Tube station.

Proximity to the Underground is the single most important factor for a convenient trip. Being a 2-minute walk from a Tube station in a “lesser” neighborhood is far better than being a 15-minute walk from one in a “prime” neighborhood.

With that rule in mind, you can narrow your search based on your specific interests. The best London hotels are located all over the city, so you can find great luxury, boutique, or family-friendly options almost anywhere.

Quick Neighborhood Guide

  • For Theater & Nightlife: Look at Covent Garden and Soho.
  • For Major Museums & Parks: Look at South Kensington.
  • For Royal Palaces & History: Look at St. James’s and Westminster.
  • For Trendy Dining & Markets: Look at Shoreditch and the East End.

No matter where you choose, as long as you can easily hop on the Tube, all of London will be within your reach.

Covent Garden in London.

Charming Covent Garden in the West End is one of the best areas for first-time visitors to London.

Good hotels in Covent Garden:

Covent Garden Hotel • ME London • NoMad London • One Aldwych • Resident Covent Garden • The Savoy • The Fielding • The Z

An Introduction to London’s Neighborhoods

Most of London’s major sights and best places to stay are located north of the River Thames, which winds its way through the city. The key to choosing the right neighborhood is understanding what each area offers, from the non-stop energy of the West End to the stately grandeur of Westminster.

The West End (Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho, Mayfair)
This is the true heart of tourist London and the best place to stay for most first-time visitors. It is the city’s entertainment and dining hub, packed with theaters, world-class art galleries, and restaurants for every budget. The area is very walkable and has excellent transport links.
• What’s Here: West End theatres, Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, Covent Garden Market, and the main shopping arteries of Oxford Street and Regent Street.
• Hotels: Dominated by 4-star and 5-star hotels, but some excellent mid-range and value options are tucked away.

Westminster & St. James’s
Just southwest of the West End, this is the center of Royal and Political London. While it has fewer hotels and restaurants, you will spend a lot of time here visiting some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
• What’s Here: Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament (Big Ben), Westminster Abbey, and the tranquil St. James’s Park.
• Hotels: Dominated by grand, old-world luxury hotels catering to diplomats and discerning travelers. There are very few mid-range options and almost no budget hotels. Staying close to Buckingham Palace puts you within easy walking distance of many of London’s top attractions.

Bloomsbury & Fitzrovia
Located just north of the West End, this area offers a calmer, more intellectual atmosphere with leafy squares and a literary history. It’s still incredibly central but feels more relaxed.
• What’s Here: Home to the magnificent British Museum (one of the world’s best) and numerous peaceful garden squares like Russell Square and Bedford Square.
• Hotels: A nice mix of accommodation, generally offering better value than the neighboring West End.

The South Bank & Southwark
Stretching along the southern bank of the Thames, this regenerated area is London’s cultural riverside promenade. It’s a beautiful walk with non-stop attractions and incredible views of the city skyline.
• What’s Here: The London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Borough Market, and The Shard (Western Europe’s tallest building).
• Hotels: A mix of modern, stylish hotels, many with fantastic river and skyline views. You’ll find everything from high-design luxury properties to trendy, good-value hotels like CitizenM and The Hoxton.

South Kensington & Knightsbridge
West of Westminster lies this upscale and elegant residential district. It’s known for its world-class museums and high-end shopping.
• What’s Here: A cluster of London’s best museums (the V&A, Natural History Museum, and Science Museum) and luxury shopping at Harrods.
• Hotels: A hub for some of London’s most famous and opulent 5-star hotels.

The City of London
To the east of the West End is the city’s original historic core and its modern financial center. It’s packed with history and is busy on weekdays but can be very quiet on weekends.
• What’s Here: The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
• Hotels: Mostly business-focused hotels that can offer great value deals on weekends.

Other Key Neighborhoods
• King’s Cross: North of Bloomsbury, this is a major transport hub. It offers a direct Tube connection (Piccadilly Line) to Heathrow and direct train service to Luton, and is home to the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras. The area has been regenerated with many trendy new restaurants and hotels.
• East London (Shoreditch & Spitalfields): East of the City, this is London’s trendy, creative hub. Come here for vibrant markets (Spitalfields, Brick Lane), street art, and buzzing nightlife.
• Camden: To the north, Camden is famous for its alternative markets, live music venues, and punk-rock history.
• Greenwich: Downriver to the southeast, Greenwich makes for a great day trip. It’s known for its maritime history, the Royal Observatory (home of the Prime Meridian Line), and a beautiful royal park.

Top tip:

Stay close to a tube station. The tube allows you to get pretty much anywhere in the city quickly and easily. Most hotels in central London are within walking distance of a tube station but the ones listed below are a two-minute walk or less.

Good hotels very very close to a tube station:

• NoMad (Covent Garden): A cool hotel in a former courthouse, just a 90-second walk from Covent Garden Tube.
• The Clermont (The Strand): A grand Victorian railway hotel with modern style, offering direct access to Charing Cross station.
• Kimpton Fitzroy (Bloomsbury): A grand landmark hotel with luxe interiors, located directly across from Russell Square Tube station.
• The Cumberland (Marylebone): A modern hotel focused on music and style, located right next to Marble Arch Tube station.
• Rosewood London (Holborn): A sophisticated luxury hotel in a Belle Époque palace, just a two-minute walk from Holborn Tube station.
• Hilton Paddington (Paddington): A classic Art Deco hotel inside the station, offering direct access to the Paddington Tube and Heathrow Express.
• St. Pancras Renaissance (King’s Cross): An iconic gothic hotel inside the station, offering direct access to King’s Cross St. Pancras Tube.
• citizenM Tower of London (City of London): A smart, modern hotel with amazing views, situated directly on top of Tower Hill Tube station.
• Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park (Knightsbridge): An elegant, opulent hotel overlooking Hyde Park, located steps from the Knightsbridge Tube station.
• DoubleTree (Victoria): A reliable and modern hotel for travelers, located directly opposite Victoria Tube station and the Gatwick Express.
• Hilton Hyde Park (Bayswater): An Edwardian townhouse hotel with park views, located directly across from Queensway Tube station.
• Conrad St James (Westminster): A smart and stylish hotel for politics-watchers, situated directly opposite St. James’s Park Tube station.
• The Hoxton (Southbank): A popular and stylish hotel with great social spaces, just a two-minute walk from Southwark Tube station.
• Andaz Liverpool Street (City of London): A stylish modern hotel in a Victorian building, integrated with the Liverpool Street Tube station.
• The Ned (City of London): A grand and bustling hotel in a former bank, located steps from the Bank Tube station interchange.
• Motel One (City of London): A stylish budget design hotel with a cool bar, just a two-minute walk from Aldgate station.

Tube station near London hotel.

How to Get Around London

Getting around London is fast and efficient using the city’s world-class public transport system. Navigating it is simple if you follow one key piece of advice.

The Best Way to Pay for Transport
Forget about complicated passes or paper tickets. There is only one method you need to know.

• Use a Contactless Card or Phone Pay: This is the easiest and cheapest way to travel. For phone pay, there is no special transport card to buy or load; just use any credit or debit card already in your Apple Pay or Google Wallet. Simply tap your card or phone on the yellow card readers at the start and end of your journey (no tap out on buses), and the system automatically calculates the cheapest fare for you. Fares are “capped,” meaning you will never pay more than a set amount for a single day or a full week (Monday to Sunday), no matter how many journeys you take.

Should You Rent a Car in London?
• No. Absolutely not. Driving in London is a terrible idea for a visitor.
• Public transport is faster, cheaper, and far more efficient.
• Parking is extremely limited and very expensive.
• You must pay a £15 daily Congestion Charge to drive within the central zone.

The Best Places to Stay in London

Afternoon tea at the five-star Goring Hotel.

The historic Goring near Buckingham Palace. Everything from the doorman to afternoon tea is classy, refined, and quintessentially British.

Our room at the five-star Savoy.

Our room at The Savoy in Covent Garden.

Our room at the four-star Ham Yard Hotel.

Our room at the Ham Yard in Soho.

More Notable London Hotels

London travel guides.
I bought, read, and highlighted-extensively the most recent London guidebooks from Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, and Rick Steves. Here are some of their most interesting hotel picks. (I highly recommend buying one of these books for when you’re in London.)

Lonely Planet:
• Hazlitt’s ($$$, West End) – This Soho gem was built in 1718 and comprises four original Georgian houses.
• Lime Tree Hotel ($$, Westminster) – Beautiful 28-room Georgian town house hotel is all comfort, British design, and understated elegance.
• citizenM Tower of London ($, The City) – Compact and well-designed. Some rooms have extraordinary views of the Tower of London.

Frommer’s:
• Dukes London ($$$, St James) – Cozy, clubby luxury but more affordable than it ought to be.
• Zetter Townhouse ($$, Marylebone) – Eccentric luxury hotel near Hyde Park and Oxford Street.
• Jesmond Hotel ($, Bloomsbury) – The Jesmond is a classic and has been a Frommer’s pick since rooms cost $3.20.

Rick Steves
• Number Sixteen ($$$, Kensington) – Packs over-the-top class into 41 artfully imagined rooms. Perfect for an urban honeymoon.
• Vancouver Studios ($$, Notting Hill) – 48 modern, tastefully furnished rooms come with fully equipped kitchens.
• Seven Dials ($, Covent Garden) – 38 plain, clean, and incredibly well located rooms.

Best Places in London for…

  • Best Neighborhoods in London for Sightseeing: Covent Garden, Soho, South Bank
    The South Bank is excellent for access to big attractions – London Eye, Tate Modern, the Shard – and it’s an easy stroll across several Thames footbridges to the City of London and the West End neighborhoods. Covent Garden and Soho are good all-rounders due to their proximity to the river, Westminster, and other top sights; ample accommodations are a boon. South Kensington is great for museums and shopping, but hotels tend to be pricey and it’s not quite as central.
Pub in Soho near where we were staying.

Having a pint at a Soho pub.

  • Best Neighborhoods in London for Nightlife: Soho and Shoreditch/Hoxton
    The best area in London for nightlife is Soho. The neighborhood is a good mix of trendy cocktail bars (many of which also do great food), traditional English pubs, theaters, and basement clubs with DJ nights, including a number of LGBTQA+ venues. Ronnie Scott’s is a legendary jazz club, while the French House is a popular bar, and Bar Italia is an old-school late-night café. Bar Termini is fabulous for cocktails. There are only a few hotels in Soho, slightly set back from the action. Other good areas for nightlife include Camden with its live music venues and Shoreditch/Hoxton in the East End, with its legendary clubs. Highlights include the Queen of Hoxton, with its rooftop, DJs, and ping pong tables, the Boundary Rooftop in Shoreditch, and Happiness Forgets for cocktails.
  • Best Neighborhoods in London for Food and Restaurants: Soho, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch
    Soho is jam-packed with artisan coffee shops and global offerings. Highlights include the udon noodles at Koya, Thai food at Kiln, superb French restaurant Brasserie Zédel, and modern British champion Quo Vadis. There’s also old-school Bar Italia for espresso and Gelupo for ice cream. And Chinatown is still a great place to sample Chinese food and drinks, from dim sum to bubble tea and Beijing duck (the Food House is the current trendsetter).For something a bit more cutting-edge, look to Clerkenwell and Shoreditch on the fringes of The City: in the former, Prufrock Coffee is London’s most famous coffee shop, the Fryer’s Delight is for fish and chips, and Sushi Tetsu is uber-exclusive, while restaurants like St John and the Quality Chop House create lauded modern British cuisine. Shoreditch boasts the pasta at Burro e Salvia, London’s best barbecue at Smokestak, banh mi at Kêu Deli, and Michelin-starred Brat, Clove Club, Leroy and Lyle’s. Camden, the East End, and King’s Cross are great for street food, as is Borough Market and Bermondsey on the South Bank – 40 Maltby Street is one of the city’s best restaurants.
The Marylebone neighborhood in London.

The charming village-like feel of Marylebone makes it perfect for families.

  • Best Neighborhoods in London for Families: South Bank, South Kensington, and Marylebone
    For families who want to be in the heart of the action, this is the place to be. It’s a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly stretch along the River Thames and an easy walk to major attractions like the London Eye, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and Borough Market. South Kensington is another fantastic option, where you are on the doorstep of three of the world’s best free museums: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A. The area is beautiful and quiet (for central London), with the huge Hyde Park just north for playgrounds and open space. Marylebone is also a great choice, offering a wonderful, high-end village feel while still being completely central. It is perfectly located between Regent’s Park, home to the London Zoo, and Hyde Park, and is a short walk from attractions like Madame Tussauds.
Tour of London, England.

My son and I on the Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in London. We loved it.

  • Best Neighborhood in London to Stay for First Timers: Covent Garden
    Covent Garden is the best neighborhood for first-time visitors. It’s centrally located, has a great dining and theater scene and is within easy walking distance of numerous big attractions, such as the National Gallery, Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye. There are excellent public transport connections to other parts of London and it’s easy to take a boat along the Thames to reach other places of interest. Accommodation tends to be pricey here, but there are a few bargains to be had.
  • Most Romantic Neighborhood in London: Hampstead
    20 minutes on the Underground from Central London, beside the hilly green wedge of Hampstead Heath (London’s prettiest green space), this enchanting village-like community in North London is a blend of cozy pubs, cobbled streets, and posh boutiques. Plenty of celebrities and artists live here, but its wealth is far less ostentatious than in places like Mayfair or Belgravia. You can visit Keats House to see where the romantic poet wooed his “Bright Star” Fanny Brawne or 17th-century mansion Kenwood House, take a stroll (or a swim in summer) on the heath, and soak up the fabulous views of London from Parliament Hill. There’s also the Freud Museum, the final home of the famous Viennese psychotherapist. Nearby Highgate Cemetery is London’s most famous, ivy-strewn graveyard, with regular tours taking in the tombs of Karl Marx, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and other luminaries. Though it’s an easy day-trip from anywhere in central London, there are some good bargains amongst the small selection of quiet and cozy inns in Hampstead; La Gaffe Hotel, Pax Lodge Hostel, and Primrose Guesthouse.
  • Best Neighborhoods for Shopping: Oxford Street and Covent Garden
    You could spend days shopping in London, exploring the “tiara triangle” around Harrods and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, or perusing the lively markets of Portobello Road, Greenwich, Brick Lane and Camden. Though Londoners tend to avoid it, it’s hard to beat Oxford Street for one-stop shopping: with over 300 shops, designers, high-street chains, and landmark departments stores like Selfridges, House of Fraser, and John Lewis, there’s little you can’t buy here. Adjacent Regent Street is home to Hamley’s, the UK’s most famous toy store, the quirky Liberty department store, Apple Store and more. In Mayfair, just south of Oxford Street, luxury boutiques line Bond Street (Burberry, Tiffany & Co) and South Molton Street (Browns and Boudi Fashion).Covent Garden is touristy but still a great place to seek souvenirs and arts and crafts, plus specialty stores such as Whittard of Chelsea (tea), Deciem (skincare), Charlotte Tilbury (cosmetics), and Bucherer (watches). Nearby Neal Street is best for urban streetwear, cosmetics, and footwear. Nearby Seven Dials is a hub for over 90 independent stores, like Tatty Devine (jewelry), Nudie Jeans, and Choosing Keeping (stationery).If you’re looking for US-style malls, hit the Westfield shopping centers in Shepherd’s Bush (West London), and Stratford (East London).
A charming red brick hotel facade with hanging planter baskets

Batty Langley’s in East London is one of our very favorite boutique hotels.

  • Best Neighborhood in London for a Local Vibe: Camden, Shoreditch/East End
    It’s hard to get more ‘local’ than Camden. The graffiti-tagged, gritty streets still resist gentrification and, Camden Market and the tour narrow boats on Regent’s Canal aside, this is still a working-class neighborhood. Stop by Black Heart, Underworld, or another local pub and you might catch the next big thing in alternative rock. In the East End, Brick Lane is ‘Banglatown’; like other parts of east London, it retains a strong immigrant feel, with curry houses, Bangladeshi cafes, and sari shops. Though neighboring Shoreditch has been undergoing gentrification for some time now, it remains one of London’s cutting-edge neighborhoods, with a dynamic nightlife, street food, street art, and few tourists.
  • Best Neighborhood in London for Walking: Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Soho
    The Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Soho area is easy to get around on foot. The area is crisscrossed with numerous small streets packed with restaurants, bars, and shops. There’s little traffic and very central, right in the heart of London’s West End. Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery are nearby and you can easily walk to the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the London Dungeon (just across the river), and Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace is a 15-minute walk west of Westminster – most of it away from traffic, through St James’ Park. The British Museum is a 10 to 12-minute walk north of Covent Garden.
  • London Without a Car
    Traveling in London without a car is not only feasible, but recommended. London’s public transportation system is excellent. It includes the London underground (known as the Tube), buses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), overground trains, and river services. Walking is a great way to experience London’s rich history and diverse architecture. Iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the Tower of London are within relatively short distances of each other. For longer journeys, London’s bike-sharing scheme, Santander Cycles, is a viable option. London’s famous black taxis and rideshare services like Uber are readily available, although they are often slower than the tube.
Me and my wife at a London museum.

My wife and I at the National Gallery.

  • Safest Areas of London
    London’s safest and quietest neighborhoods are typically the most affluent. Mayfair, South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, and Chelsea are largely residential and very safe to walk around at any hour. Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia are also excellent, peaceful choices. While these areas have a very low crime rate, you should still take standard precautions after dark.
  • Safety & Awareness in London
    Central London is generally very safe, but like any major city, it requires common sense. In areas like Camden, Shoreditch, and the South Bank, the atmosphere is vibrant and safe during the day, but can feel more chaotic late at night when the bars and clubs close. While King’s Cross and Stratford have undergone massive redevelopment and are home to excellent hotels, the immediate areas around major train stations can still attract loiterers late at night. Stick to well-lit main streets and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas like Leicester Square or Oxford Street, where pickpocketing is more common than anywhere else in the city.

The 11 Best Areas in London for Tourists

Best luxury hotel in London.

The luxurious and magical Savoy Hotel in Covent Garden.

1. Covent Garden

A map of the Covent Garden neighborhood in London.
Covent Garden’s central feature is its cobbled piazza and restored 19th-century market, with quirky (and increasingly high-end) shops, the London Transport Museum, and a supporting cast of buskers and other street entertainment. There are plenty of restaurant bars, cafés, and pubs in the surrounding tangle of streets and several major attractions lie within easy walking distance: the Royal Opera House, Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House (which has an ice rink in winter), Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, and the Strand. The shows and musicals of Theatreland (London’s main theatre district) form a large share of the neighborhood’s entertainment.

• Hotels here tend to be expensive, though there are a handful of affordable options. Covent Garden makes an excellent base, but it is very touristy.

2. Kensington, Belgravia, and Chelsea

A map of the Kensington, Belgravia, and Chelsea neighborhoods in London.
Bordered by the vast Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to the north and Green Park to the east, these three moneyed neighborhoods are primarily known for their superb museums: the Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum, the latter housing its famous dinosaur collection. There’s also Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s London residence, the Gothic Albert Memorial across from Royal Albert Hall, and Kensington Palace, formerly the London home of Princess Diana and now William and Kate’s residence (much of it is open to the public, however).

Further west is the striking Design Museum and far less busy Leighton House Museum, a memorial to 19th-century painter Lord Leighton and his Pre-Raphaelite friends. The Knightsbridge neighborhood contains London’s most upmarket department stores – Harrods and Harvey Nichols – and if you’re serious about fashion, Elizabeth Street in Belgravia is lined with powerhouse designer outlets. Over in Chelsea, the Kings Road was hip in the 1960s and punk in the 1970s (it’s much tamer today), while the Saatchi Gallery, Royal Hospital (home of the Chelsea flower showgrounds), and National Army Museum provide added interest. The dining scene includes some of London’s finest restaurants.

• As you’d expect these areas contain some of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the city, getting cheaper the further west you go (especially along Cromwell Road into Earl’s Court and West Brompton). Staying out here is generally quieter than Central London, but it’s easy to visit thanks to excellent public transport.

3. Westminster and St James’s

A map of the Westminster and St James’s neighborhoods in London.
Sandwiched between the River Thames, Mayfair, Belgravia, and Soho, Westminster is Britain’s seat of power. Restaurants and accommodations here are few, but London’s biggest attractions are concentrated in this central part of the city, including the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Tate Britain art gallery, and Trafalgar Square – home to Nelson’s Column, iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields church, National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery. Connecting Trafalgar Square with Parliament Square is elegant Whitehall, a broad avenue lined with imposing statues and monuments, including the Cenotaph, a memorial to the nation’s war dead. Just off here is No.10 Downing Street, the home of the British Prime Minister, and the Churchill War Rooms (where Winston Churchill directed operations in World War II). There’s a strong royal connection as well: Buckingham Palace in St James’s Park is His Majesty’s home and office, while Westminster Abbey is the coronation and burial place of British monarchy.

• This is where to view “Changing the Guard” ceremonies: the Foot Guards at Buckingham Palace, and the Household Cavalry at Horse Guards on Whitehall (Mon–Sat 11am, Sun 10am).

• Cheap hotels lie south and east of Victoria Station (Belgrave Rd), otherwise it’s very expensive to stay in Westminster and St James themselves.

The Ritz Hotel in central London.

The legendary Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly, an enduring symbol of elegance and British tradition. Staying here is a truly opulent experience, from the white-gloved doormen to the famed afternoon tea in the Palm Court. It’s not just a hotel; it’s a London institution.

4. Soho

A map of the soho neighborhood in London.
Bars, clubs, and a diverse clutch of restaurants are the hallmarks of Soho, London’s liveliest nightlife area and former red-light district. Centrally located and an easy walk away from the river and several major attractions, Soho is also the heart of London’s LGBTQA+ scene (especially vibrant around Old Compton St), and one of the best parts of London for independent designers and record stores. Soho is bordered to the south by the small, bustling Chinatown (the main drag is Gerrard Street, with its traditional Chinese gates) and touristy Leicester Square, famous for its movie premieres. A short stroll west is the equally touristy junction of Piccadilly Circus with its neon billboards and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain’s “Eros” statue (it’s actually Anteros). Other highlights include venerable jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, the street market on Berwick Street, the shops on and around 1960s icon Carnaby Street, the Photographers’ Gallery, and the grand old Liberty department store.

• Soho is always very busy but staying here means you’ll have the best nightlife and dining scene at your doorstep, along with easy access to some of the main sights and shopping districts in the city. As a result, rates tend to be very expensive, though there are a several good budget options, noted below.

Cheap hotel in London Soho.

The Z Soho is good value and has a great central location.

5. City of London (The City)

A map of the City of London neighborhood in London.
Studded with London’s relatively recent crop of skyscrapers, the financial heart of the city has a 2000-year-old history. This is where the Romans originally founded Londinium in 47 AD, and no other part of London packs so many heavyweight attractions into so small a space as the “Square Mile” (despite the destruction wrought by the Great Fire of 1666 and the German Blitz in World War II). Besides Roman ruins, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London (with its iconic “Beefeaters” and Crown Jewels), Tower Bridge (you can walk across the elevated walkways), Wren’s soaring Monument to the Great Fire, the medieval Guildhall, London’s oldest synagogue, and the modern but illuminating Museum of London and the Barbican arts complex, there are numerous churches here loaded with history – some medieval, others built by Sir Christopher Wren, but all well worth exploring (St Bride’s, St Olave’s and All Hallows by the Tower are especially interesting). For a taster of the modern financial district, visit Rafael Viñoly’s “Walkie Talkie” building on Fenchurch Street, which features the popular public Sky Garden on the top floor, with several restaurants and bars (it’s best to book ahead).

Other highlights include the Bank of England Museum, Dr Johnson’s House, the Charterhouse, Smithfield Market, the Museum of the Order of Saint John, and the fantastic dining in Clerkenwell. The City is also littered with historic pubs like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and the Old Bell Tavern, all dripping with character. There is also one of the city’s finest small museums in Holborn, at the western end of the district: Sir John Soane’s Museum with its fascinating art collections. Nearby are the Inns of Court, where Britain’s top lawyers train and ply their trade, and Temple Church, built in 1185 by the Knights Templar and made famous by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

• There are some excellent budget options here, though The City can be quiet at nights and on weekends (apart from Clerkenwell and into Islington). This part of London has a very different feel to the West End, with the juxtaposition of medieval and Roman remains with glass and steel skyscrapers quite jarring.

The Rosewood Hotel in Holborn.

The grand entrance of the Rosewood London in Holborn. Walking through the magnificent archway and into the hotel’s quiet inner courtyard feels like entering a private palace.

6. Mayfair and Marylebone

A map of the Mayfair & Marylebone neighborhoods in London.
Lined with high street fashion outlets and the iconic Selfridges department store, centrally located Oxford Street bisects two distinguished neighborhoods. To the north is fashionable Marylebone, attracting moneyed Londoners with its designer shops and upmarket eateries (especially along Marylebone High Street, with its village-like feel), while the ever-popular waxworks of Madame Tussauds, just south of Regent’s Park, panders to crowds of visitors (book online). The area also contains an excellent (and rarely busy) art gallery, the Wallace Collection, plus the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street, at the fictional home of the famous detective. South of Oxford Street, Mayfair oozes class and wealth, its grid of tree-lined streets dotted with 5-star hotels, antique shops, boutiques along Bond Street, and the finest menswear outlets in town along its famous shopping street, Saville Row. Posh Piccadilly forms Mayfair’s southern boundary, home to elegant Burlington Arcade, Fortnum & Mason, and the Royal Academy of Arts.

• Mayfair is an expensive area, but for good reason – quiet and posh neighborhoods but conveniently central. You’ll get better deals in Marylebone, though note that the cheapest hotels here are poor value – you get what you pay for.

Hotel in Mayfair, London.

Perfectly located in Mayfair, The Athenaeum sits directly on Piccadilly overlooking the beautiful expanse of Green Park, just a short walk from Buckingham Palace.

7. East London

A map of the East London neighborhood in London.
East of The City, the East End used to have a bad reputation, with its Victorian slums, Jack the Ripper and the Kray twins stalking the streets, and the squalor surrounding London’s docks and heavily industrialized neighborhoods. The East End retains its immigrant neighborhoods and lively ethnic vibe, but today it’s one of the most dynamic parts of the city, with hip craft breweries, art galleries and murals, boutique hotels, and a cutting-edge club scene.

Must-visits include Spitalfields Market and the excellent restaurants surrounding it, the Whitechapel Gallery, the Brick Lane Sunday flea market’s Bangladeshi curry houses and vintage fashion shops, the designer shops and hip Boxpark of Shoreditch, and Hoxton’s frenetic nightlife. You can sample Cockney classics like eel pie and mash and fish and chips, and sip beer in historic pubs like the Kray twins’ Carpenter’s Arms, Lord Nelson’s favorite The Gun, and the Ten Bells (associated with Jack the Ripper). Further out towards Stratford lies the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, focus of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition to seeing Zaha Hadid’s wavy Aquatics Centre, you can climb Anish Kapoor’s twisting red ArcelorMittal Orbit tower for spectacular views across London, and try its thrilling “Orbit slide”.

Docklands & Canary Wharf
The vast Docklands of East London were largely abandoned by the 1970s, but since the 1990s have been spectacularly transformed into zones of condos, offices, and marinas along the river. Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, with its banks and skyscrapers, has effectively become London’s second financial district after the City. Though there’s not a lot to see (other than the high-rise architecture), curious tourists still pay a visit, strolling along the canals and through subterranean shopping malls. Discover the city’s maritime past at the Museum of London Docklands, or take the IFS Cloud Cable Car from Royal Victoria Dock to the O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) on the Greenwich Peninsula on the other side of the Thames. It’s not a great idea to stay in Canary Wharf, but the Hilton, Novotel, and Marriott are all excellent options. For the O2, there’s the InterContinental.

• East London generally contains much cheaper, edgier neighborhoods, where you’ll be mixing with more locals than tourists. There are some great deals on hotels to be had here, especially with boutiques in Shoreditch.

The Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch.

The good-value The Hoxton, Shoreditch, an easy walk to the Old Street tube station.

Views from our visit to the Shard Shangri La in South Bank.

The awesome views from Shangri-La The Shard from its perch on the south side of the Thames.

8. South Bank

A map of the South Bank neighborhood in London.
The Thames is London’s lifeblood, and many of the city’s attractions are concentrated along the revamped promenade that stretches along the river’s South Bank in central London – from Shakespeare’s Globe and the Southbank Centre (Europe’s largest arts venue), and the Tate Modern, the country’s top contemporary (and free) art gallery, to the London Eye (the largest Ferris wheel in Europe) and the Shard skyscraper’s observation deck. Families will want to check out the London Dungeon, Sea Life Aquarium, and replica of Drake’s Golden Hinde ship. Other highlights include battleship-turned-museum HMS Belfast, the White Cube art gallery, medieval Southwark Cathedral, Florence Nightingale Museum, and the excellent Imperial War Museum. Dining options include the standout Borough Market, which is crammed with food stalls, as well as the smaller Maltby Street Market.

• Waterloo station and London Bridge are both major transport hubs that serve this area.

• You’ll find a lot of excellent modern midrange hotels here from the Park Plaza, Ibis, Premier Inn and Citizen hotel chains.

Great hotel for families in London.

The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is close to many top attractions and a great hotel for families.

9. Camden Town and Primrose Hill

A map of the Camden Town and Primrose Hill neighborhoods in London.
Grungy and rough around the edges, Camden Town nestles in the northeast reaches of Regent’s Park, near the family favorite London Zoo. It’s centered on the sprawling Camden Market – four adjoining markets selling anything from vintage clothing and records to art and gourmet street food (there’s also a beloved statue of late singer Amy Winehouse). You can also take boat rides (or stroll the path) along the canals from here to Little Venice, or visit the Jewish Museum, charting the history and culture of the British Jewish community. The birthplace of British rock music, Camden has a young, studenty vibe, numerous live music venues, and lively pubs, while Primrose Hill, just to the west, is a celeb hangout with artisan coffee shops, gastropubs, and chic stores – climb the grassy hill itself for panoramic views across the whole city.

• These are hip areas to stay in, off the main tourist trail, but with far fewer hotels (apartment rentals may be the way to go here).

10. Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia and King’s Cross

A map of the Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, and King's Cross neighborhoods in London.
The bookish and offbeat neighborhoods of Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia are just north of Oxford Street. Bloomsbury is centered around the University of London and the enormous British Museum – the UK’s best – which is surrounded by a buzzy grid of streets filled with cafes and restaurants. Other highlights include Charles Dickens Museum, former home of the beloved writer, and the museums on the university campus: Grant Museum of Zoology, the Wellcome Collection of medical artifacts and oddities, and Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. Just west of Bloomsbury is trendy Fitzrovia – short on sights but with lively pubs and bars frequented by young professionals. To the north is the regenerated King’s Cross, with the international rail hub of St Pancras, the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ (in King’s Cross station itself), some excellent street food, and the British Library, housing the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Magna Carta.

• Hotels tend to be good value here, but note that the cheapest hotels are not good value. It’s a little more sedate, though the student population livens things up a bit.

Where to stay in London for train to Paris.

Just north of Bloomsbury, sits the iconic St. Pancras Renaissance at King’s Cross/St. Pancras railway station (with direct trains to Cambridge, Edinburgh, Paris, Amsterdam, and many more).

11. Greenwich

A map of the Greenwich neighborhood in London.
Boats along the Thames give easy access to attractions in other parts of London, including Greenwich, further east – a UNESCO World Heritage collection of museums. Known for giving its name to Greenwich Mean Time, you can see the east-west Prime Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory at the top of Greenwich Park (which also provides the best views of the skyscrapers at Canary Wharf). Back down by the river, the Cutty Sark is the main attraction, the world’s last surviving tea clipper, along with the picturesque buildings of the Old Royal Naval College (designed by Christopher Wren and now primarily used by the University of Greenwich) – the murals in the Painted Hall are definitely worth seeing. Aficionados of naval history will love the National Maritime Museum, which also includes Inigo Jones’s Queen’s House, designed in 1616 for James I’s wife, Anne of Denmark. Greenwich also offers plenty of places to eat and drink, as well as indoor Greenwich Market for gifts and antiques.

• Greenwich is worth a full day trip if you have time (easy via public transport), but there are a few decent hotels here if you fancy staying longer: the Admiral Hardy in the center, or the modern Novotel Greenwich and Staycity Greenwich High Road a little further out.

Other London Neighborhoods

We’ve covered our favorite neighborhoods to visit and stay in more detail above, but London is a vast, attraction-packed city and with more time, the following areas are also worth checking out:

  • North London: Kids and Harry Potter fans in general will love The Making of Harry Potter tour at the Warner Bros studios in Leavesden (20 miles northwest of central London). Take the train to Watford Junction where shuttle buses (included in the price) zip to the studios. Soccer fans can make the pilgrimage to Wembley Stadium, the home of English football, for tours and major concerts. There are some good hotels here: the Premier Inn London Wembley Stadium is usually an excellent value.
  • South London: Tennis fans will want to visit the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum (the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament itself takes place in July), while the history of gin is chronicled at the Beefeater Gin Distillery in Kennington. Further south, art fans should check out the collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery (which includes Rembrandt’s famed Girl at a Window), while the quirky Horniman Museum contains unusual natural history and ethnographic exhibits.
  • West London: Made globally famous by the 1999 movie of the same name, affluent Notting Hill lies in West London and is best known for its colorful Victorian townhouses and the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s biggest street festival (held every August). It’s also home to the iconic Portobello Road Market, a vast emporium of fashion, gifts, antiques, and street food. You could spend another week seeing the sights along the River Thames west from central London. Kew is the home of the beautifully maintained Royal Botanic Gardens and 17th-century Kew Palace, while Syon House is another huge stately home just across the river with an opulent 18th-century interior. Nearby Richmond is a charming river town that will be familiar to fans of hit TV show Ted Lasso, with the World Rugby Museum and Twickenham Stadium Tours on the other side of the Thames. Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace further south is one of England’s most famous royal palaces. Finally, it’s an easy day-trip out to Windsor to visit the massive royal castle, Eton College, and the site of the Magna Carta signing at Runnymede. The Macdonald Windsor Hotel and Castle Hotel Windsor are good central choices here. The Bingham Riverhouse is a romantic option in Richmond.
  • There’s not much point in staying at the airports unless you have an early flight (or are arriving very late) and are traveling by public transport; it can be time consuming to travel from central London, especially to/from Gatwick and Stansted. At Heathrow, the Sofitel Heathrow is the best and most convenient, if expensive. Nearby Leonardo and Renaissance hotels are usually much cheaper. At Stansted we like the ultra-convenient Hampton. At Gatwick the Sofitel Gatwick (north terminal) is the best. And Bloc Hotel and YOTELAIR (South Terminal) are solid, convenient options.
Our room at Heathrow Sofitel Hotel.

Our room at the Sofitel Heathrow. Direct indoor access to Terminal 5.

England’s Premier League is popular worldwide, and though tickets are not cheap, watching a football (soccer) game at one of the major London clubs can be a memorable experience. Don’t even think about driving to a game: take a train or the Underground. Most clubs also offer stadium tours and have on-site museums displaying the silverware.

  • Arsenal plays at the Emirates Stadium in Holloway, North London, served by the Arsenal, Highbury & Islington and Holloway Road Underground stations.
  • Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge in Fulham, West London, with Fulham Broadway the closest Underground.
  • Tottenham play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London, close to the White Hart Lane Overground station, plus the Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale Underground stops.
  • Other London Premiership clubs include West Ham (who play at the Olympic stadium in East London), Crystal Palace in South London, and Brentford and Fulham (both West London).

London Travel Tips

  • London is served by three primary airports – Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted – with smaller airports like Luton, London Southend and London City serving a few domestic and European destinations. The best way into the city from the main three airports is to take the train (or Underground from Heathrow); taxis are readily available but expensive.
  • There are several tourist discount cards available for London. If you only intend to visit a few sights or just London’s free museums and galleries (Tate Modern, British Museum), it’s usually not worth buying one. Otherwise, you’ll need to do some research to maximize your savings.
    – The all-inclusive London Pass (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 days) is valid at over 90 sights (but NOT the London Eye and Madame Tussauds) and is a good idea for families intending to see at least 3 major attractions (not museums) per day.
    – The London City Pass from Turbo Pass is similar but offers a free public transport option, which is useful, but overall is better for visitors staying longer, around 7 days.
    – The London Sightseeing Pass doesn’t include as much as the others, BUT is a bit cheaper and not bad for short trips and for visitors who like bus and boat tours.
    – We also like the Go City London Explorer Pass, which is based on the number of attractions and activities you choose, instead of the number of days, so assuming you know exactly want you want to do, can be cheaper.
  • Bike rental is available through bikeshare outfits like Santander Cycles. London is not a bad place to ride bikes, offering plenty of bike lanes and “leisure cycle routes”; but with public transport so efficient, it’s not worth renting a bike just to get around – unless you really enjoy riding them and intend to explore the leisure routes more extensively. Dott, Lime and TIER offer shared e-scooters around the capital.
  • Free wi-fi is available at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, and throughout The City district (look for “O2 Wi-Fi”). It’s also available at most Underground stations, museums/galleries, and libraries throughout the city, as well as at almost every café and restaurant.
  • Tipping: unlike the US, tips in the UK are discretionary and depend on the quality of the service. In London, it’s usual to leave 10–15% of the check (“bill”) when eating out, though if a service charge has been added instead (which does happen) there’s no need to tip. Locals also tend to round taxi fares to the nearest pound. Do not tip the bartender in a pub, though.

London’s Main Transport Options

  • The Tube (Underground): This is the fastest way to travel across the city. The network is extensive and connects all major neighborhoods and attractions. Fares are based on the zones you travel through.
  • Double-Decker Buses: Don’t overlook the iconic red buses. They are excellent for shorter journeys and offer a fantastic view of the city streets. Buses have a single flat fare per journey, and the “Hopper Fare” allows you to take unlimited bus or tram trips within one hour for no extra charge.
  • Other Trains (DLR, Overground, Elizabeth Line): These are other train lines that are fully integrated into the main transport system. Your contactless card or phone works seamlessly across all of them. The Elizabeth Line is a new, fast line connecting Heathrow Airport, Central London, and areas to the east.
  • River Bus (Uber Boat by Thames Clippers): This is a scenic way to travel along the River Thames. It is more expensive than the Tube or bus and is not fully included in the daily/weekly fare cap, but using your contactless card or phone gives you a discount over the standard ticket price.

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave in Athens, Greece Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece.

Questions? Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.