Updated: August 12, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
My map of London’s best hotels shows my favorite luxury, boutique, midrange, family, and affordable hotels across Central London. For a first visit, I prefer staying in Covent Garden, Soho, Mayfair, Westminster, South Bank, Marylebone, Bloomsbury, or South Kensington. Hotel location matters in London: staying centrally can save a lot of travel time each day. For a detailed comparison of neighborhoods, see my guides to where to Stay in London and best London hotels for families.
Best Hotels in London Map
Best Hotels: 1. St. Pancras Renaissance • 2. Kimpton Fitzroy • 3. Montague on the Gardens • 4. Radisson Blu Hotel, London Bloomsbury • 5. The Mandrake • 6. Chiltern Firehouse • 7. The Marylebone • 8. The Langham • 9. The Cumberland • 10. Claridge’s • 11. The Connaught • 12. The Dorchester • 13. Four Seasons at Park Lane • 14. Athenaeum Hotel & Residences • 15. Ham Yard Hotel • 16. The Soho Hotel • 17. Hazlitt’s • 18. W London • 19. Fielding Hotel • 20. ME London • 21. The Savoy • 22. Citadines Trafalgar Square • 23. The Milestone Kensington • 24. Meliá London Kensington • 25. Cheval Knightsbridge • 26. Egerton House • 27. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park • 28. The Berkeley • 29. The Goring • 30. Taj 51 Buckingham Gate • 31. Conrad London St. James • 32. The Ritz London • 33. London Marriott Hotel County Hall • 34. Park Plaza Westminster Bridge • 35. Park Plaza County Hall
Best Affordable Hotels: 36. Central Hotel • 37. Generator London • 38. Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury • 39. Z Hotel Gloucester Place • 40. Z Hotel Soho • 41. Strand Palace • 42. Premier Inn London County Hall • 43. DoubleTree by Hilton London Victoria • 44. Park City Grand Plaza Kensington • 45. Best Western Victoria Palace • 46. Luna and Simone Hotel
My Favorite London Hotels
- Best Luxury: The Connaught in Mayfair and The Savoy in Covent Garden.
- Best Boutique: Ham Yard Hotel in Soho.
- Best Central Midrange: Strand Palace near Covent Garden.
- Best Affordable: Z Hotel Soho.
- Best for Families: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on the South Bank.
Our room at the Ham Yard Hotel, one of my favorite boutique hotels in Central London.
Best Areas for London Hotels
- Covent Garden: My favorite location for a first visit. It’s central, very walkable, and excellent for restaurants, theaters, and the West End.
- Soho: Best for nightlife, restaurants, and staying in the middle of the action.
- Mayfair: Best for luxury hotels, high-end shopping, and easy access to Hyde Park and the West End.
- Westminster: Best for Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and first-time sightseeing.
- South Bank: Excellent for families, river views, the London Eye, and quick access across Westminster Bridge to the main sights.
- Marylebone: Central but calmer than Soho and Covent Garden, with good restaurants, shops, and easy access to the West End.
- South Kensington: Best for the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, Hyde Park, and family trips.
For a more detailed comparison, see my Where to Stay in London guide and London Neighborhood Map.
London Hotel Map Tips
- Stay central if your budget allows. Covent Garden, Soho, Westminster, South Bank, Mayfair, Marylebone, and Bloomsbury cost more than outer neighborhoods, but they save sightseeing time and make evenings much easier.
- Don’t choose a hotel by Tube zone alone. Zone 1 covers a large area. Check the hotel’s actual location relative to the sights, restaurants, theaters, and neighborhoods you plan to visit.
- A nearby Tube station isn’t everything. In Covent Garden, Soho, Mayfair, Westminster, and South Bank, you’ll walk to many of London’s major sights and restaurants.
- Consider how you arrive in London. Paddington is especially convenient for Heathrow, Victoria for Gatwick trains, and King’s Cross St. Pancras for Eurostar and trains to northern England and Scotland.
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