Best places to stay in London
Are you thinking of fish and chips, or delicious curries, or Sherlock Holmes, or a walk across the London Bridge? Whatever your interests, a trip to UK’s capital promises to enthral you with an abundance of art, architecture, food, fashion, theatre, sports, history, and more. Every London neighbourhood has a unique identity and offers a distinct ambience. Most of the areas listed below are an easy commute within the city and have a wide range of accommodation options.
West End
An expensive central neighbourhood, West End is dominated by high-priced luxury hotels. A large part of the theatre district as well as London’s nightlife is in this area. Stay at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane hotel at Piccadilly or The Stafford London hotel near St. James Street. If you don’t mind spending those extra pounds on celebrity-studded, stylish accommodation, stay at the high-end Chiltern Firehouse hotel in Marylebone.
Bloomsbury
Within walking distance of the West End, you have the Bloomsbury area which has several quirky attractions and a bookshop at every corner. Consider staying at the Ambassadors Bloomsbury, a contemporary-styled hotel in a Victorian building or My Bloomsbury, a My hotel property on Bayley Street just minutes away from the British Museum.
County Hall
County Hall is the riverfront area by Westminster Bridge, directly facing Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. This is a convenient base for sightseeing but does not have much shopping or nightlife; hence, hotel prices tend to be cheaper on weekends. For upscale river-view accommodation, choose the London Marriott Hotel County Hall. For more mid-range budget accommodation, you have the Premier Inn County Hall hotel or the Marlin Waterloo on Westminster Bridge Road near the London Eye.
Victoria
A major transport hub, Victoria is a central location that boasts of residents like author J K Rowling, tech giant Google, and the Queen’s Buckingham Palace. This area offers a range of accommodation from budget to mid-range to top-of-the-line luxury. On a peak holiday weekend, the entire area can sometimes be sold out. The Hotel 41 on Buckingham Palace Road is an intimate luxury accommodation featuring a striking black and white lobby and matching rooms. To experience an interesting blend of history and luxury, stay at the St. Ermin’s Hotel, Autograph Collection on Caxton Street.
City of London, Tower Bridge, London Bridge
With the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral in the area, this primarily business dominated neighbourhood boasts of swanky riverside bars and restaurants and direct trains to all other London airports except Heathrow. You can look at The LaLit London hotel which offers convenient accommodation within a 5-minute walk from the London Bridge or the Hilton London Tower Bridge hotel which is a short walk from the Tower Bridge. You can also consider modern serviced apartments located next to the Tower Bridge at Cheval Three Quays at the Tower of London on Lower Thames Street.
Kensington
A fairly large neighbourhood, Kensington has several 4-star hotels offered by the international chains. For the leisure traveller, hotels around Gloucester Road and Earls Court are a convenient accommodation option. Enjoy a stylish and comfortable stay at The Kensington hotel at Queen’s Gate or stay at the grand and charming The Bentley Hotel located on a quiet leafy corner of 62nd Street. If you stay at The Pelham hotel, the South Kensington tube station is just across the road.
King’s Cross, St Pancras
The adjacent neighbourhoods of King’s Cross and St. Pancras are connected by direct trains to Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. Here you have several options for cheap and budget hotels. Home to London’s busiest Underground station, this area is well connected to other parts of the city and is an inexpensive base when you explore London. Stay at the St. Pancras Renaissance London located in a revived Gothic train station building or consider Hotel Megaro on Euston Road directly opposite King’s Cross station. You also have the Pullman London St. Pancras hotel right next to the St. Pancras railway station.
Paddington
A value-for-money neighbourhood with a large number of independent budget hotels, Paddington is a good location to explore London. If you are flying in and out of Heathrow Airport, the Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect trains operate from this area. Enjoy the excellent location of a boutique hotel like Hotel Indigo London-Paddington near the Paddington station or the La Suite West hotel, next to the Bayswater tube station and a 5-minute walk from Hyde Park.
Cheap hotels in London
Areas such as Paddington, Bayswater and Kensington are host to plenty of cheap and budget hotels including several properties by leading hotel chains such as Premier Inn, Travelodge, Ibis and Comfort Inn. For hostel style accommodation, consider the YHA London Central in Bloomsbury or Safestay Holland Park hostel in Kensington. You also have the Clink78 hostel located in a centuries-old court house at King’s Cross or the Equity Point London very close to Paddington station.
