The Big Smoke. The Swinging City. The home of Big Ben and fish and chips. The British metropolis city of London has so much more to offer than palaces, museums and greasy food (though these are the greatest things about the city).
It is also home to a multi-cultural and diverse population, with each district offering something vibrant and unique.
Whether you’re in town for a West End production in Covent Garden or you’re looking for high-class afternoon tea in Kensington, or you want to paint the town red in a SoHo strip club. There is a little something for everyone in this bustling city.
When it comes to where to stay in London, there is a plethora of options. The city itself is huge, and while getting around is easy, good accommodation and transport doesn’t come cheap.
Which is exactly why I put together this insider’s guide together, so you can choose to stay somewhere nearby all the places you want to see and save a few quid on transport.
This in-depth guide looks at the best places to stay in London organized by your interests. I’ll be showing you the top neighborhoods for first-timers, for families, party animals and culture vultures and I’ll also share with you exactly what to see and do in each area (including some hidden gems along the way).
So, no matter what you’re into, I’ve got you covered.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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London Neighborhood Guide – Places to Stay in London
Covent Garden
This lively and vibrant neighbourhood is located in the centre of the city. It is home to incredible tourist attractions and boasts a fantastic selection of world-class restaurants, high-quality shops and boisterous bars.
South Bank
The South Bank and Southwark neighbourhoods are located on the southern side of the Thames River. These are two of London’s best neighbourhoods for sightseeing because of their excellent location
Soho
Set north of the city centre is the lively, vibrant and trendy Soho neighbourhood. It boasts an excellent mix of cocktail bars, traditional pubs, theatres, speakeasies, restaurants and cafes, which is why this is our top recommendation for where to stay in London for nightlife.
Shoreditch
Without a doubt, Shoreditch is one of the coolest places to stay in London. Located east of the city centre, this neighbourhood is a hipster haven complete with art galleries, cafes, vintage shops, bars and restaurant.
South Kensington
London’s South Kensington neighbourhood is a luxurious neighbourhood set west of the city centre. It is one of the more affluent areas of the city and boasts a variety of incredible museums, world-renowned shops, delicious restaurants and delectable bakeries.
London Neighborhood Guide
London is a megalopolis bursting with history, culture, music, art, and nightlife. It is the capital and largest city in the United Kingdom and is the biggest city in the European Union. London is generally a safe place to travel for tourists.
Greater London consists of 32 London boroughs as well as the City of London (found in the centre of the city). It is home to more than 8.8 million people and covers a vast area of 1,572 square kilometres. Because there’s so much to see and do, we’ve decided to focus this London neighborhood guide on the five best areas to stay in based on the major attractions in each area.
Covent Garden is the city’s main tourist district. Here you’ll find a great variety of lively theatres, bustling shops, and boisterous restaurants. It is centrally located in the city and allows for easy access to the main attractions, which is why it’s one of the best places to stay in Central London. In London, you can find all kinds of hotels from budget to Luxury, and even some cheap hostels too.
Head across the river and you’ll arrive in Southbank. A fantastic neighborhood for visiting London’s art galleries, here you’ll find the London Eye, the Tate Modern and a whole host of budget accommodation such as cheap hotels and hostels, making it a great choice for a place to stay in South London for one night.
Slightly north of the city centre is the energetic and eclectic Soho neighborhood. Packed with cocktail bars, theatres, underground speakeasies, and world-class restaurants, Soho is definitely the best area in London to stay in if you’re looking for vibrant nightlife.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
Set northeast of the city centre is Shoreditch. One of the coolest places to stay in East London, Shoreditch is a vibrant neighborhood home to trendy restaurants, hip bars, cool art galleries, and independent shops. It’s also home to some of London’s best hostels, so it’s a win-win.
And finally, west of the city centre is South Kensington. Home to huge parks such as Hyde Park, museums, restaurants and shops, South Kensington is our top pick for where to stay in West London with kids because it’s packed with great activities and major attractions.
Still not sure where to stay in London? Don’t worry because we’ve got all the info you need – and more – coming right up!
Make sure you know as much as possible before visiting London. Use our backpacking London guide to gain valuable information and to travel like a pro!
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London’s 5 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in
Now, that I’ve introduced you to the top five neighborhoods, it’s time to dive into our in-depth list for the best areas to stay in London.
#1 Covent Garden – Where to Stay in London for Your First Time
If you’re not sure where to stay for your first time, look no further than Covent Garden. This lively and vibrant neighborhood is located in the centre of the city in the vibrant west end. It is home to incredible tourist attractions and boasts a fantastic selection of world-class restaurants, high-quality shops – especially in Covent Garden market, as well as boisterous bars.
Covent Garden is also where you’ll find the vast majority of London’s world-renowned theatre scene, where you can see top performers strut their stuff on stage. If you love staying in lively areas then my big travel tips for London would be to base yourself around Covent Garden.
Thanks to its convenient location, Covent Garden is also one of the best places in Central London to stay for sightseeing. In Covent Garden, you’re in close proximity to popular tourist attractions and landmarks, including Oxford Street which is the most famous shopping street in the city, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, the British Museum, the National Gallery, the London Eye, London Bridge and Westminster Abbey.
It also has excellent transport links to everywhere in London, and if you want to venture outside of the capital for a day trip from London, King’s Cross Station and Waterloo Station are not too far away.
Check Top Covent Garden Airbnbs
Check Top Covent Garden Hostels
Check Top Covent Garden Hotel
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey#2 South Bank/Southwark – Where to Stay in London on a Budget
Usually, people think London is expensive. But it doesn’t have to be!
The South Bank and Southwark neighborhoods are located on the southern side of the River Thames. They’re two of London’s best neighborhoods for sightseeing because of their excellent location. Not only do they boast a number of popular landmarks and attractions, like the London Eye and Tate Modern, but South Bank/Southwark are a short walk from Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Covent Gardens, Soho and more.
There are so many things to do in South Bank, you’ll be spoilt for choice! These neighborhoods are our top pick for where to stay in London on a budget because of their high concentrations of backpacker hostels and mid range hotels. Here you can enjoy the very best of London without bursting your budget.
Check Top Airbnb’s in Southwark
Check Top Hostel in Southwark
Check Top Hotel in Southwark
#3 Soho – Where to Stay in London for Nightlife
Set north of the city centre is the lively, vibrant and trendy Soho neighborhood. It boasts an excellent mix of cocktail bars, traditional pubs, theatres, speakeasies, restaurants and cafes, which is why this is our top recommendation for where to stay in London for nightlife. Whether you’re looking to dance the night away, sip a cheeky pint, or watch a lively play, Soho is a neighborhood bursting with options for after-dark fun.
Although Soho is one of the best areas to stay in London, it should be noted that some parts can be a little rough at night and noisy – it really comes to life in London on weekends, especially in SoHo, so if you’re down to party this is the place to stay. Take a bit of extra caution when exploring Soho after dark, and you’ll no doubt enjoy the neighborhood.
Check Top Hotel in Soho
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Grab an eSIM!#4 Shoreditch – Coolest Place to Stay in London
Without a doubt, Shoreditch is one of the coolest places to stay in East London. Located just outside of the city centre, this neighborhood is a hipster haven complete with art galleries, cafes, vintage shops, bars, and restaurants. It boasts an exciting mix of informal hangouts that attracts creatives, entrepreneurs, and independent spirits from all corners of the city. Shoreditch is perhaps the best area of London to stay in for young adults or students.
In addition to being the best neighborhood to stay in London for hipsters and trendsetters, Shoreditch is also a fantastic place to visit in London for shopping. Tucked throughout this northeastern London borough are a myriad of local and independent boutiques as well as vintage shops where you can find gently used fashions, accessories and furniture, as well as books, jewelers and more.
Check Top Hostel in Shoreditch
Check Top Hotel In Shoreditch
Check Top Hotel In Shoreditch
#5 South Kensington – Where to Stay in London for Families
London’s South Kensington is a luxurious neighborhood set west of the city centre. It is one of the more affluent areas of the city and boasts a variety of incredible museums – in fact, South Kensington is home to three of the best museums in the city, which is why we think it’s the best neighborhood to stay in London with kids, as well as being just a short tube ride away from London Zoo.
If you’re looking for a sophisticated vacation in London, South Kensington is also super close to Notting Hill, which has some of the highest-class bars and restaurants in the city. You’ll also find the best luxury hotels with private hot tubs and boutique hotels in the city.
Check Top Hostel in Kensington
Check Top Hotel in Kensington
Really struggling to afford those London prices? Why not consider hopping on the train and staying somewhere within commutable distance? Have a look at some of the top Airbnb’s in Reading, it’s a popular spot for locals.
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Hide Yo’ Money!FAQ about Finding a Place to Stay in London
Here’s what people usually ask us about the areas of London and where to stay.
What To Pack For London
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hotel Packing list for even more top packing tips!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance for London
Wherever you are travelling to nowadays, some good travel insurance should always come with ya.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in London
London is a vibrant and multicultural city that is bursting with history, culture, food, nightlife, shopping and entertainment. It’s one of the largest cities in the world, and no matter how long you stay, you’ll leave feeling like there’s so much to add to your London itinerary. That’s why, for me, a trip to London is always a good idea.
In this London neighborhood guide, we’ve looked at the best places to stay in the city. If you’re still not sure which neighborhood is right for you, here is a quick recap.
The Walrus Hostel is our favourite hostel because of its excellent location, modern facilities and unbeatable prices.
Another good option is the Citizenm London Shoreditch. Set in London’s coolest neighborhood, this four-star hotel is in close proximity to nightlife, shopping, dining and sightseeing.
Do you have a favourite place to stay in London? Let me know in the comments.
- Check out our ultimate guide backpacking around London.
- Figured out where you wanna stay? Now it’s time to pick the perfect hostel in London.
- Next up you’re gonna need to know all the best places to visit in London to plan your trip.
- Planning out an itinerary for London is a great way to maximise your time.
- Save yourself hassle and money and get an international sim card for Europe.
- Swing by our super epic backpacking packing list to prep for your trip.
- Our in-depth Europe backpacking guide will help you plan the rest of your adventure.
Photo: Sasha Savinov
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Hi! Thanks for the article! I found a hotel in Westminster, would that area be safe?
Hi Grace, Westminster is generally considered a fairly safe part of London. However, being so close to a cluster of tourist hotspots, the risk of thief and tourist scams is alway going to be an issue. Keep aware of your property and use common sense, especially at night.