The Best Places & Area to Stay in London

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Are you planning a trip to London? The city is so vast it can be difficult to know which area to stay in. Whether you’re planning on staying in a hotel, a hostel, an Airbnb or a holiday apartment, we’ve identified the following as the most important location criteria:

Cost: You don’t want to break the bank!
Convenience: Near the main attractions
Atmosphere: Allows you to experience the true vibe of the city

So where to start? There are so many options, some better for families, some areas are hubs for nightlife and some are more appropriate for culture vultures. Here at Golden Tours, we’ve mulled it over and come up with the best areas to stay in when visiting London.

Central

If you want to stay centrally, you are likely to pay a bit more. On the up-side you will be within walking distance to all the major London attractions for super-convenience!

Mayfair
An upmarket area just off Oxford Street and Regent Street, famous for its high-quality restaurants and excellent hotels. Stay here if you want to be super-close to the high street shops and in the middle of everything. You will also be able to walk to Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace. Ideal for those who value convenience and don’t mind spending a bit more.

Soho
Soho is super-central but has a bit more character and is also slightly cheaper than Mayfair. Situated between Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus, Soho is packed full of history; a bohemian area associated with creativity and freedom of expression. Filled with bars, pubs and more casual eateries, it’s perfect for those who want to explore the buzzing London nightlife while still staying close to the centre.

North

Angel
Just slightly north of Central, Angel is still relatively close to most things in the middle of London. An area known for its antiques & vintage (found in Camden Passage) as well as lots of pubs and restaurants (walk along Upper Street), Angel is great for both families and those who fancy a bit of nightlife.

Hampstead
The furthest north of all our suggestions, Hampstead is a very pretty, peaceful area with plenty of nice shops and restaurants. With sprawling Hampstead Heath nearby for a dose of London nature, there are also plenty of transport links in the area, for exploring the rest of the city. West Hampstead has the Overground and Jubilee lines, Finchley Road is on the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines and Hampstead is on the Northern line. Perfect for people who want some peace and don’t mind a bit of travel.

Camden
Known for its markets, music venues and alternative culture, Camden High Street gets very busy on the weekends – something to note if you aren’t too interested in spending time in the area. Camden isn’t too far from Central London, but there is cheaper accommodation to be found and plenty to get up to. Good for live music lovers and market goers.

East

Shoreditch
Fun, vibrant and packed full of character, Shoreditch is a cheaper option due to it being a little further from the centre with not as many transport links. There is plenty of fun to be had in the area and known for its creativity, nightlife and independent boutiques and markets. Areas surrounding Shoreditch include Brick Lane (known for its curries and markets), Spitalfields (another great market), Liverpool Street (Central, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan Lines) and Old Street (Northern Line). Stay here if you want to save money, explore independently and don’t mind a little more inner city travelling.

West

Notting Hill
The pretty area made famous by the rom-com of the same name has been a popular place to stay ever since. The brightly coloured houses, markets and amazing range of cafes, shops and restaurants means there is plenty to do without travelling far. Plus it’s close to the centre so easy to get to the main tourist spots. Notting Hill Gate underground station is well connected on the Central, Circle and District lines. The price is slightly more expensive than other areas due to the location and popularity. Perfect for families and foodies.

Coming to London and staying in Notting Hill

Bayswater
This is a wonderful area to stay in as it’s filled with hotels, apartments, shops and restaurants and is super close to Paddington Station (handy if you are flying into Heathrow and want to catch the Heathrow Express) and Hyde Park. It’s a popular tourist spot so there is lots around to assist visitors to London. Everything Central isn’t too far away, so what you spend extra in cost you will make up for in time. Ideal for families, first-timers and those coming from Heathrow.

South Kensington/Earls Court
A very popular place to stay in London, this area is packed full of hotels and London’s world-class museums. Entry is free to The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum and The Victoria & Albert Museum. Ideal for first-timers and museum-lovers.

There are so many different areas to stay in London, with plenty to see and do all over the city. Wherever you choose to stay, make sure you see as much of the city as you can with our hop-on hop-off service around London, and don’t forget to explore the rest of the UK too!