Where to Stay in London: Best Neighborhoods & Hotels

How much does a hotel in London cost?

It’s probably no secret that a city trip to London isn’t exactly cheap.

The price of your accommodation in London depends mainly on distance to the center — that is, to the top London attractions — and on how comfortable you want to be.

To put it plainly: for a double room in a good, clean, and comfortable hotel with solid value for money in a central location, you should budget around 150 to 200 euros per night.

Prices also shift depending on the time of year. If you book your London accommodation a bit in advance and plan your London city trip during the off-season — February, for example — you can find noticeably lower rates.

If you want to save money and don’t mind a longer commute to the sights, you can also find more affordable places to stay in London.

If you’re in the mood for a little luxury, one of the elegant London boutique hotels would be a perfect fit.

The best neighborhoods to stay in London

Each neighborhood we recommend suits different types of travelers. We’ll walk you through which area is right for you in the sections below.

These are the 4 neighborhoods in London we recommend for your stay:

• West End: for first-time visitors – Z Hotel Strand
• Kensington and Chelsea: the chic and elegant side of London – Blackbird
• Shoreditch: the alternative side of London – CitizenM Shoreditch
• King’s Cross: affordable yet central – Pullman London St. Pancras

Our tip: Stay on the north side of the Thames. Many areas in the south are currently being renovated and developed, and several neighborhoods — like Brixton — are still a little rough around the edges.

The best neighborhoods to stay in London on a map

To help you get your bearings in London, here’s a map showing our recommended areas to stay, along with the most important attractions for orientation.

Staying in the West End

A hotel in the West End is the best choice if it’s your first time in London and you want to reach the top attractions on foot.

So where exactly is the center of London? Good question — there’s no official definition.

The center is probably best described as the West End. It covers the area around Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and Trafalgar Square. Think of it as London’s equivalent of the Times Square area in New York — the city’s main tourist hub.

The West End has fantastic shopping options and most of London’s musicals. You’ll also find many Michelin-starred restaurants along Regent Street and Piccadilly, and more affordable eating around Leicester Square and in Chinatown.

Major highlights like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey are reachable on foot in 15 to 20 minutes, or just a few minutes by subway.

Advantages of staying in the West End:

• You’re right in the heart of London and can reach most must-sees on foot.
• The West End has many Tube stations, making it easy to get to other neighborhoods too.
• The selection of hotels and restaurants is enormous.
• Easy transfer from Heathrow Airport to London West End.

Disadvantages of staying in the West End:

• The West End is very touristy. If you want to experience “real” London life, you’d be better off in a different neighborhood.
• It’s always very busy, especially during London’s peak travel season. If you’re after peace and quiet, the West End isn’t the right fit.

Our hotel recommendations for the West End

If you don’t want to spend too much on your London lodging, we really recommend the Z Hotels.

The Z Hotel Covent Garden and the Z Hotel Strand are very close to each other. With just a few minutes’ walk to Trafalgar Square, the location simply can’t be beat.

The Z Hotels are seriously affordable by London standards — you get a simple, compact but very clean and modern room in return.

Staying in Kensington and Chelsea

A hotel in Kensington and Chelsea is the best choice if you want to stay in the most elegant part of London.

Kensington and Chelsea sit southwest of central London.

Here you’ll find Michelin-starred restaurants, upscale boutiques, and some of London’s finest museums and galleries. With a bit of luck, you might even spot a celebrity among all the Gucci and Prada bags on the street.

You do pay a premium for that elegance, though.

The main attractions are about 20 to 25 minutes away by subway. On the plus side, you’re about a 15-minute walk from Hyde Park and the charming neighborhood of Notting Hill.

Advantages of staying in Kensington and Chelsea:

• These neighborhoods are among the most elegant areas in the city.
• Excellent restaurants and high-end shopping right on your doorstep.
• Comparatively quiet, yet you’re still right in the middle of one of the world’s most exciting cities.

Disadvantages of staying in Kensington and Chelsea:

• The price level for hotels, restaurants, and shopping is relatively high.
• You’re a bit farther from London’s well-known attractions.

Our hotel recommendations for Kensington and Chelsea

We absolutely love the Blackbird. The rooms in this boutique hotel are super stylish, the breakfast is excellent, and the whole atmosphere is wonderfully cozy.

The hotel has only nine rooms and each one is individually designed. Perfect if you’re looking for a unique place to stay in London.

Staying in Shoreditch

A hotel in Shoreditch is the best choice if you want to experience the alternative side of London and the city’s nightlife.

Once a troubled area, Shoreditch has transformed over the past few years into London’s trendiest neighborhood and is becoming increasingly popular with visitors. If you want to stay right in the middle of a hip area, Shoreditch is the perfect fit.

The neighborhood sits northeast of the center — it takes about 30 minutes by subway to reach the well-known attractions.

On weekends you’ll find some of the coolest flea markets in London here, and every other day of the week Shoreditch has plenty going on: hip bars, restaurants, an alternative scene, street art, and secondhand stores.

Shoreditch also has a huge selection of restaurants from around the world — from Indian chicken tikka masala and Thai curry to German bratwurst and the classic British Scotch egg. You’ll never go hungry here. We’ve also put together our best advice for restaurants and cafés in London in a detailed article.

Advantages of staying in Shoreditch:

• You’re right in the heart of the trendy neighborhood.
• A huge selection of restaurants and pubs on your doorstep.
• You get to experience London from a totally different angle.

Disadvantages of staying in Shoreditch:

• It takes about 30 minutes by subway to reach the main attractions.
• Shoreditch isn’t as pretty and polished as many other parts of London.

Our hotel recommendations for Shoreditch

We’re big fans of the CitizenM hotels, so we wholeheartedly recommend the CitizenM Shoreditch. All rooms have the same layout and are fitted out in a super modern style. The beds are really comfortable and the value for money is excellent.

There are also two more CitizenM hotels in London we’d recommend: the CitizenM Tower of London and the CitizenM Bankside.

Staying in King's Cross

The neighborhood around King’s Cross station is the best choice if you’re after more affordable accommodation in London that’s still close to the center.

In the King’s Cross area, hotels are generally a bit cheaper than in other neighborhoods. If you’re on a tight budget, be sure to also check out our other picks in the article Budget accommodation in London.

King’s Cross sits in the wonderful Camden neighborhood in north London and has excellent connections into the city. From here it takes about 30 minutes by train to the London Eye.

In King’s Cross you can visit Platform 9¾ from Harry Potter or the Charles Dickens Museum. It’s a very modern neighborhood with many museums and galleries, and it’s also home to the British Library — worth a visit even if you’re not a student.

In recent years King’s Cross has developed rapidly and is really popular with Londoners. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and pubs at good prices. Alongside the latest food trends, you can also try traditional English food.

Advantages of staying in King’s Cross:

• You’ll find many good and affordable accommodations here.
• Excellent connections into the city and to national and international rail services.
• The neighborhood isn’t overrun with tourists like the City center.
• It’s a very safe area and is loved by Londoners.

Disadvantages of staying in King’s Cross:

• The connections are great, but it still takes a little while to get into the city center.
• Among all the modern buildings, your hotel might not look brand new from the outside.

Our hotel recommendations for King's Cross

The Pullman London St Pancras is just five minutes from King’s Cross. The view from the upper-floor rooms is seriously fantastic, the rooms are beautifully furnished, and the breakfast is delicious.

For a touch of luxury, we recommend The Standard London. Think cool rooftop bar, stylish rooms, and great design.