Neighborhoods for Every Need
First-timers: For London buffs—those people who have been dreaming about their first visit to London since they were knee-high—we suggest Bayswater, Bloomsbury and Kensington.
Gay travelers: For those who want to be near the heart of gay London, we suggest Soho and Bloomsbury.
On the go: For those who want to be as close as possible to a major travel hub, we recommend King’s Cross, Paddington, and the area near Victoria Station.
Quiet: For those seeking quiet, we recommend Bayswater, Kensington, and South Kensington.
Culture: For museum hounds, we recommend Bloomsbury, Earls Court, Kensington, South Kensington, and Southwark.
Party: For clubbers, we recommend Soho, and Bloomsbury and King’s Cross for adjacent access. (That said, the coolest club kids have moved east, to a part of London far from any of our editor’s picks. Just saying.)
All-Around Value ‘Hood: The area near Victoria Station can’t be beat for cheap hotels, and King’s Cross comes a close second. Just do your research, Cheapos!
Hotels by Neighborhood
Hotels in London vary starkly by neighborhood. Among our editor’s picks, there are some definite—and dramatic—variations by neighborhood. Allow us to generalize a bit...
Bayswater is home to lots of nice small hotels in the cheap-to-midrange category. Most of these have an anonymous feel, though some are charming and boutiquey. There are also some hostels in the neighborhood. Expect to pay between £60 and £125 for a budget-friendly double room.
Bloomsbury tends to be very pricey, though there are some affordable gems among the lot. You’ll find lots and lots of bed-and-breakfasts, a few gargantuan hotels, and a smattering of hostels. Expect to pay between £60 and £105 for a budget-friendly double room.
Earls Court is not known for hotels, though we found a few nice surprises in this neighborhood. Earls Court is adjacent to South Kensington, and when it comes time for hotels to name their neighborhood, they tend to opt for “South Kensington” over “Earls Court.” Rates here are in the middle of the pack. Expect to pay between £75 and £110 for a budget-friendly double room.
Kensington/Notting Hill is prime territory for a charming bed and breakfast. This is London at its leafiest. Hotels and B&Bs tend to be pricey. If you’re lucky, you might find a double room in a hotel for £90 here, although most are much more expensive.
The area around King’s Cross is known for divey hotels with low standards. Though this reputation is not entirely undeserved, there are many lovely small hotels around, as well as larger chain hotels and hostels. Rates here are among the most affordable in London. Expect to pay between £50 and £90 for a budget-friendly double room.
Paddington Station is also home to huge numbers of hotels—big, small, and everything in between. Rates here are average for London. Expect to pay between £70 and £95 for a double room in a budget-friendly hotel.
Hotels in South Kensington are fairly pricey for London. See the Earls Court note above. Expect lots of bed and breakfasts here, as well as larger hotels and hostels. Expect to pay between £75 and £110 for a budget-friendly double room.
Soho is extremely expensive. There is a huge range of accommodation types in the neighborhood, including bed and breakfasts, standard hotels, and even a few hostels. If you’re lucky, you might find a double room in a budget-friendly hotel for £75.
Southwark is in the middle of the pricing table. The area is not known for its hotels, though there are chain hotels and at least one interesting seasonal accommodation option here. Expect to pay between £70 and £100 for a double room in a budget-friendly hotel.
The area around Victoria Station offers extremely good value and some of the cheapest rates we came across. There are lots of small family-run hotels in this part of London. Expect to pay between £50 and £80 for a double room in a budget-friendly hotel here.
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