London neighborhoods

This mostly residential area, situated north of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, is packed with affordable, often nondescript, places to sleep. Expensive apartments sit next to budget inns. Many less expensive inns line the lovely gardens and squares of Bayswater's posher, Western edge. Bayswater makes a smart choice for visitors looking for a quiet neighborhood for sleeping within easy access of the city’s main sights.

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Situated steps west of Victoria Station and in easy walking distance of Buckingham Palace, pretty Belgravia is a quiet residential neighborhood characterized by white stucco homes, leafy green squares, and affluent residents. Like many London neighborhoods, Belgravia is place in flux. Along with a decent selection of restaurants, shops, and pubs, its western edge is now populated by quite a few hotels and guesthouses. Most of these are to be found in the townhouses along Ebury Street, a wide street with surprisingly little vehicular traffic

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Situated north of Piccadilly Circus and the West End, leafy Bloomsbury is famous as the former headquarters bohemian writing clique known as the Bloomsbury Group. The charming neighborhood is centered around Russell Square and boasts the British Museum, University of London, and Georgian townhouse-lined streets. Budget-friendly B&Bs line Gower Street, just west of the University, easily accessible to the rest of the central city.

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Young by London standards, the area known as Earl’s Court wasn’t much more than a farm until the city decided to build Earl’s Court station in the 1860s. Located south of Hyde Park and west of pricier Kensington and Chelsea, Earls Court was popular with newcomers to the city, attracted by lower rents throughout the 20th century. Today the area is a mix of working class and gentrified developments, combing beautiful Georgian townhouses, quiet squares, cheap fast food restaurants, gay nightlife, and a youthful buzz on the streets. The neighborhood offers innumerable budget hotels, some actually quite nice.

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Situated between Notting Hill and South Kensington, Kensington is affluent territory. It's home to Kensington Palace, the former residence of Princess Diana among other royals. Kensington High Street is the neighborhood’s main shopping thoroughfare, boasting upscale boutiques and dining. Budget accommodations can be hard to come by in this land of stately townhouses and grand gardens, but it’s not impossible.

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Most guide books still won’t even dare to mention the name "King’s Cross." Although it is located one Tube stop from The British Museum and Russell Square, the old ‘hood was, until recently, a seedy and dicey part of town. Even now, many hotels in King’s Cross claim to be somewhere else. But change is afoot. The King’s Cross Station will soon be transporting people to and from France. The area is undergoing a high-speed cosmetic make-over. Not only are new restaurants and internet cafes popping up, but a whole bunch of hotels and youth hostels just south of Euston, St. Pancras and King’s Cross Stations are in the process of refurbishing and remodeling. That means tourists get to stay in fresh, clean rooms while still paying pre-make-over prices. Cheers, love!

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Though not an aesthetically pleasing neighborhood, the area near Victoria Station, which comprises parts of Westminster and Pimlico, is undeniably convenient. Aside from its proximity to Victoria, Buckingham Palace and the lovely grounds of St. James's Park are just up the street and Westminster Abbey is but a short Tube ride away. Be warned: there are countless hotels lining Belgrave Road and its peripheries lacking in the charm department. These vary wildly in size, quality, and price. This is one neighborhood where it more than pays to do your homework. Those staying in London for more than a few days should look elsewhere.

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Though the area surrounding Paddington Station is situated in Bayswater, we’ve set it aside as its own neighborhood. It’s chockablock with mostly uninspiring budget B&Bs. Certain streets, like Sussex Gardens, are crammed with indistinguishable budget hotels. (Don’t worry. We’ve done the hard work of paring down hotels for you!) Historically a bit seedy and transient, the area is undergoing a redevelopment effort. Paddington Station is one of London’s major transportation hubs. The Heathrow Express arrives at Paddington station every 15 minutes during peak hours.

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The area bounded by Oxford, Piccadilly, Cambridge and St. Giles Circus called Soho is a mishmash of activity. Free of any one particular feel, diversity is the rule along Soho's tightly knit avenues. Small streets buzz with nightlife and overpriced boutiques sit next to fast food restaurants. With a colorful history of residents (including tradesmen, prostitutes and, most recently, gay men) it is no surprise that Soho is so dynamic. A centrally located neighborhood a 15 minutes on foot from Hyde Park to the west and the British Museum to the northwest, Soho is a good launching pad and a fun place to dine, dance, and bed down

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Sandwiched between the posh neighborhoods of Kensington and Chelsea, South Kensington is home to a quite few sightseeing gems, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, Imperial College, and the Royal College of Music. A wealthy neighborhood in its own right, South Kensington is a bit livelier (and cheaper) than adjacent hoods thanks to the students and tourists on its streets. You'll find clusters of restaurants and shops around the South Kensington and Gloucester Road Tube stations. Kensington Gardens forms the area's northern border.

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Any area of the enormous city of London claiming to be The City must be a pretty special place, not to mention pompous. With bragging rights to both old sites and the economic heart of London, The City is the neighborhood to see some highfalutin history. Built nearly 2,000 years ago as an outpost of the Roman Empire, the former center of London lies just north of the Millennium Foot Bridge. Historical sites include St. Paul’s Cathedral, the College of Arms and the Central Criminal Court, affectionately referred to as Old Bailey. Though centrally located, tourists will have to venture outside the area for nightlife and decent food after the suits go home.

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