Hotels in London's West End Theatre District
Hotels for all budgets in London's West End - Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Leicester Sq ...
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| West End Leicester Square Film Premiere |
The geographical centre of London is Trafalgar Square, that is from where all road distances to London are measured. For the leisure visitor it is the surrounding mile or so that contains much of what most leisure visitors come to London for.
The oldest part of London. the City Of London is way east of this area and now is the main commercial / financial area of London.
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| West End Overview |
| Budget Hotels |
| Full Service Hotels |
| Hotel Districts |
| Oxford Street |
| Leicester Square Covent Garden |
| Piccadilly / Mayfair |
| Bloomsbury |
To the south of Trafalgar Square its mostly government offices (Whitehall) that contains some major tourist icons during the day like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Its relatively deserted during the evening here.
Just north of Trafalgar Square is the main theatre and central restaurant district centred around Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Here are most of the West End Theatres and the major film premieres happen at Leicester Square. Its the area many tourists come in the evening to be entertained, eat and people watch.
West of Trafalgar Square and the Theatre district is Mayfair, one of the most exclusive districts of London, with gentlemen's clubs and nightclubs frequented by the famous. Here you will find Savile Row and gentlemen's outfitters, high clas jewellers and collectors shops. All very exclusive.
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Along the northern border of Mayfair is Oxford Street, the main shopping street for department stores. Most UK retail chains have their flagship store here, (though note Harrods is in Knightsbridge some way away).
Just east of Oxford Street and north of Covent Garden is Bloomsbury, the book district of London, the British Museum is located here in a very atmospheric part of London. You can walk to Covent Garden and Leicester Square in a few minutes.
So that's geographically the West End and its layout.
If you stay here at a hotel you will pay a distinct premium over almost identical hotels just a mile or so away in districts like Victoria, Kensington, Paddington and Kings Cross.
Mayfair Hotels
Mayfair is the most exclusive district and hotel rates reflect this. There are no budget hotels here, the accent is on paying a hefty premium for for a 4 or 5 star hotel with top rate service and a central location.
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| Leicester Square & Mayfair Hotel Map |
For example the Holiday Inn Mayfair is a perfectly good hotel but is comparatively at the lower end of hotel rates in the district.
More Details of Mayfair Hotels
Leicester Square and Covent Garden Hotels
Leicester Square and Covent Garden are at the heart of the Theatre and central restaurant districts and also includes China Town. This the magnet for visitors in the evening, there is much to see and experience just wandering the streets in the evening.
Not as exclusive as Mayfair, but nearly all hotels are luxury full service and of the 4 star variety. The only budget hotel of any significance is the Travelodge Covent Garden, but here again 'budget' is relative.
More Details of Hotels Around Leicester Square & Covent Garden
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| Oxford Street Hotel Map |
Oxford Street Hotels
Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in London. It largely consists of the flagship stores of all the retail chains in the UK stretching from Oxford Circus Underground to Marble Arch Underground.
Most of the hotels are clustered at the western end of Oxford Street just to the north of Marble Arch. Prices here are less than in Mayfair and around Leicester Square and there is a much bigger variety of accommodation too.
More Details of Hotels Around Oxford Street
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Bloomsbury Hotels
On the periphery of the West End this district often finds favour with visitors who on their first visit stayed more central but on subsequent visits find Bloomsbury fits their needs and wallet more favourably.
You can walk into Covent Garden, Leicester Square or the shops at Oxford Street in about 15 minutes if you don't want the Underground or a bus. The Bloomsbury area is a delight just to wander and explore with a new discovery around every corner that don't make the guide books.
More Details of Hotels Around Bloomsbury
Self Guided Shopping Walk Through The West End
We have a free self guided walk that starts of in Bloomsbury and meanders through the entire West End jumping from one shopping district to another. From the book district of Bloomsbury you go through the music district, China Town, the high class shops of Seville Row, Piccadilly and Jermyn Street then on through Regent Street and Carnaby Street and finishing in Oxford Street and Bond Street.
Self Guided Shopping Walk - More Details
Airport, Rail & Cruise Transfer Options To The West End
The general West End area is quite spread out but contains no major rail stations and largely because of the traffic congestions doesn't find favour with vehicle based airport transfer..
If you are staying in a hotel in the West End, with perhaps the sole exception of links to Stansted and Luton airports from Marble Arch at the western end of Oxford Street you will need to take a taxi or take the Underground from the terminus of your airport or cruise transport.
For airports and cruise terminals, there is no uniform 'best way' of getting to your hotel, you have to compromise between cost, speed and comfort. Unless you are in a group and can charter a bus only Heathrow is worth considering for transfers using a private car or taxi.
Guidance on your options include ...
Transfers To/From West End
Heathrow To/From West End
Cheapest - London Underground direct with an Oyster or Travelcard.
Fastest - Heathrow Express to Paddington Station then taxi or Underground.
Groups - For groups of 10 or more a private charter bus is worth considering.
Discussion - General discussion of all Heathrow - Central London transfer options.
Gatwick To/From West End
Cheapest - National Express Bus or easyBus to Victoria / West Brompton then Underground.
Fastest - Gatwick Express Train to Victoria then taxi or Underground.
Groups - For groups of 12 or more a private charter bus is worth considering.
Discussion - General discussion of all Gatwick - Central London transfer options.
Stansted To/From West End
Cheapest - Terravision Bus to Victoria then Underground or National Express bus to Marble Arch..
Fastest - Stansted Express to Liverpool Street Station then Underground.
Groups - For groups of 12 or more a private charter bus is worth considering.
Discussion - General discussion of all Stansted - Central London transfer options.
Luton To/From West End
Cheapest - easyBus to Marble Arch then Underground.
Fastest - First Capital Train to St Pancras then Underground or taxi.
Groups - For groups of 12 or more a private charter bus is worth considering.
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