“Best” can mean different things to different people, cheapest, best value, close to the sights, health clubs, pampering, near nightlife or theatres …
For the purpose of this discussion we’re really saying what are the most convenient hoel districts if you are staying in London.
So first lets take a look at the major hotel districts.
Where Not To Stay
The easiest aspect is to outline hotel areas of London that will get you off to a seriously bad start if you book accommodation in them, (unless you splash out on a taxi.)
The hotel areas that are particularly bad for Heathrow are those in the City Of London, Tower of London, London Bridge, Waterloo, County Hall areas. And don’t even think of going the other side of London from Heathrow to Docklands.
Kensington – The Easiest All Round Hotel District For Heathrow
The easiest hotel district logistically for Heathrow is Kensington. Its the closest mainstream hotel district to Heathrow and the main road out to Heathrow from London passes right through it, as does the Piccadilly Line of the London Undeground.
The district goes further and further upmarket as you travel into London along the Cromwell Road, (the extention of the motorway/freeway from Heathrow).
Earls Court is the place for low cost, the Gloucester Road area is the area for chain value 4 stars like Holiday Inn, Knightsbridge is one of the most expensive and exclusive districts of London to stay in.
If you have a family or a couple with lots of luggage a private car with meet n greet at the airport should be around the same price or cheaper than taking the Heathrow Express into London.
The Piccadilly Line of the London Underground runs every 5 minutes to Heathrow from about 5 a.m. to midnight and is the cheapest way to get to and from Heathrow. Trains from Earls Court, Gloucester Road, South Kensington and Knightsbridge take 40-50 minutes with stations beneath the passenger terminals.
There are plenty of restaurants to suit all budgets in the area and excellent public transport links to the main attractions. At Gloucester Road and Earls Court are proper full size supermarkets, not the small convenience style outlets you get elsewhere in Central London.
Paddington – The Fastest Link To Heathrow
Paddington is not particularly central and its environment is OK but not outstanding. The big attraction here is speed to the airport using the Heathrow Express train. Trains run every 15 minutes and take 15-20 minutes to Heathrow depending on terminal required. There are hotels of all types and budget around the station. Its probably quicker to get to check-in at Heathrow from Paddington using the Heathrow Express train than staying at many Heathrow hotels.
Looking For Cheap Accommodation?
If low cost is the overwhelming factor that determines where you stay then look at Earls Court Kensington and St Pancras. Both are on the Piccadilly Line of the Underground the cheapest Heathrow transfer available. Earls Court has the convenience of being the closest to Heathrow, Kings Cross/St Pancras may have cheap or cheaper accommodation with better reviews.
You Want To Be Downtown, Close To The Theatre ….
London has no downtown area in the North American sense. Sights are spread out, as are the hotels. You will be using public transport and walking to get around.
The nearest thing to a downtown area is the West End area where most but not all of the theatres are. Most hotels are 4 or 5 star global chain type hotels or exclusive boutique hotels. If you are in London on an expense account then its fine or if money is no object – for others not quite so fortunate they tend to look for something just a little further out the second time.
Bloomsbury is an atmospheric literary district that fits this bill with a good range of accommodation. If you don’t take the Underground from Heathrow then a taxi or a shorter journey on the Underground will be part of your transfer.
Kensington Hotels – Earls Court, Gloucester Road, South Kensington
Paddington Hotels – Accommodation around Paddington Station
Kings Cross St Pancras Hotels – Value for money accommodation, a great transport hub
West End Hotels – Hotels in the geographical centre of London
24 Comments
What is the most affordable way for a couple to go from Heathrow to Hilton park lane hotel ? Thanks!
The cheapest option is by the London Underground direct to Hyde Park Corner Station about 250 yards from your hotel
My husband and I will arrive at Heathrow at 9:30am on July 26th and will leave on a cruise on July 29th, we can spend around $150 pounds on a room.
Where should we stay for a few nights to visit some of the sights?
What transportation should we take to the cruise ship?
I’d suggest you look at the Best Western Burns Hotel in Earls Court which is around your budget
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/burnshotel.html?aid=325371
Its opposite Earls Court Underground with trains every 5 minutes to Heathrow. The page below tells you a little about the district
http://www.londontoolkit.com/accommodation/kensington_briefing.htm
The hotel is also a pick-up hotel for the cruise buses that will take you door to door from your hotel to cruise ship.
You don’t say which cruise port you are using, below are links to the services to the three major ports
LONDON – SOUTHAMPTON
http://www.londontoolkit.com/affs/if_cruise_london_southampton_bus.html
LONDON – DOVER
http://www.londontoolkit.com/affs/if_cruise_london_dover_bus.html
LONDON – HARWICH
http://www.londontoolkit.com/affs/if_cruise_london_harwich_bus.html
Thank you and we are cruising out of Dover, when we return I read that the bus a tour bus so what transportation should we use to the airport on our return trip from the cruise to Heathrow? Cruise comes in at 5:00am and flight is at 4:30pm so we are not in a rush but the tour will get us to the airport to late.
If you have a flight at 4:30 p.m. the cruise bus is not fast enough.
You will either have to use the cruise ships offering that will probably be expensive or use the train or bus options described on the page below
http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_dover.htm
Hi Bob,
I have on hold a room at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London – Westminster -30 John Islip Street – is this a good area to stay in as far as being near the sights and is this a hard Hotel to travel too? Would I still be able to take the underground to the DoubleTree? Thanks!
London is very spread out with sights widely dispersed.
The DoubleTree Westminster is reasonably central, within walking distance of some major sights.
You would be very unlucky to get a hotel in London not close to an Underground station, this hotel is 5 minutes from Pimlico Underground further than many but with little inconvenience.
The hotel is not in a hotel district, but its a pleasant enough area.
Its a bit inconvenient for airports.
If you’ve got an outstanding price then its not a bad option.
This area of London has quite cheap prices at the weekend as there is a lot of people on government business in this area. I’d look at the Park Plaza County Hall and Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, which are similar hotels in the area with a better position.
If you don’t require the frills of a 4 star, concierges, spa’s room service etc, the Premier Inn County Hall in this area offers good value and is an A1 position in the area.
The doubletree was US $535 with a queen bed and I can’t find any other hotels cheaper and how come they all have double beds! My only concern is how to get their and I guess I will figure out. Did you say it will take 45 minutes from Heathrow?
What are your dates?
In the UK most hotels are geared towards the International market. It sounds like your expectation is that US preferences and values are mainstream in London, this is not the case.
Things like a tea maker in the room are far more important than air conditioning and things like ice machines are virtually unheard off outside the hotel chains like Marriott that cater for US tastes. Luxury hotels in London may not have always have air conditioning for example.
The standard UK room is a single queen size bed or twin, (two single beds). Two queen size beds are for the Marriotts that cater to US tastes at a price.
London has no downtown area, sights are spread out, you travel around by public transport. There are no airport hotel shuttles they cannot compete with public transport.
Travelling heavy is one case of 20 kg (44lbs).
Like any overseas country with a different culture, if you don’t adapt to local values and preferences it can get very expensive.
Do you really need a 4 star chain hotel in the centre of town.
You can get virtually the same room but without room service, concierges, cocktail bars, health suites and spa’s for about £120 (about $200) in a hotel ditrict like Kensington.
Also factor in that in the UK all prices include taxes and you don’t have to tip at all.
from you post to me on May 5th, we are coming to London on July 26th – 29th and I can’t find a hotel in Kensington for 120 pound – the hotels you mentioned before all cost more then that… I’m stuck cause I’m trying but I would like a little refrig to keep drinks or beers in or at least an ice machine if no frig and i wanted to exercise in the mornings if possible too. I am not expecting this trip to be anything like the US that’s why I’m so excited to come visit to see all the exciting things that I have never explored before. Is the Westminster area that far away from Kensington that we should stay in Kensington or is Kensington just more central and you think as a visitor we would like it more? When you answer me, can you please answer all my question cause sometime you only answer one. Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it!
The day you arriving in the UK is the day that all the schools break up for their summer holiday and is the busiest travel weekend of the year.
Some ideas of hotels that weekend (price for 3 days per room incl taxes) …
DoubleTree By Hilton Tower of London – £387
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/city-inn-tower-of-london.en-gb.html?aid=325371
DoubleTree by Hilton Westminster – £357
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/cityinnwestminster.en-gb.html?aid=325371
Millenium Gloucester Hotel – £384
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/milleniumgloucester.en-gb.html?aid=325371
Copthorne Tara Hotel – £274
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/copthornetara.en-gb.html?aid=325371
The Regency Hotel – £356
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/the-regency-london.en-gb.html?aid=325371
The Commodore Hotel -£387
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/commodore-london.en-gb.html?aid=325371
Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt – £352
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/radissonvanderbilt.en-gb.html?aid=325371
Two more question, what is our best transportation to get to Earls Court? I know you will say it depends on what you want to spend but is it easy on the underground transportation or would another transportation be better, even the cheaper bus or the Red bus?
Looking at my ticket, how will I know what terminal I am coming into at the airport?
Just get the London Underground.
Trains run every 5 minutes direct to Earls Court
Read about London transport passes now and make an informed decision. You will get around using public transport and you will need a pass of some kind,.
http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/travelcard_oyster.htm
Arriving with my husband and 2 young adult sons on LHR via Virgin atlantic with 4 luggages. What is the best way for us to get to Ibis London Earls court?This will be our first time in London.Thank you!
Not sure there is a universal best way.
The cheapest way and fastest by public transport is to get the London Underground, changing at Earls Court then going one stop to west Brompton about 100 yards from your hotel.
Otherwise get a quote for a private car from someone like Just Airports or Simply Airports, your hotel is one of the closest Central London hotels to Heathrow
Hi! My husband and i are making a small scale in london, we arrive at heathrow at 11 p.m and our flight departures at 10 am, we would love to see something of london.what do you ecomend?? Where should we stay???
Thank you!!!!
Much as I would like to advise you to come into London, I think you are best advised to get an airport hotel at Heathrow and find time another day to visit London with your itinerary.
Hi Bob
Can you recommend an area/hotel for us? And also how would we get from the airport to the hotel without having to negotiate too many stairs?
We (me and hubby) arrive into LHR (we’re from Canada) on Saturday July 6 and will be in London for 6 nights. This is our first trip so we are very flexible about where we stay, as long as its near transport so we can check out all the touristy things we need to. Our budget for a room would be up to 150 a night, and we don’t expect luxury for that amount
Hi Sue.
You don’t say whether you are in Canadian $ or the British pounds.
If you are in British money I’d recommend the Darlington Hyde Park, an excellent hotel in Paddington, about 400 yards from Paddington Train Station.
There is an expensive airport train that takes 15 minutes between Heathrow and paddington called the Heathrow Express and a much cheaper train called Heathrow Connect that takes 10 minutes longer
Current price showing is £750 for 6 nights which includes breakfast, currently £1 = $1.60
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/darlingtonhotel.html?aid=325371
Otherwise the two Premier inn’s at Earls Court that are currently show at £670 to £700.
These are very good mid range chain hotels with good value hearty restuarant as well. Unlike many hotel districts in Central London there are a couple of full size supermarkets open 24×7 within a couple of minutes walk
There is aslo a good direct London Underround link between earls court tube and Heathrow with trains every 5 minutes – the cheapest transfer available by far.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/premiertravelinnlondonkensington.html?aid=325371
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/premier-inn-london-kensington-olympia.html?aid=325371
Bob,
My adult daughter and I are flying into Gatwick mid-afternoon April 15, and departing from terminal 3, Heathrow (American Air) the following day. Of course, we want to scoot into the West End to see a show. It sounds like it may be preferable (as in equally convenient, and also provides a spot for luggage – just one case each) to stay in London overnight rather than in Heathrow. Would you advise staying in Paddington area (probably taking the Gatwick Express into town) and the next morning the Heathrow Express or the underground if it would not be excessively crowded (probably likely that it will be). Our international flight leaves at 11 a.m., with probable check-in time of 9 a.m., so leave London at 7:00 or 7:30 a.m.? Can you recommend a few hotels in Paddington area? And is the underground or a taxi to theatre district a quick, convenient trip? Also, for walking around London, or hopping a city tour bus possibly, does Paddington work or should we consider another district? Thank you so much for your help!
Hard to give a firm recommendation without understanding your attitude between the compromise of cost, speed and comfort.
On paper I’d say look first at Victoria, there are 2 West End Theatres by Victoria Station itself. The theatres are spread over quite a wide area. From Paddington it would be quicker to get the Underground rather than a taxi and a lot cheaper, as Paddington is not near the theatres comparatively.
In the morning there are National Express buses to Heathrow from Victoria Coach Station that take about 45 minutes and are about a third of the price of the Heathrow Express from Paddington. It will be quicker too once you factor in the btrip across to Paddington.
Regards hotels I’d personally look at the Premier inn Victoria behind Victoria Station.
If you want a full service 4 star hotel hotel try the DoubleTree Hilton Victoria or Park Plaza Victoria
Chaeper than the Premier inn try the Best Western Victoria, Comfort Inn Victoria (2) or the Luna & Simone
What is the best and affordable way to get to Ravenscourt Park from Heathrow airport with luggage.
The London Underground, Piccadilly Line Heathrow to Acton then District Line to Ravenscourt Park.