Identify the right hotel districts for your accommodation in central London
There is no universal “best” hotel or “best” district to stay in, there are better hotel districts than others for your own individual preferences and budget.
This page aims to assist first-time visitors to London in making an informed decision regarding hotel districts for their accommodation needs.
There are literally hundreds of hotel accommodation options, each one of them meeting the needs of a particular market.
Key hotel districts in central London
- West End
- Bloomsbury
- County Hall & Waterloo
- Victoria
- City, Tower Bridge & London Bridge
- Kensington
- Kings Cross, St Pancras & Euston
- Paddington
- Bayswater
Important factors to consider when deciding where to stay in London
Where are the attractions?
The sights of London are spread out, so are the hotels, even the theatres and shops. Whichever hotel neighbourhood you choose to stay in, you will be travelling around using public transport to visit them.
There is no “downtown” area in the North American sense or a universal “best located” neighbourhood. You will find some of the cheapest hotel areas have better access to some major attractions than the most expensive ones.
Where are the airports?
London has 5 major airports and 3 cruise and ferry ports ringed around it, and at least 10 mainline railway terminus stations each serving a different region of the UK.
The most central area has no direct transport links to any of the airports or cruise ports . Hotel van shuttles are rare, slow and expensive. Some areas have good links to certain airports but inconvenient for others. Your entry and departure points should be a major factor in your choice.
Seasonality of room rates
Room rates in London are volatile, business rather than leisure visitors are more important to many hotel districts even in the budget sector. Districts that have a business bias are much cheaper at the weekend than working week. In the leisure dominated hotel districts it’s the other way around. Highest rates in London are May, June, early July, late September and October when both leisure and business custom are running full throttle.
Overview of the main hotel districts in London
West End hotels in London
- Very central
- Expensive
- Dominated by 4-star hotels
- Close to theatre and nightlife
- Tedious airport transfers
A loosely defined area in the centre of London geographically (Trafalgar Square is technically the centre) in London. The area is dominated by 4-5-star hotels with some of the highest prices.
The theatre district (but not all the West End theatres) and much of London’s nightlife is in this area.
Leicester Square and Covent Garden is the heart of this area and where the greatest concentration of theatres and nightlife are. Poor transport links to airports. Walking is the best way of getting around.
Mayfair and Piccadilly is in the western sector of the West End and is perhaps London’s most exclusive hotel district with many of London’s most expensive hotels. No major attractions are here, but some of the highest class shopping.
Oxford Street and Marble Arch is stretching the West End label to the edge of its envelope. On the norther border of Mayfair this is London’s busiest shopping street. Most UK retail chains have their flagship stores here. Exclusive and niche shopping is not here. Harrods is not here, nor Fortnum & Mason, but Selfridges is. No big attractions and a couple of theatres.
At the western end of Oxford Street is Marble Arch, around which most of the hotels are situated. Mostly large 4 star chain hotels. Paddington Station is nearby with convenient trains to Heathrow and there are direct airport buses to Stansted and Luton airports.
Visit our Hotels near West End, London’s theatre district and Guide to West End hotels area in London pages for more information.
Bloomsbury hotels in London
- Very central
- Walking distance to West End
- Cheaper than West End but not a budget area
- Wider range of hotel types
- Attractive area to stay
Only 15 minutes’ walk north of Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Very interesting district with lots of bookshops, collectors places and quirky attractions as well as the British Museum. A great area to just wander the streets and make your own discoveries.
Various accommodation options are available, with significantly lower prices compared to the West End. Just a mile north, King’s Cross/St Pancras offers much more affordable choices. The only direct airport connection in the area is the London Underground to Heathrow, but it’s a convenient option for reaching any airport or cruise terminal.
Visit our Bloomsbury pages for more information
Bloomsbury airport & cruise transfers
County Hall & Waterloo hotels in London
- Very central
- Good base for sightseeing
- Not so great for nightlife and shopping
- Mostly large, luxury 4-star hotels
- Budget options available
- Cheaper at weekends and holiday periods
A small cluster of hotels, mostly large luxury 4 star chains (but with notable exceptions) located by the London Eye. County Hall itself is on the riverfront by Westminster Bridge directly facing Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
Because of the UK government offices in the area (County hall used to house London’s governing body) a lot of trade comes from people on government business. At weekends room rates can be attractive given the quality of hotels here.
A fantastic location for the sightseeing orientated visitor, although not that close to nightlife or the shops. Quite convenient for those using Gatwick Airport and those on cruise ships out of Dover and Southampton (direct trains from Waterloo Station that is next door to County Hall).
Visit our Waterloo pages for more information
Hotels near Waterloo station and County Hall
London Waterloo and County Hall area guide
Airport and cruise transfers to Waterloo and County Hall
Victoria hotels in London
- Central location
- All grades of accommodation
- Major transport hub
- Great base for sightseeing
- Not the cheapest but not the most expensive
- Cheaper during the week
- Best location if flying into Gatwick
A very central hotel district on the fringes of the West End, ( it has two West End theatres). Residents include J.K.Rowling, Google has offices in Belgrave House, and of course the Queen resides at Buckingham Palace.
The full breadth of accommodation from cheap and cheerful to top of the range. You pay a premium in districts like Kensington and Paddington but much less than West End.
Room prices can fluctuate, but typically, weekdays are more affordable than weekends. During busy weekend months, the entire area may be fully booked.
Victoria is a major transport hub for both within London and further afield. Many tours start from Victoria, especially day tours.
If flying into Gatwick this should be one of the hotel districts worth considering for your hotel stay.
Buses connect to all four major airports in London, and there are direct train services to both Gatwick and the Dover cruise and ferry terminal. Additionally, Victoria is home to London’s sole long-distance bus station.
Visit our Victoria pages for more information
Victoria airport & cruise transfers
City of London, Tower Bridge & London Bridge hotels in London
- Business dominated area
- High prices during the week, cheaper at weekends and holidays
- Good quality hotels – mostly hotel chains
- Great location around Tower of London and river
- Inconvenient for Heathrow airport transfers
The historic London, enclosed by its city walls, is located to the east of what most visitors consider the heart of the city.
Due to its rich history, this area is home to some of London’s most famous landmarks, including the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. As one of the major financial hubs in the world, the district caters to affluent visitors, which often results in higher hotel prices that can deter many tourists.
However, during the weekends, when the financial professionals head home, many hotel rooms become available. This creates an opportunity for leisure travellers, who can take advantage of appealing rates and enjoy a more affordable stay in this vibrant part of the city.
A variety of hotels can be found near the Tower of London, ranging from well-known four-star chains to more affordable options. Over the past ten years, this area has undergone a significant transformation, with former riverside warehouses giving way to stylish bars, restaurants, and a vibrant atmosphere that draws visitors in.
Transport links
You can catch direct trains to Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton Airports from both London Bridge and Liverpool Street stations.
If you’re embarking on a cruise from Harwich, the only transportation option available is the train service from Liverpool Street. For those heading to the Dover cruise port, trains are available from London Bridge. However, if you’re traveling to Heathrow Airport, this route is not ideal, as it requires a lengthy journey regardless of the mode of transport you choose.
Visit our City of London pages for more information
What is City of London area like?
City of London airport & cruise transfers
Kensington hotels in London
- Value for money in all grades of accommodation
- Convenient transfers from Heathrow airport
Kensington is among the largest areas located on the western side of London. Its residents enjoy the highest average wealth per person in the UK, surprisingly, surpassing that of any county in the United States as well.
Despite this, Kensington offers great value for your money. It’s quite expansive, with Earl’s Court located at the western end, known for its budget-friendly options.
A quick 10-minute stroll down Cromwell Road to Gloucester Road Underground here you’ll find a great selection of affordable 4-star hotels. The Holiday Inn is a prime example, offering one of the more budget-friendly options among the many hotels in London.
Another 10-15 minutes’ walk along the road and you are into Knightsbridge, home of Harrods and some of the most exclusive hotels in the city.
For those visiting for leisure, the hotels near Gloucester Road and Earl’s Court are quite popular. No matter what type of hotel you’re looking for, you’ll find a great selection here, often offering better value for your money compared to many other districts.
The hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses come out to Gloucester Road and the Piccadilly Line of the Underground will have you most places in Central London within 20 minutes and going the other way Heathrow Airport. If you are flying into Heathrow, you should at least take a look at Kensington. It’s the closest district to London’s busiest airport. Kensington is the wrong side of London if you are using Stansted Airport.
Visit our Kensington pages for more information
Kensington airport & cruise transfers
King’s Cross, St Pancras & Euston hotels in London
- If cost is number one purchasing criteria, consider Kings Cross bed and breakfasts
- Great area to explore London from though not much to do in the area itself
- Good airport links
- Good value in luxury hotels at weekends
Here you will find three of London’s mainline railway stations within half a mile of each other. Kings Cross, St Pancras International and Euston.
St Pancras International is the terminus for the Eurostar trains to Europe, all three stations have services that cover most of Northern England, North Wales and Scotland. King’s Cross and St Pancras sit next to each other and share the same Underground station.
While the King’s Cross and St Pancras area may not be your primary destination, it offers a fantastic selection of budget-friendly hotels.
Among all the cheap B&B hotel districts, this area has some of the best options. Although prices have increased in recent years and King’s Cross is no longer first call for low rates. Additionally, there are some mid-range chain hotels along with a few four-star options and the excellent five-star Renaissance Hotel St Pancras.
Transport links
Having London’s busiest Underground Station this is a great base to explore London. There are direct train links to Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports as well as Dover cruise port. Stansted is easy to get to too.
Just beyond the British Library, which is definitely worth a visit, you’ll find Euston Station.
This area has a noticeable shift in atmosphere, feeling a bit calmer with several medical schools, a large hospital, and a London university nearby. You’ll come across some lovely independent hotels as well as chain hotels rated at three stars, and on weekends, some four-star options may offer attractive rates as well.
Visit our Kings Cross / St Pancras pages for more information
Hotels near Kings Cross and St Pancras Station London
Complete guide to London Kings Cross and St Pancras area
Airport & cruise transfer details to Kings Cross/St Pancras
Paddington hotels in London
- Value for money
- Best location for Heathrow transfers
- Good base to explore London from but nothing much in the area itself
- Vast area of hotels with a bias towards the budget end
- A good mix of affordable and luxury options
In the northwest part of London’s hotel districts, the Paddington area centres around Paddington station, which serves as the terminus for the Heathrow Express and trains heading to western England and Wales. The vicinity of the train station is lively and vibrant, with thousands of people passing through each day.
To the south of the station is a carpet of hotels. Budget independent hotels dominate but there are some nice upmarket hotels too.
This is a hotel district for those wanting value for money. Lancaster Gate close by is not quite so hectic, more elegant and overlooks Hyde Park. The global brands in the district are restricted to the 4 star sector. Budget offerings are almost exclusively independent. There are some good independent hotels and some real cheap ones too.
Apart from value for money, the biggest draw for overseas visitors are the Heathrow Express and TFL Rail Heathrow trains to Heathrow Airport from Paddington making it a convenient place to base yourself if using Heathrow. If you are not using Heathrow, the attractions of Paddington are not so great.
Visit our Paddington pages for more information
Paddington airport & cruise transfers
Bayswater hotels in London
- Budget area
- Pleasant neighbourhood in the vicinity of Hyde Park
- Variety of hotels, restaurants and facilities for the budget traveller
- Dominated by affordable independent hotels
- Nice area to stay in
Bayswater primarily caters to leisure travellers, offering appealing rates during the week. However, prices can rise significantly on weekends for the same hotel.
The area is primarily filled with affordable independent hotels, although a few may not be the best quality. Nevertheless, it remains a delightful district to stay on a budget.
Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, and Portobello Market are all located within the district, and most attractions can be reached via the Underground in about 20 minutes. Additionally, the district is close to Paddington, making it a convenient option for travellers heading to Heathrow Airport.
Visit our Bayswater pages for more information
Bayswater airport & cruise transfers
London airport hotels and cruise port hotels
Hotel districts – Other things to consider…
Budget areas and cheap hotels
The cheapest hotel accommodation is the so called bed and breakfast hotels. Be not in doubt, these are not homely houses with a couple of rooms rented out by attentive family owners. These are small simple hotels, with none of the frills.
Bed and breakfast hotels are typically 4-, 5- or 6-storey Victorian terraced houses. Many will not have lifts. The main attraction is price, somewhere to safely store your luggage and a simple place to sleep while you spend the day exploring London.
If price is an overriding purchasing criteria, Earls Court district of Kensington is a good place to start your search and Bayswater mid-week and Kings Cross too.
Mid-range hotels and no-frills budget hotels
If you are looking for a comfortable hotel but don’t want to pay out for concierges, fitness centres, 24 hour room service that come with 4 and 5 star hotels then the benchmark will normally be the ‘no frills’ budget chains.
In the UK, the leading such chains are Travelodge and Premier Inn which you might like to use as a benchmark. Travelodge is the cheap one, Premier Inn the quality one. There are of course many others, independent budget hotels tend to be cheaper and other chains like Best Western, Ibis and Comfort Inn are all well represented.
Hotels’ star ratings – misleading indicator
A lot of people make the mistake that they think the number of stars that a hotel has reflects on how good it is. Every country seems to have different rules for the classification of hotels. In the UK, 2, 3, 4 and 5 stars are awarded purely on the basis of services provided, not how clean a hotel is or how good the service.
Some hotels, notably the no frills chain hotels don’t even bother getting stars assigned as it would be totally misleading for them.
Safety in London
Firstly, London is a safe city for the visitor. All the main hotel areas are safe, even at night – but of course this assumes you take the normal common sense precautions like anywhere else in the world.
The London Underground is the main way most visitors will get around London. It’s perfectly safe (again within common sense) to ride the Underground until it closes around midnight. If you hire a taxi, make sure it’s a proper licensed taxi – only London’s distinctive black cabs are allowed to solicit for business.