Where to Stay in London: The 7 Best Areas to Base Yourself

Where to Stay in London: The 7 Best Areas to Base Yourself

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Here is where to stay in London:
Best for first-time visitors and theatre - Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Radisson Blu Hotel, London Leicester Square
Best value near the centre - Bloomsbury and Kings Cross. Kimpton Fitzroy London
Best for luxury and shopping - Mayfair and Marylebone. InterContinental London Park Lane
Best for museums - Kensington and South Kensington. Radisson Blu Hotel, London South Kensington
Best for river views and families - Southbank and Waterloo. Park Plaza County Hall London
Best for something newer and modern - Vauxhall and Nine Elms. art'otel London Battersea Power Station
Best for nightlife and business - the City and Shoreditch. Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell

London is not a city you can cover from one base. It is enormous, the Underground zones matter more than the map suggests, and an area that is perfect for a theatre trip is the wrong choice entirely if you are here for museums or a business trip to Canary Wharf.

This guide covers seven areas worth considering, a broader set of neighbourhoods worth knowing about, and - since the platform's London selection has just grown substantially with a wave of new IHG and Radisson-family hotels - where those new properties actually sit on the map.

London at a glance

Area Best for Transport Typical trade-off
Covent Garden / Leicester Square First-timers, theatre Piccadilly, Northern lines Busy, tourist pricing
Bloomsbury / Kings Cross Museums, value, Eurostar Piccadilly, Victoria, Circle lines Less central "feel" than the West End
Mayfair / Marylebone Luxury, shopping Central, Jubilee, Bakerloo lines Among the most expensive areas in the city
Kensington / South Kensington Museums, residential District, Circle, Piccadilly lines Quiet in the evenings
Southbank / Waterloo / Westminster River views, families Jubilee, Northern lines, Waterloo mainline Tourist-heavy near the river
Vauxhall / Nine Elms / Battersea Modern, riverside, business Victoria line, Northern line extension Still under construction in parts
The City / Shoreditch / Tower Hill Business, nightlife Circle, District, Central lines Quiet at weekends in the City itself

The 7 best areas to stay in London

1. Covent Garden and Leicester Square - best for first-time visitors and theatre

Radisson Blu Hotel, London Leicester Square

This is the West End proper - Theatreland, Covent Garden Market, Chinatown and Trafalgar Square all within walking distance of each other. If this is your first trip to London and you want to step outside the hotel and already be somewhere, this is the answer.

Consider this area if you want:

  • To walk to a show rather than take the tube
  • Covent Garden's shops, market and street performers on your doorstep
  • Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery a short walk away
  • The widest concentration of restaurants in the city

The trade-offs: it is priced like the tourist centre it is, and Leicester Square itself is loud late into the evening.

Hotels here: Radisson Blu Hotel, London Leicester Square sits directly on the square, and Hotel Indigo London - 1 Leicester Square is a design-led alternative next door. A few minutes into Covent Garden itself, Radisson Blu Hotel, London Mercer Street puts you closer to the market and the Royal Opera House.

2. Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia and Kings Cross - best value near the centre

Kimpton Fitzroy London, Russell Square

Bloomsbury is the university and museum quarter north of Covent Garden - leafy squares, the British Museum, and noticeably calmer than the West End while still being walkable to it. Kings Cross, on its northern edge, is where the Eurostar arrives.

Consider this area if you want:

  • The British Museum on your doorstep
  • Easy access to the Eurostar at St Pancras / Kings Cross
  • Central London rates without central London prices
  • A quieter base that is still a 15-20 minute walk from the West End

The trade-offs: it feels more residential and academic than "London" as postcards show it, and some streets are quiet after dark.

Hotels here: this is the area with the platform's biggest single cluster of new listings. Kimpton Fitzroy London is a landmark Victorian building right on Russell Square, and Radisson Blu Hotel, London Bloomsbury, Radisson Blu Hotel, London Tottenham Court Road, voco London - Bloomsbury and Holiday Inn London - Bloomsbury are all within a few streets of each other. Towards Euston and Kings Cross, Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square and Crowne Plaza London - Kings Cross suit an early Eurostar or train departure, and Holiday Inn London - Regent's Park sits just west towards Fitzrovia.

3. Mayfair and Marylebone - best for luxury and shopping

InterContinental London Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner

Mayfair is central London's traditional luxury quarter - Grosvenor Square, Bond Street, Park Lane facing Hyde Park. Marylebone, just north, has the same polish with a more villagey, residential feel and its own excellent high street.

Consider this area if you want:

  • Bond Street and Oxford Street shopping on foot
  • Hyde Park and Park Lane
  • A quieter, more residential luxury base in Marylebone
  • Easy taxi or short tube access to everywhere else in central London

The trade-offs: among the most expensive postcodes in the city, and it can feel corporate rather than characterful outside Marylebone's high street.

Hotels here: The Biltmore Mayfair sits on Grosvenor Square, and InterContinental London Park Lane overlooks Hyde Park Corner. Radisson Blu Hotel, London Bond Street is on Oxford Street itself. In Marylebone, Holmes Hotel London by Park Plaza occupies a converted townhouse, and Guild Hotel Marble Arch sits right on the edge of Hyde Park.

4. Kensington and South Kensington - best for museums

Radisson Blu Hotel, London South Kensington

Kensington and South Kensington form London's museum quarter - the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A sit within a few streets of each other - and the surrounding area is one of the city's most residential, tree-lined and quiet.

Consider this area if you want:

  • The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A on foot
  • A genuinely residential, low-key evening atmosphere
  • Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens close by
  • Good District and Piccadilly line connections into the centre

The trade-offs: it goes quiet in the evenings compared with the West End, and you are a tube ride rather than a walk from the main sights.

Hotels here: Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge sits between Knightsbridge and Sloane Street, and Radisson Blu Hotel, London South Kensington is on Cromwell Road opposite the museums. The Bailey's Hotel London Kensington and Millennium Hotel and Conference Centre Gloucester London are both a short walk from South Kensington station, while Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington, Hotel Indigo London - Kensington and Holiday Inn London - Kensington High St. sit closer to Kensington High Street. Towards Chelsea, The Chelsea Harbour Hotel & Spa London is a marina-side five-star for a quieter, more residential stay.

5. Southbank, Waterloo and Westminster - best for river views and families

Park Plaza County Hall London, on the Southbank

The stretch of the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo is one of the most walkable, family-friendly parts of the city - the London Eye, the South Bank Centre, Borough Market and a genuinely pleasant riverside walk, all on the south side of the water facing the Houses of Parliament.

Consider this area if you want:

  • To walk along the river rather than look for it
  • The London Eye, South Bank Centre and Borough Market nearby
  • Direct Jubilee and Northern line access, plus Waterloo's mainline trains
  • A base that works well for families

The trade-offs: it is busy with tourists along the river path, and rates near the London Eye reflect the view.

Hotels here: Park Plaza County Hall London and Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge both sit within sight of the London Eye, and Park Plaza London Riverbank is a short walk further along the Albert Embankment. H10 London Waterloo and Holiday Inn Express London - Southwark suit Borough Market and the Tate Modern side of things, and towards Victoria, Park Plaza Victoria London puts you by the mainline station for Gatwick.

6. Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea - best for something newer and modern

art'otel London Battersea Power Station

This stretch of the south bank has been rebuilt over the last decade around the restored Battersea Power Station, and it is one of the newest parts of central London - glass towers, riverside walkways and a redeveloped power station now full of shops and restaurants, connected by the Northern line extension.

Consider this area if you want:

  • A modern, design-forward stay rather than a period building
  • Battersea Power Station's shops, bars and river frontage
  • Good value relative to the equivalent standard closer to the West End
  • A quieter, more residential evening compared with central London

The trade-offs: parts of it are still under active development, and it is one stop further from the main sights than Southbank.

Hotels here: art'otel London Battersea Power Station sits inside the development itself, and nearby, Holiday Inn Express London - Vauxhall Nine Elms and Staybridge Suites London - Vauxhall cover shorter and longer stays respectively, both within walking distance of the river and the new US Embassy.

7. The City, Shoreditch and Tower Hill - best for business and nightlife

art'otel London Hoxton, Shoreditch

The City is London's financial district by day and largely empties out by night, while Shoreditch immediately to its north is the opposite - galleries, bars and one of London's best-known nightlife scenes. Tower Hill, on the City's eastern edge, puts the Tower of London and Tower Bridge on your doorstep.

Consider this area if you want:

  • A short commute if your trip is business-focused
  • Shoreditch's bars, street art and market food on your doorstep
  • The Tower of London and Tower Bridge within walking distance
  • Good Underground connections east, west and to Canary Wharf

The trade-offs: the City itself is quiet on weekends, and Shoreditch's appeal depends heavily on wanting a nightlife-driven trip.

Hotels here: art'otel London Hoxton sits in the middle of Shoreditch, and Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell and nhow London put you a short walk from both the City and Shoreditch. Hotel Indigo London - Tower Hill sits by the Tower itself, and east into Whitechapel, Holiday Inn London - Whitechapel is a practical, lower-cost base for the same part of the city.

Other areas worth knowing

A handful of other districts come up often enough to mention, even if none is a first-choice base for a short trip.

West London - Paddington is a practical arrival point for the Heathrow Express: Hotel Indigo London - Paddington. Further out, Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith trade distance for value: Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherd's Bush and Holiday Inn Express London - Hammersmith.

North London - Camden Lock's market and canal-side nightlife has its own distinct character: Holiday Inn London - Camden Lock. Swiss Cottage, further north, is a quieter residential option: Holiday Inn Express London - Swiss Cottage.

South London - Wandsworth, along the river west of Battersea, is a residential option worth knowing for value: Holiday Inn Express London - Wandsworth.

East London - Limehouse and Canary Wharf suit anyone with business in the financial district or an early flight from London City Airport: Holiday Inn Express London - Limehouse and Radisson Blu Hotel, London Canary Wharf East. Further along the river at Greenwich Peninsula, InterContinental London - The O2 suits a concert or event at the O2 Arena.

Further out and near the airports - Park Plaza London Park Royal sits towards Wembley, convenient for the stadium and the A40. For an early Heathrow departure, Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow, Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow and the airside Aerotel London inside Terminal 3 are all built for that purpose rather than for sightseeing. For Stansted, Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted Airport sits at the airport itself, well outside the city proper.

Explore IHG and Radisson Hotels in London

London has a wide range of hotels from international hotel groups, making it easier for travelers to choose accommodation based on location, budget, hotel style and travel purpose.

HotelsBookingDirect.com features a growing selection of IHG Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotel Group properties across London, giving travelers more options when searching for hotels and direct booking opportunities.

Whether you're visiting London for sightseeing, shopping, business, nightlife or a family holiday, you can explore properties in different parts of the city and compare the available booking options.

IHG Hotels in London

IHG Hotels & Resorts has a broad portfolio of hotel brands covering different travel styles and budgets.

Depending on the London property, travelers can find brands including:

  • InterContinental – luxury hotels for travelers looking for premium accommodation
  • Kimpton – boutique-style hotels with a distinctive design and experience
  • Hotel Indigo – neighbourhood-focused hotels with local character
  • Crowne Plaza – popular with both business and leisure travelers
  • voco – contemporary hotels with an individual character
  • Holiday Inn – practical hotels suitable for families, couples and business travelers
  • Holiday Inn Express – convenient accommodation for travelers looking for simpler stays
  • Staybridge Suites – extended-stay accommodation with apartment-style facilities

IHG properties can be found in different parts of London, from central locations close to major attractions to hotels near airports, transport connections and business districts.

IHG Hotels for Different Types of Travelers

For luxury: InterContinental and selected Kimpton properties can be worth considering.

For first-time visitors: Hotel Indigo and centrally located Holiday Inn properties can provide convenient access to London's attractions.

For families: Holiday Inn properties may offer practical room options and family-friendly facilities.

For business travelers: Crowne Plaza and selected central IHG properties can be convenient for business districts and transport connections.

For longer stays: Staybridge Suites can be useful for travelers looking for accommodation with additional residential-style facilities.

Explore IHG hotels in London and discover available direct booking options.

Radisson Hotels in London

Travelers looking for a well-known international hotel group can explore a selection of Radisson hotels in London on HotelsBookingDirect.com. The current London selection includes properties in several popular areas, from the West End and Bond Street to the South Bank and East London.

This gives travelers the flexibility to choose a Radisson property based on location, sightseeing plans, shopping, nightlife, business travel or transport connections.

Radisson Hotels in and Around London

Depending on the London property, travelers can find a range of Radisson brands and hotel styles, including:

Check Direct Booking Offers and Hotel Promotions

When exploring an IHG or Radisson hotel, don't look only at the standard room price.

The individual hotel profile may provide information about available:

  • Direct booking offers
  • Member rates
  • Seasonal promotions
  • Promotional rates
  • Breakfast offers
  • Room upgrades
  • Flexible cancellation options
  • Loyalty benefits
  • Long-stay offers
  • Promo codes, where available

Offers vary between hotels and can change according to travel dates, room availability, rate type and booking conditions.

A direct booking offer also does not necessarily mean it will always be the cheapest option. Compare the complete price and benefits with other available booking options before making your decision.

IHG and Radisson Hotels by London Area

If you're choosing a hotel based on location, consider the following:

London Area Hotel Groups to Explore Best For
Covent Garden & West End IHG, Radisson First-time visitors & theatre
Bloomsbury IHG, Radisson Museums & central location
Mayfair & West End IHG, Radisson Luxury & shopping
Victoria IHG, Radisson Sightseeing & transport
Vauxhall IHG, Radisson Modern stays & transport
Canary Wharf IHG, Radisson Business travel
Heathrow IHG, Radisson Airport stays
Other London areas IHG, Radisson Different budgets & travel needs

The availability of specific brands and properties varies by area.

How to Find an IHG or Radisson Hotel in London

Finding the right hotel is simple:

Step 1: Choose the London area you want to stay in.

Step 2: Explore the available IHG and Radisson properties.

Step 3: Open the individual hotel profile on HotelsBookingDirect.com.

Step 4: Review the hotel's location, facilities and available booking information.

Step 5: Check whether a direct booking offer, member rate or promotional code is available.

Step 6: Compare the room price, cancellation conditions and included benefits.

Step 7: Continue to the hotel's official booking channel when you're ready to make your reservation.

Find IHG and Radisson Hotels on HotelsBookingDirect.com

HotelsBookingDirect.com makes it easier to discover hotels from major international hotel groups in London.

Instead of searching through multiple hotel websites first, you can explore hotel profiles, compare different locations and check available direct booking information in one place.

For selected properties, hotel profiles may also highlight special offers, promotions and promo codes where available.

Always check the hotel's current terms and conditions before completing your booking, as promotions and rates can change.

Explore IHG and Radisson hotels in London and find the property that fits your trip.

Discover Hotels. Book Direct. Travel Better.


Explore London hotels

How London's direct-booking offers work

HotelsBookingDirect shows what each London hotel currently offers travellers who book on the hotel's own site instead of through a third party. A property page shows the offer type, how long it runs, and the date by which you need to book - "Book Direct" carries you through to the hotel's own booking flow under those terms.

What is on offer varies by hotel, but typically draws from:

  • Percentage-off promotional rates
  • Member and loyalty rates
  • Free cancellation or flexible date changes
  • Pay-at-hotel rather than prepaid options
  • Room upgrades, subject to availability
  • Free breakfast or dining credits, on some properties

Treat this as a guide rather than a guarantee - what is actually available depends on the specific hotel, the rate and your dates, and the property page is the final word. As noted above, the newest London listings mostly do not have a promo code live yet, so their pages currently show the underlying direct-booking benefits rather than a percentage-off offer.

How many days do you need in London?

Three to four days covers the essentials: one full day each for the West End and Westminster/Southbank, a museum day in Kensington or Bloomsbury, and time to wander one neighbourhood properly - Shoreditch, Camden or Borough Market.

Five to seven days allows a proper pace - all of the above plus a day trip (Windsor, Oxford or Cambridge are all under two hours by train) and time in a couple of the areas further out, like Greenwich or Canary Wharf.

A weekend (two to three nights) is common and workable if you pick one or two areas rather than trying to see the whole city - Covent Garden plus Southbank, or Kensington plus Mayfair, both work well as a compact pair.

Getting around London

Buy an Oyster card or use contactless. Both cap your daily spending automatically and work across the Tube, buses and most trains - there is rarely a reason to buy paper tickets.

Check which zone your hotel is in. Zones 1 and 2 cover almost everything in this guide; a hotel a few stops further out in Zone 3 or 4 can look cheap on a map and cost real time on a journey with a suitcase.

Walk more than the map suggests. Central London's Underground map exaggerates distances - Covent Garden to Bloomsbury, or Southbank to Westminster, are both genuinely walkable rather than a tube ride.

Budget for the airport transfer separately. The Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express are fast but not cheap; the Elizabeth line and regular trains are considerably cheaper and only a little slower.

Check what "central London" actually means on the listing. A hotel described as "Central London" can still be a 20-30 minute journey from the West End - the area sections above are a better guide than the label alone.

You can also explore London tours and activities through our travel partner.

Explore London tours and experiences

Tips for booking a London hotel

Book well ahead for major events. Wimbledon, the Notting Hill Carnival and the Christmas period all push rates up significantly and availability down.

Check the exact postcode, not just the area name. "Kensington" and "South Kensington" are both large; two hotels with the same area name in their title can be a 20-minute walk apart.

Ask about breakfast separately. It is not always included even at four- and five-star properties, and can add a meaningful amount per night for a family.

Consider a Zone 2 base for value. Bloomsbury, Vauxhall and parts of Kensington are all Zone 1 or the edge of it, but Zone 2 areas immediately beyond them are often noticeably cheaper for a short Tube ride in.

Check cancellation terms if your dates aren't fixed. Policies vary by property and by rate type at the same property - read the specific terms on the rate you are booking rather than assuming.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in London for first-time visitors?

Covent Garden and Leicester Square put you in walking distance of the main theatres, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden Market. Bloomsbury is a strong alternative if you want a quieter, better-value base that is still a short walk from the centre.

Where should I stay in London for museums?

Kensington and South Kensington hold the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A within a few streets of each other. Bloomsbury, home to the British Museum, is a good second base if you want museums plus easier access to the West End.

Is it better to stay in central London or somewhere cheaper further out?

For a short trip, staying central is usually worth it - London's size means time lost commuting adds up quickly. For a longer stay, an area like Vauxhall, Nine Elms or outer Kensington offers a meaningful price difference for a Tube ride of 10-15 minutes.

Where should I stay in London near the airports?

For Heathrow, hotels are clustered around the airport itself rather than in central London - useful for an early flight but not for sightseeing. For Stansted, the same applies at the airport. Neither is a sensible base for exploring the city.

What's a good area to stay in London that isn't touristy?

Vauxhall and Nine Elms, or the Bloomsbury/Fitzrovia area, both feel more like where Londoners actually live and work while still being a short journey from the centre.

How many days should I spend in London?

Three to four days covers the main sights. Five to seven allows a slower pace plus a day trip out of the city. A two- to three-night weekend works well if you focus on one or two areas rather than the whole city.

Do London hotels offer direct-booking benefits?

Most do - discounted rates, flexible cancellation, room upgrades and loyalty benefits are common, and the specific terms are shown on each hotel's own page. A number of properties added to the platform most recently do not yet have a promotional code configured, though their other direct-booking benefits are already listed.

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