Central: best for a first visit
- Covent Garden: a market square with street performers, theatres and plenty of places to eat; you can walk to most sights. Rooms are expensive.
- Soho: the liveliest area at night, with bars, restaurants and West End theatres. Great for evenings out; street-facing rooms can be noisy.
- Westminster & St James's: next to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and St James's Park. Convenient for daytime sightseeing and fairly quiet at night.
- Mayfair: an upscale area with luxury hotels, Bond Street shopping and Hyde Park and Green Park on its doorstep. Suits a treat-yourself trip; costs are high.
- Marylebone: Marylebone High Street is full of small shops, close to Regent's Park and Baker Street. It feels like a village in the city and is calmer than Soho.
West: elegant, with plenty of parks
- Kensington & Chelsea: several free museums (Natural History, Science, V&A), Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Harrods. Good for families with young children and anyone who loves pretty streets.
- Notting Hill: pastel-painted terraces and Portobello Road Market, busiest on Saturdays. Suits couples and photographers.
North: well connected, better value
- King's Cross: a major rail hub, with St Pancras station for Eurostar trains to Paris and Brussels, close to the British Library and Coal Drops Yard. Ideal if you're travelling on into Europe.
- Camden: Camden Market, Regent's Canal, live music and an alternative vibe, with more affordable places to stay than the centre.
- Angel & Islington: Upper Street is lined with restaurants and pubs; a young, residential area that's calmer than the centre.
- Hampstead: next to Hampstead Heath, where Parliament Hill gives a view over the whole city. Further from the centre; suits nature lovers who want quiet.
East: creative and lively at night
- Shoreditch: street art, vintage shops around Brick Lane, and lots of bars and clubs. Suits younger travellers who enjoy nights out.
South Bank of the Thames: great views
- London Bridge / Southwark: Borough Market, The Shard, Tate Modern and the riverside walk. Cross the bridge on foot and you're in the centre.
- Bermondsey: near Tower Bridge, quieter than London Bridge, with Maltby Street Market at weekends.
- Battersea: the large Battersea Park and the restored Battersea Power Station, now full of shops and restaurants. Family-friendly and calmer than the centre.
Tips for choosing
- Being close to a Tube station matters as much as the area itself: aim for a few minutes' walk.
- Staying a little further out on the same Tube line as the places you plan to visit is often cheaper and still convenient.
- Pay for public transport with a contactless bank card or an Oyster card; there's a daily fare cap, so costs stay under control.