England · Europe · City planning guide
Where to Stay in London
I’d choose London by the evenings you want and the station you’ll actually use. A hotel can look central on the map and still leave you changing lines every morning.
Rob’s quick picks
- First visits and riverside walksSouth Bank and Waterloo
- Theatre, dinner and central sightsCovent Garden
- Quieter evenings and the British MuseumBloomsbury
4 neighborhoods compared
South Bank and Waterloo
Best forFirst visits and riverside walks
Why I’d stay hereYou can build a lovely first day around the Thames, the South Bank and a walk across Westminster Bridge.
Worth knowingThe riverside gets busy. Check whether your room faces a main road or a quieter side street.
Covent Garden
Best forTheatre, dinner and central sights
Why I’d stay hereLook here if you’ll spend your evenings in the West End and want to walk home after the show.
Worth knowingYou may pay more for the location, and a room above the action can sound exactly like it.
Bloomsbury
Best forQuieter evenings and the British Museum
Why I’d stay hereI’d look at the smaller streets around the squares if I wanted somewhere calmer within reach of central London.
Worth knowingThe feel changes near major roads and stations. Check the block as well as the postcode.
Paddington
Best forHeathrow rail and onward trains
Why I’d stay hereWorth a look if your trip starts or ends with a train at Paddington or you want Hyde Park close by.
Worth knowingIf your plans are mainly theatre and late dinners in Soho, price the convenience of staying nearer the West End.
Before you book
Walking and step-free access
If stairs affect where you stay, start by comparing hotels near Paddington or Liverpool Street for the Elizabeth line. TfL lists step-free access to its platforms at both stations. Check the exact line, entrance and train boarding arrangements for your route. Read TfL’s Elizabeth line accessibility guide.
Check the hotel’s street entrance and route to the room separately. For sightseeing, see the city guide.
If you have an early train, plan the hotel-to-station journey before you book. Check step-free routes separately if you need them.
Read the London city article
From Tube etiquette to Borough Market and a walk along the Thames, here’s how I’d spend a first visit.
Planning a wider trip? Explore the England travel guide.
Planning reference · London neighborhood information