Where to Stay in London: Best Areas to Stay, Central London Hotels, Luxury 5-Star Hotels

Welcome to One of the World’s Greatest Cities

Whether you are planning your first or 21st visit to London, you will enjoy a destination that is steeped in history and packed with world-class cultural and museum opportunities that are some of the best on the planet. From iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and the Tower of London, to leafy neighborhoods with an array of diverse dining spots, it’s hard to top London. This is a city-based vacation that is perfect for solo travelers, couples, and families. With unique modern skyscrapers, Roman ruins, Royal palaces, and an exceptional rail system (locally known as The Tube) that makes getting around quick and simple.

As in any large city there are numerous neighborhoods that are popular with visitors. Where you choose to stay will surely depend on what you plan to do while you’re in town. Theatre (the West End!), museums (many offer free admission including the Tate Modern, the British Museum, and the National Gallery), historical sites, dining, and the walkability of each area comes into play differently for everyone, so let’s take a look at some of the various places you may want to consider.

In addition to every major hotel chain offering accommodations in London and some with more than a dozen hotels, we are offering suggestions for properties you may not have heard of in each of four visitor-friendly neighborhoods. As it has been for many years when making our travel plans, our go-to hotel booking website is Travelated, where you will find the largest selection of hotels in a particular destination, and always at incredibly competitive prices. In Greater London, Travelated offers 500+ places to stay. We hope that we make your search a bit easier with the information provided below.

The Best London Neighborhoods For Visitors

Covent Garden

This central London area is compact, energetic, and very walkable; famous for street performers, boutique shops, small neighborhood and West End theatres, the Royal Opera House, upscale restaurants and pubs, and fabulous historic market halls filled with outstanding produce and other food stalls. A very desirable area to stay, but hotels here also tend to be more expensive. Hotels to consider include the

1. The Resident Covent Garden

Address: 51 Bedford Street, London, WC2R 0PZ, GB

The Resident Covent Garden (four stars)

2. Henrietta Experimental

Address: 14 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8QH, GB

Henrietta Experimental

3. Fielding Hotel

Address: 4 Broad Court Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5QZ, GB

Fielding Hotel

Kensington

Located to the west of Hyde and north of Chelsea, the major London museums are in adjacent South Kensington. The area is filled with parks, elegant leafy residential streets, as well as spectacular townhouse, embassies, and many garden squares. The Victorian architecture is absolutely beautiful. There are plenty of boutiques, cafes, and dining spots, but this highly refined residential area is far quieter than Covent Garden, SoHo, or the South Bank districts. Hotels found here are first class to luxurious, with pricing to match. Hotels to consider include

1. The Bailey's Hotel London Kensington

Address: 140 Gloucester Road, London, SW7 4QH, GB

The Bailey's Hotel London Kensington

2. 100 Queen's Gate Hotel London Kensington, Curio Collection by Hilton

Address: 100 Queens Gate, London, SW7 5AG, GB

100 Queen's Gate Hotel London Kensington

3. The Ampersand Hotel - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Address: 10 Harrington Road, London, SW7 3ER, GB

The Ampersand Hotel

Soho

Lively day and night, this is the place to be. Considered by many to offer the best selection of restaurants and after dining nightlife from pubs to music clubs. Soho is walkable to many major sights, though you may choose to take the tube to the many museums just a couple of stops away. Hotels here can be expensive due to the popularity of the area, though good deals can be found outside of peak season. Hotels to consider include

1. The Resident Soho

Address: 10 Carlisle Street, London, W1D 3BR, GB

The Resident Soho

2. Mimi's Hotel Soho

Address: 56-57 Frith Street, London, W1D 3JG, GB

Mimi's Hotel Soho

3. Hazlitt's

Address: 6 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 3JA, GB

Hazlitt's

South Bank

Across the Thames from major landmarks such as Westminster, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London are within easy reach on foot. The London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe are located here as are scenic riverside walking paths. Easy access to the north side of the river via multiple bridges. Moderately priced and high-end hotels can be found here. Hotels to consider include

1. H10 London Waterloo

Address: 284 To 302 Waterloo Road, Newington, SE1 8RQ, GB

H10 London Waterloo

2. The Hoxton, Southwark

Address: 40 Blackfriars Road, Newington, SE1 8PB, GB

The Hoxton, Southwark

3. Sea Containers London

Address: 20 Upper Ground, Newington, SE1 9PD, GB

Sea Containers London

Where To Stay in London If Hilton Is Your Preferred Brand

1. London Hilton on Park Lane

Address: 22 Park Lane, London, W1K 4BE, GB

London Hilton on Park Lane, rated five stars, Mayfair-Hyde Park, walk to Buckingham Palace, Oxford St. shopping. The hotel is considered polished, upscale, and offers classic luxury.

2. Hilton London Bankside

Address: 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, Newington, SE1 0UG, GB

Hilton London Bankside, rated five stars, South Bank, a more affordable Hilton option. The Bankside is modern and has an indoor pool. Walkable to the Tate Modern, Borough Market, Millennium Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

3. Hilton London Tower Bridge

Address: 5 More London Place, London, SE1 2BY, GB

Hilton London Tower Bridge, rated four stars and moderately priced. A short walk to the Tower Bridge, The Shard and Borough Market. Plenty of local transportation options in the area.

4. Doubletree by Hilton London

Address: 300 King Street, London, N6B 152, ON, CA

Doubletree by Hilton London, rated four stars, Tower of London-City of London, a budget friendly Hilton family property.

5. Hilton London Metropole

Address: 225 Edgware Road, London, W21JU, GB

Hilton London Metropole, rated four stars, Paddington-Edgware Road, the most affordable Hilton property in central London. One of the UK’s largest hotels with 1,100 rooms. Heathrow Express at Paddington Station just up the street.

Where To Stay In London If Marriott Is Your Preferred Brand

1. London Marriott Hotel County Hall

Address: London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB, GB

London Marriott Hotel County Hall, rated four stars, Westminster-South Bank. An iconic property with some river views and an indoor pool.

2. London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

Address: Grosvenor Square, London, W1K6JP, GB

London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, rated five stars, Mayfair. Walkable to Oxford St. and Bond St. shopping and upscale dining in Mayfair. A classic luxury property offering easy access to central.

3. London Marriott Hotel Park Lane

Address: 140 Park Lane, London, W1K 7AA, GB

London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, Marble Arch-Hyde Park, one of top rated Marriotts in town. Adjacent to Hyde Park, the hotel is elegant with a boutique feel, plus offers an indoor pool. The West End entertainment district is close by.

4. London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch

Address: 134 George Street, London, W1H 5DN, GB

London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch, rated four stars, the best Marriott value in central London. This Marriott property is walkable to Oxford St. and Hyde Park.

5. London Marriott Hotel Kensington

Address: 147 Cromwell Rd, London, SW5 0TH, GB

London Marriott Hotel Kensington, rated four stars, Kensington-South Kensington. Easily walkable to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and other must-see attractions. Located in a quiet, upscale area.

Luxury Five-Star Hotels For Splurging (or, if Someone Else is Paying The Bill)

Rather than go into detail about each luxurious property listed below, we recommend clicking on the links to fully appreciate what they each have to offer.

1. Rosewood London

Address: 252 High Holborn. Holborn , London, WC1V 7EN, GB

Rosewood London, Holborn

2. The Ritz London

Address: 150 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9BR, GB

The Ritz London, Mayfair/Piccadilly

3. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Address: 22 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JP, GB

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair

4. The Savoy

Address: The Strand, London, WC2R 0EU, GB

The Savoy, Strand

5. The Langham London

Address: Portland Place, London, W1B 1JA, GB

The Langham, Maryleborne

6. Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Address: Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London, W1J 7DR, GB

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

7. Raffles London at The OWO

Address: 57 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2BX, GB

Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall/Westminster

8. Hotel Cafe Royal

Address: 68 Regent Street, West End - Mayfair, London, W1B 4DY, GB

Hotel Café Royal, West End-Mayfair

9. The Lanesborough, Oetker Hotels

Address: Hyde Park Corner, London, SW1X 7TA, GB

The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner

10. Flemings Mayfair - Small Luxury Hotel of the World

Address: Half Moon Street , London, W1J 7BH, GB

Flemings Mayfair

Good Reasons To Stay Close to Heathrow Airport

To get a sense of just how important London Heathrow Airport is to UK travel and beyond, consider these rankings. Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe, the second busiest airport in the world for international passengers, and the seventh busiest airport worldwide in terms of passengers served, with nearly 85 million travelers utilizing the facility in 2025.

When London is your destination and you plan to be here for a few days, it’s a no-brainer that staying in the heart of the city is what you will want to do. But there are some excellent reasons to stay close to Heathrow Airport, especially if you have an early morning flight, say before 9 AM, so that you can sleep a bit later and already be within minutes of the airport. Avoiding the stress of London’s traffic, especially during the work week, is always a smart choice. If your inbound flight happens to be a late arrival, and Heathrow has plenty of these, having a quiet, comfortable room waiting for you within minutes of the terminal is a fantastic way to start your vacation or business trip.

If you are traveling to London for business and your work doesn’t require staying in one of the popular tourist areas, staying close to the airport can make you feel like the smartest traveler on earth. Avoiding big city traffic whether you plan to take the tube, rent a car, hail a taxi, or have Uber provide transportation might just have you patting yourself on the back. Hotels close to Heathrow also tend to be less expensive than those in the city center and those recommended below, when necessary, provide fee-based airport shuttle transportation to and from the terminal.

Here are some comfortable and convenient hotels in various price categories, on-airport or within minutes of Heathrow Airport:

1. ibis London Heathrow Airport

Address: 112 Bath Rd, Hayes, Middlesex, Hillingdon, UB3 5AL, GB

Ibis London Heathrow Airport, Hillingdon, three stars, two miles from Terminals 2 & 3.

2. Holiday Inn Express - London Heathrow T4 by IHG

Address: Terminal 4, 1 Swindon Road, Hillingdon, TW6 3FJ, GB

Holiday Inn Express – London Heathrow T4 by IHG, four stars, attached to Terminal 4 (no shuttle necessary), free Heathrow inter-terminal train to other terminals.

3. Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow

Address: 140 Bath Road Hayes Hillingdon, Hillingdon, UB3 5AW, GB

Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow, Hillingdon, four stars, 1.5 miles from Terminals 2 & 3.

4. Sofitel London Heathrow

Address: Terminal 5, Hillingdon, TW6 2GD, GB

Sofitel London Heathrow, five stars, directly connected to Terminal 5, free Heathrow inter-terminal train to other terminals.

5. Best Western London Heathrow Ariel Hotel

Address: 118 Bath Road, Hillingdon, UB3 5AJ, GB

Best Western London Heathrow Ariel Hotel, four stars, one mile from Terminals 2 & 3. Hotel Hoppa shuttle takes 15-20 minutes to Terminals 4 & 5.

Should London Be On Everyone’s Bucket List?

Don’t take my word for it, but London absolutely, positively, should be on your short list of places to visit. There is so much here to take in, to experience, and to marvel over. There is an energy here that only a handful of cities around the globe possess. History, culture, sports (Wimbledon!), international cuisine, afternoon tea, the amazing collection of sights and sounds that London exudes are indescribable. You’ll need to come here to truly feel the importance of this city to the world, both in the past and surely continuing long into the future.