The best areas to stay in London for tourists are central, specifically Westminster for iconic sights, Covent Garden for theater/dining, and Soho for nightlife. Families often prefer the quieter, upscale Kensington or Chelsea, while first-timers find convenience in South Bank or London Bridge. Shoreditch is best for trendy, artistic vibes.
What's the safest area for solo travelers? All recommended areas maintain good safety levels, particularly during regular hours. Kensington and Westminster tend to be quietest at night. Well-lit main streets and 24-hour transport support safe travel across central London.
While London is generally safe, you might want to avoid staying in areas known for higher petty crime (like Westminster Bridge/South Bank for pickpicking) or those with reputations for drug issues like parts of Brixton, Peckham, or Elephant & Castle, though these areas offer unique culture; instead, prioritize central locations like Covent Garden, South Kensington, or Bloomsbury for charm, or Shoreditch/Angel for trendy vibes, while being vigilant everywhere for phone theft.
My Top Pick for First-Timers: Covent Garden, Westminster, or Soho. Covent Garden, Westminster, or Soho is my top choice for where to stay in London for first-time visitors. If you want to be in the center of all things London, being within walking distance of many of the city's top attractions is essential.
Notting Hill and Kensington & Cheslea are known the world over for their fantastic restaurants and high-end stores, while Chiswick, Acton and Kew feel like they're not even in London given their villagey-esque vibes.
Where to Stay in London? 4 Best Areas (+ Insider Tips) 🇬🇧
Where is the most central location to stay in London?
It's expensive though, so this is really an area for those wanting a luxury visit. You won't get more central in London than Covent Garden. Perennially popular with tourists, it has a great dining scene and the pedestrianized streets and outdoor seating give it a very different atmosphere to other areas of the city.
For first time visitors, we recommend spending at least four or five days in London, which will give you enough time to get a feel for the city and see many of its main sites. With so much to do and see check out this article on how you can make the most of your time in London!
What is the best neighborhood in London for tourists?
South Kensington is a very good base for exploring London. It's a fashionable, residential area with easy access to central London. It is prettier, but also pricier, than its neighbour, Earls Court. Trains from South Kensington are frequent, running every couple of minutes.
If you know London, it's hardly surprising news. Both west London boroughs are home to the vast majority of the most expensive streets in the whole of the UK, in the likes of Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Belgravia.
Hemming the glorious Hyde Park, Mayfair is one of London's gilded neighbourhoods. Brimming with splendid Georgian townhouses, extravagant hotels, the city's most expensive pubs, and impenetrable private clubs, Mayfair is indeed a decadent haven restricted to the upper echelons of society.
West is best, so look at Kensington, Chelsea or Notting Hill. For shopping, restaurants, theatre and nightlife, Soho and Covent Garden are great spots in the centre, while King's Cross and Camden are lively options, too. And if the river is calling, the South Bank and Westminster are your best bet.
To avoid bigger crowds, it's best to avoid the February half-term, Easter holiday and October half-term. The dates of these breaks change annually and this is when children across the country will be on a short break from school.
Keep your mobile phone and valuables out of sight. If you're using your phone it's more likely to be snatched from your hand as you're not paying attention to your surroundings, so look around you. And never leave a mobile, any other device, wallet or purse on the table of an outdoor café, pub or restaurant.
The South was seen as the cheaper and rougher viewing platform to the other side of the river, with Southbank being the site of several of London's prisons, including the infamous Clink Prison.
My Top Pick for First-Timers: Covent Garden, Westminster, or Soho. Covent Garden, Westminster, or Soho is my top choice for where to stay in London for first-time visitors. If you want to be in the center of all things London, being within walking distance of many of the city's top attractions is essential.
The area in London with the lowest crime rate consistently reported is Richmond upon Thames, often followed closely by Kingston upon Thames, Sutton, and Bromley, which are generally affluent outer boroughs known for their leafy, family-friendly environments and strong community feel, offering a safer lifestyle compared to central areas.
