On our trip to London last year, one of the hardest things to figure out was where to stay! London is a big city with a robust transportation system, and we wanted to experience the best parts of the city while staying close to specific attractions for easier navigation.
๐ I’ll say this upfront: As long as you’re in the city of London, it doesn’t matter TOO much where you stay because it’s fairly easy to get around unless you have a disability or are traveling with small children, in which case you probably want less travel time. So don’t fret too much about any “must-stay” areas.
In this post, I’ll share the three areas we stayed in during our three-week visit and one area we really wanted to stay in but ended up not staying in. I’ll also share our chosen accommodations in each location and my honest thoughts about it. Hopefully, this gives you some ideas for choosing where to stay in London when visiting for the first time.
Where to Stay on Your First Visit to London
Here are some areas I recommend:
If You Want a Tourist Hub: Westminster/South Bank Area
Nearby Attractions: Big Ben, The Shard, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Churchill War Rooms
Budget: $$ (We paid $295 per night at the Park Plaza Westminster)

We spent about four days at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in South Bank — just a 10-minute walk from Big Ben. Our hotel room had an insane view of the monument, and frankly, waking up to this view every day was probably the best part of staying at this hotel.

Pros
- Location, location, location.
- If you want to hit up the attractions in this area, this hotel would be a good fit. We saw loads of kids staying at the hotel as well, so it seems family-friendly.
- The nearest tube station is about a 10-minute walk away, and so is the nearest bus stop. We took the tube straight from Heathrow and walked to the hotel with our luggage from Bakerloo station when we landed.
Cons
- I thought the hotel was just fine. I didn’t care much for the decor, and we didn’t spend much time at the hotel anyway, but for the price, it could’ve been better.
- The hotel food was not great, but that might be an England thing ๐ซข
For Prime Shopping and Activities: Leicester Square ($$$)
Nearby Attractions: Covent Garden, Soho, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus
Budget: $$$ (You can expect to pay between $300 and $500 per night in April)

The UK is a superb shopping destination, and if that’s high on your list of reasons for visiting, I can’t judge you (it was high on mine, too). If you’d rather be close to all the shops, restaurants, and the theater, this is a fantastic (if pricey) area to stay.
My first choice of hotel stay in London was the Radisson Blu Hotel at Leicester Square, but it was too expensive for the slower and longer trip we wanted. Still, if we ever get a chance to stay at that hotel on another visit, we’ll definitely take it!
Pros of staying in this area
- If you’re coming to London to eat, shop, and see some shows, this is the best location! Travel time is shorter, and you can probably walk everywhere. Nothing beats that.
- This area feels like the heartbeat of London. Every day, even when it was not in our plans, we ended up at Oxford Circus, Soho, or Leicester Square one way or another. You get to see the city in all its vibrance.
Cons
- If you prefer a quiet stay with occasional shopping days or would rather see the other touristy stuff closer to the Westminster area, this might not be the best fit for you.
๐๐ผ Pro Tip: Stay in more than one area if possible! Every time we travel to big cities with plenty to see and do, we like to stay a few days in a different area so we can explore more of the city with less exhausting travel times.
If You’d Rather Be Away from the Noise: Notting Hill Area
Nearby Attractions: Westfield Mall, Notting Hill, Portobello Road Market, Kensington Palace
Budget: $$ ($164.96 per night for our 1-bedroom Shepherd’s Bush Airbnb)
We stayed at an Airbnb in Shepherd’s Bush, which is close to Notting Hill. I LOVED this area (you already know we love a good Airbnb situation — even more than hotels sometimes).

The flat was so well decorated and in a lovely location just across the road from the humongous Westfield Mall, with a Boots and supermarket not far away.

Although we didn’t get to visit Portobello Road Market, we loved exploring the iconic Notting Hill area during our Flytographer photo shoot.

Pros of staying in this area
- You’ll feel like a local, getting to know the little shops and doing morning walks around the neighborhood
- It’s close to tube stations and so easy to navigate
- Because you’re away from the hustle and bustle, it’s super quiet in the evening,s and you can unwind
- Great for families!
Cons
- Honestly, none for me, but if you’re an “in the middle of all the action” kind of traveler, it might be too quiet for you.
If You Like an Edgier Stay: Camden Area ($)
Nearby Attractions: Camden Market, London Zoo, and Primrose Hill.
Budget: $$ ($189 per night at Marriott Regent’s Park)

We stayed for six days at the Marriott Hotel in Regent’s Park, and that area was fine. It was one bus ride away from Camden and just a five-minute walk from the Swiss Cottage tube station, which was so helpful! We visited practically all of London from this hotel, and it never felt like our journey was too long- except when we had to pick up something at Shepherd’s Bush.
Camden, on the other hand, would be my least favorite area to stay in London as a first-time tourist, and I know people love Camden, but I honestly could not see why. It just wasn’t my type of vibe. If you like graffiti-covered walls and busy, busy markets, this area might be a better fit for you.
Pros of staying in this area
- Close to Camden, if that’s your vibe
- Pretty quiet and has low-traffic
- Close to tube stations
- Less expensive
- There’s a family-friendly playground area three minutes away
Cons
- Not a lot to do in the immediate area
I sincerely think that it’s impossible to go wrong wherever you choose to stay in London. However, you can definitely make your life a lot easier by staying close to the areas you’d like to explore and accepting the fact that it’s impossible to see and do everything during one visit to London.
Consider your family’s state (Do you have small kids? Do you have accessibility requirements? Are you able to walk long distances?), your budget, and your trip itinerary to help you make the best choice for you!
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