Where to stay in London?

Staying in Soho, the best option in London

Soho is quite simply the best place to stay in London. It's bordered by the famous Oxford and Regent Streets, both famous for their many stores. But also by Piccadilly Circus, that great intersection where neon signs are everywhere.

As you can see, Soho is a lively place for Londoners and tourists alike. This is where you'll do your shopping and maybe catch a musical in the theater. Pubs and restaurants are easy to find. And it's well served by the Tube (red, blue and brown lines).

But don't confine yourself to these busy corners. Its parallel and perpendicular streets are quieter, and offer a wide range of accommodation options. On the other hand, prices here are high because demand is strong. And this applies to both rental apartments and hotels. In short, if your budget allows and you plan early enough, this is the area to look for accommodation in London.

Stay in Covent Garden, in the heart of London!

Considered to be London's hypercenter, sleeping in Convent Garden is also a very good option for making the most of your stay. Its overall central location, and as the heart of London's bustle, makes it particularly well-situated for exploring the whole city.

The district takes its name from the covered market on The Piazza. With its many chic boutiques, restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat, it's a great place to explore. Apart from this, the area is not really home to any tourist attractions, apart from a few theaters where London's leading musicals are performed. As well as the Royal Opera House and the Museum of Transport.

Its main attraction is its relaxed atmosphere in the heart of London. If you choose to stay in London in this area, you'll be close to Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the British Museum. But it's also close to the rest of the city, as it's well served by the Underground, via the blue and black lines.

There are plenty of restaurants, especially near the theaters. In terms of accommodation, there's plenty to choose from. You can stay in a hostel, a classic hotel, an apartment, a B&B or a luxury establishment.

However, given its location and popularity, you'll need to book early.

Sleeping in Marylebone and Mayfair

Marylebone and Mayfair are two of the best places to stay in London, given their geographical locations. First and foremost, these two areas lie between the capital's three main parks: Regent's Park to the north, Hyde Park to the west and St Jame's Park to the south. What's more, Marylebone lies just northwest of Soho, and Mayfair just west of the latter.

To get to the most central parts of London, there are several Tube stations within these two districts. These include Regent's Park in the north, Bond Street and Oxford Circus in the center between the two districts, and Green Park in the south.

There are many sites of interest to see and visit in these two districts. These include the famous Madame Tussauds waxworks museum, the Royal Academy of Arts, a veritable British art institution, and the Wallace Collection, a renowned art museum.

Marylebone and Mayfair are therefore quite luxurious and quiet areas. Although they are home to many restaurants, cafés and bars, they are not the capital's liveliest districts.

These two areas offer a wide range of accommodation. These are mainly luxury and upper-middle-range hotels. You'll need to budget quite a lot if you decide to stay in these two districts.

The City, London's business district

The City is the British capital's business district. This is where the London Stock Exchange is located. It's also home to a number of modern-architecture buildings that serve as offices for major corporations.

But there's more to it than that, as St. Paul's Cathedral is located here. It's a must-see religious building when visiting the capital. The area also borders other places of interest, such as :

• the Tower of London, at its eastern end
• the Millennium, London and Tower Bridges, spanning the River Thames
• the Sky Garden suspension garden on the top floor of a skyscraper. Here, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.

Its main advantage is that it is served by numerous subway lines. This makes it easy to get anywhere. On the other hand, as a business district, it's especially busy during the week when people are working. At weekends, it's quieter, but there's still plenty to eat and drink.

There's a wide range of accommodation on offer. There are a number of hotels, as well as apartments.

Staying around Saint Pancras and King's Cross stations

These 2 stations are located in the north of the city center, and have the distinctive feature of being right next to each other. The first, Saint Pancras, is the international station. If you're taking the Eurostar, this is where you'll arrive.

The second, King's Cross, is known as the Harry Potter station. If you're a fan of the novel, don't hesitate to make a detour here. There's a dedicated store and a dummy access to platform “9 3/4”. Here, you can have your photo taken as you attempt to cross the platform with a cart in hand!

In terms of atmosphere, we're still in a neighborhood close to a train station (and 2, in fact). So it's not the best place to stay in London. Although there are a few cafés and restaurants, they are mostly international chains and fast food outlets. Apart from these Harry Potter-related peculiarities, points of interest are also virtually non-existent. But the area does have a number of advantages:

• it has excellent transport links, with King's Cross St. Pancras sub way station covered by 6 lines (including the blue and yellow lines, which will come in handy during your stay)
• accommodation prices are lower than in the city center
• it's not that far from the center, as it's only a 30-minute walk from the stations to Covent Garden.

For accommodation, the best choice is to the south of the stations, towards the center. You'll find youth hostels as well as 5-star hotels. But you can also rent apartments.

Se loger dans le district de Westminster

Situated to the south of the central districts of Soho and Covent Garden, the Westminster district is also an interesting alternative to choose when staying in London. Major sites of interest to visit can be found in this part of the capital. First of all, just north of Westminster are Buckingham Palace and St James's Park.

In the northeast part of this district, two of London's most iconic landmarks can be seen: Big Ben, the famous clock tower, andWestminster Abbey, a building dating back to the 11th century and the site of British coronations since 1066. In the southern part of Westminster, the Tate Britain museum, which houses the world's largest collection of British art, is also well worth a visit. It's also worth noting that the UK Prime Minister's office is located to the north, at 10 Downing Street.

This is a lively area, marked by the presence of numerous restaurants, cafés, bars and shops. The range of accommodation is less extensive than in London's central districts. Most are mid-range and upper-range hotels.

Sleep in Kensington, the capital's chic district

Kensington lies to the west of Marylebone and Mayfair. Separated from Marylebone and Mayfair by Hyde Park, Kensington is far from London's central residential areas. It's a chic district renowned for the elegance of its buildings.

There are many attractions to visit in this area. First and foremost is the Natural HistoryMuseum, with over 70 million specimens. Right next door is theScience Museum, which includes a wealth of exhibits on the evolution of science through the ages.

Just a few hundred metres north of these museums, the Royal Albert Hall is worth a visit for its Victorian façade and as one of London's most iconic concert halls. Also worth a visit is Kensington Palace, home to several members of the Royal Family, and the surrounding Kensington Gardens.

Accommodation in Kensington is predominantly mid-range and upper-range. Despite its eccentricity from the center, deciding to stay in this area can be worthwhile, not least thanks to the presence of several subway stations, such as Holland Park to the north and Gloucester Road to the south.

Staying in London south of the Thames: a good idea?

The main places to stay in London are north of the River Thames. However, it's also worth taking a look at the southern part of the river, around South Bank, Southwark and London Bridge. Although it can't be summed up as just that, the most interesting tourist area stretches for almost 3km, between the London Eye and Tower Bridge. And right next to the River Thames.

You won't necessarily have to stay here, but during your stay you'll want to visit a number of attractions:

• the London Eye, the Ferris wheel with its stunning views.
• Tower Bridge, the most emblematic bridge. But also the futuristic, pedestrian Millennium Bridge, in line with St. Paul's Cathedral.
• The Shard, the pointed skyscraper with an observation platform on the top floors.
• LondonCity Hall, a modern building on the banks of the Thames.
• Borough Market, a pleasant market to stroll through.
• Tate Modern, the museum of modern art.

There are some line changes to get to the heart of London, but the area is well served by the Tube. It's also home to Waterloo and London Bridge Railway Stations. Near these stations, you'll find the most restaurants.

In terms of accommodation, the area is predominantly residential. As a result, there are more apartments for rent. Although there are fewer of these than in the north, there are also a few hotels to stay in, ranging from hostels to 5-star hotels. Including large international chains, especially near train stations.

Lodging in other parts of West London

Other West London districts in which to stay include Paddington, Notting Hill and Chelsea.

Located just north of Hyde Park, Paddington is the closest of the three to central London. Indeed, it lies just to the west of the Marylebone district. Although this area is quite lively, there are very few sites of interest to see. The main one is Paddington station (London Paddington), a 19th-century structure with magnificent architecture.

Accommodation in Paddington, of which there are quite a few, is mainly mid-range. Choosing to stay in this district can be a good compromise, thanks to its proximity to the central areas of the capital and its fairly attractive rates for sleeping in London.

To the east of Paddington lies the Notting Hill district. Highlighted by the film Coup de foudre à Notting Hill, it is essentially residential and quiet. It's busiest at weekends, with the Portobello Road Market, one of London's most famous. Another site of interest in Notting Hill is theMuseum of Br ands, where over 12,000 objects from the last two centuries are on display.

Accommodation in Notting Hill is fairly limited, mainly mid-range hotels. Deciding to stay in this area can be a good way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the central districts. These are about 20 minutes away by subway from Holland Park or Notting Hill Gate stations.

Chelsea is also a great place to sleep in West London. Located to the south of Kensington, this is one of London's most exclusive areas. There are a number of places of interest to visit, including the Botanic Gardens, theNational Army Museum, where British military artefacts and documents are on display, and the Saatchi Gallery, a museum of contemporary art. Accommodation in Chelsea is fairly limited, mainly apartments.

Staying in East End, London's eastern suburbs

The districts to the east of London's central districts are also known as theEast End. These include Whitechapel, Shoreditch and Spitalfields.

Although they are further away from central London, these are the ideal places to sleep. These are former industrial areas that have gradually been transformed into the capital's hottest spots. Street art plays an important role in these districts.

As a result, these East End districts are quite lively, with a large number of bars and shops. A stroll along Brick Lane, the main street running north-south through these districts, is a great way to soak up this artistic and trendy state of mind. Brick Lane Market has also become increasingly popular in the capital.

Whitechapel is also in the immediate vicinity of landmarks such as the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes on foot. In the same district, you can also visit the JackThe Ripper Museum in Whitechapel.

The accommodation on offer in these areas is quite extensive. Mainly between budget and mid-range apartments and hotels. Choosing to sleep in one of these East End districts is perfectly feasible, thanks in particular to the presence of several subway stations facilitating rapid access to the central districts. These include Bethnal Green, Whitechapel andAldgate East.

Stay in Camden Town, a different alternative

If you're looking for accommodation in an atypical London district, Camden Town could be a very good choice. Located to the north-west of the station area, it is often referred to as the capital's alternative district.

Camden Town (Camden Market) has an international reputation for its many multicultural and alternative stores and vendors. It's very lively at weekends. Street art is also very present in this district. In addition, just southwest of the district is Regent's Park, a green area that includes London Zoo.

Accommodation in Camden Town is quite extensive. It's mostly low-cost and mid-range apartments and hotels. Central London can be reached in around 20 minutes by tube from Camden Town station.