Hotels in London

Staying in London

London is a huge city, and choosing a district starts with the Tube map. The centre, between Westminster, Soho and Covent Garden, lets you do everything on foot but often means small rooms. To the west, Kensington, Bayswater and Paddington form a large hotel belt close to Hyde Park and the museums; it is also around Edgware Road and Marble Arch that Arab cafés and restaurants cluster, a familiar landmark for Moroccan travellers. Further east, the City and Canary Wharf house business hotels that are quiet at weekends.

Several airports serve London, each with its own rail or Tube link: check which one is on your ticket before choosing a hotel, because crossing the city with luggage takes time. Rates vary widely with the season, British school holidays and major events, and breakfast is often charged separately. In Victorian buildings, rooms are compact and a lift is not guaranteed: read the description carefully, especially with a family or older parents.

Where to stay in London

• Westminster, Soho and Covent Garden

  The tourist heart: Big Ben, the theatres, department stores and museums on foot. Rooms are often small and the streets busy late, but no commuting is needed for a short stay.

• Kensington, Bayswater and Paddington

  The big western hotel belt, between Hyde Park and the South Kensington museums. Paddington has the direct rail link to Heathrow; Edgware Road, close by, is lined with Arab cafés and restaurants.

• King's Cross, St Pancras and Bloomsbury

  Around the northern stations and the Eurostar, a well-connected district with the British Museum on foot and hotels of every size. Handy if you arrive from Paris or plan train trips.

• The City and Canary Wharf

  The business districts, with modern, well-equipped hotels, busy on weekdays and quiet at weekends. Better suited to a work trip than a family holiday.

Good to know before you book

• Forget the car: the Tube, buses and trains cover the whole city, and contactless payment works straight at the gates. Pick an address close to a well-served station.
• Family rooms for four are rare in central hotels; for a family, compare with an aparthotel or two connecting rooms, and check for a lift.
• See whether breakfast is included and what time it starts: in London it is often optional and sightseeing days begin early.

Questions about London

Frequently asked questions