Hello,
We are a family of 5 (kids age - 15,15,2) and will be traveling to London in early August. I’ve seen a lot of post recommending apartment over hotel. Could anyone recommend hotels/apartment, Airbnb, VRBO in London? Not sure about location (SoHo, Westminster) - Probably have a budget 300/400 a night would like to stay in an area that obviously would be safe. Thank you
Look at Native and see if that aparthotel brand works for you.
https://nativeplaces.com/
The problem with recommending apartments is there are so many of them. Don't get hung up on two neighbourhoods - basically anywhere in central London near a tube station is fine. Are you quoting £?
Personally I like the west end (including neighbourhoods like Mayfair, St James, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Marylebone etc). But east and south of the river has aomwngood and potentially cheaper alternatives. Another thought is around King's Cross Station.
Don't worry about safety - there isn't anywhere in London I would regard as unsafe. At the age your kids are, ours were happily exploring London on their own.
Look first at anywhere within the Circle Line (yellow on the TfL Tube map) plus South Bank /Waterloo as starting points.
Soho is in that area as is most of Westminster. (The City of Westminster covers a very large area, unless you mean the area near the Palace of Westminster and the Abbey?)
What are the 300/400? GBP? USD?AUD? Something else?
I have a flat I love in Pimlico but it reserves a year ahead for high demand times such as summer. You may have left it a bit late to get the best options, but there are still some available. My suggestion is to look on VRBO, be flexible on location (within 5-10 min walk to tube) and recognize your budget may have to give a bit.
I haven’t stayed here, but I think something like this would work for you
You could also look into aparthotels/Extended Stay hotels. They offer apartment like accomodations with hotel services.
Many are part of large chains and can be found all over London. In no particular order: Citadines, Fraser Suites, Staybridge Suites, Residence Inn, Staycity, Wilde by Staycity, Native, Hyatt House, Locke Hotels.
The rooms have kitchens and the hotels usually have laundry rooms, gyms, possible free breakfast and someone there 24 hours if you need anything. Most offer multi-room units.
what is your budget of 300/400 denominated in? None of your posts has said where you will coming from. Australian dollars, Euro, Pounds, Canadian or US dollars? Lodging in London is not cheap.
You have chosen Soho (only the one in NYC has a capital H) and Westminster. Westminster is itself a big city - any ideas of where? What are your goals in London?
Everyone - thank you for all the information. Very helpful
Nigel - yes, I’ll be using Trump’s Meme Coin. I know the Brits will be very happy to have some of that meme coin ;)
We also prefer the Pimlico area for convenience, quiet neighborhoods and access to a variety of grocers, bakers, pubs and restaurants mostly dependent upon non-tourist customers. Check out companies like A Place Like Home for their listings of flats.
I'm a big fan of AirBnB and generally prefer apartments, but you're only there 3 nights. For such a short stay, I wouldn't rule out a family room in a hotel, especially one that will provide a cot for the toddler and that includes breakfast. I would choose something that is near to your points of interest and/or your arrival/departure point(s). I wouldn't want to be relying on the Tube to get around with a toddler (I'd rather push a stroller on foot).
I have used both YHA hostels and Airbnbs in London. The cost is high any time of the year. I suggest you search for 2 bedroom flats that can give you a cot for the 2 year old. It would help keep costs down.
As for YHA hostels, the central hostel has private rooms and a self catering kitchen which not all the London hostels do. Also not all the private rooms are ensuite. The central hostel has a 6 bed ensuite private for those dates )https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-london-central?startDate=02%2F08%2F2025&endDate=05%2F08%2F2025&males=1&females=1&malesChild=2&femalesChild=1&under26=1)
Thanks everyone! We decided to do an Airbnb Flat….appreciate all the personal insight.
