Best neighborhoods for week stay in London

I'm not the one to advise on London neighborhoods, but I found it very handy to be staying one long block from an Underground station served by two lines. It made for more convenient travel to and from the sights, which are scattered all over the place.

If you have a draft list of your key sightseeing goals and post it here, that might make it easier for the London experts to suggest practical neighborhoods. If you happen to have an interest in theatre and expect to take in some evening shows, you might want to be sure you have a relatively easy route back to our lodgings from the West End and/or the National Theatre on the South Bank, as appropriate.

The Spring Bank Holiday is Monday, May 28. I don't know whether that will have any impact on your time in London, but if you're planning any day-trips outside the city, it might drive up rail fares--though I'm not at all sure about that.

We are in the very early stages of planning. We just saw direct flights for $550, and thought it too good to pass up.

Our dates are, tentatively, from May 24 through June 3rd. We were planning on taking Rick’s advice and going straight to Bath from the airport and seeing that plus things around it. Then Sunday (the 27th) to Sunday all in or around London.

Having the extra vacation day of Memorial Day in the states is one of the reasons we chose the dates, and I saw that that Monday was also a holiday in the UK. From what I’ve read that won’t be a huge deal breaker in London.

Since we will be there a week we are going to try to see as much as possible. We’d like to keep the Airbnb under $200/night, but from what I’ve seen that might be tough too.

You could benefit by having RS guidebk for england. With your lodging budget of less than $200 per night The guidebk will guide u for a basic hotel with brfast like cherry court hotel etc.
Realize that many top museums are free so perhaps u could $direct those funds to a meal out. Pub meals run about 20 pounds for a very hearty entree.

You might want to check out university accommodations. While I've never used them (found out about them after we had to stop our longer travels), the London School of Economics lets spare student accommodations to tourists. They also have an apartment building that students manage as part of their studies (that's what I've heard- can't confirm it). Here is their site [https://www.lsevacations.co.uk/Home.aspx][1]
Another choice would be 'aparthotels'. They are a smash-up of an apartment and a hotel. Citadiens is one we used when we were taking our kids to Europe. They have multiple locations in central London. Here is their site
[https://www.citadines.com/en/destinations/london.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqKqU49LH2QIVxSaGCh2yHgIbEAAYAiAAEgKCF_D_BwE][2]

We have made three one-week trips to London and one trip of two-weeks. We have enjoyed each of the four neighborhoods we’ve stayed in: Covent Garden, Westminster, Barbican, and Mayfair. You cannot be near everything but you can be near bus or tube. We have found, in four trips, that we prefer the buses if one is handy, as one can sightsee a bit from the bus.

Try www.londonconnection.com for lovely apartments.

I agree. The sights are spread out, no matter what your interests are. Staying near good transportation is the most important, near bus lines, either near a tube station with 2 or more lines in different directions or between two stations with different lines.

Then learn about the Oyster card.

My favourite neigbourhood, Bloomsbury, hits all your points. Consider the Celtic Hotel, just around the corner from Russell Square station, adjacent to the Friend at Hand pub, 5 minutes walk to the British Museum, and 10-15 minutes walk to the West End and Soho.

We stayed in West Kensington, equidistant from the West Kensington and Barons Court tube stations. IIRC these get you to the District and Piccadilly Lines. Very convenient to/from Westminster, etc. and Kings Cross. Not terribly expensive, (for London). Some decent restaurants, grocery stores, laundromats...

We like staying in the Bayswater area. A great hotel is The London Elizabeth Hotel on Lancaster Terrace. It’s a two minute walk to Lancaster Gate tube station, across the street from Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and around the corner from The Swan Pub.