Help me decide on London hotel neighborhood?

I am sure others will have good advice for you. We like the South Bank near Tower Bridge because we love to walk on the Thames pedestrian path, but that does not work for everyone.

I do want to make sure you are aware of the Premier Inn restrictions on age if you have reserved a Family Room there. Both teens must be 15 or under for your family to quality. A 16 counts as an adult.

Thx! Yes, they are 13/14 - but I wasn't aware of that restriction, so good to know. Cheers!

I'll go with the Premier Inn for a couple of reasons. Kings Cross is a straight shot on the Picadilly line from Heathrow, so it's easy to get to. And it's adjacent to St Pancras, where you'll leave on the Eurostar. Because of the train stations there is excellent access to multiple Underground lines for ease in getting around, and there are bus stops that are handy, too. We found the room we stayed in very quiet, despite facing the street, and the beds are really comfortable.

London - DLP - Paris.

"DLP" .. ?? ( sorry, trying to function on only one cup of coffee)

Sorry - Disneyland Paris (DLP) is our next stop after London, not really relevant aside from the fact we'd be taking the Eurostar out of St Pancras F 8/16, so Kings Cross'd be handy for departure...

I've stayed at Premier Inn Leicester Square a couple of times and found it clean, comfortable, reasonably priced and in a pretty central location that's near lots of things to do and places to eat. There's a tube stop close by. But it's not as easy for other transit options as Kings Cross would be. Just another option for you to consider....

I like Kensington (I've just come back). Its neighbourhood includes the natural history museum, the science museum (gearhead heaven) , the Victoria and Albert museum, Royal Albert Hall, the design museum, the bottom end of Hyde Park including Kensington Palace, and pubs and restaurants at a variety of price points, although not an area for bargain-hunting. As an advantage, the Piccadilly line from Heathrow runs through the district with several stops depending on your hotel, including Earl's Court and Gloucester Road stations.
To help you with your choice, this site offers interactive planning from potential hotels to the attractions you want to visit:
https://tfl.gov.uk/

The Premier Inn in Leicester Square is unfortunately fully booked during our stay, but thx for the rec! It looks like a prime location, so I’ve been checking daily for any cancellations/openings, but currently my only feasible options are Kensington, King’s Cross or the City.

I would encourage you not to overthink or over stress on this. First of all, I think you have made a good choice with Premier Inn. Transport around London is relatively easy on the underground system. It may be more important to be near good underground connections than to be in a "perfect" location.

I stayed at Premier Inn Waterloo last April and was quite pleased.

I went with a place on HomeAway...3BR 3Bath with living room, kitchen.etc... plenty of choices in London ranging all price points and locations. I figure we are going to eat out for Lunch and dinner but breakfast, snacks and drinks can be held/cooked in full kitchen.

If your happy with the PI room rates I'd say any of the ones you've shortlisted will work, all are in zone 1 and public transport is excellent, London attractions are spread out, so Leicester Sq won't necessarily be in the ideal location, personally I find it a rather crowded tourist trap area and not my idea of a London neighbourhood.

I agree Kings Cross will be a good base, its a transport hub , direct tube from LHR, with good access to other locations and the nicely restored St Pancras station , behind St Pancras/Kings Cross is the redeveloped Granary Square, south of Kings Cross and Euston rd is Bloomsbury/ Russell Square, for me this is more like a London neighbourhood, quieter squares and gardens with a mix of Georgian and Victorian terrace houses and some 60s social housing.

Agree go with the Kings Cross Premiere Inn. As the above poster noted the new Granary Square Coal Drop Yards Area is interesting. You are across the road from the Treasure Room at the British Library and if you want a strikingly beautiful spot for tea, cocktail or a meal ( not cheap) try the Booking office inside the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

You could walk along the Regents canal up to the Camden Lock market a stroll not many tourists makes simply because they aren’t aware it’s doable.

Dishoom is over at Granary Square. Fabulous food.

The Parish Of Old St Pancras with the Hardy Tree is a few blocks away. Same with the Wellcome Collection and Charles Dickens museums. Within walking distance and neither over run with tourists.

And the best part is very easy public transport to all of London from there.

Go, explore, enjoy.

We always stay at a hotel by the Gloucester tube stop. There is no best location, just personal preference. Getting anyplace is easy.

London is such a beg city that no one hotel is convenient to all sights. Staying at the Kings Cross area is convenient to a number of tube lines and the Eurostar. With a group of four it may be faster and more convenient to go places by taxi, and may be less expensive too.

Thank you all for the great advice. We've decided to go with Kings Cross!

I think it's generally more useful to focus on a hotel's walking distance from a Tube stop and travel time, including changes, on the Tube than on location alone. King's Cross and Earl's Court are nearer the usual West End spots than the City. The Transport For London site is the best source for any kind of info about getting around in London.)

I've stayed at the Premier Inn King's Cross. Very short walk across the street into the station. Spartan but comfortable hotel. Busy neighborhood; trying for an upper floor room to cut traffic noise is always a good idea.

At King's Cross or any London station, check the board for your train's departure time and gate number. You'll hear an announcement when you can go through the gate and board. If there are first class coaches they'll be nearest the gate.