London Area To Stay (72 YO)

I’m sure there are lots of potential areas but first to mind for me are Hampstead or Putney. These are very nice residential areas with the Tube. You could also look at Chelsea, Kensington or Notting Hill which are more central, so more expensive and busier.

I PM’d you.

Years ago we stayed in a vacation rental flat on Wetherby Place in South Kensington, a couple of blocks south of the Gloucester Road tube station and close to various shopping, dining, pubs, etc. It's no longer on VRBO but the general area, around Hereford Square, would meet your criteria. So would many others.

I suggest using Google Earth's "street view" feature to eyeball the surroundings of any place you identify through a search tool or recommendations. The neighborhoods suggested above would probably work well for you, and whatever Claudia recommends would certainly also be worth considering.

As mentioned before, Knotting Hill and Kensington are well located. The Kensington area is nice because of Hyde Park, Kensington Palace and the high street. I used to be there frequently but it has been a bit of time. There are several embassies in the area also so think because of that and the Palace that it is quite safe. I’m in my early 70’s and I wouldn’t hesitate to go out and about by myself. There is also Holland Park nearby.
Hampstead is lovely, but a bit of a distance from London proper, although you mention not minding the time spent to travel.

Thank you for the responses thus far. It warms my heart to see the community helping my mom have an amazing trip :)

I have stayed in the Gloucester Road station area and I would recommend it.

Another vote for Gloucester Rd station area in S Kensington. We stayed at the Strathmore Hotel in September 2022 and it was ideally located for us - with included breakfast.

You might look in Bloomsbury for a flat rental. It's where the British Museum is located. Make sure it's on one of the streets that's not a main thoroughfare. There should be quiet residential blocks that turn up in an Apartment search.
Your mom could walk a couple of blocks to the British Museum if she wanted.
There are restaurants, pubs and small grocery stores in this area, too.
Your tube station would be Russell Square; hopefully it would be a block or two from your flat.
I have found several flats in that area that were very nice and 2 to 3 blocks from Russell Square tube station.

The station is on the Piccadilly line which goes to Heathrow Airport.
Easy ride to Heathrow on your day of departure.

I am adding my thoughts as a traveller who is thinking of a trip to London in the future for the first time. I am in my early 60's. You may want to check out London Perfect Apartment Rentals as the ones around Kennsington look so clean and quaint. I have stayed twice at Paris Perfect Apartments, and they were wonderful! I found out about them in a Rick Steves guide to Paris.

I would also recommend the Gloucester Road area . On previous trips I've stayed in Earls Court and Waterloo , both nice. . This coming Autumn I'll be winding up a UK trip with two weeks in London at A Gloucester Road hotel ( As a point of reference , I'm 77 )

Gloucester Road area is convenient too. I used to walk to the Sainsbury market from the Copthorne Tara. That area also means close to the V and A Museum and Albert Hall. The tube lines there are so easy to navigate that it is easy to get to the main London sights-really anywhere.