Hello, I will be visiting London in Late August 2015 with my two daughters (17 and 18), looking for suggestions on which neighborhood to stay. Priorities are, safety, not too far from central London, and good pubs/ restaurants. I haven't decided if we will be in hotel or renting an apartment but I would like to narrow down a neighborhood. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you!
Tina
These neighborhoods are handy to your likely sightseeing activities:
Victoria Station
South Kensington
Bayswater
Notting Hill
Paddington Station
I stayed on the South Bank (Lambeth) in September and was very happy with the location. This is hear the London Eye. If you stay near the river it's a short walk across a bridge into central London. It was convenient to the tube for places a bit further away.
Looking at your daughters' ages, I would second Notting Hill. It's a very young, hip area. Beautiful but not stuffy. Ever-so-slightly bohemian with trendy shops and restaurants, and a good vibe.
Another interesting neighborhood to look at might be Shoreditch. It's quite gritty looking, but it's full of great people on the younger side, lots of small business start-ups, and a vibrant art scene. The area is known for it's colorful graffiti and public art pieces. Very cool area.
Thank you all for your input. I will start researching the listed neighborhoods!
On or around 'The Strand' is a great central location. It runs from Trafalgar Square, past Covent Garden towards St. Pauls, and is walking distance to all the most popular stuff. As long as you keep it West Central London, you'll be fine. Basically East/West, from Tower Bridge to Notting Hill , and North/South, Oxford Street to the River Thames is all just fine. Safe, clean and exciting! The South Bank is amazing, but go North from there, not South.
Another vote for Bayswater. Close to Paddington Station. Can walk to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. 2 Tube stops to choose from. Major bus routes on Bayswater and Westbourne Roads. Sweet neighborhood Pub, the Prince Edward which is two blocks from the Vancouver Studio apartments. There's even a mall and depending on where your accommodation might be in the area you could walk to Portobello Market. Neighborhood is diverse, safe, good pubs, cafes, restaurants and good transport.
I also recommend Bayswater. It's a great central neighborhood and its proximity to more than one Tube line could save you a lot of time. Tube stations and even entire lines are shut down on a regular basis for "planned engineering" (maintenance and construction). If one station or line is closed, you can easily walk to another one. While you're in London, check the Transport for London website every morning before you leave your hotel or apartment to where the construction is. Then you can plan your route more efficiently.
I would recommend the Falcon Hotel(www.falcon-hotel.com) right near Paddington Station and close to plublic transportation.
Check out www.fancyapint.com for reviews on pubs.
Victoria/Belgravia area. My niece and I are staying at The Lynton Hotel...small, privately owned B&B, breakfast included. Within walking distance to Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben. Steps from the Victoria Station--underground, rail, tours. Pubs and restaurants!
