London Neighborhoods - Trying to decide where to stay!

Plenty of opinions on this forum. Kensington is a decent sized area. We always stay by the Gloucester tube stop. It is considered South Kensington. We like that there are plenty of hotels in the area, is easy to get to from Heathrow, and has three tube lines going through it making it easy to get to anyplace.

It probably comes down to what you want to do with most of your time while you’re in London. I like Bloomsbury and Soho because they’re near the music clubs and entertainment in the West End along with The British museum, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and a dozen other attractions. It’s easy to walk everywhere or get on the Tube’s Circle Line to help get you there.

I vote for Notting Hill, a nice "retreat" from the hustle and bustle of those other neighborhoods, but at no loss of easy access to all the sights. Great pubs, ethnic restaurants galore on Queensway, and plenty of nightlife if you seek that, too.

Between the 2 you listed, I would pick Kensington, but you need to narrow that down a bit as Kensington is large and changes from block to block. Close by and "nicer" is Chelsea, in the south end of Kensington, more like Notting Hill in most respects I noted earlier.

I have stayed in the Victoria station area for all my trips to London. It is convenient to everything and have not had a downside. (haven't stayed in Kensington). If you are traveling there from Heathrow, change train lines at Hammersmith. The two train lines are steps apart. (not stairs, etc.)

As you can see, there are varying opinions on where to stay.

Kensington is a nice area. (You are asking about Kensington and not South Kensington?) More residential that touristy.

Victoria Station is more towards the center of the action.

Either is fine depending on what you are looking for.

I would opt for Kensington as the area around Victoria Station is too noisy and busy, although it does have good transport links.

I would focus on how close the place is to a bus stop or tube station. Anywhere in Zone 1 is going to be handy for some of London’s sights, but you are going to have to move around, as they are widely spread.

Not a question you asked, but I prefer the Marylebone area. Presumably RS doesn’t recommend it, as I see it mentioned few times on this forum.

On MNT recently, Lisa Friend and Cameron Hewitt talked about Bayswater because it has two different tube line choices pretty close together.

If you opt for the Victoria Station area, depending on where your hotel is taking the National Express coach in from Heathrow may be the easiest choice. I like the Lime Tree on Ebury St and it is literally around the corner from the coach station.