Overlooking London Neighborhoods for Lodging?

We like the South Kensington area near the Gloucester Road tube. It is easy to get to the London sights by tube, and it is walkable to several museums, the Victoria and Albert museum and the Natural History museum. We have walked to Kensington Gardens and Harrods from this location also. We especially like the Bailey’s Kensington hotel and the Hereford Arms Pub. There are grocery stores and bakeries nearby also.

Kensington, Bloomsbury and Soho are all very good options (although Soho is very noisy with nightlife).

I mean, Soho is slapbang in the centre of London just above Chinatown, between Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street. Bloomsbury is nicely situated between the West End and the City (as is neighbouring Holborn) - the British Museum is right there!

South Kensington, around Gloucester Road tube, is a really popular location.

I don’t think Chelsea is quite as good in public transport terms.

But the point is, from Paddington in the west to Tower Bridge in the east, from Euston Road in the north to just immediately south of the Thames, you’re in central London and nothing will be far away. The “main” tourist attractions are spread all over this area so nowhere is close to everything, but public transport is really good.

I stayed Hotel 63 on Bayswater Road right across from Kensington Gardens. Heard about it from Forum.

Small, historic, quaint.

Close to excellent public transportation. Very good walking.

Simple but decent breakfast . Good wi fi

https://hotel63.co.uk

We stayed in West Kensington/(South Kensington?) nearly equidistant from the Baron's Court and West Kensington stations. The Piccadilly Line and the District Line took almost everywhere we wanted to go. Lots of food, shopping nearby. Pretty quiet.

Everything Kay said in her post. I recommend South Kensington near the Gloucester Road tube station. Lots of great hotels and great museums all around.
Gloucester Road tube station has several tube lines coming through, so you need only to hop on for transportation to nearly anywhere in London.

We always stay in the Bayswater or Paddington area. It's such a quick trip on the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line and we can get anywhere in town easily on the underground that goes thru Paddington Station.

We've stayed a couple of times at the Premier Inn Paddington Station which is about a 400 yard walk on the other side of Paddington Basin canal. It's very nice, and has a good bar/restaurant without having to go out. There are also a bunch of restaurants in and around the train station.

Most sights in London are spread out throughout the city. As long as you are near a decent tube station, you should have no problem getting anywhere.

Some used to say that if you stayed within the Circle Line you'd be fine. You could even stretch that out a bit.

Thanks for all the responses thus far!

We have spent a lot of time on London over the past 20 years; it is one of our 2 favorite cites (the other is Venice) and we find it great for walking. The first 2 times we stayed at Sanctuary House Hotel in Westminster, close to Westminster Abbey and St. James Park. We like that , but since then, apart from the short 1-night stays near Paddington for convenience to Heathrow, we have preferred the South Bank/ London Bridge/ Tower Bridge/ City of London areas. We especially enjoy the proximity to the Thames pedestrian path on the south side, as it is great for walking east-west, especially if on the South Bank. From the City of London/St. Paula’s area, we wither cross the Millennium Pedestrian bridge to the south bank path, or hop on the No. 15 bus at the stop in front of St. Paul’s. This bus runs east-west between Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge/ Aldgate (and beyond).

Once at Trafalgar Square, to reach the museums just south of Hyde Park (around the Victoria and Albert, Science Museum, Natural History Museum), we enjoy the walk through beautiful mast. James Park, green and grassy Green Park, and Hyde Park.

For moving north-south from the river, if we don’t care to walk, we find a bus. This map shows the main bus routes between the main sites:

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf

Or often we will treat ourselves to a riverboat ride to a further destination:

https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/route-map

Note that I haven’t mentioned the Tube, as I do not care to ride the underground trains. Too noisy, unfriendly, and you don’t see anything.

Lola is, of course, right....you see a lot more of London using the city buses and the Uber/Thames Clipper boats for transportation.

Lola, thanks so much for the bus map!
Are we able to tap on/off with credit card on London busses as we are able to do on Underground?

Are we able to tap on/off with credit card on London busses as we are able to do on Underground?

You tap on, but don’t tap off as it’s a set price.

then map linked by Lola is a helpful one, but a far cry from the far superior and therefore discontinued Central London Bus Map from the same source.

Just be aware that the linked map is just the tip of the iceberg. Some of my go-to bus routes are missing, such as 1, 19, 38, 13.

Best these days is to get a collection of what they call "spider maps" which show all the stops and bus routes in the immediate vicinity of a major area, such as Kings Cross, Green Park, Trafalgar Square, etc., and then work out where they overlap.

Bit of a faff, but fairly comprehensive. Use that in conjunction with the TfL Journey Planner which is usually fairly accurate, and the link from Lola and understand that the route given may not match that because of the missed out routes...

The Locke at Broken Wharf has been mentioned by many on this site, with excellent reason. It's very proximate to London Bridge, the Tower of London and Borough Market on foot, and to all of London by tube via Blackfriars Station. It's as good a headquarters for visiting London as I can think of.

The London Visitors' Map published by Bensons Mapguides published 2023 that I bought from Amazon last month has a 10 x 6 inch section titled Visitors' Bus Routes and Travel Information . It does show 19, 38 and 13, but despite searching using a magnifying glass I cannot seem to find #1!

Re: Locke
Initially only my DH and I were planning on spending time in London before heading to Southampton for our cruise and Broken Wharf was high on my list! But then three of the five other couples with us on the cruise decided to join us in London for those three nights. I will revisit Locke! (Luckily, my co-conspirator and I are trusted by the others to choose where we stay.)

Route 1 runs from Canada Water to The Royal Free Hospital (Hampstead Heath) via Elephant and Castle, Waterloo, Holborn, Russell Square, Euston, Camden Town and Chalk Farm.

On your 2023 map it's northern terminus will be shown as Tottenham Court Road- it was re-routed part replacing the now defunct #168 to Hampstead Heath on 30 September that year.

Like many London bus routes it has a fascinating history, being #1 because it was one of the first motor bus routes in London in 1908- motor buses gradually took over from the former Horse Bus Routes in the opening years of the twentieth century- most of those had no number, just destination. The number was only introduced in 1934 when the London Passenger Transport Board (very, very broadly the modern day TfL) came into being.

Over the years both termini have been changed very many times.

Number 1 is a seriously cool route starting up Belsize Park way near Hampstead, down through Chalk Farm and Camden Town, past Mornington Crescent of the game with the eponymous name on the radio show "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" with its curious rules and variations, past the east side of Euston Station, and straight south to Waterloo via Russell Square, Holborn and the Aldwych, crossing the River on Waterloo Bridge, and then via several south of the river places of interest before running out of steam at Canada Water. So it ties together many of the town's top attractions.

Between Euston and Waterloo it shares the route with the equally excellent number 68 which originates at Euston bus station.

EDIT - I find it interesting how two fairly knowledgeable users of London buses can describe the same route differently - what is important to them. We were both writing at the same time.

to pick up on a point made by Stuart just above - TfL changes the routes, termini, even existence of bus routes so often that any printed material is often out of date before it hits the streets.

The last couple of years it has been horrible. I used to know all the main routes, and hop on and off them like jumping beans, and then they threw all the cards and the card table up in the air and shortened and dropped and changed so much I couldn't keep up. Now I have to use the infernal TfL planner to get even a clue.

Nevertheless, there is still the number 1, and the venerable number 11 (or what remains of it). The 77a that I grew up on is no more, and I don't think the 109 is around anymore either.

That's why I wish they would bring back the Central London Bus Guide (and its 4 peripheral ones to make the set), online again even if never again in print.

Trivia point number however many - I ought to know the southeastern end of the number 1 - my great grandfather was a tram driver out of the Bermondsey depot, having walked from Birmingham looking for work.

Then again, Bermondsey has changed.

I love just riding London buses almost at random. I really like the 453 from Marylebone, which goes down Regent Street, Trafalgar Square and past the Houses of Parliament.

(It then goes past Waterloo and the Imperial War Museum and does a long haul to Deptford, which is considerably less attractive although fascinating - I hopped on the DLR at Deptford.)

If London bus route numbers confuse even some Londoners, we shall have much fun trying to figure out which line to take to where! We may end up in some very interesting locations!
Riding above ground vs under ground will be our preferred method of transportation in London thanks to all your endorsements.

Our preferred neighborhood has been the one just north of Soho, Fitzrovia. It has fantastic dining opportunities, has its share of Underground stations and bus stops, entertainment venues, and is a fairly short walk to the British Museum. We’ve stayed at the 122 Great Titchfield B&B … the name is also the address.

In Spring of this year, we made use of the bus system for the first time, and it worked, and provided a much more scenic view (except during downpour storms), but was kind-of slow. Bicycles constantly passed the buses, which were making continual stops for passengers, and were also dealing with traffic and being a large vehicle. That particular time, we were staying south of London, beyond the Brixton station for the Underground, caring for a friend’s cats, so the Tube wasn’t an option, without lots of walking first (or pedaling)!

A few notes from my bus-riding experiences:
- Buses are SO much cheaper than the Tube. And your ticket’s good for a hour, if you change to another bus, or are doing a quick out-and-back trip.
- But time is money, and buses are slowww. But then, moving around the Underground, changing trains, and getting to/from stations takes time, too.
- There are a few rows of seats at the back end of the lower floor on the double-decker buses. These were usually full, but were often offered to a woman who qualifies for senior discount rates at sights. Having a suitcase meant staying on the lower level.
- The Tap-to-Pay device was right by the driver, right as you get on, past the enter-only door at the front left-corner of the bus. The double doors in the middle of the bus are exit only. Although I thought I remembered that you could also pay in cash, posters below corrected me, and cash is no longer an option.
- There’s a space on the lower level for wheelchairs, baby carriages, and standing passengers, depending on how much room is being used by each. Not the ideal place, unless it’s your only option, or you’re not riding much farther.
- If you choose to climb the staircase to the upper floor, use the handrail. The bus will likely be taking off before you get to the top of the stairs. Then find a seat promptly.
- No standing on the upper level!
- Passengers already sitting up top will likely be spread out, one to a seat. You’ll need to slide in next to somebody, if there’s not an open seat. A couple will likely have to split up and sit in different seats, when that’s the case.
- If there are younger (late teens/early 20’s) blokes up top, many will use the “man spread” technique, spreading their knees as far apart as possible, to take up as much space in the seat as they can, to discourage anybody from trying to sit next to them. This happens on the Tube, too, but seemingly not as often.
- Some bus seats have charging ports for your mobile phone cord!
- At the very front of the upper deck, those seats provide a clear view ahead, but they seem to be very coveted. If you’re in front, there’s a ledge to put a bag up in front of you, but watch so it doesn’t slide or fall over in your lap.
- Don’t be surprised if the bus suddenly stops, the driver gets out, and is replaced by another driver.
- Also don’t be surprised if there’s an announcement that the bus is pulling over and not going any farther, and that everybody has to get out, and then figure out whether to wait for another bus, or start walking, or … This happened to us a number of times.
- One evening, a guy on the lower level started yelling obscenities, and giving the driver a very hard time. This continued for maybe 10 minutes. Eventually, the bus pulled over at a stop, and the offender was removed. I don’t know if he was taken into custody, or to someplace to sober up, or what, but it was unnerving.

Good summation of the bus experience Cyn. There's no option to pay in cash on the bus though. Tap a card as you get on.

You can pay the driver with cash, but it holds up the people getting on behind you.

It's years since cash has been accepted on London buses- it is either Oyster or contactless. For a time after cash payments were stopped automatic ticket machines were introduced at key stops but they were short lived and have all gone now.

OK, I thought we’d pulled out a couple of pounds once or twice, but mostly used Oyster or VISA cards. I stand corrected - buses are yet another aspect of London life that’s now cashless.

I wonder whether buskers in the squares and passageways are accepting electronic tips now, or if their kitty is still where change and bills can go?

Yes, many buskers will have a card machine, usually with a set amount, that you can tap. You need to apply for a permit in London and there's set pitches [edit: spots that you are allowed to busk in, not musical pitches, like C#] that are allocated by the councils.

Hmmm. Apparently the hat or open guitar case for dropping in some appreciative money is going the same way as horse-drawn cabs and omnibuses from long ago. Times continue to be a-changin’.

London is walkable, though, with numerous, helpful map signs placed for walkers to find sights within 5 or 10 minutes on foot. There will be “main London sights” reachable from any of the neighborhoods mentioned above.

I'm being tickled by my idea of councils allocating a musical pitch. You'd need twelve buskers to have any sort of repertoire. The idea of groups of seven buskers only playing songs in C Major amuses me.

sort of like handbells? 12 elves behind with rubber hammers to tap the heads of the desired notes? Oh and a conductor?

So we are up to 25 buskers (26 if you count the one with the camera phone).. 2 cricket teams and a 5 a side?

Yes! That sounds quite festive :)