My friends and I will be in England the second half of April. The main focus of our trip is 8 days doing the Cotswold Way Walk and then a couple days in Bath. All three of us have been to London a handful of times each. We will only be staying for two nights with one full day before flying out. We'd like to stay in fun neighborhood that is perhaps a little more off the beaten path. We'd like to see a different part of London than the traditional big sights we've already done. Interested in good food, historical pubs, shopping, and unique smaller museums or art galleries. Budget is flexible but likely looking to stay in the mid range. Suggestions greatly appreciated!
Posted by
11606 posts
We love staying in Chelsea and Kensington but always rent places through London Perfect.com.
Posted by
Preston UK
1232 posts
Look to go east to one of the rapidly gentrifying areas around the likes of Dalston or Hackney. It will be a little grittier than the more obvious neighbourhoods but have a lot more energy and all sorts of interesting places to eat and drink.
Posted by
Austin, TX
2329 posts
I heard about Hotel 63 from a member of this forum. Has a very rich and interesting history
It is across the street from Kensington Gardens which I loved.
During my walks, I discovered one of the two Serpentine Galleries which is a small gallery / museum. There is a second one close by which I did not get to.
There are many good mom and pop restaurants close by and through an alley. An Italian restaurant was recommended by the staff but it was. closed and I ate at a very good sushi / Japanese retaurant. Had a delicious Bento Box.
I am not.a shopper but Hotel 63 is very. close to public transportation which can take you to shopping and "fun" areas. My friend and I took buses to the shopping areas and what you might call the fun areas.
I am 78 so for me watching nature is my idea of "fun".
Posted by
Bristol, UK
1453 posts
There are so many neighbourhoods in London that you choose from. It really is a series of villages. Do you want somewhere gritty and cool or more established? You won’t really find many museums and galleries in these residential neighbourhoods but there are plenty of bars and restaurants. They’re generally Victorian suburbs with a lot of terraced housing. Obviously London has grown a lot more now.
Posted by
MPLS, MN
402 posts
Two Ideas: We spent a few nights in the Spitalfields neighborhood. East end, artsy, trendy bars/pubs with a large Bangladeshi community. Spitalfields Market is interesting. You are still close to The City and easy to get wherever you want/need. My favorite place to stay is South Bank, near Tower Bridge in the Bermondsey neighborhood. I wouldn’t say it is off the beaten path but hanging out there before and after a day of sightseeing is enjoyable. Think younger crowd and locals vs. tourists.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17561 posts
You might take a look at Mardee’s post of a Condé Nast arrival about nice little neighborhood hotels, and the comments.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/the-cheapest-nicest-hotels-in-london
Spitalfields and Chiswick seem to be favored neighborhoods among those who responded.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33992 posts
there is a great deal of interesting things in and around Richmond, including a very large park complete with large herds of deer. Ham House is on the River Thames and while not exactly a museum it is a National Trust property with all that implies.
Also convenient to Heathrow.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1102 posts
How about staying near Primrose Hill or Camden Market area?
Posted by
London
1309 posts
With the exception of Kensington and Chelsea (sorry Suki!) all the suggestions above qualify as somewhat off the beaten path, in my opinion. All are worth researching to see if anywhere mentioned takes your fancy.
Places I'd add would be Islington and Hampstead.
Upper Street in Islington is one the best streets in London for choice of good places to eat and there's numerous characterful pubs. It's easy to reach central London on the tube from Angel Station or Highbury and Islington station and bus journeys to the west end are a very reasonable length.
Hampstead is one of the nicest areas in north London. It's really quite posh but the pop stars and movie stars that live there like to keep it a bit more low key than the billionaires in Kensington and Chelsea, which is decidedly more "bling". Again, historic and characterful pubs are the order of the day and there's a huge array of classy places to eat. Hampstead Heath is one of the best green spaces in London.
I live in Hackney and I like it a lot, but I'd hesitate to recommend it as a destination for someone who's interests include The Cotswolds and Bath. It's gentrified a lot, but may still come as a bit of a culture shock to some unaccustomed to life in inner London boroughs. It's true that there's lots to enjoy for the more adventurous though.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Richmond, Shoreditch, Hackney. Islington to name a few.