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What area to stay in - or avoid?

We just decided to go to London for a week in July, so we have a lot of catching up to do.

I am looking at areas to stay in, and my eyes are bugging out. So I think I need to start with areas to "avoid." We live near San Francisco, so are trying to avoid the "Fisherman's Wharf" atmosphere. Same analogy for when we went to Venice - we want to avoid the St. Mark's Square area atmosphere. Some people love this - but it's not for us.

We will be travelling with our three teenage daughters.

Any help is appreciated - I will be using this forum a lot in the next few weeks or so!

Posted by
16420 posts

Avoid Central London if you want to avoid the busier areas.

I like the South Kensington and Earl's Court areas. They are more residential, have plenty of hotels and only about 15 minutes by tube to the center of town. I spend a lot of time in London and have rarely ventured from these neighborhoods.

Be aware, many of the older, more boutique hotels have smaller rooms and if you are trying to get a triple for your daughters the rooms can be small.

Others will tell you about areas north of Hyde park but since I have never stayed there, I will defer to them. Some will suggest the area around "Victoria Station" because that is a "Rick Approved" area but it is very busy and there is a lot of construction.

Posted by
2805 posts

South Kensington and Bayswater are both great area. The Rhodes Hotel, 195 Sussex Gardens is a lovely hotel has a family room that sleeps 5, and a short walk to Hyde Park. The London Elizabeth is also a lovely hotel it's across the street from Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park, around the corner from a great pub, The Swan. It's a 2 minute walk from Lancaster Gate Tube Station. Lancaster Gate is closed now to replace the two lifts, to reopen the first of July, if by chance it isn't its only a 8 minute walk to Paddington Tube Station.

Posted by
5237 posts

Despite the crowds, places such as Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and such, are like Fisherman's Warf in that one should at least "pop in", however briefly. Then one can at least say "been there -- did that -- don't need to do it again". If you go really early in the a.m. the crowds will not be as bad as later in the day.

Posted by
359 posts

We've been to London a few times and all but once stayed in Marylebone. So I can't do a compare & contrast for you but I can tell you why I like Marylebone.

  • It's busy during the day but off the main streets it's quiet traffic-wise at night. Peaceful sleeping.
  • Plenty of shops to stock your flat if you've gone that route
  • Plenty of small places to grab coffee and a quick bite for breakfast or lunch
  • Easy walking to several tube stations on a few different lines
  • Enough restaurants that if you don't want to go far for dinner you don't have to
  • Pubs (tho that's true everywhere really)

We've found the area bounded by Wigmore St to the south, Marylebone Rd to the north, Seymour Place to the west and Great Portland Rd to the east to be the section we always gravitate towards for accommodations.

Posted by
28249 posts

Rats. "Marylebone" is one I've always wondered about. Sorry to learn there isn't a single, accepted answer.

Posted by
1394 posts

Check for an apartment. We stayed in London Southwark (I only know how to pronounce that because they say it loud in the tube) and enjoyed it.

Posted by
34010 posts

suth-uck where the uck is a cross between uck and ick. Others will disagree probs

Posted by
173 posts

Thank you!! My plan at the moment is to start with VRBO and get an apartment, followed closely by a B & B with two rooms. There is no way we can all stay in one room - my kids are 16, 18 and 20. Not sure if my 20 year old can even go because of work, but this may be our last trip together, so I am pushing for it! And the "No Times Square" analogy is just as great! Some people love it - but not me. I will start my research from here, and am sure I will ask more questions. Thanks!