What’s your favorite London neighborhood?

Well, fifty years ago I lived in Notting Hill Gate (22 Pembridge Villas W11).
Back then, it was the Haight-Ashbury of London.
Quintessence (Island recording artists) lived just around the corner on Portobello Road.
I understand the area is now very "posh".
If you go, tell Mrs. Daly I said "Hello".
She will be 116 next Tuesday.
R.I.P.

We have stayed in Westminster, Barbican, Covent Garden at Cambridge Circus, and Mayfair. We liked each in a different way. Barbican was fun as shops and transportation were easy while we felt like we were in a residential area overall due to our apartment being a bit removed, sort of behind St. Bart's Hospital. Covent Garden is lively and convenient but one must be careful to get a place with sound-proofing (which we did). Mayfair is a bit posh but was also very convenient to shops and transport.

What works for me might not work for you. I like the Belgravia neighborhood near the Victoria Coach Station. It's an easy ride in on the National Express coach from Heathrow. I can walk to lots of the things that interest me - or walk there and tube home. There are a variety of restaurants that I enjoy. The street I stay on is not terribly busy at night so even if I wind up with a front facing room my sleep is not disturbed.

I should clarify I’m asking for neighborhood / areas to spend time in and explore. Not necessarily a base but if it’s good for that, that’s great too. Just curious where you enjoy spending time.

Not a neighborhood I would stay in but the area around St Bartholomew the Great is fun to explore. The church is worth a visit to see where several movies were filmed. This part of London seems to be tourist free and quiet and quaint--if you need a break from Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, this is the perfect respite.

Hi Julie,

My favorite neighborhood to stay in is in South Kensington. I have stayed near Victoria Station, Soho, and near Westminster, but I have always felt safe and comfortable traveling alone (even late at night) in South Kensington.

My favorite area to spend time is South Bank. I never tire of the Tate museum, Boroughs market, and taking the walk across the Golden Jubilee bridge and then ending walking across the tower bridge. The other area that I love to wander is Kensington. I love the V&A museum and then strolling through the neighborhood.

Sandy

As a neigbourhood, Marylebone. It's a wonderful area to walk around in with good pubs and excellent, although expensive restaurants. London Walks has a walking tour and the Beatles In My Life walk takes place mostly in Marylebone.

But, I usually end up staying in Leicester Square or Westminster for the convenience.

My favorite neighborhood in which to spend time is the whole of South Bank. I have stayed all over London but always feel most at home here. I can't really put a particular reason to it, just a feeling of belonging. That said, I also like Greenwich, Chelsea, Belgravia, the City, Westminster and a new one for me is Docklands. Luckily, the public transportation in London makes nearly every neighborhood in London easily accessible and needless to say, there are still many for me to explore😊. I will return for..... ah, further research, next month!

I rather like Hampstead.

Nice little lane, fun hill, fun that it is the deepest Underground station, excellent National Trust Fenton House https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fenton-house-and-garden which has a fabulous collection of (mostly early and very early pianos and their ancestors) musical instruments (which can be played upon prior permission) in a great house with a great view from the roof, and an excellent garden (try the apple juice). Pretty neat history in Hampstead too, and then a walk down to Belsize Park or onto the Heath, or onto Primrose Hill, all of which give an outstanding distant view of The City and its landmarks.

Hi Julie, my vote for best neighborhood is Kensington. Nothing better than strolling on Kensington Church Street with its antique and book shops, down to High Street Kens, up to Kensington Palace through the park, over to Albert Hall and Memorial. Dale is right- Marlyebone is lovely too. Nigel: have you heard Ricky Gervais discuss Hamstead in his latest stand up? You can probably find the segment on You Tube. He talks about it being quite posh. :)

OK, I see what you are wanting now. I've enjoyed a couple of different walks thru neighborhoods with London Walks (www. walks.com ) as well as doing some self-guided walks. I was staying in South Kensington and this walk ended right beside my hotel so I walked it backwards (the route not me, lol!!) about halfway thru the route then headed to Kensington Gardens.

https://www.aladyinlondon.com/2017/04/self-guided-walk-kensington-london.html

I don't have any connection to this blog other than enjoying it but I do enjoy some of the walks she writes about.

I know many meander thru neighborhoods and area but that's not really my style. I do better if I've got a route and a goal, haha!

Notting Hill, Covent Garden, Kensington and Holland Park are all areas that are fun to walk around in.

Nottinghill ( love Portobello Market), Bayswater, Holland Park, Kensington, and over the years as gentrification has occurred have enjoyed walking from Kentish Town Tube Station to Camden Lock Market. As well as from Camden Lock Market along the canal path to St Johns Wood.

Love being able to walk into and Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens every morning as the city wakes up.

I agree that Kensington is a fantastic neighborhood to explore...you could spend a day or two there easily. Another very different neighborhood that I love walking around in is Shoreditch. It's covered in amazing graffiti, has many very small hipster stores tucked down alleys, and it's packed with great restaurants and bars. It's super young and quite the trendy place. I wouldn't stay there but I like walking around, taking pictures, and going into shops where I can't afford anything.

Southwark. Easy access to the London Bridge tube station and an easy walk to the Millenium Bridge. We've stayed there three times and plan to again next autumn. We love the Cathedral, Borough Market and the no frillsish neighborhood.

Another vote for Kensington. Nice walk-arounds, good pubs, easy Tube access, near other nice neighborhoods as well as the V&A Museum. We like to stay at Collingham Serviced Apartments.

Another vote for Hampstead. A real "village" feel up at the top of London -- and wonderful restaurants, pubs, etc. There is a FANTASTIC Japanese restaurant, Jin Kichi, up a bit to the east of the top of the high street. A cool looking pub (that I've only ever admired from outside while photographing) on Flask Walk, and the historic Holly Bush pub where the painters used to gather. I loved it even more after I did the (Saturday morning?) London walks visit. It's so human-sized feeling, the Victorian brick architecture, the old ticket windows in the tube station faced by fantastic old tiles, the old Hungarian pastry shop . . . .

sigh . . .

I like Chelsea. The beautiful historic townhomes lining the streets, Kings Road for shopping and dining, short walk to the Thames.