We’ll be arriving in London in early December for a weekend prior to taking a Christmas Market cruise. It will be our first time in London.
We are flying into Heathrow, and we’d like to use public transportation as much as we can. I’d love recommendations on where to stay that are convenient for walking to the biggest attractions. Would love to know what hotel RS uses for the Best of London tour. Thanks.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2559 posts
We stayed at the Washington Mayfair Hotel on my Best of the London tour in 2025. We would need to know which "biggest attractions" you're most interested in to know where to suggest you stay. There are so many attractions in London, and walking to them may not be practical. But the tube and buses are easy to use.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3655 posts
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9941 posts
Christmas at Kew is a not to be missed experience.
https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas
Posted by
Narberth, PA
1341 posts
The Best of London tour in December 2024 also stayed at the Washington Mayfair. I think it is a good location because it offers walkability and easy access to the tube, the Green Park station being the closest within a few easy blocks. The hotel itself is located in an area populated with lots of eateries to choose from, and coffee shops and an M&S express just across the street.
It offers fairly quick walkable access to greenery - the Green Park and Buckingham Palace areas, are just two. Heading east towards Piccadilly, the various shopping attractions/areas are super popular with international tourists, lots of them. The area is easy to walk, access the tube, or even hop a bus. I easily reached the hotel via the tube from Heathrow.
To decide if this is an area that could work for you, perhaps look at some maps, maybe a map in the RS London guidebook. Also, check out Transport for London's website to see maps and other resources that help travelers navigate the city. A big take-away of that tour for me was to become more comfortable with navigating the tube system.
All of that said, I have also enjoyed in the past the Premier Inn County Hall. This location is again easily walkable and reachable by transit. The County Hall, right by the London Eye, houses more than one hotel. Premier Inn is one and another is the Marriott (I believe, but have not looked recently).
As to staying for a weekend in December, there may be more experienced travelers who can weigh in here. I would say early December can get quite busy. Enjoy your research and London!
Posted by
Freedonia
18410 posts
London is spread out. Getting familiar with the tube will be very beneficial to your sightseeing as it is probably the most convnient way to get around.
The closer you stay to the center of London the more expensive it's going to be. And London is not a cheap place.
What is your budget for a hotel?