NEWS
Wondering Where to Stay in London for a Week? The 7 Best Spots
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” – this quote by 18th century literary figure Samuel Johnson is without a doubt right, if you ask us.
London is one of the world’s truly great cities, but knowing where to stay in London for a week can be a little over-facing when you’ve got such a wealth of beautiful and vibrant areas to choose from.
We’ve got you covered, though.
In this guide we’ll highlight our pick of the bunch, so you can make the most of England’s capital city, which teems with life, history, attractions and events. We’ve selected areas in the north, south, east and west of the city, all offering something different and within easy striking distance to the main tourist attractions, but also giving you a real authentic taste of local life and options to get away from the frenetic pace of Central London.
Join us as we explore the 7 coolest, nicest and best areas to stay in London.
1. Regent’s Park – Best Area to Stay in London
Regent’s Park is one of London’s most impressive Royal Parks, a 410-acre green space, in north-west London, sandwiched between the popular Camden Town, Marylebone and Fitzrovia. It’s one of the best places to stay in London and a perfect base to explore the city – with notable sites within walking distance, such as:
- Baker Street
- The Sherlock Holmes Museum
- Oxford Street
- Harrods
- London Zoo
- Madame Tussaud’s
- Lord’s Cricket Ground
- The bustling bars and eateries in Camden Town
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Well Connected
A 10-minute journey on the London Underground will take you directly into Central London, to the city’s most famous attractions, while you can escape the frenetic pace of the city centre with ease and enjoy the surroundings of one of London’s finest green lungs.
To the north-east of the park, you have one of the coolest places to stay in London, around the alternative and hipster Camden Town – an area covered in street art and full of music venues, tasty street food options and busy bars.
Great For Work and Leisure
The area is also in close proximity to Kings Cross and St. Pancras International, the major railway stations, which offer direct services to the north of England and Scotland, along with services from St. Pancras International to mainland Europe.
The area around the stations has undergone a lot of development in recent years and it’s now a hub for tech businesses in the capital, including companies such as Google. Staying around Regent’s Park is a good option for those who may be visiting the city on a business trip.
Meanwhile, the grand streets at the south end of the park, provide a glimpse into one of London’s most desirable postcodes – the area around Marylebone is one of the nicest places in London and there is plentiful supply of luxury accommodation, ideal for longer stays.
2. Maida Vale – A Peaceful Area That Offers Easy Access to Central London
Maida Vale, next to Paddington Station, is unquestionably one of the nicest areas to stay in London. It’s slightly further east than Regent’s Park, and just north of the city’s famous Hyde Park, which leads you up to famous sites, including Buckingham Palace, the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum, amongst a great many other top attractions.
Packed With Cultural History
Situated in the heart of Maida Vale are the world-famous Abbey Road Music Studios, most well-known for being where The Beatles recorded many of their top tracks in the 1960s. It’s here where you can find the iconic zebra crossing featured on The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover. The BBC also has its own recording studios in the area.
The quieter surrounding streets are perfect as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of Central London, yet still within only a 20-minute tube ride from the very heart of Central London and the major attractions along The Thames.
Wine, Dine and Have a Great Time
Just west of this area you have the famous Notting Hill, which has many top eateries and bars, as well as the Portobello Market – one of London’s best street markets, full of delicious food and gorgeous antiques. It also hosts its world-famous street carnival every August, which draws in many thousands of people to dance and revel in the streets.
Maida Vale is one of the best places to stay in London if you’re wanting to have a more peaceful break, but also be in close proximity to busier areas. Both Regent’s Park and Hyde Park are within striking distance for a morning run or stroll, and it’s also close to a number of major city hospitals, including St Mary’s and Wellington. So, in the unfortunate event that your trip is medically-related, you’re covered in that regard, too.
Fantastic Transport Links
The area is very well-connected, with good tube links to central London, and the major Paddington Railway Station offers direct services to other parts of the country. It’s also got a plentiful supply of luxury accommodation which is ideal for longer stays, such as our luxury Maida Vale apartments.
3. South Hampstead – Perfect for Working Trips
South Hampstead, in northwest London, is just one district further out from the centre than Maida Vale and offers a similarly relaxed atmosphere. Yet you’re still in close proximity to the northern end of Regent’s Park and only a short tube ride away from the energetic streets around Camden Town – a vibrant area with a ready supply of bars, restaurants and unbeatable live music venues.
Need Somewhere to Work?
The area around South Hampstead itself is largely residential, which offers a peaceful escape from the city’s bustling city centre – a good option if you’re visiting on business and need to have a quiet night after a hard day’s work, but there are still plenty of restaurant options on your doorstep and good transport links to the city’s business districts and financial centres.
Escape to the Outdoors
It’s one of the best places to stay in London if you also enjoy having green spaces nearby to your accommodation – Regent’s Park is to the south, while the impressive Hampstead Heath is to the north – a 790-acre historic woodland and meadow, which is a favourite with runners. The Heath is also on a hill, which provides wonderful views across London – some of the best in the capital.
Ideal for Sports and Music Fans
From South Hampstead, you can reach the top Central London attractions within 20 minutes, and you’re well-connected to major train stations throughout the capital. You’re also only 20 minutes away from Wembley Stadium, the closest out of our top 7, making it perfect if you’re visiting London for a sports match, major music event or conference.
There are few areas of London which are this well-connected, whilst still offering a level of escape from city life, thus making it one of the most appealing places to stay in London.
With an extensive supply of luxury accommodation, you’re guaranteed to find somewhere to act as the perfect ‘home away from home’ for the duration of your London stay.
4. Shoreditch – a Vibrant Hub for Culture and the Arts
Shoreditch is undoubtedly one of the most stylish places to stay in London; a creative hub nestled in the heart of the city, you’ll be harder-pressed to find buildings in Shoreditch without street art adorning them, than you will with.
This former industrial area in east London has changed dramatically over the past ten years and is now home to many art and design studios, along with start-up tech businesses, coffee roasteries, breweries, bars and top restaurants.
A Cultural Hotspot
Close by to Shoreditch, you have the famous Brick Lane, home to the country’s largest Bangladeshi community and offering a vast array of lovely curry houses, perfect for a meal out with family or friends. The area also has many popular markets selling antiques, vintage clothes and street food.
It’s one of the best places to stay in London if you’re visiting the city on business. The area is only a short tube ride south to the City of London, yet offers a completely different escape during the evening if the corporate scene isn’t your thing, with many fantastic places to eat and drink.
Embrace the Alternative
Unlike the three locations mentioned so far, Shoreditch doesn’t have a great array of green spaces at its disposal, and it’s certainly one of the busiest locations on our list, but if you want to soak up the abundance of creativity that the capital has to offer, and embrace London’s alternative side, then this is the spot for you.
The area is well connected to the Central London attractions, only a 20-to-30-minute Overground and tube ride into the heart of the city, and there are a number of major train stations nearby. The area has a wealth of luxury serviced apartments, so if you’re looking for that bolt hole to which you can retire at the end of a busy day – whether professionally or socially – then there’s something for you.
5. Southbank – Right by the River
The Southbank of the River Thames is one of the best places to stay in London if you want to be close to some of the city’s major attractions. It’s another creative heart in the city and home to a number of galleries, museums and excellent exhibition spaces.
The area, just opposite the Houses of Parliament, and situated by the major Waterloo Railway Station, is home to a number of top attractions including the London Eye, the National Theatre and the Tate Modern, to name just a few.
Stunning Views
The area offers wonderful views out across to the northern side of London and it has a long promenade which is full of bars, street food markets and is often bustling throughout the year with buskers and street performers.
Unlike our previous four locations, Southbank doesn’t offer the same level of escape that the others do and you’ll certainly feel that it’s a lot busier here, but it does offer a brief reprieve from the hectic Central London streets due to the river walkway, and there are a number of green spaces alongside the waterway.
Conduct Your Business Trip in Style
It is also one of the best places to stay in London if you’re visiting on business, as the area is in close proximity to both the City of London and the Houses of Parliament.
If you’re thinking about where to stay in London and don’t like travelling too far to major tourist attractions, then the Southbank area is a good option for you. It’s within walking distance to a number of top historic and tourist sites, and extremely well-connected to the northern Central heart of the capital by tube. The area also has direct train services to the south coast of England from Waterloo Station and good connections to other parts of the capital. Unsurprisingly, given its central location, there’s an abundance of excellent accommodation in Southbank, including these serviced apartments.
6. Greenwich – A Historical Haven
Greenwich, to the south-east of the River Thames, offers something completely different to our previous five locations and, although a fair distance out from the Central London tourist attractions, it’s certainly one of the most inviting places to stay in London.
Steeped in Maritime History
The area is famed for its maritime history and is home to the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and the historic masted ship – the Cutty Sark. It’s also home to the O2 Arena, which hosts many top music acts and sporting events throughout the year.
The riverside neighbourhood offers a decent escape from the busy Central London streets and the local Greenwich Park is one of the largest green spaces in the capital, with stunning views across to Canary Wharf and the northern side of the river.
Easy Access to London’s Financial District
It’s one of the best places to stay in London for business trips due to its close proximity to the major Canary Wharf business district – the DLR rail service takes only 15 minutes to the heart of the financial centre.
If you’re thinking about where to stay in London for a week and don’t want to be in the very busy centre of London, then this really is a good option for you. It’s worth noting, however, that Greenwich is about 30 minutes away by train and tube to some of the central attractions such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, something definitely worth bearing in mind if you were thinking of soaking up the tourist sites during your stay. There are some lovely accommodation options in the Greenwich area, including these apartments from The Square.
7. Battersea – Given a New Lease of Life
Battersea is another lovely waterside neighbourhood, but on the opposite side of London to Greenwich, in the south-west. The area is home to a Grade II listed former Power Station, which has undergone a major regeneration and opened in October 2022 as a luxury shopping centre, which also houses many restaurants, bars, cinemas and accommodation options.
Explore the West of London
Battersea is one of the nicest places to stay in London if you want to explore the western part of the city or have business to attend to in the area. It’s just over the river from the exclusive Chelsea and Belgravia neighbourhoods, whilst also being close to Fulham. The areas are amongst the most desirable in the city and Battersea is well-connected to them by tube.
A Beautiful Waterside Park
Battersea also has a large waterside park and many dining and drinking options in the surrounding area. Despite being a little further away than Southbank to many major tourist attractions, you can reach some of the city’s top sites within a 15-to-20 minute tube ride.
Its riverside setting also offers a welcome break from the hectic centre of the city and is a good place to stay in London for a week if you want to look south and explore the trendier areas of Brixton and Peckham. These in vogue hangouts feature many places to eat, drink and dance the night away. The area, particularly around the Battersea Power Station development, has a lot of top serviced apartment options, just like these.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it – our top 7 best places to stay in London for a week. We’ve provided options for you in the north, south, east and west of the city, incorporating options for all potential trip types, be it business, shopping, a week of tourism or any other type of trip to England’s wonderful capital.
London is a city that’s absolutely brimming with life; a leading business hub with world famous attractions, a rich and varied history, incredible dining and drinking options, top sporting and music events, as well as culture oozing out of each and every corner, London truly has it all. It even has a number of beautiful green spaces, which you wouldn’t necessarily associate with a country’s capital city!
We hope you enjoy your stay in London and that our “Best places to stay in London for a week” guide gives you all the tools you need to fully make the most of your visit.
