Once a cornucopia of sex shops and rock 'n' roll, Soho maintains pockets of hedonism, but overall is more family-friendly these days, with shops, restaurants and theatres in abundance . Those were: Stay in Central London; Take public transportation; and Walk, walk, and then walk more. Get single origin coffees prepared as either espresso or filter from friendly baristas., Hawkes Cidery: We loved this place. Where To Stay In London: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide This London city guide includes the best areas for first-time visitors, families and couples. Some basic tips to avoid being pick-pocketed: 1. We prefer a queen or king bed but have heard that some hotels mean a queen when listed as a double. You are downtown, and you have everything around you, including the famous British Museum (which I recommend; it takes at least 3 hours to visit). Windsor. Set in a 19th century West London townhouse, the hotel combines grand decor with a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of corners to cozy up in. The Apple Market & Jubilee Market: Right next door to each other, these are two cool covered markets right in the heart of Covent Garden. Wander around a museum, picnic in the park or shop til you drop theres plenty to do. Houses | Soho House Aside from its eco-friendly efforts and the super cool dcor the property also offers fascinating history and design of the building. We are funded by grants, partners and our portfolio of venture . First, Matt has Celiac Disease and needs to eat strictly gluten free, which means having access to a kitchen is almost essential (although London is packed full of amazing gluten free food, which you can read about in our gluten free guide to London). Required fields are marked *. . Book great Accommodation Streets such as Old Compton Street and Wardour Street were the original destinations for gay nightlife and so many clubs are now aimed at gay culture including the famous G-A-Y. "@type": "ImageObject", "@context": "http://schema.org", What are your thoughts? Sticking to Central London for a first-time visit makes it easy to get to know the transport links and move around the city quickly and painlessly. Chinatown is famous for its delicious food, so be sure to try some of the local . So, I think it is a good idea that you will go downtown. Top 10 Water Park Resorts in Phoenix & Scottsdale, 11 Best Extended Stay Hotels in Las Vegas, Top 9 Harry Potter Tours in the United Kingdom, 15 Real-Life Castles in Scotland You Can Book on Airbnb, There Are 10 Islands in Scotland Everyone Should Visit, 14 Best All-Inclusive Hotels in the Mediterranean, 12 Best Four Seasons Resorts Around the World, 10 Best Hotels Near Petco Park in San Diego, CA, 9 Water Parks in the Wisconsin Dells Your Kids Will Love, 11 Best Hotels Near Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Next June 2022 I will be returning to London since my first time in 1991. Like many cities, the further out of the center you stay, the less youll pay so areas such as: However if youre keen on staying in Zone 1-2, we recommend some options below: I also have a few on my own recommendations. Its on Sundays 8:00 am to 2:00 pm., All the bars: Theres an endless number of hip cocktail bars in Shoreditch and around it, as you might expect. The area is home to some of the city's top attractions including Kensington Palace. We liked One New Change, which is probably the most famous of the bunch because of the excellent view of St. Pauls Cathedral. An insiders guide 2023, Where to eat in London? For the even more curious, here is another fun guide to 37 unique experiences in London. Get Why Stay Here: The area offers tourists variety, from markets to historic landmarks. Possibly the tourist spot of all tourist spots, the cluster of a few hundred shops sees around 500 thousand visitors every day. Where to Stay in London for FIRST VISIT? 9 Safe Areas 2023 (+ full Map) Where to stay and recommendations for things to do? Spend time walking in the footsteps of greats such as Jimi Hendrix and Elizabeth Taylor. Foodies wont want to miss a visit to a market and whilst there are plenty to choose from nothing quite beats Borough Market. Including four nights at the CitizenM Bankside to kick off our trip to London. These are popular and safe neighborhoods for tourist that offer a wide variety of attractions and amenities. Were not sure weve ever seen a higher concentration of vintage stores than we saw in Shoreditch. And if youre up for fun and adventure then you should look forward to their organized pub on-site and regular gigs of live music. Notting Hill - The best area to stay in London for couples. So we want to find you a nice place close to Paddington. We'd recommend staying somewhere relatively central if you've either got a short trip (four days or less) or it's your first time in London. The experience at all of their hotels has been remarkably similar almost like they designed it that way and everything from check-in to check-out is seamless and well thought out in a way we didnt think was possible for hotels. It includes sub-neighborhoods like Covent Garden, Holborn, and Soho. 14 Places to eat in London like a KING, 37 Unique Experiences in London in 2023 Labyrinths, Virtual Reality and HotTugs, The London EDITION directly at Booking.com here. If you are visiting London to do a bit of sightseeing, you will definitely want to find a hotel in the South Bank neighborhood. Thank you, Fitzrovia borders over into both Camden and Westminster, but still offers its own allure. Second, we like experiencing different sides of a city, and staying in a couple of different places gave us the opportunity to do just that. Paradox Coffee: One of my favorites, this tiny coffee shop has a wide array of beans from roasters in the UK and in Europe. Are you traveling around Europe? We plan (and pay for) all of our own travels, and we use our first hand knowledge to write detailed travel guides to the places we love to help YOU plan an amazing trip. "dateModified": "2023-05-25", Suitable for both long and short stay, the Wilde Aparthotel is perfect for groups located in the center of Covent Garden. Please help me decide. 1. Within a few minutes of the family favorite Natural History Museum and Science Museum, The Ampersand Hotel has a large selection of family rooms that include: The hotel also offers discounted family menus including a kids Sci-Fi (science) afternoon tea! Its also the place to be in London if you want to do some shopping, with all sorts of global brands vying for attention along the vast majority of streets in the West End. Check out our guide to the best 16 Travel Websites for Europe. If you prefer a more intimate room here are the hotels I suggest. They offer high-quality walking tours with exceptional guides. Why Stay Here:The district is a food lovers paradise. You can walk from here to Broadway Market too.. Where to stay: The no-brainer here is The Houstonian, a hotel, club, and spa sitting on 27 wooded acres and offering opulent accommodations, a resort pool area, four onsite restaurants, designer . Looking for something convenient and easy to move around the main city sights? We most recently lived in San Francisco, which is miniscule in comparison.. Officially re-opened by its patron . Top Hotels:The London EDITION | Charlotte Street Hotel | The Mandrake Hotel. We like that theyve completely abolished disposable takeaway cups, so get your coffee to drink there, or invest 5 in a reusable takeaway cup (which you get back when you return it). Rosslyn Coffee: One of my favorite coffee shops in London, Rosslyn is the product of an Irishman and an Australians vision for a coffee-shop-meets-Irish-pub. 3. Cheers! Traveling solo does not mean feeling solo. Rooms come with skyline panoramas (book an iconic view room for the famous bathtub view) whilst the 52nd floor Gong Bar and infinity pool are not to be missed. Carnaby Street. Your email address will not be published. The only legal graffiti in London is Leake Street, a tunnel running under Waterloo Station which is an ever-changing canvas. You wont have a phone, a safe, or a minibar in the room (which means no fridge). Weve seen that story in cities that weve lived in, like the Mission District in San Francisco, or Capitol Hill in Seattle. You can also pay for travel in London with a contact-less card so there is no need to buy an Oyster card or travel card which can often be more expensive. Shop the extensive offerings of markets and boutiques, where youll find classic food and fashionable souvenirs. 1. The Perfect 4 Day London Itinerary for First Timers (2023) In addition, the First Duke of Wellington and Admiral Horatio Nelson (famous for outwitting Napoleon multiple times, among other naval adventures) are also buried in the crypt. Everything is done through screens in the lobby (though a helpful staff member will be right there to help iron out any issues or answer any questions), and you even get to select what side of the building and floor you want your room to be on. Well, its very modern and, for lack of a better word, techy. I know that two days is very limited so we would like to make the most of it. The downside here is twofold. End the first of your 4 days in London with a view of the London skyline from The Shard. I would go with The Limited Edition, for basically three reasons: Before we jump into the specific places to stay in London, we have a few general thoughts on choosing a place to stay. Here youll find famous graffiti from the likes of Banksy, vintage shopping, quirky cafes and boutique stores. Forest City to host 2024 OFSAA Track and Field Championships - iHeartRadio Theres an excellent selection of food and drinks (we like Guasa for arepas and Chai Guys for chai), and its worth spending some time wandering through the stalls you never know what you might stumble across! Then you can walk at night around The London Eye and you can east at the Borough Market, one of my favorite places. If you want to experience a different side of London, this is a great place to stay. However, the transport to the Airport London LHR can be tricky and time-consuming. Put locks on your zippers. Self-service breakfast, a help-yourself kitchen and courtyard garden make you feel right at home. Vrbo is the best alternative to Airbnb for renting apartments. It makes the most sense to start this guide with our own experience staying in London. We have an entire, super detailed guide dedicated to deciding where to stay in London, but here is the short version. Nestled along the Thames, Southbank is the heart of London's cultural and creative scene. Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up. By Alex Ritman U.K. Great accommodations can be had at reasonable prices, although, there are a few luxury hotels with private rooms and elegant rooms that are in the mix with fantastic amenities. Whats not to love? They have two other locations in London one near the Tower of London, and one in Shoreditch which would also be good options in slightly different neighborhoods. Shoreditch: Coolest Place to Stay in London 5. And theres a food market, which is very much our vibe. Alysha is a HUGE fan of chai, so we basically split our time between hunting for the best coffee in London, and sipping all the different chai we could get our hands on. The Walk from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge: This is worth an entire half day, because theres so much to do and see along the way. The safest places to stay in London are predominantly the more affluent areas: Of course these are also the more expensive areas and busy neighborhoods in North and East London are also safe to stay in. Whilst theres endless things to do in central London, we highly recommend going east to explore Shoreditch, the hip and happening neighborhood of London. Most areas of the city have a handful of impressive hotels but youll more likely find traditional luxury in the following districts: This map shows you the areas, recommended for the luxury traveler: Luxury in London means not only a stunning hotel but many services that will make you feel great. The cozy rooms are super stylish and excellent value. Named for the literal May Fair that took place yearly from the 1600s to the 1700s, the now highly ritzy part of London attracts those seeking luxury and high-end shopping. Expect an unparalleled heavenly experience when staying in luxury hotels along streets like Piccadilly, or dining at any of the lavish restaurants such as Michelin acknowledged Jamavar. The Prince of Wales is a multi-floor club with a terrace month perfect for summer nights. If you want to know more about its history and gentrification, read this.. The room comes with some free supplies in the fridge. It is easy, cheap and fast. You will notice some areas are excluded or added to the previous recommendation depending on what kind of traveler you are. The National Portrait Gallery is also here, which is free to visit. I would go with The Limited Edition, for basically three reasons: Just in case you are still not convinced, The London Edition is home as well to a Michelin starred restaurant and 2 fantastic cocktail bars. We are traveling next July and it is just the two of us. We chose to do that for two reasons. Brighton Beach House. Where to Stay in Houston: Coolest Neighborhoods in Houston - Thrillist Broadway Market is our number one highlight here, but there are some other spots that are absolutely worth checking out. "I made 'Titanic' because I wanted to dive to the shipwreck . Your Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing sounds absolutely amazing, enjoy it! Watch a historic show at Shakespeares Globe Theatre, then dine on British eats at their waterside cafe, Swan. 5. To make matters worse, globalization led to the relocation of many of the factories in the area. If you missed us waxing poetic about CitizenM in the Southbank section above, go read that for why CitizenM is our all time favorite hotel chain in the world. Have a cocktail at The Last Tuesday Society, a museum/bar in Hackney complete with the strangest collection of curiosities including a lion in a top hat and two-headed lamb. Its definitely residential, and we walked by several different schools around pick up or dropoff time, when hundreds of parents were picking up kids from school (side note: is there anything cuter than a young kid with a British accent?). { The attention to every detail is impeccable: from common areas designed for lingering, to RikRak linen spray to support restful sleep. Second of all, its easy to get to basically every part of Central London, and there are plenty of amazing places to visit within the neighborhood (looking at you, Borough Market). ), which means youre both within walking distance of most of Westminster and the West End, and can easily hop on the Tube to get elsewhere. Lets start with the obvious, Camden Market. So Im back to square one. We share here our top 10 sights not to miss! Breaking from the mold of traditional hotels, CitizenM reimagined what the word hotel really means, and the definition they came up with takes everything we think of when we think of chain hotels aging rooms (with iPod docks), ironing boards, unhelpful staff and turns it on its head. It can also be done at sunset and twilight for a twinkling climb. This could be anything from Big Ben to London Eye, Tower of London or British Museum. As well as seasonal shows, all-time favorites are: For a truly British experience, drink tea and eat cake at one of Londons best afternoon teas. Its a great place to dive into the world of English cider, and they have a few guest taps in addition to their own ciders on draft to bring in some other companies doing fun things with apples and pears..