Where to Stay Your First Time in London? 8 Top Tips (From a Londoner)
The biggest question I get asked is: where to stay your first time in London? If you’ve never been here before, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start.
London is massive and there are endless places to stay.
Here I’ve compiled a list of my favorite neighborhoods that are central, beautiful, and a great place to stay for your first vacation in London.
As a longtime Londoner, these are exactly the places where I would stay my first time in London.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to trusted travel partners.
Visiting London for the First Time: Where is Everything?
Unlike big American cities, there’s no single ‘downtown’ in London where all the major attractions are.
London is so vast that several areas could be considered ‘downtown’ and the attractions are spread all over.
Where to stay your first time in London is a juggling act between budget, how far you’re willing to travel, and what you want to see.
London’s neighborhoods are called boroughs, and there are a whopping 32 of them, each with more neighborhoods inside of them.
But the easier way to categorize London as a visitor is by zones.
The London Underground (run by Transport for London, or TFL) operates in 9 zones, starting in Zone 1 (most central) and going out to Zone 9 (farthest out).
As a visitor, you probably want to stay in zones 1 or 2 to be closest to everything London tourism has to offer.
Best Area to Stay in London First Time Visitors
The beautiful things about London is that you can stay anywhere in Zone 1 or Zone 2 and be a short tube, bus ride, or walk away from pretty much anywhere you want to go. Below I’ve listed my absolute favorite neighborhoods in Zones 1 and 2 that will keep you close to the action without breaking the bank.
Any of these neighborhoods will have hotels or Airbnbs that are the right fit for you and your budget.
Where to Stay in London on a Budget?
Where should you stay your first time in London if your budget is limited? That’s easy. Just go a bit further out.
Now that you know how the zones work, you can figure out how far out you’re willing to stay. The further out you stay, the longer it will take to get to the places you want to see, but the more money you’ll save on accomodation.
If you’re traveling with kids or only have a short visit, try your best to stay in Zone 1 or 2.
Staying more central will mean more time in museums, more time in fantastic restaurants, more time seeing all of our lovely parks, and less hours spent on the train or tube with tired kiddos.
But if you have to, staying outside of these zones is totally doable!
1. Farringdon: Zone 1
Bordering the City of London, Farringdon is close to the ancient Roman center of London, while still having green spaces and lovely, quaint streets. If it’s your first time in London, Farringdon is a great spot to soak in the history and ambiance of this ancient city!
There are excellent transport links with both Farringdon and Barbican Stations that can get you anywhere you want to go quickly.
In the center is Smithfield Market, a trading market hall for nearly 1,000 years, and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, the oldest continuously operating hospital in Europe. Make sure to visit The Charterhouse and walk over its giant plague pit.
What’s Nearby? (approximate distances in kilometers and miles)
- Smithfield Market
- The Charterhouse
- St. Paul’s Cathedral .75km, .4mi
- The British Museum, 1.4km, .8mi
- Covent Garden 1.7km, 1mi
- The Tower of London 2.3km, 1.4mi
2. Spitalfields: Zone 1
Spitalfields is centered around the newly-renovated Spitalfields Market, which has been trading since the 17th century. This massive new shopping centre features an excellent food hall, vintage and antique traders, produce, flowers, and high street shops. There are plenty of excellent hotels right in the center of this historic and creative center.
Spitalfields and neighboring Shoreditch are known for street art where you can spot a Banksy. This area is trendy and full excellent restaurants and bakeries, cool vintage shops, and has good transport links.
Plus, if you’re a weirdo like me (in the best way!), you’ll be close to where some of the most notorious unsolved murders in world history took place.
Nearby:
- Spitalfields Market
- Shoreditch, .3km, .18mi
- Leadenhall Market, .8km, .5mi
- Whitechapel, 1km, .6mi
- Tower of London, 1.2km, .75mi
3. Covent Garden: Zone 1
Covent Garden has a lot to offer: excellent shopping, the new bustling food hall Seven Dials, picturesque streets and alleys, and sits in the heart of the West End’s vibrant theatre district. But it’s also close to everything else you may want to see.
It can get a bit touristy and crowded, especially during school holidays, but Covent Garden is a classic central location you’ll never regret. If it’s your first time in London, staying in Covent Garden puts you right in the center of the action.
Don’t miss the epic Forbidden Planet, the best shop for Marvel fans, comics, manga, merch and more.
Nearby:
- Jubilee Market
- London Transport Museum
- The Strand
- West End theatres
- Trafalgar Square, 600m
- Big Ben, 1.3km, .8mi
- Westminster Abbey, 1.5km, .9mi
- Buckingham Palace, 1.7km, 1mi
4. Marylebone: Zone 1
It’s pronounced “Mar-lee-bone,” and it’s one of the coolest areas in West London. For your first time in London, you can’t go wrong with this classic and picturesque area.
Marylebone is nestled between the glorious Regent’s Park on the north end and vast Hyde Park on the west. Not only is it close to Oxford Circus and theatreland, it’s also a beautiful little village neighborhood all on its own.
Strolling down Marylebone High Street with its pretty shops and restaurants is like taking a step back in time. Daunt Books is one of the most famous bookshops in London and is a must to browse.
Nearby:
- Daunt Books
- Hyde Park and Regent’s Park
- Baker Street
- Oxford Street, .5km, .3mi
- The British Museum, 1.5km, .9mi
- Piccadilly Circus & Leicester Square, 1.5km, .9mi
- Buckingham Palace, 2km, 1.2mi
5. Maida Vale: Zone 2
Maida Vale is pronounced “May-duh,” and it’s a no brainer! If you’re looking for something a bit more quiet and residential, but still close to the action, Maida Vale is a good spot, and much more affordable than neighboring St. John’s Wood.
On the northwest side of Regent’s Park, Maida Vale is connected to everything via the Bakerloo line which can take you straight to Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square. The beautiful little waterside enclave of Little Venice runs through Maida Vale which makes for some lovely photos.
It’s close to Paddington Station, so if you’re arriving from Heathrow, the Heathrow Express will take you close to your final destination quickly.
Nearby:
- Little Venice
- Abbey Road, .5km, .3mi
- Lord’s Cricket Ground, 1km, .6mi
- Regent’s Park, 1.2km, .75mi
- Baker Street, 2km, 1.2mi
- Paddington Station, 1.6km, 1mi
6. Angel: Zone 1
Angel is in the leafy borough of Islington in North London, and it’s one of my favorite places in the city.
Upper Street and the lovely Camden Passage have great shopping and restaurants, and if you go east from Angel Station, you can pop onto the Regent’s Canal path for beautiful waterside walks, boat watching, and parks.
It’s only a moment on the Northern line to King’s Cross or Bank Station, where you can transfer lines to get you literally anywhere in London. Plus, this area is one of the safest places to stay in London!
Nearby:
- Chapel Market
- Camden Passage
- Regent’s Canal
- King’s Cross/St Pancras, 1.1 km, .7mi
- The British Museum, 2 km, 1.2mi
- Shoreditch, 2.2 km, 1.3mi
- Camden, 2.5km, 1.5mi
7. London Bridge/Southwark: Zone 1
This stretch of the south bank of the Thames is well-connected by the Northern and Jubilee lines, plus gives you spectacular views of the river. If you love the water, your first time in London should be spent near the Thames!
The famous Borough Market is right here, plus Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern, and Hay’s Galleria. London Bridge Station has an underground station plus Thameslink and a direct link to Gatwick Airport.
Nearby:
- Borough Market
- The Old Operating Theatre & Museum
- Hay’s Galleria shopping centre
- The Tower of London, .75km, .4mi
- Tate Modern, .8km, .5mi
- Shakespeare’s Globe, .8km, .5mi
- Spitalfields, 1.7km, 1mi
- Covent Garden, 2.7km, 1.6
- Buckingham Palace, 3.8km, 2.2mi
8. Pimlico: Zone 1
Set on the bank of the Thames just below Westminster/Buckingham Palace and east of the much pricier Chelsea, Pimlico is close to everything and well connected by the Victoria Line at both Victoria and Pimlico stations.
A bit more welcoming than Westminster, but not as posh as Chelsea and Kensington, Pimlico is a great spot if you want to be very central but not feel like you are. It’s a quaint and quiet area right in the center of the city, and great for first time London visitors.
The Thamespath is a lovely walking spot with spectacular views.
Nearby:
- Thamespath
- Tate Britain
- Buckingham Palace, 1.1km, .7mi
- Westminster Abbey, 1.3km, .8mi
- London Eye, 2km, 1.2mi
- Science Museum, V&A, Natural History Museums: 2.2km, 1.3mi
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay Your First Time in London
Where you choose to stay your first time in London is a balancing act between the things you want to be close to and your budget.
Remember that London’s transport system is so efficient that it’s totally okay to stay a bit farther out and save some money! But if you want to be in the center of the action all the time, it’s best to stick to Zones 1 and 2.
Happy travels!
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