As I mentioned above, London is a sprawling city with so many different neighborhoods to choose from. Where to stay during your trip will depend on what types of activities you plan to do while there, and what type of vibe you’re looking for.

For example, during my most recent visit to London, I stayed in the South Bank neighborhood and it was perfect. It was close enough to walk to all the main touristy sites I wanted to see, but also not in the beating heart of the touristy area so I could escape that scene when I wanted to. Soho is a cool area to stay in if you’re looking to be in central London (which, as a first-timer, you probably do) and want to be close to the city’s bustling nightlife scene. Covent Garden is basically the same as staying in Times Square in New York City – so while it’s centrally located to many of the city’s top attractions, you can expect hoards of tourists everywhere you look, which may not be ideal for every traveler.

Where to Stay in London: 

Here is a general breakdown of London’s major neighborhoods and their overall vibe, which will make choosing an area to stay in much simpler.

• South Bank: This is a great area to stay in for the perfect balance between proximity to touristy sites and a more laid-back local vibe.  

Hotels: ($)Travelodge London Central Southwark; ($$) Ruby Lucy Hotel London; ($$$) Sea Containers London

• Covent Garden: This is a good, centralized spot for first time visitors and is located nearby many of the major touristy destinations – but as such, it’s typically overrun with tourists which can be overwhelming and annoying.

Hotels: ($) Zedwell Piccadilly Circus; ($$) Radisson Blu Hotel, London Mercer Street; ($$$) The Waldorf Hilton

• Soho and Leicester Square: This is another centrally-located area situated nearby Covent Garden. It’s the former red-light district that’s been transformed into a cool, funky hub of LGBT life and some of the city’s best bars, pubs, and restaurants. This is the place to be if your main focus is London nightlife. 

Hotels: ($) The Z Hotel Tottenham Court Road; ($$) Thistle London Piccadilly; ($$$) The Resident Soho 

• Chelsea, Belgravia, and Kensington: This area borders Hyde Park (London’s version of Central Park), and is posh and fashionable with plenty of upscale restaurants, shopping and museums. Notting Hill and the Portobello Market are located in this area, too. If you’re familiar with New York City, I would say that these neighborhoods are comparable to the Upper East Side, which borders Central Park. 

Hotels: ($) The Montana Hotel; ($$) Sonder Kensington Gardens; ($$$) The Franklin London – Starhotels Collezione

• Westminster and St. James: This is another potential option for first-time visitors to London, as it’s located in the heart of the city and very near major destinations like Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, and more.

Hotels: ($) Best Western Buckingham Palace Rd ; ($$) St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London ; ($$$) Conrad London St James

• Mayfair and Marylebone: This is a posh, upscale area filled with high-end shopping, hotels, and restaurants. The vibe is comparable to what you might find in Notting Hill or Chelsea, but it’s a bit more centrally located.

Hotels: ($) Welcome London – Maddox; ($$) Radisson Blu Hotel, London Bond Street ; ($$$) The Biltmore Mayfair

• City of London: This is London’s financial district, located across the water from the South Bank. While there are upscale restaurants and a couple of noteworthy sites here, I would recommend against actually staying here, as it won’t be particularly interesting or well-located for London tourists who aren’t there for business. 

Hotels: ($) Yotel London City; ($$) Club Quarters Hotel London City, London; ($$$) Clayton Hotel London Wall

• Shoreditch: For a neighborhood with less touristy, more local vibes that’s located a bit closer to the central London than the East End, check out Shoreditch. It’s known as a super trendy and funky area with cool local bars and restaurants. Don’t expect to see too many tourists in this part of town, though.

Hotels: ($) Point A London Liverpool Street; ($$) citizenM London Shoreditch; ($$$) Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch

•  Camden Town: Another hyper-local neighborhood located just outside the city center, Camden has a grungy, alternative vibe and the iconic Camden Market. This area was famously home to Amy Winehouse and may be worth a visit if that’s the scene you’re looking for.

Hotels: ($) Holiday Inn London Camden Lock, an IHG Hotel; ($$) The Camden Town Hotel

• East End: To put it simply: the East End is a schlep. If you’ve been to London several times, are on a budget, or are looking for a completely local (read: not touristy) vibe, consider staying in the East End. Otherwise, you may pencil in a visit if you have a bit of extra time, but beyond that I’d recommend sticking to west London. That said, a few key highlights in this neighborhood include local nightlife, Jack the Ripper sites, and street food and vintage markets, including Spitalfields market and the surrounding neighborhoods.