It’s been almost 30 years since our very first trip to London—and while we’ve returned many times since, it got us thinking: if we were planning that first visit all over again, where would we stay?
London has thousands of hotels, ranging from ultra-budget hostels to ultra-luxury five-star hotels—and just about everything in between. For a first-time visitor, picking the “right” one can feel a little intimidating. After our first few trips, we became a bit more selective, choosing hotels based on specific activities (such as attending a show at the Royal Albert Hall) or simply to experience a particular property, like the iconic St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.
Back in the day, we booked a British Airways package that included a room at the Charles Dickens Hotel—a property that has changed hands more than once but still lives in our memory thanks to a very unusual room change request.
Since then, we’ve tried various London accommodations, ranging from budget-friendly to boutique. On my last trip, I stayed at:
- The cozy Hotel Indigo Leicester Square, right in the heart of the theater district
- The elegant Kimpton Fitzroy, which I loved, though it’s probably a bit more than we want to spend this time around
We’ve also stayed at the Hotel Indigo Kensington, The Great Northern Hotel, and a property that still makes us smile when we think back on it—The Resident Kensington. It was great when we were younger… though I still can’t believe we fit three adults into a room with one bed and a “very comfortable chairbed.”
We’ve even stayed at the now-closed Holiday Inn Kensington Forum and Holiday Inn London Mayfair. No offense to either property, but… we’re not exactly mourning their loss.
What We’re Looking For This Time
For our next trip, we’re heading to London with friends who have never been there before. We’ll have two nights in the city before departing on a cruise, and we want to help them make the most of their first time. So here’s what we’re looking for:
- Easy access to/from Heathrow
- Convenient to the major tourist sites
- Close to the Tube
- Nice, but not crazy expensive
So We’re Asking You…
Where would you suggest a first-time visitor stay in London? Bonus points if there’s a specific hotel you recommend.
Let us know in the comments—we’d love your suggestions!
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4 comments
The Holiday Inn Kensington Forum is open for business.
Bloomsbury Hotel at Tottenham Court Road, straight from Heathrow on Elizabeth line. Rates often sub £300. Hoxton Holborn small rooms but right in the centre 5 mins from Tottenham curtains Road station. Hilton Waldorf right in the action of Covent Garden. I was born in London and worked in the hotels for years so keep a close eye on the market. Conrad St James is also worth checking out. I aim to book these hotels if they are sub £300 as this represents good value, personally I avoid Travelodge and Premier Inn but there are many central and may be sub £200. I prefer some luxury and facilities.
I usually stay close to the St Pancras and Kings Cross stations. It’s easy to take the Piccadilly line right from LHR to St Pancras and there are a bunch of hotels essentially across the street and within a block or two, so you don’t even need to grab a cab (unless you have a lot of luggage, I guess– I only travel with carry-on bags, so I can walk right to my hotel from St Pancras). That same area has lots of bus access as well as tube access, and you’re only about 3 miles from Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square/National Gallery, Hyde Park, and most of the major tourist sites, so you can easily walk (and grab your morning coffee along the way) in lieu of using the tube or bus (for those making their first visit, just know that the bus can get bogged down when there’s lots of traffic, so walking can be faster anyway, in addition to giving you a little exercise). Some of the hotels close to St Pancras and Kings Cross are older buildings that have been refurbished (some more so than others), so the cheaper ones might be a little disappointing and the rooms pretty small– spend just a little more for a much better experience nearby. I recently stayed at the (boutique-y) Megaro Hotel, literally across the street from the entrance to Kings Cross, and it was very nice. Try to get a corner room with a stellar view of St Pancras.
I think you might want to be near Waterloo or Victoria station if you plan to take the train to Southampton for the cruise. The train from Waterloo to Southampton is faster, so I’d opt for that, but the Heathrow Express doesn’t go directly to Waterloo if you are flying into LHR, However, the regular train isn’t that much slower. Also, as you know, getting to Waterloo from other areas that are along the Tube routes isn’t that big of a deal except hauling luggage can be a pain in some smaller stations with stairs.