Where to Stay in London

London is like a nation unto itself. Its size alone sets it apart from the rest of the country it serves as the capital for - its population is greater than that of Scotland and Wales combined. As such a big place, no one thing defines London. Its character lies in the sheer diversity of its inhabitants and neighbourhoods. This variety has allowed distinct and characterful neighbourhoods to flourish across the city map.

From the luxurious and orderly streets of Chelsea and Kensington to the characterful and welcoming nooks and crannies of Shoreditch or Brixton, the UK's capital is full of surprises where anyone can find a place and feel at home.

The river Thames running from east to west splits London into two - North and South. North of the river is the traditional centre of the city with two main districts of Westminster and the City of London acting as hubs of fervent activity. South of the river, London spreads a little thinner, with the quaint and gentle village-like residential areas rubbing shoulders with the hives of activity that line the South Bank.

Luxurious London

Certainly, in some corners, the UK capital has a reputation for being one of the most luxurious places on the planet, and some of the accommodation to be found here certainly serves up some of that opulence. West London is home to a slew of grand, near-regal hotels, plush enough to have you feeling like royalty. The Goring in Westminster is a prime example, famously hosting Kate Middleton on the eve before her wedding to Prince William. It's the only hotel in the country to have received a Royal Warrant for hospitality services by the queen.

Other gorgeous high-end options include the wonderful Portobello Hotel, a quaint boutique hotel in the city's famous Notting Hill area, or The Ritz, sister of the Paris hotel, famous for its quintessentially British afternoon tea (and its cameo in the Notting Hill romantic comedy).

A place to feel at home

Not all options for a stay in London have to break the bank and there are just as many options that cultivate a sense of old England, even if that is a markedly different version to the suggestions above.

You can't get more 'traditionally British' than a good old fashioned pub! Of course, many pubs in the country were built not just as watering holes, but as places to stay and rest while in transit across the country, and there are some fabulous options across the Big Smoke.

These pubs with their own set of rooms for rent, known as inns, can be found in most places across the city. One great example is a pub in Fitzrovia, a neighbourhood nestled in between London’s two main central districts of the City of London and Westminster. The Fitzrovia Belle Hotel really stands out as a truly traditional English pub. It is evocative of eras past - a great spot to have a traditional cask ale before bed and a full English breakfast in the morning!

A city of unique worlds

Of course, as such an enormous city with endless possibilities, the hotel itself may be a secondary priority. Each of London's disparate and diverse neighbourhoods offers something different to the traveller, each area brings a distinct atmosphere. There are places like Greenwich, evoking a sense of Britain's maritime history with beautiful 19th century architecture. At the other end of the spectrum is Canary Wharf just across the river, with its tall shimmering glass skyscrapers acting as a testament to modern Britain's status as a global financial powerhouse.

Then there are the edgier options like Camden in the north, with an iconic flea market and steeped in rock and roll history. Then there is Brixton in the south, a multicultural melting pot full of cool bars and Caribbean food. In addition, if you like a foodie hotspot, Soho is London's dine-out centre with Chinatown at its heart next to cutting edge restaurants serving up the best fare from all over the globe. Alternatively, there is Bermondsey, rapidly emerging as a centre of culinary excellence with street food markets and the famous Bermondsey Beer Mile, the epicentre of London’s excellent craft beer scene.

A choice of where to stay in London is as much about the area you choose to base your stay in as much as it is about the hotel you pick. Nevertheless, whatever aspect of London's enigmatic character you choose to immerse yourself in, we can get you there. With deals all year round, you can be sure to get a great price on flights to London from BudgetAir.