The best Airbnbs in London to book right now

Best for: living like a local

If you want to come to London and live like a local, head to Leyton. Now known as the area where Hackney goes to breed, it has coffee shops aplenty, good pubs and babies in prams on every corner. This Airbnb will give you a taste of all that good stuff, as well as providing a BBQ for alfresco dining in the summer, a big kitchen and a huge living room.

Why stay here? This might not be the London you see on postcards, but Leyton has an up-and-coming, community feel that’s hard to fake. You’re close enough to the action, but far enough out to breathe. And with all the space this place offers, you’ll feel more like a resident than a visitor.

Rooms: 1 bed, 1 bath, Sleeps 2

Price: £201.73 per night

Best for: an arty stay 

You don’t need to fancy yourself as the next Lord Snowdon to have a whale of a time at Fossil Stills, a one-of-a-kind daylight photography studio in Hackney. Located just two minutes from Clapton overground station, this converted industrial loft space (yes, so very Hackney) is achingly cool but also surprisingly cosy. Its big-ticket items include an all-white piano for late-night Elton John moments, a circular hanging seat in the living room, and a big projector screen that descends from the ceiling to watch films on.

Why stay here? You’re moments away from the buzzing Lower Clapton Road, where you’ll find all sorts of delicious neighbourhood restaurants – Mambow, which we named the best restaurant in London in 2024, as well as My Neighbors the Dumplings and Lucky & Joy. It’s a treat for nightlife lovers, too: you’re a short stroll away from goth-den-meets-dive-bar Blondies and Church of Sound, which offers a programme of live jazz gigs in gorgeous surroundings.

Rooms: 1 bed, 1 bath. Sleeps 4

Price: Starting from around £200 per night

Best for: Big groups

We know, we know, Canary Wharf is often seen as an area where people work. But people also live here! And, thanks to the Elizabeth Line, it’s now even more accessible. This mega flat will house up to 10 people, and it feels like the kind of place you could have a proper party (even though they specifically say parties are not allowed...). There are three big bathrooms, a massive kitchen, a living area and a TV with Netflix ready and waiting. 

Why stay here? Honestly, it’s rare to find a London spot that can host this many people without feeling cramped. If you’re travelling as a group and want space to spread out, and maybe a slightly chaotic group dinner or two, or even a game of pool (yep, they have a pool table), this one’s a no-brainer.

Rooms: 3 bed, 3 bath, Sleeps 10

Price: £394.50 per night

Best for: design lovers

In the late nineteenth century, Holland Park became known as the home of a collection of artists known as the ‘Holland Park Circle’. And we think they would have approved of this spot. Soaring double-height ceilings (not so common in London) means a light-filled living room, with vintage furnishings and a lovely little balcony for you to admire the redbrick Victoriana opposite. This flat is so stylish it was once featured in Elle Décor magazine – and yet here is it available to book on Airbnb. Pretty cool, huh?

Why stay here? Obviously, you’ve got Holland Park nearby. Head straight to the gorgeous Grade II-listed arches at the centre of the green for brunch at Holland Park Cafe before exploring the Kyoto Gardens. There’s the Design Museum a 15 minute stroll away and the lesser known Leighton House with its impressive Arab Hall just next door. On that end of Kensington High Street you’ll also find a fantastic set of charity shops and Italian delis.

Rooms: 1 bed, 1 bath. Sleeps 2

Price: Starting from around £300 per night

Best for: pet owners

This newly-refurbished mezzanine apartment in Finsbury Park is a whole vibe, with exposed brick walls (120 year old bricks, mind), mid-centry furniture and loft beds. It sleeps up to four guests (using one sofa bed), and pets are permitted – just be warned that there’s no parking included here, so you’d be best off using the not-too-expensive paid-for parking nearby (it’s free on the street overnight, though). 

Why stay here? Harringay is a busy, homely area of London, home to the excellent Dusty Knuckle, the Salisbury Pub and the city’s best Turkish food. But you’re also a 20-minute minute walk from Finsbury Park (a scenic one if you walk through the park itself), which is one of the best-connected neighbourhoods around. 

Rooms: 1 bed, 1 sofa bed, 1 bathroom. Sleeps 4

Price: Starting from around £120 a night

Best for: canal-side strolls

Another nautical addition to this list, this one-bedroom houseboat is stationed in Little Venice, which is in the area just behind Paddington Station and below Maida Vale. It sleeps four guests, with two using a sofa bed, and has been beautifully decorated in a less-is-more manner. Plain walls, pops of heritage colours and some neat geometric tiles give it something of the feel of a potter’s studio in deepest Cornwall. As it is, you’re actually in a lovely, lively area of London. Chilled, cultured and centrally-located: what more could you want?

Why stay here? Despite being hidden right behind one of London’s major rail hubs, the canals which weave around Paddington and filter into Little Venice do feel like a dreamy little spot way out in the countryside. Check out what’s on at the Canal Café Theatre while you’re nearby: it’s a cracking spot for everything from comedy to cabaret.

Rooms? 1 bed, 1 bath. Sleeps four

Price: Starting from around £250 per night

Best for: best for families 

This luxury Archway loft Airbnb is close to Finsbury Park and several Tube lines, putting you 15-20 minutes away from Soho, Oxford Circus and The City. The space is bright and modern, with exposed brickwork adding an urban vibe. Make use of the high-speed Wi-Fi, two smart TVs, and huge arched windows showing lovely views of the neighbourhood. Get the best of British with this Airbnb, converted from a Victorian former school building. The loft caters to up to four guests in a double bed and two singles, ideal for families or friends.

Why stay here? Ready to live out your north London dreams? Archway is the place. She’s not overly fancy, but she’s got a lot of character – as well as being sandwiched between the ridiculously leafy Tufnell Park at one end and Highgate at the other. At this Airbnb you’re in the middle of Waterlow Park (one of London’s most underrated green spaces), and St John’s Tavern, a gastropub with a mean Sunday roast, so you’ve got a pretty perfect Sunday plan on your hands. 

Rooms: 2 beds, 2 baths. Sleeps 4

Price: Starting from around £255 per night

Best for: a weekend stay with friends

If you’re into your brutalism (you know, funky window positioning, concrete and stuff) then this is the temporary home for you. Welcome to a Grade II-listed building, designed by famed British Architect Patrick Hodgkinson in the mid-sixties, building started in 1967 and finished in 1972. The building is known as the Brunswick Centre, this angular structure juts out over the streets of Bloomsbury on one side while overlooking its own collection of shops, restaurants and more on the other.

Nearby: You’re within walking distance of the British Museum, and the West End. 

Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 4 beds. 2 baths. Sleeps 11

Price: Starting from around £300 per night

Best for: a British-inspired stay

This very British (read: posh but mud-splattered) flat is the perfect crash pad for anyone looking to combine the charms of a specific neighbourhood – in this case, Taylor Swift’s namechecked Highgate – while still being able to get to all the major London attractions in a jiffy. Its well-lit rooms are filled with slightly eccentric artworks and inviting cosy furniture. It’s got a little south-facing terrace with a vintage-style bench; lovely European-feeling shutters on the windows and a funky lighting system that allows you to play around with different colours.

Nearby: The Red Lion and Sun serves up one of the city’s best roasts, and a cold swim at one of Hampstead Heath’s bathing ponds should work up your appetite. 

Rooms: 2 beds, 1 bath. Sleeps 4. 

Price: Starting from around £200 per night

Best for: tourists

Bold and beautiful in a way that has ‘class’ written all over it, this ground-floor flat in west London will have you at all the museums within minutes. Nestled into the heart of Sloane-ville (it’s not really called that) you get to experience the lovely upper-crust ‘village’ feel of the area while also having very quick tube access to everything West End. We love the use of those black and white stripes, and how they’re echoed in the muted grey and white verticals of one bedroom. Extra points for the understated wall art and that beautiful writing desk/cabinet in the living room. Bonus points for the suntrap terrace.

Nearby: You’re in the best spot for touring all the museums, plus Royal Court Theatre and other Sloane-y faves. 

Rooms: 2 beds, 1 bath. Sleeps 5. 

Price: Starting from around £240 per night