Where to stay in London: best areas and neighbourhoods for 2026

Best for: Pretending to live like a trendy local

Nearest stations: Hackney Central, Hackney Downs

If you want to stay in the ‘cool part of London’, look further than Shoreditch and opt for Hackney. This borough has been trendy for quite some time now, but it’s popular for a reason. There is just so much great stuff to do here, from some of the most exciting restaurants in the whole of London (try Miga for moreish Korean small plates), to independent art galleries, happening bars and properly good pubs. It’s got the canal and a load of parks and green space, so it’s nice to look at, too.

Where to stay in Hackney

💡 Editor’s pick: Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green is one of our favourite stays in London – affordable, low-key and completely unique. 

Budget stay: Quirky Hackney studio and terrace

Luxury stay: Designer penthouse in London Fields

Family-friendly: StayCity Dalston

📍 Discover more of the best hotels in Hackney 

Best for: Cheap eats, good bars and a creative scene 

Brixton is easily one of London’s most electric neighbourhoods, with something going on night and day. Right at the heart of it all is Brixton Village Market, a maze of bars and restaurants where you can get everything from vegan burgers and tacos to Caribbean comfort food and small plates. But it is when the sun goes down that Brixton really comes alive. Head to O2 Academy Brixton for live music or slip into the old working men’s club Effra Social for gigs, darts and late-night dancing. Brixton House is a go-to for bold, locally-inspired theatre, while street art, record shops and the area’s deep-rooted music history give Brixton its heart and soul. 

Where to stay in Brixton

💡 Editor’s pick: Half Moon Hotel

Best budget: Room in Brixton

Luxury stay: Stunning spa flat minutes from Brixton tube

Family-friendly: Huge house with three double beds

Best for: Hyped restaurants, bakeries and art galleries

Nearest stations: Denmark Hill, Loughbrough Junction

There’s a reason why we crowned this underrated neighbourhood one of the coolest in the world for 2025. This leafy area is what south east London is all about: young at heart, independent, multicultural, and crucially, doesn’t try too hard. Its biggest asset is its food scene. Camberwell’s Church Street (not to be confused with the street in Stoke Newington) has gone down in the history books as being a mecca for foodies. There’s Kurdish cuisine at Nandine, Xinjiang restaurant Silk Road, and the hipster’s dream of a bakery, Toad. After you’ve lined your stomach with carbs, head to one of the many small independent art galleries and enjoy a pint of Guinness at a gastropub. There’s also an outdoor community sauna, of course.

Where to stay in Camberwell

💡 Editor’s pick: Church Street Hotel is colourful, family-run and totally affordable (prices start from £55 per night)

Luxury stay: Wellbeck Hotel

Budget stay: This studio by Burgess Park

Family friendly: Two-bedroom flat near the high street

Best for: street food and exploring London’s punk side

Nearest stations: Camden Station

Camden Town spent decades as the bedrock of London’s alternative scene. Home to a bustling market teaming with unique vintage boutiques and stalls, iconic music venues like the historic Jazz Cafe and the Roundhouse which dates back to the swinging sixties, and a truly tantalizing array of street food from all over the globe, it has plenty to tempt tourists. You can have a wild night out here pretty easily, or head out on a scenic canal walk, oh, and don't mind the crowds. Whatever you do, make sure you try its vegan food (vegan or not): the vegan roast at the Black Heart is a good place to start. 

Where to stay in Camden

💡 Editor’s pick: We love this colourful apartment minutes from Camden Road station. You’ll get all the vibes without the Camden Lock chaos, and if you fancy a boogie, you’re five minutes from the raucous Abbey Tavern. 

Best budget: Urban Nomad hostel

Luxury stay: Garden house by Camden Town station

Family friendly: Two-bed flat with a terrace

Best for: BYOBs, clubbing and the best rooftop bars in town.

Nearest stations: Peckham Rye, Queen’s Road Peckham.

Tourists haven’t typically found their way to Peckham, but there’s plenty to love about this south east London neighbourhood, from the chaotic Rye Lane with its fruit and veg stalls to the quiet Rye with its sprawling greenery and charming pubs. Have a mosey beneath its railway arches which are filled with breweries, bars and tattooists, hang out in historic boozers and  pie and mash shops, or catch a film at the beloved Peckham Plex. But its rooftop bars are the best in the business – Frank’s Cafe, Bussey Building and Peckham Levels are some of our faves – and for afters, Jumbi and Tola will keep you dancing all night long. 

Where to stay in Peckham

💡Editor's pick: Don’t fancy a rooftop bar? Get your views at this balcony flat on Airbnb instead. 

Best budget: The Victoria Inn

Luxury stay: Stylish cottage near Rye Lane

Family-friendly: Flat overlooking Peckham Rye

Best for: a family day out, comedy, and Hackney’s older sibling

The London story these days goes something like this: you move to Hackney and then graduate to Walthamstow. Here, you’ll find one of London’s most exciting up-and-coming areas, where a laid-back, villagey feel meets a growing creative scene. With the Walthamstow Wetlands on your doorstep for long walks and wildlife spotting, plus the leafy charm of Lloyd Park, it’s ideal for a family-friendly day out.

There’s plenty to eat and drink too (definitely try Taro and Slowburn), alongside independent cafés, bakeries and the ever-buzzing Walthamstow Market. And when it comes to culture, the new Soho Theatre Walthamstow brings a lively programme of comedy and theatre, too.

Where to stay in Walthamstow

💡 Editor’s pick: A quirky house that blends "Edwardian splendour and elegance" in the heart of Walthamstow

Best on a budget: Private room close to Walthamstow Village

Luxury stay: Victorian home with three bedrooms

Family-friendly: Home with garden by Lloyd park

Best for: vintage shopping and curry houses

Main stations: Shoreditch High Street, Liverpool Street

Once the home of the hipster, whether it’s cereal cafes, indie sleaze gig venues, or ‘fourth wave’ coffee shops, Shoreditch has seen a variety of fleeting trends and scenes for the last few decades, as art school kids began to infiltrate the area. The subcultural cool kids may be few and far between nowadays, but you’ll still find a creative edge in many of the bars, music venues and restaurants here. Come the weekend, this is a place to party with rowdy clubs and nightlife, but you’ll also find plenty of wholesome things to do here too, like Brick Lane’s great curry houses, vintage shops stuffed with treasure, Columbia Road Flower Market and cultural gems like Dennis Severs’ House, Raven Row and Rich Mix.

Where to stay in Shoreditch

💡 Editor’s pick: Mama Shelter on Hackney Road is quirky, cosy and has very good cocktails. Oh, and they do karaoke there.

Best on a budget: The Z Hotel

Luxury stay: Boundary Shoreditch

Family-friendly: Two-bed flat near Brick Lane

📍 Discover more of the best hotels in Shoreditch

Best for: A tranquil getaway

Nearest stations: Chiswick, Chiswick Park

Chiswick doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. This leafy corner of west London is not as buzzing as Shoreditch or Peckham, nor is it as glitzy as Chelsea and Notting Hill. But it is a tranquil haven. Actors like Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, and Cara Delevingne, along with TV presenter Declan Donnelly, have all settled here, no doubt drawn by its green streets, thriving food scene, and charming high street lined with cosy cafés, indie boutiques, and historic pubs.

Where to stay in Chiswick

💡 Editor’s pick: High Road House is the west London outpost of the ever-fashionable Soho House which features guestrooms designed by Ilse Crawford, and a members’ bar and restaurant above the buzzing ground-floor brasserie.

Luxury stay: Room2 London Chiswick Hometel

Budget stay: Chiswick Court Hotel

Family friendly: Two-bed Airbnb by the station

Best for: eating, drinking and nightlife

Nearest stations: Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction

You may know Dalston for its main drags Kingsland High Street and Ridley Road, both of which deliver a decent night night out thanks to their share of wine bars, clubs and music venues that are open as late as it gets in London. This is a genuinely diverse area and by exploring the back streets you’ll also find plenty of surprises. Its strong Turkish community makes it one of the best places in London to get a kebab, a haircut or a hammam scrub, while you can also embrace the quieter charms of London Fields and leafy Islington. 

Where to stay in Dalston

💡 Editor’s pick: The Scandi-inspired One Hundred Shoreditch is an oasis of calm in this very busy neighbourhood – and it’s got a cracking rooftop bar. 

Best budget: Z Hotel Shoreditch

Luxury stay: Hoxton Shoreditch

Family friendly: StayCity Dalston

Best for: fine dining and luxury hotels

Nearest stations: Marylebone, Bond Street

On a scale of laid-back to luxury, Marylebone has got it all. It’s so much more than just Selfridges. From Michelin-star hotspots AngloThai and Lita, to chic bistros Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote, Nina, and Josephine, the dining options are diverse and delicious. For art-lovers, there’s the grand decadence of The Wallace Collection, the stunning work of iconic British artist Glenn Brown at The Brown Collection, and inspiring contemporary art at Lisson Gallery – all with free entry. Along with the classic charm of Chiltern Street, London’s biggest indoor antiques market at Alfies, numerous boutique shops and pretty little cafés, it’s little wonder Marylebone has become the go-to neighbourhood for London’s fashion, art and design set.

Where to stay in Marylebone

💡 Editor’s pick: If you want to splurge on something truly special, The Landmark Hotel is one of London’s most elegantly romantic visions of yesteryear.

Best on a budget: The Z Hotel

Luxury stay: Nobu Portman Square

Family friendly: Pilgrim Hotel

📍 Discover the best hotels in Marylebone here

Best for: neighbourhood vibes, 24-hour shops and the best Turkish food in London

Nearest stations: Harringay, Harringay Green Lanes

If you haven’t heard, everyone’s moving to Harringay – namely Green Lanes, the extremely long road between Finsbury Park and Tottenham. And hey, it’s no surprise: Harringay’s got a lot going for it. For starters there’s the 20-or-more Turkish restaurants and takeaways along the high street, serving up kebabs, mezzes, baklavas and more – most of them, along with the Turkish delis and corner shops, are open very late. And then there’s the focaccia sandwich legend Dusty Knuckle, the almighty Salisbury Hotel pub, and the surprisingly good Brouhaha with cocktails, sushi and a rooftop deck for summer drinking. 

Where to stay in Harringay

💡 Editor’s pick: This exposed brick mezzanine on Airbnb is right on the money, with Finsbury Park on one side and Green Lanes on the other. Importantly, you’re extremely near Abraço (for The Lanes’s best brunch) and Diyabakir Kitchen (my favourite Turkish).

Best budget: Double room with an ensuite

Luxury stay: Big flat with large garden

Family-friendly: Two-bed flat in the heart of Green Lanes

Best for: A surprisingly central stay

Nearest stations: Bayswater, Queensway

There’s no question that Bayswater is overlooked by its posher and more famous surrounding neighbourhoods, but that’s exactly why it should be on your radar for a stopover in London. You’ve got Notting Hill to the west, Maida Vale and Little Venice to the north, Paddington to the east, and the sprawling, lush greenery of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to the south. With all that to explore, as well as a plethora of locally-run restaurants, decent brunch spots and solid, classic pubs within the Bayswater boundary, what’s not to love? Oh, and this part of the city is super well-connected. Queensway and Lancaster Gate are on the Central Line, Paddington station adds the Bakerloo, Hammersmith and City and Lizzie lines, and Bayswater tube station is served by Circle and District.

Where to stay in Bayswater

💡 Editor’s pick: Perched slap-bang in the centre of this neighbourhood and just around the corner from one of our favourite coffee shops is this swanky apartment which can sleep up to six guests.

Best on a budget: Urbany Hostel

Luxury stay: Royal Lancaster London

Family friendly: 39 Studios Hotel

Best for: Wild swimming, long walks and cosy pubs (and potentially spotting Harry Styles)

Nearest stations: Hampstead, Hampstead Heath

London neighbourhoods don’t come more charming than Hampstead, its quaint village is full of cute shops, cafes and art studios. It’s also peppered with historic pubs which are the perfect place to rest your legs after stomping around Hampstead’s most famous spot: the Heath. Head to Hampstead Heath for glorious hilltop views of the London skyline, 790 acres of woodland, meadows and its three famous wild swimming ponds, which are the only place to be on a swelteringly hot summer’s day. 

Where to stay in Hampstead

💡 Editor’s pick: If you’re in town for a special occasion, this five-bed house at the top of Hampstead Heath is what you’re dreaming of – trust us on that. 

Best on a budget: Hampstead Britannia

Luxury stay: Three-storey flat for six, with a roof terrace

Family-friendly: Two-bed flat with a garden

Best for: leafy walks, pints by the river and shopping

Nearest stations: Richmond, North Sheen

David Attenborough once said that Richmond was his favourite place in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Add a little countryside whimsy to your schedule by making a beeline for the leafy neighbourhood. Here you’ll find the huge grassy expanse that is Richmond Park, which sports freely roaming deer, woodland and hidden flower gardens. It also packs in the brilliant Kew Gardens and in the summer months there’s no better place for a stroll than its romantic riverside. Whether you want to see beautiful stately homes, explore hidden green spaces or sink a drink in a historic pub, you’ll find it here. 

Where to stay in Richmond

💡 Editor’s pick: With its very nice riverside location, a stay at the Bingham is like going on a staycation without leaving the city.

Best budget: Private room near Richmond Park

Luxury stay: Harbour Hotel & Spa

Family-friendly: Orange Tree hotel

Best for: Neighbourhood vibes, vintage furniture shops and independent boutiques

Nearest stations: Leyton, Leyton Midland Road

Leyton and Leytonstone are nothing like Clapton, across the Hackney Marshes. They’re fresh out of objets d’art boutiques, mid-century vintage furniture stores, and parody Instagram accounts. But for what they lack in baby-chariot buggy-jams and towering townhouses, they make up for in friendly faces, cheap eats and authentic local businesses. A steady stream of young, middle-income families who can’t afford Hackney have recently moved in, extending lofts and filling side returns. But with them has come a sense that change is in the air, a soft breeze of new life that enhances rather than compromises the concrete sense of identity here.

Where to stay in Leyton

💡 Editor’s pick: This bright two-bed with a garden is right in the thick of it – and a mere 15-minute walk from Scottish café Deeney’s, one of our favourite spots in the area.

Best on a budget: Tiny home in a garden

Luxury stay: Bright flat near the Red Lion pub

Family-friendly: Three-bedroom house in Francis Road

Best for: Central location, sightseeing and designer boutiques

Nearest stations: King’s Cross, St Pancras International

Staying in Kings Cross is as strategic as it is stylish in our opinion. The bustling area is as well-connected as it is ‘vibey’, and for such a well-known pin drop on the old Monopoly board, it still has a decided neighbourhood feel. Landmarks like Coal Drops and the station square (where Time Out cover star DJ AG can be found spinning beats) mean swish designer boutiques and edgy London street culture sit side-by-side, adding to King Cross’s not-too-gritty-but-not-too-polished appeal. And what it lacks in beer gardens and cute artisanal bakeries, it makes up for in music venues like Scala, cafes, pizzerias, cocktail bars and even a pop-up cinema on the canal during summer. 

Where to stay in King’s Cross

💡 Editor’s pick: The Standard, Kings Cross is one of our faves, especially for young people – with an excellent rooftop bar and Coal’s Drop Yard on your doorstep. 

Best budget: Point A Hotel

Luxury stay: Great Northern Hotel

Family friendly: Pullman London St Pancras

📍Discover more of the best hotels in King’s Cross here

Best for: restaurants, bars and street food

Nearest stations: Farringdon, Barbican

Named after Clerks’ Well, which can still be seen on Farringdon Lane, Clerkenwell is the place to be if you want easy access to Michelin-starred restaurants (meat marvel St John is a highlight), buzzing markets and museums. Look out for excellent streetfood at Exmouth Market and Leather Lane and don’t miss its numerous museums and attractions housed in beautiful historic old buildings like the Charles Dickens Museum and The Postal Museum and Mail Rail. 

Where to stay in Clerkenwell

💡 Editor’s pick: Check out The Zetter Clerkenwell, a lovely little boutique hotel in a Georgian townhouse near Farringdon station.

Best budget: Private room near Goswell Road

Luxury stay: The Rookery Hotel

Family-friendly: Two bed flat with balcony

Best for: First timers in London, and being near the city’s top attractions

Nearest stations: Covent Garden, Leicester Square

Drawing in tourists like a moth to a flame, Covent Garden is very special indeed. In one afternoon, you could easily shop both ends of the fashion spectrum, pick up a black lava sea salt ice cream and watch the world’s longest running play (Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ if you’re wondering). It’s architecturally stunning thanks to its neo-classical piazza and market buildings and it’s packed full of culture as the home of the Royal Opera House and a slew of famous theatres.

Where to stay in Covent Garden

💡 Editor’s pick: We absolutely love the Holborn branch of The Hoxton, a modern boutique hotel in a Grade II-listed former telephone exchange that’s minutes from the joys of Covvy G. 

Best budget: Hub Covent Garden

Luxury stay: One Aldwych

Family friendly: Top floor flat by the station

📍 Discover the best hotels in Covent Garden