The best Airbnbs in London

No longer the sole domain of skint artists and wasted hipsters, Shoreditch’s rep has spread far and wide, and has become a destination for tourists visiting London. And this one-bed flat is very much representative of this achingly trendy part of town: exposed bricks, slick furniture and a mezzanine bedroom. Pretty cool, huh?

Any history buff or those with an eye for brutalist architecture will jump at the chance to kip in this Grade II-listed building, which was designed by  Patrick Hodgkinson in the late ’60s. Other wise known as the Brunswick Centre, this angular structure juts out over the streets of Bloomsbury on one side, whilst overlooking its own collection of shops and restaurants on the other. It's within strolling distance of the British Museum, too, not to mention the West End. And with the ability to sleep up to 11 people, this would make for the perfect group stay.

Fancy something a little upmarket? Check out this two-bed place in west London’s Knightsbridge: it’s so elegant you might even describe it as palatial. Better still, it’s located just behind the world-famous Harrods, should you fancy a bit of high-end retail therapy.

Since the Olympic Games were hosted here in 2012, Stratford has undergone some serious regeneration. Thankfully, it still retains the charm that the artists and OG Londoners brought to it, but now there's also a huge shopping centre, the best swimming pool you can get and acres of landscaped greenery to admire, which you can do perfectly from the floor-to-ceiling corner window of this flat. Sitting right beside the canal, you get views of the water, nature and the Olympic stadium. Plus it's decked out as boho-chic and can sleep up to fourguests.

This one’s definitely worth checking out for the convenience of location. It’s in Piccadilly Circus, which means you’re walking distance from the shops of Regent Street and Oxford Street, the theatres of the West End, and Buckingham Palace. Even better, despite being in the thick of it, it’s pretty quiet and secluded. (Bet you never thought you’d find that in central).

The convience with which you can reach the theatre district, shops, restaurants, bars and museums from this place is probably the biggest draw. But it'll also suit a quirky bunch of mates perfectly. It sleeps five and is decorated with eclectic colours and furnishings. Plus there's a cute little balcony.

This place is perfect if you're travelling to London via the Eurostar or King's Cross station, as it overlooks the beautiful St Pancras building and leafy terraces. It's also stylishly decked out and spacious, which usually comes at a premium in the city, but this place is happily affordable.

All aboard the party boat! This luxury yacht is moored in Canary Wharf – perfect for easy access to The O2 – and, while it's extremely pricey, it holds up to 15 people so you can split the costs. The city break to end all city breaks, right?

A one-bedroom flat that’s very well sunned, this Kensington flat is bright and contemporary. And given just how swish and luxurious it looks in these pictures, curling up with a book sounds absolutely dreamy. But what else would you expect from a bad in this well-heeled part of town?

To say this place is kitted out to the max is a bit of an understatement. Not only does it accomodate up to 30 people across six floors and seven bedrooms, but it’s also got a vintage games arcade, a poker table and a jacuzzi. You may well end up not setting foot outside…

This house, on a famous street near the riverside in Chelsea, is everything you’d expect of a quaint, genteel period property in London. The boutiques and restaurants of Kings Road are a short walk away, while Battersea Park is just on the other side of the river.