Where to stay in London: our ultimate guide to the best areas (updated 2025)

Best for: pretending to live like a trendy local

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 Silo for posh zero-waste set menu, or 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.

Stay here: StayCity Dalston offers cheap serviced apartments located right on the Kingsland Road, meaning you’ll walk out into the thick of it.

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

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. 

Stay here: Don’t fancy a rooftop bar? Get your views at this balcony flat on Airbnb instead. 

Best for: seeing London’s punk side (and the best vegan food in the city)

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. 

Stay here: 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 for: being a ‘London creative’ for the weekend 

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.

Stay here: Mama Shelter on Hackney Road is quirky, cosy and has very good cocktails. Oh, and they do karaoke there. 

📍 Discover the best hotels in Shoreditch

Best for: a luxurious stay in the Capital

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.

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

Best for: eating, drinking and staying up late

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. 

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

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. 

Stay here: 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 for: A surprisingly central stay

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.

Stay here: 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 for: staying in Time Out’s ‘coolest neighbourhood in London’ for 2025. Need we say more?

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.

Stay here: 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 for: your first time ever in the Capital

No trip to London is complete without a wander around the historic district of Soho. Pubs and bars where artists and writers like Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud used to drink are peppered on every corner and still attract the city’s countercultural creatives who flock to the iconic gay bars and hallowed music venues that have played host to countless jazz, blues and rock’n’roll icons, like the French House, the Coach & Horses and Ronnie Scotts. But you’re also in the thick of Oxford Circus, Carnaby Street, Chinatown and a whole lot more. It’s a tourist-filled, polished place, but still with relics of the area’s old school past, like the infamous Bar Italia. 

Stay here: It’s mighty posh, but the historical Hazlitt’s is one of our second-best hotel in London, which is really saying something. 

Best for: leafy walks, shopping till you drop and seeing some very nice river views

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. 

Stay here: With its very nice riverside location, a stay at the Bingham is like going on a staycation without leaving the city. 

Best for: being in the thick of it... but not in a Soho way

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. 

Stay here: 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 for: shopping and seeing the city’s sights 

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.

Stay here: 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. 

📍 Discover the best hotels in Covent Garden

Best for: Ending a long walk in a very nice pub (and potentially spotting Harry Styles)

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. 

Stay here: 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 for: food touring your way through the city

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. 

Stay here: Check out The Zetter Clerkenwell, a lovely little boutique hotel in a Georgian townhouse near Farringdon station.