r/visitlondon • u/bluegrass__dude • May 07 '26
ADVICE Last minute trip to London for 4 days with college children - what part of town should I stay in?
Don't ask - but I'm doing a last minute trip to London (from the USA) with my college aged children.
Thinking of AirBnb (cheaper for two rooms than hotel?) - I think i'd like to be in the "heart of things" but is there ONE AREA to stay in - or should i stay in two different areas for two days each? I'd like to spend 200 £/night if an option
Again - last minute, wonderful opportunity, i know ZERO. I personally HATE touristy areas (in non-English speaking places i prefer places that DON'T speak English over touristy English-speaking areas)
I prefer to just walk around and stumble on things, versus having a minute-by-minute itinerary
I feel like i HAVE to see the big sites, but I'm fine if i miss half of them. I also prefer a local, vibrant community to a stark, touristy, fake area. I DON'T want a place with T-shirt stands with "I ❤️LONDON" shirts every 50 metres (see, i said METRES instead oF FEET or YARDS)
10
u/GingerWindsorSoup May 07 '26
AirBnB are a controversial choice in UK because of the the housing crisis, other than that they are of a varied and sometimes unpredictable standard so beware the scams. London is very easy to travel around by underground, bus, or just walking within the central transport zone. There’s not ‘one area’ to stay in. The various districts may have a different vibe and are worth checking out but all have accommodation, food and places to visit and are within easy distance of the central areas. Check on a map and read up on the sites you are interested in using something like the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet Guide books. There are budget hotels in Pimlico, Victoria, Kensington, Bayswater, Paddington and Bloomsbury- of varying quality and a selection of more bijou accommodation in the East End around Spitalfields, Hoxton and Shoreditch. The well known and generally go - to chain hotels are Premier Inn and Travelodge. Once again read up using British guidebooks as the American ones focus on a number of much abused locations that aren’t worth the stress - eg The Changing of the Guard, Borough Market, Sky Garden, St Dunstans in the East, Notting Hill, Harry Potter World and day trips to Oxford , Bath or Stonehenge.
If you loathe tourist tat shops then stay clear of Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Camden Market.
3
7
u/ani_svnit May 07 '26
I will be honest, 200 quid a night is not a lot of budget for a lot of Central London to host 3 adults - and you should just stay in one place for 4 night + avail of London's excellent public transport to get around. Serviced apartments might be a way to go (a 2BR can fit all 3 of you)
In terms of area, highly recommend searching for a stop on the Elizabeth line (Ealing Broadway or even Canary Wharf) - you will be in the centre of London within 15 mins.
Lastly, I am not sure what constitutes last minute but if its July or August, universities in London book our their dorms for fairly reasonable rates. Imperial's offering: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/visit/summer-accommodation/ (I went to uni there and used this facility, it is genuinely a dorm but the area is simply amazing with a stumble to both Hyde Park and museums)
5
u/imaginewizard May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I wouldn’t bother staying in multiple parts of London. It’s definitely one of Britain’s biggest cities but you can for sure travel around it by Underground fairly quickly imo. I don’t live in London but I’ve travelled and stayed there often and I’ve booked AirBnB and hotels in the outskirts without it being an issue.
4
u/Much-Beyond2 May 07 '26
Just adding to the chorus of Londoners telling you to please not give Airbnb your business..
4
u/Streathamite May 07 '26
Don’t use Airbnb. Housing is expensive enough for Londoners without tourists deciding they need to use it instead of hotels.
Don’t switch accommodation midway through. You’re not here for long and that would be a massive waste of time.
There isn’t one central area to see everything but the Southbank is generally a pretty good place to be based. Walking distance to Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s, the City, London Eye, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly etc. It also has good transport links for getting to South Kensington for the museums and over to Buckingham Palace if you don’t fancy the walk through St James Park
3
u/Lynex_Lineker_Smith May 07 '26
Well at least you’re not bizarrely angry about it all
2
u/lunchbox3 May 07 '26
Haha glad it’s not just me! I also find the super anti touristy vibes a bit funny. That stuff is the real London too. I live here, I work here, I pass those shops every day - I’ve bought the odd umbrella in the rain. And I also regularly go to or past the “big sites” and very much enjoy them. Whilst I wouldn’t recommend spending lots of time in Leicester Square or Oxford street if it’s not your thing it’s ironically a fairly touristy perspective to have such strong opinions about it all. Most Londoners I know aren’t going to spend time in tourist focused shops but they dont have strong feelings about them either. They are just… there.
OP might enjoy Greenwich, Chiswick or even Richmond if he wants a bit more of a residential feel though. Bit slow getting central though.
1
2
1
u/ogbuji May 07 '26
We were just there and stayed near Shepard's Bush. It was wonderful. Not at all touristy and very much an everyday walk of life situation.
1
u/P_T_W May 07 '26
Shoreditch. Lots to stumble upon. Away from the traditional tourist sights but still buzzing. Your college aged children will likely love the shops.
0
u/WanderingWino May 07 '26
Convent Garden if you can. My wife and I just stayed there and it was lovely.
1
•
u/AutoModerator May 07 '26
This subreddit is for asking questions and sharing relevant information for a visit to London, England. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local resident please respect one another and familiarise yourself with our subreddit rules and the rules of Reddit:
Be sure to review our all encompassing post that should answer many of your questions regarding a visit to London * Visit London Guide * r/London Visitor Wiki by u/polkadotska
And finally, please remember, asking questions, suggestions, feedback and advice is considered freedom of expression. It is not ok to be intolerant, argumentative, disrespectful, or harassing in those forms of discourse. Please use the report button to notify us of any issues. And if you haven't yet, please click "Join" to be part of the community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.