Am spending five days in London next month and am interested in staying in a different area than my usual, which is Kensington/Knightsbridge area. I've also stayed in Bloomsbury.

Since I'm traveling solo and usually am out at sunrise to take pictures, looking for reasonably safe area. A lot of my planned activities (e.g., going to Greenwich) tend to the east side of London, so was wondering about staying in The City. Will this area be empty after business hours? Will anything be open at night/on weekends?

I should add that I will also be going to the theatre a couple of nights. Should I stay somewhere more central and just plan on using the tube a lot?

Suggestions appreciated!

For what you describe I'd consider in/near Covent Garden/Seven Dials. I wouldn't stay in the "City" proper because it will be totally dead in the evenings/weekends.

Actually Bloomsbury would be great but you say you want to stay somewhere else.

Since we always stay in the same flat in Covent Garden, I'm partial. I love the fact that we can pop back to the flat between two shows, or make just a short stroll to or from the theatre. I don't see any advantage to being in the City for what you're describing as basically you're still going to need to take the tube to those other places, and the theatre will be a longer walk as well.
What's your budget? Seven Dials area is wonderful, but not much in budget hotels that I know of.

There is a nice hotel one street behind Oxford st near Marble Arch, called the Edward Lear, the man who wrote "The owl and the pussycat" his home is now a small hotel, very convinient and close to Hyde Park, it is on the Central Line.

don't be so quick to dismiss the east. in fact, some of the best nightlife and most interesting and relaxed weekend areas in london are in the areas surrounding the City - clerkenwell, spitalfields (5 minute walk from the City's liverpool station), hoxton, etc. you might also consider islington. sure, it's hard to go wrong with covent garden for location alone but it's also packed with day trippers and tourists. many of the pubs are standing room only.

i would much rather spend a saturday afternoon in islington, hoxton square, etc than in covent garden. it really depends what you are looking for...these are very different areas.

If you've stayed in Kensington/Knightsbridge on previous occasions then Islington/Hoxton is going to be somewhat of a culture shock to you so really is rather like recommending a fillet of beef on a menu to a vegan. The City is very quiet at weekends, and late weekday evenings also.

I'd always advise one to stay in Mayfair as it's extremely central to everything in London. I don't know why you'd want to stay in Covent Garden, just travel to the theatre and then travel back again - there's no point planning everything around a few hours out of five days.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look at the areas around The City and at Covent Garden. Mayfair looks to be out of my budget, which is USD$200/night.

Anyone know anything about The Strand Palace? I see mixed reviews on it, but the location and price are great.

Strand Palace - omg NO WAY. It is a rundown rip off, you would be better on a bench in Hyde Park.
Seriously there are far better places such as Travel Lodge and Premier Inns that are at least clean and fubctional if budget is an issue.
https://www.travelodge.co.uk/make_a_...x=104&y=12

http://www.premiertravelinn.com/pti/findHotel.do

sorry typo- functional

I stilld don't quite get why you're still looking for a place in the City. As others mentioned, the area gets rather deserted on weekends and in the evenings. Hoxton/Shoreditch are up-and-coming areas with nightclubs, bars, restaurants etc, but I won't feel safe or comfortable if by myself late at night. Transporatation links are also somewhat weaker.
In general, you won't find much hotel choices on the eastern part of the city like Greenwich.
There are more interesting neighbourhood you may want to look into--Notting Hill and Marylebone come to my mind. Holborn is convenient to both theatres and the City, though I won't consider it an attractive neighbourhood.

You might look at the Radisson Edwardian Hotels, particularly the Mountbatten at 7 Dials, which is a great location. They often do some good deals on their website. Their Pastoria is also a nice bet, just off the busy Leicester Square.
Along the Strand, the Thistle Charing Cross might be a good bet as well, often recommended here, and I think often won on Priceline at good rates.

I like the Chelsea & Belgravia area - so close to Victoria station for getting around ANYWHERE & nice for walking in.

We were in exactly the same position. Having previously stayed in South Kensington and Bloomsbury, we wanted to get acquainted with a different area of London. I considered Marylebone (St. George Hotel), Paddington/Bayswater, and Chelsea. The latter was my favorite but is lacking in Tube options. We are renting an apartment near Sloane Square and look forward to strolling down King's Road.

Another area to look at is Notting Hill and Kensington High Street. And Victoria Station is a good transportation hub.

I will be going to London for a week end of May. I have been to London but do not know well the City. My purpose just walking arround and will visit Oxford which should be easy day drip from Liverpool station in the City. I have booked a hotel in the City which i think noted from this site. It is new and a no smoking hotel: The Hoxton. The cost was on average 99 pounds including small breakfast. My credit card already fully charged for the week. It is near old street underground station. I hope it will be ok.

I think I've seen the Hoxton Hotel well spoken of, Ahmed, but if you want to go to Oxford, you'd need to get to Paddington Station. Liverpool St is for trains to East Anglia (including Cambridge).

Thanks PatrickLondon for correcting me. I was thinking of both Cambridge and Oxford. Will probably visit only Cambridge this time due to convenience and i believe Cambridge is nicer to visit for a day. Even though I was in the UK for several years over 20 years ago when I was student staying in Grimbsy, Norwich, Coalvail, Barnstable- Devon and London but I do not believe have visit the two university centres. Probably i was spending more time meeting english girles than studying!! Now about 54years old will be difficult if not impossible to return to old days. Will be contend to walk arround and visited new places...etc., Thanks again.

OMG Coalville - what a dump

I'm partial (and not completely experienced) but I loved the Notting Hill area. We stayed in a flat on Pembridge Crescent for 10 nights and fell competely in love with the area. We used the tube a lot (but had passes so it was no problem). This was my only trip to London so I'm not as familiar with other neighborhoods, but from what I saw in our short stay Notting Hill was perfect for us (3 ladies celebrating their 30th birthdays). It's fun and quirky with lots of good restaurants and shops (with very unique items). It was excellent for making it to the market early before the crowds too! Our street was particularly quiet at night...very nice

Does anyone know about a hotel called The Grand at Trafalgar Square? From what I can find out, it seems that it's either a fairly recent conversion or renovation. Any info would be appreciated!

To Laustic: From whom did you rent the flat in Notting Hill area? Was it fairly flat waling in the immediate neighborhood (say, to bus or tube stop)?
Thanks.