Which area to stay in London?

[Anonymous]

We are planning a trip to London in August with my husband, in-laws, and toddler. We need to find an apartment style rental but are trying to narrow down an area of town to start looking. We would like to be walkable to a few parks but also to great coffee shops and restaurants, and perhaps a walk to the most touristy spots if doable (we can tube it too). We don't want to be in the heart of the most touristy parts of the city (e.g. like times sq in NY or chinatown/the mall in DC), but a 10-15 minute walk would be great. If we were to think of a DC equivalent, I think someplace like Shaw, Georgetown, or non-7th street Chinatown.

Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Bloomsbury is more central but has quiet streets. You can walk, bus or tube it easily from anywhere you might want to go.

or Kensington

[Anonymous]

Chelsea. There are plenty of apartment rental places in the area - you just need to google for them.

[Anonymous]

I'm from London and all of the above are good (if expensive) options.

My Australian cousins found a good apartment rental with kids in South Kensington - walkable to all the museums and great cafes, restaurants and parks on the door step.

Anywhere near High Street Kensington is also really nice.

[Anonymous]

Knightsbridge or Kensington will have good park/tube/shopping/coffeehouse access.

That said, you choices may be limited. When we've booked apartments this close to the time of the trip, there hasn't been a lot available. Enough, but not a ton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from London and all of the above are good (if expensive) options.

My Australian cousins found a good apartment rental with kids in South Kensington - walkable to all the museums and great cafes, restaurants and parks on the door step.

Anywhere near High Street Kensington is also really nice.

+1. We found a nice apartment in South Kensington on AirBnB near a Tesco's and it was a very nice area and convenient.

[Anonymous]

Notting Hill. South Kensington is a good option too, but Notting Hill is the best choice. Multiple table lines; very family friendly; central location

[Anonymous]

tube, not table!

[Anonymous]

We like Baywater / Notting Hill.

[Anonymous]

I haven't been to London in years, but both times (13 and 17) I remember loving staying in flats in South Kennsington. We stayed with friends both times, so we didn't consider other areas.

[Anonymous]

I stayed in a hotel in Clerkenwell and found it very convenient.

[Anonymous]

we stayed in an Airbnb in South Kensington last year with our 8, 7 and 5 year olds. It worked out really well.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at the Sofitel near Piccadilly. Lovely