London: Choosing a safe place to stay in London

First the good news, London is one of the most exciting large cities in Europe, it is also one of the safest. But it is a large city and where you have a lot of people, especially tourist, you will attract the criminal element. Having said that, there are things that you can do to be sure you choose a safe place to stay in London.



Like any large city, London is made up of many districts. Several make an excellent choice when you are choosing where you would like to stay.

Bloomsbury

If you are on a budget, Bloomsbury is a great area to stay. It has easy access to the tube from several different stops. Russell Square on the Piccadilly Line is a very busy station with a central location. Lots of large tourist class hotels are on offer in this area which though charmless are good value for money. Tons of eclectic places to eat and the British Museum is right in the middle of everything. A handful of smaller more boutique hotels have cropped up that even the most discriminating traveler will appreciate.

Chelsea

If you want an upscale area with great shopping and some really lovely hotels, Sloan Square is a great area to choose. Public transportation is available at Sloan Square and you can feel quite safe walking around. Some wonderful antique stores and excellent restaurants will make visitors happy.

South Kensington

South Kensington has some of London’s best museums and also is a great place to stay. There are two Millennium Hotels within a very short walk of the tube stop at South Kensington. There are many others as well. The restaurants are good as well and you can walk to Kensington Palace and Gardens.

Knightsbridge

If you don't mind spending a high price for your accommodations, Knightsbridge is an ideal location. There are fantastic boutique hotels, you can walk to Harrods and Harvey Nichols, You can even walk past some of the designer shops that Princess Diana used to frequent as well as the restaurants where she went for lunch with friends. This is a trendy, upscale neighborhood and there are a lot of well-heeled people walking around at any given time.

Earls Court

If you are looking for economy hotels, this is a very young and lively area and there are even hostels in the area. There is a little more poverty evident in this neighborhood but there are a few hotels close enough to the tube station to make walking the streets not a real issue. There are usually plenty of people on the streets and there is a wide variety of ethnic restaurants as well as banks and a post office branch.

These are some of the safest places to stay in London but not the only ones. The best way to be safe in the area you choose is to use common sense. Keep your valuables hidden and when you are in your room place them in your safe and put the chain lock on your door. Don’t wander around an area you are unfamiliar with, don’t accept drinks from strangers and try to travel in a group at night.

If you are always aware of your surrounding you are less likely to be a victim of crime. London is a great city to visit, just be smart and you will have a safe and enjoyable stay.

Many of you know that we have been to London more than 20 times so have stayed at a variety of hotels, everything from luxury to tourist class. At the end of the day, it is all about location, location, location. Choosing a hotel that is convenient to a tube station or  bus stop is important unless you plan to cab it everywhere.