Where NOT to Stay in London – 10 Neighbourhoods to Avoid
If you’re looking for a place to stay on your visit to London, this guide where not to stay in London is for you.
Though I’m not a local, I’ve made the mistake of staying in an area on this list. With this guide, I want to help others avoid having the same experience.
Now, I’m not saying that you absolutely cannot stay in these areas, but I’d think twice about it, even if it’s where you find the cheapest accommodation.
If you want to know which areas you should consider staying in instead, check out my blog post here.
1. Stratford
Stratford is a small neighbourhood in East London. It was revamped for the 2012 Olympics, so it’s one of the more attractive areas in the city.
That being said, it mostly consists of office buildings and modern developments, so it also lacks the charm that the historic and cultural parts of London have.
It also has one of the biggest shopping centres in London – the Westfield Shopping Centre – and though it’s a decent area for locals to stay in, there are several reasons you may want to avoid it as a tourist.
The biggest downside of staying in Stratford is that it’s far away from central London. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to get anywhere you might do some sightseeing.
Because of the shopping centre, Stratford is always crowded, but not in the same way as areas like Covent Garden and Soho (where it’s mostly an excitable, culture-seeking crowd).
2. Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle may seem like a great area to stay in, especially because it’s close to many major tourist attractions you’ll probably want to visit on your trip.
But if it’s your first visit, I’d recommend trying a different area like Waterloo instead.
Elephant and Castle is marketed as an ‘up-and-coming’ area, because it’s constantly under construction, so there’s always scaffolding and closed sidewalks. And don’t forget about the noise!
This neighbourhood may be particularly unattractive for female solo travelers, because although not dangerous, many streets are poorly lit, making it less inviting at night.
3. Paddington/Bayswater
Paddington and Bayswater are two areas situated right next to each other. They’re close to many major tourist attractions, including Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace.
Because of the location, both areas are often recommended to tourists. As a result, they tend to feel like tourist traps without the charm you look for when you visit London.
Because there are so many tourists, the experience you get might not be as authentic and has no local character.
Although there are many budget accommodation options in Paddington and Bayswater, it’s only because it’s so tourist-heavy. Even the cheapest options tend to be overpriced for what you end up getting.
Many of the budget and mid-range hotels are tiny, dated, and have no charm.
Instead of Paddington or Bayswater, consider accommodation in Kensington and Hyde Park. There aren’t as many tourists, and the atmosphere is generally more relaxed and picturesque.
4. Croydon
If you just look for the cheapest accommodation in London, you’ll probably end up in an area like Croydon. That’s why it’s important to be informed about where exactly your hotel or hostel is.
Most importantly, Croydon is very far from central London, so traveling to places like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the West End usually takes around 45-60 minutes.
Croydon is also situated in Zone 5 of London’s public transport system, so it’ll end up being more expensive to stay there. So if you think about it, the money you save on accommodation will probably go straight to transport.
This neighbourhood is mostly shopping centres and office buildings, so there aren’t many cultural landmarks or interesting attractions to visit.
Croydon also isn’t the safest area, especially at night – it has a higher crime rate than average. So, if you’re traveling solo (especially as a woman), try to avoid it.
5. Hackney
Hackney is one of the trendiest areas in London. It’s super artsy and a hotspot for locals, but it’s not really a good place to stay, especially if you’re a first-time visitor looking to explore the city.
Most notably, Hackney is not connected to the rest of the city via the London Underground. In order to get anywhere, you’ll have to rely on the Overground lines and buses.
Usually, this means that you’ll have to transfer in order to get to places like the West End, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. Of course, getting to the city will end up taking pretty long, usually around 30-45 minutes.
Hackney is quite big and is divided into many areas that vary in terms of safety. Some areas are safe, but others have higher crime rates than average. So if you’re not a local who knows the areas well, it’s easy to end up in a spot that isn’t safe.
I think Hackney itself is a good spot to visit if you’re interested in underground music and art, and it’s a great place to get away from the city. But if you want to see any tourist attractions and experience the well-known charm of London, it’s not ideal.
6. Camden
Camden is another tourist hotspot in London. It’s most well-known for its market, which is a must-visit for any first-time tourist in London. It has everything from new spins on delicious international foods to beautiful handmade crafts.
But because of this, it tends to be very crowded, from early in the morning until late at night, and especially on weekends.
The area is also known for its music scene, with loud pubs and clubs around every corner. So it’s not a great place to relax after a long day of sightseeing.
And even though one of London’s major attractions (Camden Market) is here, it’s further away from all the other sights. So you’ll need to travel into the city daily for at least 20-30 minutes to get anywhere worth seeing.
In terms of safety, Camden isn’t the worst area in London. Violent crimes are rare, but pickpocketing, especially around the market area, is common.
In conclusion, Camden is a good place to visit for the day, but not to stay in.
7. Wembley
Wembley is known for its iconic stadium, which often hosts sporting events and concerts. But other than that, there isn’t much to see, so even if you find affordable accommodation here, I’d rethink staying in the area.
Wembley is far away from central London and it’s in Zone 4, meaning that transport costs will be high and it’ll take anywhere between 40 and 60 minutes to get to the city centre.
If you stay here at the time when an event is taking place, you’ll most likely be met with huge crowds, a lot of noise, and road closures.
The area also has a very generic and bland atmosphere, lacking the classic and historic London charm.
8. Deptford
Deptford is an area in southeast London which is often called a ‘hidden gem’. It’s an artsy, trendy area which is a great place to visit for a day trip, but if you’re a tourist who wants to see the city’s major sights, you should avoid staying here.
Deptford is not connected to the London Underground, so you’ll have to use the Overground or Southeastern trains to get to the city centre. Most trips to central locations also involve multiple transfers and you’ll end up traveling for 40-50 minutes each way.
The neighbourhood isn’t very picturesque or historical; instead, it has a rough, chaotic vibe. So if you’re looking for the ‘London charm’, this isn’t the place for you.
Deptford has a run-down atmosphere, especially at night, so I wouldn’t recommend staying there if you’re traveling solo.
Instead, for a relaxed, more scenic atmosphere nearby, check out Greenwich. It’s still quite far from the city, but it has better connections, so you’ll get there faster and more easily.
9. Edmonton
Edmonton is another area that’s often considered by tourists due to low accommodation costs, but it’s not a convenient base if you plan on doing any sightseeing.
It’s also in Zone 4, so you already know what that means – higher transportation costs and longer commutes to the city. Travel time from Edmonton into the city centre is at least 45 minutes.
Edmonton also isn’t connected to the London Underground, so it’s more difficult to navigate. But although the National Rail Services travel to the area, it’ll be especially tricky to get back if you’re exploring London at night (seeing a show, experiencing the nightlife, anything like that).
The area itself is mostly residential, with very little to offer tourists. There is little in terms of entertainment, restaurants, and good accommodation.
It’s also not a super-safe, super-polished area with a lot of charm, so I’d just avoid it altogether.
10. Brent Cross
Brent Cross is a neighbourhood in northwest London that is almost entirely residential. So if you want to see the city, this is an area you should avoid staying in.
Firstly, it’s very far from anything of interest to visitors – there are no museums, landmarks, or cultural venues. It’s also a 30-45 minute commute to the city, depending on where you want to go.
The area is most well-known for the Brent Cross Shopping Centre, but other than that, there really isn’t much to do or see.
