The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in London

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to London

Big Ben, London, England Big Ben, London, England

If it's your first trip to London, UK for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to London. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in London. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in London for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited London beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in London for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

The Savoy London

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $596 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 189 Strand, Wc2r 0eu, The Savoy London has great rooms from $596 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 9.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.5 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and cooking classes at this relaxing hotel. The indoor pool at this hotel is very nice, and is a great place to unwind and relax on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Shangri-La The Shard London

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $651 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to London
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Shangri-La The Shard London which has nice rooms starting at $651. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 31 St Thomas Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers child care, laundry services, city views, a spa, and an indoor pool which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.7 km from the city center. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Infinity pool


Royal Lancaster London

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $300 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Royal Lancaster London to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $300. We loved that is has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Lancaster Terrace. You'll also find a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, child care, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 3.5 km from the center of town. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


The Carlton Tower Jumeirah

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $744 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $744, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, at On Cadogan Place provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a hot tub. It's located just 2.6 km from the city center, too. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $320 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to London
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10, and offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. The great rooms here start at $320 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 116 Piccadilly. Furthermore, it also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.6 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Park Plaza County Hall London

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $145 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Park Plaza County Hall London is 8.70 out of 10. This place has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $145, and it's located at 1 Addington Street. We also love the rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, city views, a spa and wellness center, and a spa which are great for visitors. And since it's just 1 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room


Claridge's

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $793 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in London
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Claridge's because it has great rooms that start at $793. It has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Brook Street. Only 1.6 km from the city center, travelers will especially love child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a spa and wellness center at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $194 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Family-Friendly

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $194 (before taxes). It's located at 200 Westminster Bridge Road and has earned a guest rating of 8.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, city views, a spa and wellness center, and a spa which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1 km from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room


One Aldwych

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $469 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to London
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 1 Aldwych, One Aldwych has great rooms from $469 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 9.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find child care, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.6 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room


The Langham London

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $541 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is The Langham London which has nice rooms starting at $541. Offering room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1C Portland Place. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views. It's located just 1.6 km from the city center, too. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Brighton, Eastbourne, Cambridge, and Hastings.

For more terrific hotel ideas in London, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in London, Best Cheap Hotels in London, Best Luxury Hotels in London, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in London, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in London, Best Hotels for One Week in London, Best Hotels for One Night in London, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in London, Best Adults Only Hotels in London, Best Party Hotels in London, Best Business Hotels in London, or Best Party Hotels in London.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in London?

London Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$192

After analyzing 450 first time trip hotels in London, UK, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $192. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in London.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $404
  • 4-star hotels: $153
  • 3-star hotels: $107
  • 2-star hotels: $64


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