Though there are plenty of great hotels in London, sometimes it’s the home comforts travellers want. From luxury lofts to low-key family pads, Culture Trip has the low-down on the best Airbnbs in London.
Comfy artist’s home
Homestay, Apartment
This comfy artist’s home in Camden features various trinkets | Courtesy of Tessa / Airbnb
This one-of-a-kind home is a favourite of travellers, and it’s easy to see why. Tessa – the owner who shares the space – has decorated it with her own artwork and a collection of beautifully preserved family heirlooms and trinkets from her travels around the world. The result is an impeccably designed space with a bohemian edge. It is a great option for solo travellers and couples as guests stay on a sofa bed in the lounge, but the room can sleep up to three.
Hampstead, along with its surrounding area, is the preferred home of the rich and famous. Located on Primrose Gardens, this two-bedroom apartment is in one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in London. The house is ideal for families (there are many toys and books to occupy children) or a group of four friends. Make time for a walk on nearby Primrose Hill for one of the best views of the city.
The River Thames flows on two sides of Mikail’s Docklands house on the river. Up to nine guests can rent four double rooms and one single room in this spacious family-friendly house. Guests can enjoy spectacular views across the river from the large lounge, kitchen and dining room. The property also has a private drive and is just two minutes from Island Gardens station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
Two-bedroom Airbnb flats in Canary Wharf are hard to come by, particularly ones as spacious as this. Thoroughly modern and all decked out in white and glass, it’s an uber-stylish city stay that sleeps up to six guests. There are two bathrooms, so you won’t all be fighting over the shower in the morning. Also, its prime location makes it easy to get into Central London on the DLR.
Notting Hill is the perfect location for first-time visitors to London, thanks to its charming streets and world-renowned Portobello Road Market. This modern flat is in a traditional red-brick townhouse and offers everything you could hope for from an Airbnb. The owners also provide tea, coffee and toiletries, so all you need to do is arrive and enjoy.
Yes, you can stay in a yurt in London. This unusual accommodation, located in Highgate, is one of the most in-demand Airbnbs in the city thanks to its sheer novelty and cosy vibe. Surrounded by trees, squirrels and foxes, it offers the kind of bucolic setting that’s not easily found in the Big Smoke. The closest Tube station is just a short walk away, so you can get back to busy city life whenever you feel like it.
This Islington church has been converted into a flat, where you can stay beneath vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows. The apartment sleeps up to four people in two bedrooms, and despite the building’s age – more than 150 years old – it’s fitted with underfloor heating, black-out blinds, a contemporary kitchen and a bathroom with a power shower. You won’t need to splash out on a dizzyingly expensive rooftop bar, either. On a clear day, the views from the top floor stretch from Alexandra Palace and Hampstead Heath to The Shard and the BT Tower.
This beautiful studio apartment couldn’t be better located. Minutes from designer department store Harrods, and within walking distance of the Science Museum and V&A Museum, it’s perfect for those who want to live lavishly without spending a fortune. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, and the bathroom comes with a tub. The studio itself is luxuriously decorated with richly upholstered furniture, chandeliers and drapes that wouldn’t be out of place in a stately home.
This unique home is one of TV show Grand Designs’ most memorable conversions and has sweeping views across the whole city through impressive floor-to-ceiling windows. The space has one bedroom and one bathroom, complete with a roll-top bath and a walk-in shower. While the owner of the property also lives here and is always on hand to help with anything you need, you’ll have this particular area to yourself.
In the middle of trendy Hackney, this converted school mixes period features with exposed-brick walls and sleek, modern design. For what you get – in this case, space and style – it’s extremely affordable. The owner, Nathalie, shares the apartment and is welcoming and knowledgeable about the local area. While you don’t get the whole apartment to yourself, you’ll have a large bedroom to enjoy.
Forget everything you thought you knew about barges – this one looks like something off the pages of a trendy design magazine. Although the interior is small, its well-designed layout feels cosy rather than cramped and can sleep up to four people. There’s a kitchen with a gas oven, and the bathroom even has a claw-foot tub. The best bit? The boat isn’t on a permanent mooring and moves around, meaning you can stay in Portobello, Westbourne Grove, Little Venice or Paddington.
