Central London Hotels

Central London Hotels

Many people want to have a holiday or vacation in the centre of London. Some people want to have a vacation in the city because they want to see the attractions the sites, the landmarks and the famous places. Some want to see the entertainment or sports venues. Some want to see the culture of the city. Some want a luxury or cheap hotel.

The term Central London refers to the districts of London, England which are considered closest to the centre. There is no conventional definition, nor any official one, for the entire area that can be called central London. Central London covers about 10 square miles (26 square kilometres) on both areas of north-south River Thames. Central London can be split into three main sections, the City, the West End, and South Bank. The South Bank stretches over the river from these regions.

As a starting point in considering what Central London means, it is important to recognise that London does not consist of a small high rise core surrounded by a belt of very low density districts. The situation is more complex. The section of London that is of an urban, as opposed to a suburban, character is very extensive, encompassing most of the districts built before 1914. Before the First World War, most London housing, including housing in the most expensive districts, was terraced. Low-density suburbs were first built in the early 19th century, but they did not become predominant for another hundred years.

During the 20th century, and especially in the decades after the Second World War, the size of the fashionable central area of London shrank considerably as the old aristocratic London elite faded away and many members of the middle classes decided that life close to the city centre was no longer appealing. At that time, government planners often had a negative view of urban life as well, and a large amount of housing in central London had been destroyed during the Second World War. Thus, many members of the working class were induced to move out of the city centre as well, either to suburban developments around London or to new towns further afield. However, since the 1980s, many of these areas have become gentrified, and they are regarded as desirable areas of central London once again. A very large section of urban West London still contains areas which are extremely expensive to live in. These areas are Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Brompton, Kensington, Chelsea, South Kensington, Belgravia, Holland Park, Notting Hill, St John's Wood, Marylebone and Soho.

Central London and Inner London

Inner London is a defined term meaning that part of Greater London which was part of the County of London and by definition includes all of central London.

Use of Inner London in some contexts can carry negative connotations and be used only to describe those inner-city areas affected by poverty, crime, and social problems while Central London carries more prestigious connotations and is used in terms of business, entertainment, tourism and desirable housing. In this context it is suggested that Central London is surrounded by Inner London and not part of it.

South Bank and its environs

London began on the north bank of the Thames, and its centre of gravity is still strongly on that side of the river, but a wide range of major buildings and facilities have been built south of the river in recent decades. The South Bank and Bankside areas are now accepted as being part of "central London", and some people would include other districts on this side of the river as well.

The East End

Although much of the East End of London is completely urban in character, compared to the West End of London it has historically been the poorer side of the city. With extensive redevelopment, social change and rising land values this contrast has been reduced.

Inner suburbs

To the west and north west of the core districts listed above there is a ring of fashionable mainly Victorian and primarily residential districts around all four sides of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, such as Holland Park and Notting Hill. Some people consider all of these districts to be part of "central London". Similar claims would also be made by many for the fashionable north western districts as far out as Hampstead.

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