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Discover Airbnb London, how it works and where you can stay.
Airbnb London offers a fantastic variety of options, from private room hire in a property to the hire of entire flats or houses. Airbnb offers something for every need and budget.
You can rent a single room in a small flat in a cheap London area or you can splash out and rent an entire luxury apartment overlooking the River Thames. You’ll also find some unique and quirky places to stay using Airbnb London, which can really enhance your stay in London.
Book your London Airbnb: Find the best Airbnb in London for your needs
Enter your desired dates and number of guests to view the prices. To find the best Airbnb in London for you, zoom in and out of the map and the properties will keep loading as you drag the map around. We have explained the legend just below the map.
Instant booking allowed 
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What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is a global company that connects hosts and travellers, allowing both to benefit. The simple idea is that people like to stay somewhere different, good value and personal. Hosts offer rooms or properties for rent on Airbnb, in good locations with a truly personal connection and service.
As a visitor you get to enjoy great locations, a home from home experience and hosts who will know the local area as well as any tour guide. Airbnb has a review and rating system that means reviews can only be posted once a reservation is complete, this means the feedback you read on any Airbnb in London will be genuine and unbiased.
If you do not want to stay in a hotel and are looking for something a bit different or more personal, then Airbnb London is a great option.
How does Airbnb work?
All the properties on Airbnb have to meet a minimum rating and hospitality standard to remain on Airbnb London. These ratings will be governed by guest reviews which makes it in the hosts best interests to make sure your stay is as good as it can be.
You’ll book through the website, selecting dates and property and once you have stayed you will review the property for other future guests. It’s that simple.
Is Airbnb cheaper than hotels?
Where to stay in London?
London is a big city and every area offers different attractions to the first-time visitor. Most people head for the centre of London, but this comes at a price. It can be a price worth paying if you want to be in the heart of the city and close to nightlife, shopping, theatres and some of the big attractions.
There are other options though. London has excellent transport links and it is easy to get just about anywhere in London in around 20 minutes by London Underground. This opens up a host of other areas of London to consider and allows all budget levels to really enjoy a visit to London. You'll find hotels and Airbnb's in all areas of London.
Best Airbnb areas in London
Excellent budget areas to consider are Bayswater, Euston, Kings Cross & St Pancras, Paddington and Victoria. There is of course cross over in all areas, so predominantly budget areas will still offer excellent luxury hotel accommodation.
Mid-range to luxury areas will also have some cross over but Regents Park, Bloomsbury, Kensington, London City Airport and Docklands, County Hall and Waterloo and the City of London are all areas full of mid-range and luxury hotels. The West End, Leicester Square and Oxford Street will put you in the heart of the city but a price.
Check our complete where to stay in London page for full details on all these areas.
All about Airbnb London
What does Airbnb mean?
The name derives from the founders offering an air bed and breakfast in their apartment as a means of making extra money. In essence they offered a blow up bed and nice cooked breakfast to their guests. The business was built off this simple idea that visitors like to stay somewhere different, good value and personal.
Bed & Breakfasts have existed in the UK for years so it may not have seemed such a novel idea here, but renting out a spare room of your home found a market gap and made Airbnb a huge success.
When do you pay Airbnb?
Until recently customers had to pay in full at time of booking, the amount was then held on account at Airbnb and paid out to the host the day after you arrive at the accommodation. Airbnb released Pay Less Up Front in 2018 and now customers have the choice of paying for part of their trip at the time of booking, and the rest closer to check-in. The upfront cost will be a 50% deposit in most cases.
To qualify for Pay Less Up Front, the total of your stay must be $250 or more, and be booked at least 14 days in advance of your check-in date.
How safe is Airbnb London?
For the independent traveller using an Airbnb can make a lot of financial sense. There are however some best practices you should alwys use when choosing your accommodation.
Use the review system thoroughly, in busy areas look for properties with over 50 reviews and 5-stars, in less popular areas 25 should be your minimum. Read the reviews carefully, they are there to protect you from scams, bad properties and hosts. Use detailed due diligence and genuine guests views (not friends and family of the host) and you will find the best accommodation.
