StayAreasWestminster or Covent Garden: where should you stay in London?
- Westminster is cheaper: a mid-range double costs about $320 a night, against $360 in Covent Garden.
- Westminster is closer to 7 of the 12 big sights we timed; Covent Garden wins on 5.
- Covent Garden has more nightlife.
- Westminster has quieter nights.
- Westminster has less street crime: around the city average, against above the city average in Covent Garden.
WestminsterBest for first-time visitorsPick Westminster if
- First-time visitors with a long list of landmarks
- Families who want calm evenings
- Business travellers with meetings in Whitehall or Victoria
Covent GardenTheatres, shopping & street lifePick Covent Garden if
- First-time visitors on a short trip
- Theatre-goers
- Couples who want to walk everywhere
Westminster vs Covent Garden, side by side
The better one in each row is in green| What | Westminster | Covent Garden |
|---|---|---|
| What a night costs · typical double outside peak events, Sep 2026 | ||
| Budget double | $160 (better) | $190 |
| Mid-range double | $320 (better) | $360 |
| Luxury double | $695 (better) | $805 |
| Door to door · public transport or on foot, weekday morning | ||
| To Leicester Square | 10 min | 5 min (better) |
| Covent Garden Market | 20 min | 1 min walk (better) |
| Buckingham Palace | 8 min walk (better) | 37 min walk |
| Trafalgar Square | 23 min walk | 9 min walk (better) |
| London Eye | 10 min (better) | 21 min walk |
| Big Ben | 13 min walk (better) | 27 min walk |
| British Museum | 31 min | 17 min walk (better) |
| Arriving · weekday afternoon | ||
| From Heathrow | 62 min | 61 min |
| From Gatwick | 55 min (better) | 64 min |
| From Stansted | 83 min | 82 min |
| From Luton | 63 min | 58 min (better) |
| From London City Airport | 38 min (better) | 43 min |
| From Eurostar (St Pancras) | 24 min | 20 min (better) |
| What it's like · crime: data.police.uk; ratings ours | ||
| Street crime | Around the city average (better) | Above the city average |
| Sights on foot | Excellent | Excellent |
| Nightlife | Limited | Very good (better) |
| Quiet at night | Very good (better) | Limited |
| Food | Good | Very good (better) |
| Families | Very good | Very good |
| Transport | Excellent | Excellent |
Hotels in Westminster and Covent Garden
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Westminster or Covent Garden: questions
Is Westminster or Covent Garden better to stay in?
Westminster is cheaper: a mid-range double costs about $320 a night, against $360 in Covent Garden. Westminster is closer to 7 of the 12 big sights we timed; Covent Garden wins on 5. Covent Garden has more nightlife. Westminster has quieter nights. Westminster has less street crime: around the city average, against above the city average in Covent Garden. Westminster suits first-time visitors with a long list of landmarks and families who want calm evenings; Covent Garden suits first-time visitors on a short trip and theatre-goers.
Which is cheaper, Westminster or Covent Garden?
Typical doubles in Westminster: $160 budget, $320 mid-range, $695 luxury. In Covent Garden: $190, $360 and $805. Rates outside peak events, updated Sep 2026.
Is Westminster or Covent Garden safer?
Street crime in Westminster is around the city average; in Covent Garden it is above the city average. Based on data.police.uk.
Which is closer to the sights, Westminster or Covent Garden?
Door to door: Covent Garden Market is 20 min from Westminster and 1 min walk from Covent Garden; Buckingham Palace is 8 min walk from Westminster and 37 min walk from Covent Garden; Trafalgar Square is 23 min walk from Westminster and 9 min walk from Covent Garden; London Eye is 10 min from Westminster and 21 min walk from Covent Garden.
How far is Heathrow from Westminster and Covent Garden?
62 min to Westminster and 61 min to Covent Garden, door to door by public transport.