What are short stay apartments in London?
Short stay apartments in London are fully furnished, self-contained flats available to rent for short periods, typically anywhere from a few nights to several months, with everything included: furniture, kitchen, Wi-Fi, utilities, and usually weekly cleaning. They sit between a hotel and a long-term rental, giving you the space and self-catering freedom of a flat with the flexibility and serviced convenience of a hotel. They are also known as serviced apartments or London stay apartments, and they have become one of the fastest-growing accommodation types in the capital.
This guide covers who short-stay apartments suit, what they really cost in 2026, the best areas to look, how they compare to hotels and student accommodation, and how to book one without getting caught out.
london City properties
Find your perfect student accommodation
Who short stay apartments in London suit
Short stay apartments work for a wide range of people, which is part of their appeal:
- Business travellers and remote workers on assignments of a week to a few months who want a proper kitchen and workspace rather than a cramped hotel room
- Students and academics on short courses, exchanges, placements or research visits who need flexible terms shorter than a standard tenancy
- Families visiting London who want separate bedrooms and a kitchen rather than multiple hotel rooms
- People relocating to London who need a comfortable base while they search for a permanent home
- Tourists staying a week or more who prefer space and self-catering to a hotel
- Anyone between homes, renovating, or needing temporary housing for personal reasons
The common thread is the need for flexibility, space, and self-catering that neither a hotel nor a 12-month tenancy provides.
London stay apartments: what they cost in 2026
Pricing varies enormously by area, size, season, and length of stay, with longer stays attracting lower nightly rates. As a broad guide for 2026:
| Apartment type | Typical nightly rate | Typical weekly rate |
| Studio (outer/Zone 2-3) | £90-£150 | £550-£950 |
| Studio / 1-bed (central Zone 1) | £150-£280 | £1,000-£1,800 |
| 2-bedroom (central) | £250-£450 | £1,600-£3,000 |
| Premium / luxury (prime central) | £400-£800+ | £2,800-£5,500+ |
The single biggest cost lever is length of stay. Many providers offer significant discounts for stays of 28 nights or more, partly because stays of 28+ nights are exempt from VAT on a portion of the rate under UK rules, which providers often pass on. If your stay is around a month or longer, always ask for the long-stay or monthly rate rather than booking night by night.
The best areas for short stay apartments in London
Where to base yourself depends on why you are in London:
South Kensington: Kensington and Chelsea suit those wanting elegant, quieter, upmarket surroundings with good transport, popular with families and longer-stay visitors.
The City: Canary Wharf suits business travelers, with modern serviced apartment blocks built around the financial districts and fast transport links.
Shoreditch, Hoxton, and the East End suit younger visitors and creative professionals wanting nightlife, independent culture, and a livelier scene.
Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, and the West End suit those who want to be central for theatres, universities, shopping and sightseeing, walkable to much of central London.
Greenwich, Wimbledon, and outer zones suit budget-conscious and longer-stay visitors happy to trade a central location for more space and lower rates, with a manageable commute on the Tube or rail.
Short stay apartments vs hotels vs student accommodation
To decide whether a short stay apartment is right for you, here is the honest comparison:
Versus hotels: short stay apartments give you more space, a full kitchen (big savings on eating out), separate living and sleeping areas, and better value on longer stays. Hotels win on daily housekeeping, on-site facilities like room service and gyms, and very short one or two-night stays where serviced apartments are less cost-effective.
Versus standard rentals: short stay apartments need no long tenancy, no furniture, no setting up utility accounts, and no lengthy referencing, but they cost more per month than an unfurnished long-term let. They suit stays of days to months; for a year or more, a standard tenancy is cheaper.
Versus student accommodation in London: for students staying a full academic year, purpose-built student accommodation is far cheaper and more social. Short stay apartments suit students only for short courses, summer schools, placements or arrival periods where a full tenancy does not fit. A student on a 40-week course should look at student accommodation in London rather than a serviced apartment.
How to book short stay apartments in London safely
The short-let market in London includes excellent professional operators and, unfortunately, some scams. Protect yourself:
- Use established serviced apartment providers or reputable platforms rather than unverified private listings
- Verify the apartment and operator exist, check the address, the company and independent reviews
- Never pay by bank transfer or cryptocurrency to an individual; legitimate operators take card payments and issue contracts
- Check exactly what is included, utilities, Wi-Fi, cleaning frequency, linen and any extra fees or deposits
- Confirm the cancellation policy before paying, especially for longer bookings
- Ask for the long-stay rate if staying 28 nights or more
- Beware listings far below market rate, a central London 2-bed at £400 a week does not exist legitimately
A note on regulations
London has a 90-night annual limit on short-term lets of entire homes through platforms like Airbnb without planning permission, introduced to protect housing supply. Professional serviced apartment operators work within these rules, which is another reason to favor established providers over informal listings, especially for longer stays.
Wassup
Instagram??
FAQs
What are short stay apartments in London?
Short stay apartments, also called serviced apartments or London stay apartments, are fully furnished self-contained flats rented for short periods from a few nights to several months, with furniture, kitchen, Wi-Fi, utilities and usually cleaning included. They combine the space of a flat with the flexibility and convenience of a hotel.
How much do short stay apartments in London cost?
Rates range from around £90-£150 per night for outer-zone studios up to £400-£800+ for prime central luxury apartments. Weekly rates run from roughly £550 to £5,500+ depending on size, area and season. Stays of 28 nights or more usually attract significantly lower rates.
Are short stay apartments cheaper than hotels in London?
For stays of several nights or more, often yes, because you save on eating out with a full kitchen and get more space for the money. For one or two-night stays, hotels are usually more cost-effective. The longer the stay, the more short stay apartments win on value.
What is the best area for short stay apartments in London?
It depends on your purpose: South Kensington and Chelsea for upmarket quiet, the City and Canary Wharf for business, Shoreditch for nightlife and culture, Bloomsbury and the West End for central sightseeing, and outer zones like Greenwich or Wimbledon for better value on longer stays.
Can students use short stay apartments in London?
Yes, but they suit students only for short courses, placements, summer schools or arrival periods. Students staying a full academic year will find purpose-built student accommodation in London far cheaper and more social than a serviced apartment.
How do I avoid scams when booking a London stay apartment?
Use established operators or reputable platforms, verify the apartment and company exist, never pay an individual by bank transfer or cryptocurrency, check exactly what is included, confirm the cancellation policy, and be suspicious of any central apartment priced far below the market.