London Short-Term Rental Guide
London · United Kingdom
London's 90-night annual cap defines entire-home hosting in the capital. Here's how to work within it — and host guests brilliantly.
London is one of the world's great travel cities and a huge short-term rental market — but entire-home lets are governed by the well-known '90-night rule,' which caps short-term letting of a whole home to 90 nights per calendar year without planning permission. This guide covers what hosts need to know and the neighborhoods and recommendations that make a London stay shine.
For hosts: the rules
In Greater London, letting an entire home on a short-term basis is capped at 90 nights per calendar year unless you obtain planning permission; platforms help enforce the limit.
- Entire-home short-term lets are limited to 90 nights per calendar year without change-of-use planning permission.
- Check your lease and freeholder/managing-agent rules — many prohibit short-term letting outright.
- Ensure appropriate safety compliance (gas safety, smoke/CO alarms) and insurance.
- Longer lets and hosted room rentals are common ways to operate beyond the 90-night cap.
Always verify locally: The 90-night rule, lease terms, and safety obligations all apply. Confirm your specific building's rules and any planning requirements before listing. This is general information, not legal advice.
For hosts: demand & seasonality
Strong year-round with summer and holiday peaks and steady business demand. Transport links (Tube proximity) drive value more than almost anything.
Peak: Summer (June–August) and December holidays
Demand-spiking events
Where to stay: neighborhoods
South Bank & Southwark
Riverside walks, theatres, markets
Best for: First-timers, walkability
Shoreditch
Street art, nightlife, food scene
Best for: Younger travelers, nightlife
Kensington & Notting Hill
Elegant, museums, the famous market
Best for: Couples, families, culture
Camden
Markets, music, canal-side buzz
Best for: Music lovers, value
For guests: local recommendations
Do this once
- Walk the South Bank at dusk
- A West End show
- Borough Market for lunch
Free & iconic
- British Museum (free)
- Tate Modern (free)
- Parks: Hyde Park, Regent's Park
Getting around
- Tap in with contactless on the Tube
- Walk between central sights
- A red double-decker (route 11 is scenic)
Questions guests always ask
What's the best way to get around?
The Underground (Tube) — just tap a contactless card or phone; there's a daily fare cap. Central London is also very walkable between sights.
Which is the nearest Tube station?
See the guide for your closest stations and lines — knowing your nearest one or two makes the whole city easy to navigate.
Are the big museums really free?
Yes — the British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery, and Natural History Museum have free general admission (special exhibitions are ticketed).
Answer every one of these London questions for guests — automatically, 24/7, in any language.
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