jcepk1

We only have 2 1/2 days in London before departing on a cruise. I'm looking for a hotel in the most central area of the city that would allow for easy walking to most attractions. We would prefer to be able to walk instead of relying on the Tube very much. I'm also looking for a hotel that has some traditional British charm and isn't in a modern building. So, any recommendations would be appreciated.

nytraveler

London is a very large city and there's now ay you can walk to most sights unless you plan on walking many miles each day. Mayfair or Covent Garden are both fairly central and will let you walk to some sights - but for others you will have to use the tube or cabs.

Separately, without a budget it's impossible to make any hotel recos. (Are you looking for super budget - 100 pounds a night - or luxury - 500 pounds a night?)

texasbookworm

You can't get within walking distance of "most attractions" if you are talking about the usual top 10 or 15. And with your limited time, you're only going to get to a very very few anyway. I'd suggest doing a few things and then reposting and you'll probably get some excellent recommendations:
Budget parameters
Dates
Who are "we"--number, ages, etc.

And do a little homework/planning--what do you think your "we" consider the most important things to try to see? Then look at a map and see where they are. For instance on one day you might try to do Westminster Abbey;walkby Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Parliament; go into one museum. You could pick a hotel within walking distance to all those. But the other day might have you at the Tower of London and/or St. Paul's or the British Museum and/or the British Library or the Tate or the V&A or...and none of those things the second day would be within walking distance of the hotel near the first day's stuff. See what I mean? The tube is easy, I think, and pretty cheap, really.

Anyway, if you repost with a little more info, you'll probably get some more direction---Decide what you MOST want to see in the time you have, and if they're all near each other, then look for hotel in that area. If they're not, then just pick a hotel and accept that you'll be using the Tube.

jcepk1

Honestly, I am not 100% sure what we want to try to fit into those 2 1/2 days. I haven't had enough time to do my research yet, but I'm worried about not getting a good hotel at a decent price because it is during Wimbledon. We plan on doing one of the bus tours for an overview of the city and then just want to explore. I learned not to try to cram everything into a few days when we were in Italy. By the time we got to Venice, we changed our approach and had much a better time just exploring little treasures we came across with a few of the bigger attractions. I'm trying not to spend more than $300 a night including VAT.

jcepk1

Oh and we are a couple... both 35.

texasbookworm

My favorites are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the British Museum. And St. Paul's. And the South Bank. And---ok, I can't limit my favorites! But the Tower, one of the big churches, the BritMus, and the normal iconic/picture things that are just walk-bys are what I'd suggest to try to get to in 2 days. Each needs about a half a day, including getting there and leisurely perusal (well, the British Museum's too big to be seen in a MONTH, but a few hours is a good intro). Are you guys into history, or art, or literature, or theater? I'd suggest you pick about 4 things/areas, giving each a half a day, and see what you can get done. Maybe do the bus thing upon arrival, be at the Tower when it opens, be at Westminster the next day when it opens. MANY different options and plans. (Some will say a bus tour is worth the money; I'd rather take a map and make up my own itineray and see up close at my own speed what I want, but do what works for you. It would be good to get that out of the way, though, and leave your 2 whole days for getting to actual sites.)

texasbookworm

And of course I didn't really address your questions about a hotel and I find it annoying when responders ignore the OP's actual question! Sorry! But if you at least think a bit about where you want to be, it might help others. We've stayed in BandB's in the Belgravia and Bayswater areas and in a not-so-great hotel near Baker Street and found all these areas to be great, for ease of access to transportation, food, and some sites. Just make sure your hotel is NEAR A TUBE STOP for when you do want to use it; consider how you're going to get to and from it upon arrival and departure (airline--LHR? and however you're getting to cruise). Other Fodorites have much more experience with actual hotels in London and perhaps will give you some suggestions.

janisj

Wimbledon really doesn't affect London hotel availability very much. Yes, it is internationally famous, but only a few thousand folks attend, and the majority of those are from the UK. That doesn't put much of a dent in the 100,000+ hotel rooms spread across London.

You won't have any trouble finding a place - but of course the sooner you book the better your choices.

Check out londontown.com where you can get some really goof deals.

As mentioned - no single location is walking distance to more than a tiny handful of the major sites. And w/ such a short time in the city, if you rely solely on walking, you won't get to very many.

The most central areas would include Covent Garden/the Strand, Westminster, Mayfair/Knightsbridge (generally very expensive neighborhoods), Holborn/Russell Square, Victoria, and South Kensington. Any of those areas would be convenient for sightseeing and are walking distance to at least something.

avalon

Try Millenium Bailey's on Gloucester Road. Londontown ususally has pretty good prices. It is across from a tube station.has good bus lines, and is in walking distance of ALbert Memorial, Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History museum, and Harrod's

iris1745

This hotel is in a good location near Victoria Station and some of the major sights. Richard www.limetreehotel.co.uk

texasbookworm

And as you look at recommendations, you can plug them into an interactive mapsite yourself and check actual walking distance--try walkit.com (and googlemaps will do this as well but I like walkit.com a bit better--it seems more accurate for London and gives more info about walking)