Area of London - June visit
Feb 1st, 2011, 01:52 PM
#1
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Area of London - June visit
I am planning a trip to England with my family (my husband, 12 yo son and 10 yo daughter). We fly into Heathrow on the 20th (Monday), rent a car and drive to Abingdon. I have family there, and we'll visit with them until Thursday. We return to London on Thursday for a friend's wedding. We'll drop the car at Heathrow and tube into London. There will be wedding events at the groom's mother's house (within walking distance of Northwood stop on Metropolitan line) on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon / evening. We are on our own during the day Thursday and Friday, as well as Saturday morning. We fly back Sunday morning.
We have been to London before, so don't have a list of must-sees, though I would like to return to the British Museum. We will be there during Wimbledon, and are thinking about trying to get grounds passes on Thursday or Friday.
My question is - what area of London is best for us to stay in? I'd like to be close to the Metropolitan line, to make our trips for the wedding events easy. But also close to the Piccadilly line, since we'll be taking the tube to/from Heathrow. Right now, I am leaning towards staying in Bloomsbury. We stayed close to Green Park last time we were there, which we really liked, but it would mean changing trains to get to the Metropolitan line. Any feedback or thoughts from this group would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
We have been to London before, so don't have a list of must-sees, though I would like to return to the British Museum. We will be there during Wimbledon, and are thinking about trying to get grounds passes on Thursday or Friday.
My question is - what area of London is best for us to stay in? I'd like to be close to the Metropolitan line, to make our trips for the wedding events easy. But also close to the Piccadilly line, since we'll be taking the tube to/from Heathrow. Right now, I am leaning towards staying in Bloomsbury. We stayed close to Green Park last time we were there, which we really liked, but it would mean changing trains to get to the Metropolitan line. Any feedback or thoughts from this group would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Feb 1st, 2011, 03:12 PM
#2
Do you mean Northwood Hills tube? That is quite far out in NW London not far from Ruislip. Almost as close to places like Maidenhead/Slough/LHR/High Wycombe as it is to the British Museum.
If it was me (but locals may have a better solution) I might not stay in central London, AND I might keep the car. You could stay in someplace like Watford or Slough (or even farther away like Windsor) and be w/i a reasonable drive of the wedding activities, but still take the train or tube into London for sightseeing. The only place the Met and Pic tube lines cross is at Kings Cross.
In any case, you'll have some long commutes if you try to do wedding and sightseeing activities from one location.
If it was me (but locals may have a better solution) I might not stay in central London, AND I might keep the car. You could stay in someplace like Watford or Slough (or even farther away like Windsor) and be w/i a reasonable drive of the wedding activities, but still take the train or tube into London for sightseeing. The only place the Met and Pic tube lines cross is at Kings Cross.
In any case, you'll have some long commutes if you try to do wedding and sightseeing activities from one location.
Feb 1st, 2011, 03:21 PM
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You don't mention a budget . . . there are hotels and B and B's on this list, everything including chains (Thistles)
http://www.hotel-assist.com/bloomsbu...-hotels.london
If your budget allows, the new Renaissance hotel at the St. Pancras station looks fantastic. They have special rates for the grand opening (March) but do not know how long those will continue. I stayed in the St. Pancras area for a few nights in the last year and found it very convenient.
http://www.hotel-assist.com/bloomsbu...-hotels.london
If your budget allows, the new Renaissance hotel at the St. Pancras station looks fantastic. They have special rates for the grand opening (March) but do not know how long those will continue. I stayed in the St. Pancras area for a few nights in the last year and found it very convenient.
Feb 1st, 2011, 03:52 PM
#5
"<i>Watford and Slough would be at the bottom of my list....</i>"
They're not on the tourist highlight list for sure
But hopefully someone will come up w/ a better option. The Thursday is the main problem as I see it. Driving to LHR, turn in car, tube to London and then all the way back out to Northwood Hills. That is one looooong slog
Maybe stay Thursday night out west of London and not turn in the car until the next morning. Then travel into the city on Friday and stay somewhere in the center.
They're not on the tourist highlight list for sure
But hopefully someone will come up w/ a better option. The Thursday is the main problem as I see it. Driving to LHR, turn in car, tube to London and then all the way back out to Northwood Hills. That is one looooong slog
Maybe stay Thursday night out west of London and not turn in the car until the next morning. Then travel into the city on Friday and stay somewhere in the center.
Mar 10th, 2011, 07:47 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions. We decided to take janisj's advice, and will keep the car and stay in Abingdon an extra night (which we had already paid for, as the rental only books rooms Mon - Fri), and then Windsor for the last two nights. Abingdon is only an hour drive from the Thursday night wedding activity, and Windsor is only a 30 minute drive from where the wedding is, so I think this will work out much better!
I will post a trip report upon our return. Thanks again.
Carolyn
I will post a trip report upon our return. Thanks again.
Carolyn
