mrubio0806

We will be traveling to London on 4/26/13 and plan to stay for 7 days. I've been to London before but my DH and children (19 and 22) have not. Was thinking it would be great to stay at a bed and breakfast/country inn type of accommodation (to get the true English experience). Daily budget of $200/$225. It would very much help to also know how we would travel back and forth to city of London. Help me please.

jamikins

Well if you are visiting with the purpose of seeing the city I would stay in central London. Depending where you choose to stay your commute in and out could take a long time and could depend on infrequent train service, not to mention the cost.

How you would commute in and out of London would depend entirely on your choice of accommodations. If you are on a main commuter rail line you will get more frequent services but expect the train to be packed during rush hours.

This isn't something I would recommend for a visit to London. Especially if that budget includes transit, accommodation for all 4 of you...I don't think that's realistic.

If you want that experience I would spend say 5 nights in central London and then 2 nights in the country somewhere that interests you.

Happy travels!

Shanna

Hi - I've never stayed in Kew, but have visited the gardens several times and told myself that I needed to stay in that town. It's really pleasant and - obviously - close to the gardens, if that's something you'd be interested in. The train goes quickly into London. I have no advice on accomodations, just that it seemed like it would be a nice place to stay outside of the London chaos. But then I don't really care much for London - blasphemy, I know! Whatever you decide, have a great time.

Doppio

I agree with jamikins.

Is the $200/$250 budget just for your accommodations, or for <i>everything</i>?? Because quite frankly, if it's your entire daily budget for 4 adults, it's simply not realistic. At all. Are you and your husband footing the entire bill? I would hope that the 19 and 22 year old "children" are chipping in a bit.

Are you looking for all 4 of you to share *one* room? Or do you want two rooms? Hotel, Inn, and B&B rooms are usually very small, even for two people.

Ackislander

You can't get an early start if you are in the burbs because cheap transit fares don't begin until after commuting hours and you either have to come home early or stay late at the other end of the day.

It is really nice to go back to your room during the day to put your feet up.

With a week, I would rent an apartment. It will be cheaper than a hotel. If you really want a B&B experience, leave London a day early and go to somewhere like Winchester or the South Downs or Canterbury -- someplace a bit out of the hurly burly.

mrubio0806

The $200/250 budget is for accommodations only. And the trip is a graduation trip for my daughter. Depending on the price we could do two separate rooms.

mrubio0806

Of course, they will be responsible for their own personal purchases/incidentals.

jamikins

You will need to look for family rooms or two separate rooms...European hotel rooms don't include two double/queen beds like North American ones. I think you would appreciate the extra space of an apartment.

Doppio

London is a VERY expensive city, I found that out the hard way. I was so excited to get a great price on plane tickets, that I bought the tickets without even checking hotel/apartment rates. Whoops!

I falsely assumed accommodation prices would be comparable to Italy or Paris.. nope. Especially for a family of four.

Ackislander is right - try to get an apartment. Perhaps something like this:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...n_England.html

PalenQ

I now always stay in Eltham, about a 20-minute train ride from central London - and pay about 25 pounds per person - 28 pounds for a fully cooked English breakfast - 25 quid for a buffer of cereal, fruits, toast - unlimited - run by a sweet older lady - a real English B&B the likes of which I have never seen in London proper - Landlady lives in house and can advise on many things, etc.

So those type of places are indeed there if you want an authentic British B&B that is - and to me waiting on the platform of the Overground (commuter rail line above ground or at ground level - is kind of fun - just like locals who commute daily the short 20 minutes to central London.

janisj

If you mainly want to see London you need to stay IN London. As mentioned, the commute in/out will cost a LOT of time/money.

$200-$225 is approx £125-£140 -- which is not very much for 2 rooms, Even out in the 'burbs'. Even PQ's 'bargain'/down market B&B would cost about £112/$180-ish for the four of you. When you add the extra commute costs you'll be well over $200.

So you <u>definitely</u> need to look for an apartment.

Check out this website. They are 1 and 2 bdrm flats near the Tower of London and the 1bdrms (sleeping 4) run only about £105/$170 a night. The 2bdrms run £132/$210. Right now they have availability but they do book up.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk/

nytraveler

I'm afraid your budget just isn't going to do it for London. And there is no way I would try to stuff 4 adults into one teensy bedroom.

Definitely look at apartments - and when yuo thin about the price - add to the total the amount you would hve ot pay to commute if you were staying out in the burbs - not cheap for 4 people.

janisj

To clarify - the 1bdrm flats I linked don't have 4 beds in the bedroom. There is either a queen or 2 twins in the bedroom and a double sofa sleeper in the living room (plus a Kitchen and balcony or terrace). The two bedrooms which fit just inside your budget actually sleep up to 6. One of the 2bdrms has 1.5 baths - I <i>think</i> all the rest have just one bath.

stokebailey

I think it sounds like a great trip, and possible.

We stayed in quad hotel room in Bloomsbury with our 2 teenagers and loved it. Bathroom down the hall, but so what? I plan to do it again soon in a basic triple at Arran House now that they're 20 and 22. You can use the lounge, and are out and about most of the time anyway. Breakfast and VAT included in the price, so you can be frugal with meals and an occasional splurge. Celtic Hotel, others in that area seem good too.

We have used airbnb.com with success, paying careful attention to the reviews. You should be able to find a London apartment somewhere in your range, but ask here first about location. For instance, picking random dates, though I can't look at particulars with this computer:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/207353

A couple of days out in the countryside is very do able also. We liked our modest B&B in Bakewell:
http://www.evertonbandb.co.uk/

janisj

The Arran House is great. But its rates are higher than the OPs budget: £175 ($280) per night for an ensuite quad and £155 ($250) for shared bath,

Instead of 4 squeezed in one small room, for less £££ - £132 - they can have a 2bdrm flat w/ living room, full kitchen (Washer/dryer!), balcony or terrace.

I've stayed at the Arran House and will consider it again. Their singles are good value. But NOT for a full week and not for a family.

stokebailey

Yes for our family. And yes for a week. The money of course is another issue, but there are a lot of similar hotels in the area. An apartment as you say would be ideal.

Doppio

For your budget, I can also suggest The Arosfa. You can book the "family room" that sleeps 4, and as I recall they also have an apartment on the top floor. Or, you can book two rooms. Small rooms, but really, how much will you be in the room anyway?

Great area too. AND, everyone gets a full breakfast! (included in the price) ... The hosts, Tessa and Attila are lovely.

You can always email them and ask about rates, room size, etc.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_England.html

janisj

To clarify - there is nothing wrong w/ the Arran House (or the Arosfa for a for that matter) for a family.

What I meant was that <i>most</i> families would get cabin fever all staying in one room for a week . . . in just about <i>any</i> hotel. Even 4 or 5 star upmarket places. two or three nights - sure. But for a week that would be just too much 'togetherness'. Your family must be REALLY easy going. But in general I recommend B&Bs/hotels for short stays, but for 5,6,7, more nights -a flat is just so much more comfortable. And usually cheaper.

BTW - I just plugged mrubio0806's dates into the Asfora's booking site and in a quad room it came back as <B>£1120</B> for the week. That is nuts. There is no availability for 2 doubles (which would probably cost even more).

Doppio

janisj, wow.. £1120 for the week? That *is* nuts.

mrubio0806, what did you all do on your trip to Italy? One hotel room, 2 hotel rooms or an apartment?

EGC

Melrose House, a B&B located near the suburb of Beckenham in South London (SE20), has good reputation.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_England.html .