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First time in London...hotel for mother/daughter trip?

First time in London...hotel for mother/daughter trip?

Old Apr 20th, 2016, 05:08 PM
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First time in London...hotel for mother/daughter trip?

First off, thank you all for all the wonderful advice you have given others. I have been reading and learning for months and now have a plan for our trip. My 16 year old daughter and I will be in London for nine nights in August. We are thinking of staying at either St. James Court, The Nadler Victoria or The Sanctuary House. All our within our budget of around $300 a night, have AC and have either a King or two twin bed options. Does anyone have any opinions on these hotels or other options?

In addition to seeing all the typical tourist attractions, we will be spending one day at The Cursed Child, one day at the Warner Brothers Harry Potter tour and one at the Hampton Palace with boat ride back to London. We are also considering another side trip to either Oxford, Cambridge or Bath. We are flying home from Gatwick. Am I correct in believing the Victoria area is probably the best base for us?

Thanks!
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Old Apr 20th, 2016, 05:54 PM
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I haven't stayed at any of them but know them. All three are in the same general neighborhood and all are very nice properties. I honestly think - just pick one and you can't go wrong.

>>we will be spending one day at The Cursed Child>one at the Hampton Palace with boat ride back to London.>Am I correct in believing the Victoria area is probably the best base for us?
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Old Apr 20th, 2016, 10:49 PM
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I'm not a fan of the Victoria area, and there's lots of construction there at the moment. I would prefer being near a station that has the Piccadilly or Central line. The Circle Line is not so convenient, sometimes you wait 10 minutes or more for a train.

But these hotels are all fine.

In August I would try to go and see a play or musical at the Regents Park Open Air theatre.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 03:33 AM
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Thank you for your speedy responses. Yes, I mean that we are going to the Harry Potter play. I know and am glad we will have that morning free! I mentioned it just because it is one of those things we are definitely doing. We will head your advice about the boat back from the Hampton Court Palace. The open air musical sounds like something we would love!

The construction concerns me a bit. That's exactly the thing I needed to know. I picked the area because it seemed to be centrally located to many of the sites and we could easily get to and from them by walking or train. It was not just because of the ease of getting to Gatwick. I think if we were to take a tour to the Warner Bros Harry Potter studios, that also leaves from Victoria.

But I am certainly open to exploring other areas and was also considering the South Bank area (most hotels seem cheaper) and Convent Garden. I have looked west (I think) of Victoria, but without knowing where I am going, I don't really know what to choose. I would love to stay in any other great neighborhood as long as we can easily walk or train it, have ac in our room, and two beds or at least one king. Oh, and it would help if we stayed within our budget of $300 refundable per night! I am finding the refundable part is what is driving a lot of hotels out of our budget.

Sleeping well is important to me and my daughter, so any advice you have is awesome! This trip is for my daughter's 16th birthday and I would hate to mess up on the hotel where we will be for 9 nights!
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 03:51 AM
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I meant to say Covent Garden!
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 04:39 AM
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Covent Garden would be a good choice and your DD would probably like it there. Our first trip to London/Paris out tween/teen daughters just adored it (tons of ten shopping) and went back a couple of times by themselves when DH and I toured a couple of galleries we wanted to see - since it was our umpteenth trip to London.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 04:50 AM
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I think Covent Garden is better; lively, lots going on the minute you walk out of your hotel.

I don't know how close the construction in Victoria is to these hotels, I just notice it when I drive through there. Perhaps others can comment.

For 9 nights I would stay in a flat instead of a hotel. Gives you more privacy, and you don't have to eat all your meals in restaurants.
Onefinestay has a few in Covent Garden within your budget. You'd have to check if they have AC though.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 05:33 AM
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While an apartment has its advantages, I think you might enjoy the assistance staff at a hotel can give you during a first visit.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 06:37 AM
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>>The construction concerns me a bit.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 09:35 AM
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Is Covent Garden like Times Square in NYC? I ask bc although we have stayed there numerous times to see a show or event, I would hate to spend a week in NY in Times Square. Too crowded, loud, flashy and obnoxious for us--although a perfect location to see a Broadway show. I do understand we will be in a major city and am not looking for peace and quiet, btw!
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 09:55 AM
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I was in London last month and stopped by The Nadler Victoria. Very nice hotel but there is way too much construction in the surrounding area.

I have stayed at The Nadler Soho and was very pleased. Great staff. Be advised there is no restaurant on site but the hotel will make arrangements for breakfast delivery.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 10:57 AM
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>> Too crowded, loud, flashy and obnoxious for us
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 11:40 AM
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There is no place on London remotely like Times Square.

Covent Garden is a very central area. Lots of restaurants and theatres and shops . . . But mostly low rise.

I would not stay at the Nadler Victoria, simply because of the confusion/construction. But sanctuary house is not near that and is a very short walk from St James's Park and the Palace, and close to Westminster Abbey. It would be a lovely place to stay - close to things but not in the middle of the hub bub.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 12:02 PM
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It's funny, Sanctuary House was the very first hotel I picked. Thanks so much to you all, and I am truly thrilled that there is no place in London like Times Square!

One other question, does anyone have any thoughts on taking one day, or our last night, to see Oxford or Cambridge or Bath? It doesn't look particularly easy to get to Gatwick from any of those places so I am not sure it would make sense to give up our last day/ night for those. Our flight does not leave until the evening if that matters.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 02:58 PM
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You can very easily do a day trip to Oxford and be back in London for dinner. No need to stay over night. Take the train from Paddington Station or the Oxford Tube (terrible name -- isn't the tube - but an express bus) or X90 bus.

http://www.oxfordtube.com
http://x90.oxfordbus.co.uk

Both buses leave from in front of Victoria Station.

Bath is also doable as a day trip but takes longer getting there and back and costs more.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 03:14 PM
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I second Tulips' suggestion that you consider renting a flat instead of staying in a hotel. Unless you would be relying solely on a hotel's concierge to make all the arrangements for your activities, a flat would offer you the convenience of breakfast in, as well as a more space for the nine days.

If you look at what area you would like to stay in, then check with homeaway.com or flipkey.com (there are, of course, many others, but these are two I have used in the past) you can map available flats for tube location, as well as check into prices. I think you should be able to find a nice flat within your stated price range.

Being able to have at least breakfast (as well as snacks) in your own kitchen will save you a fair amount of money. Many flats also have washer/dryer combos, which is also a great convenience.

For what it's worth, we stayed in a flat for our very first visit to London - and we were easily able to get around the city and see everything we wanted to. Most flat owners have a lot of tourist info available to their renters, and a few good guidebooks will get you to almost anything you want to see.
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Old Apr 21st, 2016, 06:39 PM
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you can do a day trip to either Oxford, Cambridge or Bath, without having to stay overnight at any of these locations. Bath would be a longer trip, than either Oxford or Cambridge.

You may want to take a look at the London Walks site, not only for their excellent walking tours, but for the days out of London trips by train.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2016, 03:54 AM
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Thank you all. I have looked at apartments over the past few days. Nine nights is a long time to be in a small place. But I have not found one yet that fits our budget and other requirements. It seems AC is not common in London apartments. Will we not need it at the end of August? I have also expanded my hotel search, looking for someplace bigger or with a kitchenette or at least a couch. It was one of the reasons I had originally looked at the Nadler--it has a kitchenette. But, I also totally agree with your advise to not stay there because of the construction. The Santuary House does seem almost perfect for us, but only has a fridge and coffee maker and the room size is not stated anywhere.

The hotels across the river seem to have bigger rooms available, but reviews are mixed. Is the tube access and/or walking distance to some main sites decent? Is any one of them better than another (or near more construction?).

We are not planning on spending a ton of time in museums, unless the weather gives us little alternative. Kenningston and that area seem better suited for a museum focused trip, but perhaps I am missing something. Most of the hotels in Covent Garden are out of our budget unless we wanted to stay in a double bed for nine nights. My daughter rolls and kicks....not my idea of getting a good night sleep!

So thank you all for your input. I was a little hesitant to post because some people seem to be blasted for their lack of knowledge. You all have been woderful!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2016, 04:56 AM
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Not a London expert in any way, we've just been once for 4 days with our granddaughter. We stayed at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge and really liked it. We had a studio with a bedroom and a sitting room with a pull out-bed sofa which gave her some privacy. We walked most places. You'd have to check the cost.

I'd be interested what London experts think of the location.

We loved our short time in London & plan to return and are thinking of staying in the same hotel.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2016, 05:05 AM
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>>It seems AC is not common in London apartments. Will we not need it at the end of August?might and if there is a heat wave you will want it. But there is no way to tell. The weather is very changeable and you could have cool, rainy, pleasant, hot . . . all in a few days.

Look at Citadines. There are several in London and they a a great alternative. The services of a hotel but are apartments w/ kitchens/kitchenettes, etc. Or Fraser Suites which are also aparthotels -- but will likely be above your budget.

>>Kenningston and that area seem better suited for a museum focused trip, but perhaps I am missing somethingSouth Kensington (a different neighborhood) has several museums -- though there are museums and galleries in just about every corner of London.

>>The hotels across the river seem to have bigger rooms available, but reviews are mixed. Is the tube access and/or walking distance to some main sites decent?
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