Merri

We are traveling to London in November and found a hotel in the Bayswater area but am unsure whether this is a good base for seeing London. Our criteria was - we needed a triple room (two beds for two adults, one teen)for $150 usd or less per night.

Lori

I'm afraid I am not sure what you mean by "too far out" -- Bayswater is pretty much in central London, it's not in the suburbs. You are still in Zone 1. There is absolutely no way you can be close to every single sight in London, it's not possible at all. You may be close to one thing but a tube ride from another, etc. Bayswater has good transportation (tube, bus lines) and is close to Paddington Sta., if that matters at all. There are an abundance of shops in the area including Whitley's (Mall).

Ben Haines

I agree with Lori. Welcome to london.<BR><BR>Ben Haines

Lorna

I've stayed in Bayswater and wish I had sprung for something a little more central. We often found that by the time we were done sight-seeing in the afternoon, we didn't have enough time to return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner or the theater. Also, the restaurants in that area are largely Asian/Indian, which limits dinner choices if you plan to spend the evening in the Bayswater area. If you're interested in nightlife or the theater, I would recommend looking in another area. Perhaps Covent Garden?

xxx

The area is okay; not super not bad but certainly okay. It is well served by 2 different tube lines, the central line (red) and the district and circle lines (green and yellow)...there are many inexpensive restaurants mostly Chinese but some arabic and indian, there is a shopping centre, it is well served by buses travelling along Bayswater Rd.<BR><BR>It is maybe a ten minute tube ride from Oxford Circus and perhaps 15 minutes from Westminster. <BR><BR>It is, as always, a matter of taste. If you are happy with the accomodations and the price, you'll be okay. To me, it is not worth spending an extra &pound;50 a night for something more "convenient" but admitedly that's me.

Christina

I've stayed there twice (near Lancaster Gate) and found it convenient enough. I kind of liked being able to easily walk across to Hyde Park and Kengsington Gardens and it is very convenient for the Airbus for Heathrow. I always like to relax a bit after sightseeing before my evening plans and didn't find that a big problem because I don't push it that much -- I mean, I am not on the go from 8 am to 7 pm, I'd get too tired to enjoy the evening. Actually, I recently stayed in South Kensington near Gloucester tube where a lot of folks like to stay, and it isn't any farther away from Leicester or Trafalgar square than that is.<BR><BR>I'm sure things probably have changed a little since the last time I stayed there, but I found some Italian restaurants nearby (just up Craven Terrace), and I like the pub, the Swan's Head, right on Bayswater (and Craven Terrace). I know it's still there and it has food. I'm not crazy about pub food (maybe I've been unlucky, but I've never had any edible pub food), but I have a friend who stayed in a hotel I recommended near there and said she and her husband ate at the Swan's Head.

Grey

My hostel this summer was in Bayswater. It's a nice area, removed from all the noise of central London, but still close enough to the city center. Good area overall.<BR><BR>Enjoy London!

nytraveler

Depends on your desires. We always stay more centrally that that - but we chose location over price. I'm not sure how many options there are for your budget in more Central areas.

We typically pick Covent Garden, Mayfair or as far out as Knightsbridge. Won;t touch South Ken with a barge pole after staying there our first visit and found it a PIA to trek back and forth. (But in NYC we live centrally - so we can walk to many major museums and hop to Midtown theaters in 10 minutes on subway or 20 minutes on foot.)

ellenem

This ancient thread was topped by an advertiser

Nikki

I think the original poster must have come and gone already, since the request was made in 2002.

The best part of this thread, which has apparently been topped by a spammer for an escort service, is seeing the name of Ben Haines again.

Smiling on several levels.

janisj

Yes - it was nice to see Ben agan.

Just a hint - so you don't get 'taken' again. (Other that the dates of course) Whenever you see a thread in the list where the screen name/OP is gray-- it is YEARS old and prior to registration.