Joan

Trying to choose an area to stay in London. We are women in our 30's & 40's who want to be able to walk out of the door of our hotel/B&/flat to nearby places to eat and shop and come back at night to our hotel,(after checking out all the sights elsewhere in the city) freshen up and walk out to nearby pubs or places of entertainment. We don't want to be in a boring part of London but in an area that has this at our doorstep. An area that gives us this choice if we should decide. We do plan to venture out of course and see as much as we can but we also like the kind of convenience, that allows us to grab a coffee or a bite to eat where we are staying and to have some nightlife where we are staying. For our age group of course! <BR>Budget to moderate...no luxury spending gals here...We want money to enjoy not spend for a chocolate on our pillow. <BR>What area of Lomdon should we be looking at? <BR>

michele

Joan, <BR> <BR>I stayed at the Lime Tree Hotel (B&B)on Ebury Street near Buckingham Palace. There was a terrific restaurant next door,(good fusion cusine and a very popular wine bar) lots of very hip shops in the area. It was not the most bustling of areas, but active enough with mostly Londoners. You might want to investigate it. I got the address from Rick Steves' page. The hotel is extremely popular and your host and hostess are most accommodating.

Joan Doyle

Dear Joan: Well, to get all those delightful extras you'd want to stay in Mayfair--but I doubt that your budget will allow that. My next choice would be Kensington where there are lots of hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, whatever. I can't recommend a specific hotel because I always stay with my sister (who lives a good bus ride beyond Kensington); but I've seen it all on my trips to her place. Have a good stay. Joan The one in Louisiana)

Jerry G.

I liked Earl's Court but it may be more than you are looking for.

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>I suggest the Strand and Westminster Bridge Road. Figures are for a single room. <BR> <BR>http://www.travelinn.co.uk/find/search_frameset.jsp <BR>Travel Inn County Hall. £62.95 <BR> <BR>http://www.royaladelphi.co.uk/index.htm <BR>http://www.demon.co.uk/hotel-uk/adelphi.html# <BR>Royal Adelphi Hotel. From £45 or 80 inc breakfast <BR> <BR>http://london.hotelguide.net/data/h100241.htm <BR>Strand Palace Hotel. £159 to 199 <BR> <BR>http://london.hotelguide.net/data/h100316.htm <BR>Charing Cross Thistle Hotel. £190 to 255 <BR> <BR>http://london.hotelguide.net/data/h100486.htm <BR>Waldorf Meridien. £210 to 495 <BR> <BR>http://London.hotelguide.net/data/h100119.htm <BR>Savoy Hotel. £265 to 1190. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to London. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR> <BR>

Jeff

We also stayed on Ebury street, recommended by an earlier poster. The Lime Tree didn't have vacancies, so we stayed at the Astors. I cannot necessarily recommned the hotel (it was pretty worn, but the price was right), but the area was great. With a wine bar and pub close by. A quick walk to Westminster, Buckingham, Parliament, etc., or to Victoria Station for the tube, train or shopping, or in the other direction toward Chelsea for higher end-type shopping. <BR>

S. C. DIXON

RUSSELL SQUARE: Take the tube to R.S. stop, walk to exit, turn left, less than one block turn left down a close (alleyway) there is the FRIEND AT HAND, a very nice pub. On the corner is the CELTIC Hotel, old, safe, clean with good breakfasts. Around 60 pounds per night, across the steet is THE PRESIDENT, modern and a bit pricier, kitty-corner from that is the RUSSELL HOTEL, very nice, up-scale. There are three hotel choices in one small area all within 1-2 blocks of the Tube. Russell SQ. is a hub for resturaunts, pubs, shops, moneychangers, etc. You're within easy walking distance of Leicester Square, Covent Garden and the British Museum. Excellent Indian food at the Cambali Famous Indian Cuisine on SOUTHHAMPTON ROW. THE CELTIC is at 61 Guilford Street, tel. 0171-837-6737. I also liked Earl's Court but it can be, shall we say, a bit rowdy.

J.M.

Check out this website: <BR> <BR>www.icsl.ac.uk/support/universityhalls.htm <BR> <BR>It lists universities in London that rent out their student dorm rooms (residential halls) each summer. A number of them are in or near central London. <BR> <BR>If you have not been to the UK before, remember that the price you are quoted is PER PERSON, not per room!!

penny

I agree with the poster who recommended Russell Square. I have stayed in that general Bloomsbury-Russell Sq. area three times in the past. I just went with my teenage daughter and decided NOT to stay there because a friend convinced me it was too university- and museum-oriented. <BR> <BR>We stayed right near Earl's Court, and I kicked myself the whole time. I wish I'd stayed in Bloomsbury. You can walk easily to the theater district and central sights. Earl's Court was too far out for my taste. To get from the center of the city to the hotel and back again for theater or something else--it just took too long. <BR> <BR>Years ago I stayed at St. Margaret's and also the Tavistock. Don't know what they're like currently. <BR> <BR>Good luck!