dtex

I will be in London on Friday Sept. 8th, and Saturday Sept 9th, with my family (wife, 14 year old daughter, 12 year old son and 2 year old son). We leave London on Sunday the 10th from Dover on a cruise.
I have several questions:
1) I would like to see a couple of shows (maybe Footloose and another) but don't think the 2 year old will be able to sit through them. Any thoughts, suggestions on safe child-care or baby-sitting services? Otherwise my wife or I will stay with him.
2) Any suggestions on a place to stay...medium priced, that will allow all of us in one room and convieniently located with easy access to theaters and Dover?
3) Best way to get to Dover with mass quanities of luggage?

thanks for any help you can give.

KidsToLondon

Only you can decide whether you can trust a babysitter, but if you decide to look for one...

first, check with your hotel. They sometimes have arrangements.

second, you can try a commercial babysitting service like:

http://www.topnotchnannies.com/

That is not an endorsement, since I have not used this service.

For transport to Dover, you can try a car/van service from London. Here are some links:

http://www.adlg.co.uk/london_dover.htm
http://www.centralchauffeur.com/Dover.htm

By rail, you can connect from Charing Cross station in central London to Dover. Journey takes about 2 hours and there are direct trains. For schedules:

http://www.rail.co.uk

It will be difficult to find a hotel room that will accomodate 5 people in central London. There is a Citadines apartment/hotel at Trafalgar Square which will accomodate up to 6 people:

http://www.citadines.com/serviced_ap...gar_square.htm

Also, the Thistle Charing Cross hotel has family rooms...not sure if the capacity is 4 people or more.

Hope this is helpful.

MelJ

Some of the Moat House hotels have rooms to accomodate families. I've seen the one at the Kensington (which is in an excellent locations, by the way. In fact, just down the street is the Natural History Museum, which your kids should love!) The one I booked for my brother's family had a large bedroom with one queen and an anti-chamber with bunk beds. You could easily get a crib in the main room for the baby. Breakfast is free, as well.

Margo_Chester

Thought you might like this site for theater info:
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

dtex

Thanks for all the helpful information and links..