suec1

Oh there are just so many I'm hoping for some direction here....this will be our third trip to London. Trip #1 stayed very near Westminster. Trip #2 stayed very near British Museum. I'd like to try a new area and am hoping for a hotel with some charm around $300 per night, next May - don't want to pay for included breakfast. I'm very familiar with Tripadvisor but for London the choices are nearly overwhelming - would anyone be kind enough to offer their personal recommendation? Many thanks!

latedaytraveler

Hi SUEC1,

"too many London hotels!" I agree and I will be interested to read the replies that you receive.

I have stayed at the STRAND PALACE three times and want to change venues when I return to London next June. But somehow I feel I will return to the same hotel because of the LOCATION - five minute walk from Trafalgar Square, easy walk to the City, Whitehall, theater district, the river. Short tube walk to Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden etc. plus tons of buses along the Strand.

http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/

In the past I have also stayed near Marble Arch (not my favorite), Westminster near the London Eye, Soho (years ago), and near Euston Station - none of these locations match the Trafalgar Square area in my book.

Also, I have been a solo traveler for the past many years (an acquired taste) and the Strand Palace does cater to singles. I do get the breakfast, rather substantial, which keeps me going for the day.

Again, I look forward to the suggestions of others....

ChgoGal

Hi, latedaytraveler. Trying the Stand Palace for the first time because of your trip reports. Looking forward to being in a different location. I've stayed by the Earl's Court tube at The Nadler several times...like it very much, but I feel like I've explored much of the neighborhood.

BigRuss

Pick an area and then pick a hotel by cross-referencing londontown.com's hotel map with TripAdvisor's reviews.

I wouldn't stay out at Earl's Court - bit far away from the center. We enjoyed staying near Waterloo on South Bank due to the area, but we were in a rental flat that I would not recommend.

ChgoGal

Big Russ is right. I'm not recommending The NAdler for a group. For a single who likes V&A and Chelsea area like me-just fine.

Christina

I've enjoyed staying in Lancaster Gate and in Kensington. I think someone on Fodors has said how bad Lancaster Gate is (I forget why), but I liked it and so did other folks I recommended it to. My hotel was very near a good pub http://swanbayswater.co.uk/

and almost right across the street from Hyde Park, which was lovely. And only about a block to the tube stop. Also near Paddington station, which could be convenient.

Another time I stayed on Gloucester Rd right across from the tube stop. there are several nice hotels around there, lots of restaurants, it's not far from V&A museum. I liked it because I could walk to Royal Albert Hall & I had a ticket to the PROMs.

both of these places are a longer tube/bus ride to say, Covent Garden, etc. than others, of course, which is why some people I guess dont' care for those locations.

The hotel I stayed at in Lancaster Gate was the Best Western Mornington and in Kensington, Millenium Baileys which had charm as far as I was concerned. The Mornington is more modern, was owed by Swedes when I was there. Very clean and good included breakfast. The library was charming. Millenium Baileys has some rates with breakfast, also. Both are in that price range, less actually.

I've used Londontown also and got a good rate for Millenium Baileys on there.

welltraveledbrit

I agree it is overwhelming. There are so many places to stay and we find the prices very variable depending on season.

We often stay at Flemings in Mayfair which I recommend.though at certain times it has been more expensive and then I keep an eye on deals on the Travelzoo.co.uk London hotel deals page. They often have good deals and we've stayed at the Apex Temple Court, though it's rather dead on the weekend. Given where you've stayed before you might like something in Kensington (not Earls Court) like The Cranley or near Marleybone High Street, we looked at 10 Manchester St.

WE often get good rates by using Orbitz and applying one of their coupons which often provide 15% off on prepaid rates.

TDudette

I can second latedaytraveler's Strand recco; in fact I stayed there because of it.

When DH and I first went to London, we stayed at the Reubens. It has become quite fancy since then so you'd better check. It is about a 20-minute walk to Harrod's and even less to Hyde Park. Very near Victoria Station if that is a factor for you.

http://www.rubenshotel.com/

latedaytraveler

Hi TDUDETTE, I remember your great report on that trip. Again, location is so convenient, especially since I like to take a breather in the late afternoon before setting out for the evening.

I am thinking about going during the Queen's 90th birthday celebration - the TROOPING OF THE COLOR on the Palace grounds on Saturday, June 11. I know it will be a cast of thousands, but I can stroll to the Mall from the Strand quite easily. Also I hope to take the train from Charing Cross to Sevenoaks, then cab it to Winston Churchill's home at Chartwell.

Then, of course, I will venture down to the National Gallery and the Picture Gallery when they are open late on Thursday and Friday evening.

Are you returning to Europe any time soon?

carolyn

I agree with ChgoGal's recommendation of the Millennium Bailey's. It's a nice hotel.

The Gloucester Road tube stop area is my favorite place to stay because it is a convenient walkable distance to the V&A, History & Science Museum, Kensington Park, Harrod's if you are interested, a Paul's patisserie, and other restaurants; and the tube station has three lines along with a small shopping mall with restaurants and a Waitrose grocery inside it.

welltraveledbrit

Gloucester Road is also very convenient for coming and going to Heathrow on the Tube as you don't have to change, this is another reason I like Flemings which is a quick walk from Green Park Tube, also on the Piccadilly line.

janisj

I've stayed in just about every corner of central London over the years except islington, and up in Swiss Cottage, Maida Vale. The only areas I definitely won't stay again are probably Earl's Court (too far west) and anyplace north of the parks (Bayswater, Paddington, Queensway), Lancaster gate would be OK in a pinch but too far from most places I want to go and if the central line is disrupted you are sort of dead in the water.

This trip I'm at the Royal Horseguards - got a deal on an upgraded river view room.

Cali

We stayed at Reuben's last summer and we really liked it. Our room was beautiful (and quite large) and the staff was great. Location worked well for us.

pariswat

We stayed at Marylebone hotel, on Marylebone.
We loved it - the swimming pool was run by another company at the time and they were totally stupid.
(one rule was that kids could only go for several hours a day, not convenient, and when we came, they told us only the kids could go in, not the adults ! I got quite angry, was allowed in and found a Frenchguy in the same situation who was cooling off too - we shared our incomprehension of some rules made by these 'Godons'
The breakfast was great, rooms were nice, big, and the staff was charming (THEY did apologize several times for the pool).

Rubicund

The last couple of times we've stayed in London, we've used the The Tower right by Tower Bridge. It's very handy for the Globe, Tate Modern, London Eye, Borough Market, St Katharine's Dock, Tower of London etc etc and the bar has a spectacular view of the bridge when it's lit up at night. Looks even better if I get lit up in the bar.

The rooms tend to look out over St Katharine's Dock or you pay a bit more for a Thames view. Food in the hotel is good, breakfast was, I think about £11 last time we were there. Rooms are comfortable and well equipped.

TDudette

Are you returning to Europe any time soon?<<<<<<New York first, lateday. Can't decide what's next.

So, suec1, have you made a choice yet?

MarthaT

I have stayed near the Eye at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge which was great as far as getting places on foot and by Tube.
Also stayed about 10 years ago at the Harrington Hall Hotel which I think is across the street from Millennium Bailey.
I like the Gloucester Rd area for access to museums and again transportation is great from that area.

tuscanlifeedit

I am a fan of Apex hotels and have stayed at the Temple Court and Tower Hill locations.

I don't know if either of these has the most convenient locations, but they are very nice hotels with great staff at reasonable rates. Happy both times.

latedaytraveler

Hi JANISJ,

"This trip I'm at the Royal Horseguards - got a deal on an upgraded river view room." If I may ask, did you call the hotel directly, did you have points of some sort, or gain advantage by booking in advance? I would love to stay at HORSEGUARDS but always thought it entirely above my means. Truthfully, I am clueless about using these hotel travel sites. Thanks...

TDu, when are you going to NY? I will have to check the US forum. Are you "doing" the museums and following some particular artistic muse as of old? Have a great trip...

janisj

latedaytraveler: nope, wish it was some secret society or something . . . But I just booked on booking.com. There was a special reduced rate for an upgraded room - and when I checked again the next day the rates were higher.