bakerstreet

My 10-year-old daughter and I will spend a long weekend (probably over Thanksgiving) in London. Which area is best for us? It will be cold, perhaps rainy...we want to attend the theatre, see the Crown jewels, have afternoon tea, ride the London Eye...and anything else a 10-year-old girl would enjoy (any suggestions)? Does anyone know of a "perfect hotel" or "perfect apartment" for us? Thanks in advance.

laurie_ann

Not sure your budget but consider the Pelham Hotel. It's right across the street from the South Kensington tube stop so on the Picadilly (for Heathrow) and Circle lines (for sights such as Tower of London). It's right near Victoria & Albert and Natural History Museum, both very good for kids. The style of the hotel is a nice mix of English and contemporary and there are many small fun restaurants nearby. We stayed there once in January and once in March and found the lounges in the hotel quite cosy. http://www.pelhamhotel.co.uk/

yk

If you can afford it, staying near/around Trafalgar Sq would be great. Plenty of tube lines, bus lines that will take you everywhere, and walking distance to West End for shows in the evening.

Dukey

Agrree with near Trafalgar Square. Check out the Thistle Charing Cross and any of the other discount offers at Londontown.com

zeppole

Given your wish list, I strongly recommend that you not stay in Kensington. It was near the theaters, the crown jewels or the London eye.

I would suggest you take a look at staying at the Royal Horsegaurds or the Rubens at the Palace. If that's above your budget, try the Premiere Travel Inn, which is quite close to the London Eye -- but I warn you its decor is much more like an American budget inn.

Although I've never stayed at The Sanctuary House Hotel, I think it's location is really quite nice, although nighttime restaurant choices are limited near there:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_England.html

zeppole

Sorry for my typos. In case my post wasn't clear, Kensington is NOT near theaters, the historic main attractions, the London, the Tower of London, etc. It's much better to be near Trafalgar and St James Park, etc.

gruezi

We stayed at the Pelham in Kensington in July and it is a really beautiful small hotel with absolutely gorgeous rooms and a wonderful breakfast. It is set in a charming neighborhood with many restaurants and a few major museums in walking distance.

The tube is directly across the street.

That said, it is not near the theatres and a few other things we did.

Sorry I can't suggest a better location.

Once my husband and I stayed at the Goring (a million years ago) and I remember it being convenient to a lot of things for tourists. Anyway, it's ridiculously expensive for what it is now.

We were with our 2 teen-aged daughters this last trip and saw 'Les Miserables' and 'Wicked' which they both enjoyed. We had tea at the Dorchester and it was pretty wonderful in every way. Go hungry as those sandwiches and scones just keep coming until you cry "uncle."

The rest of our trip included Wimbledon and some war history museums but probably not so perfect for a 10-year-old.

Have a wonderful weekend.

gruezi

bettyk

We also really like the Rubens at the Palace. Sometimes you can get a good deal thru www.londontown.com. It is within 2 blocks of Victoria Station, around the corner from St. James Park with several good restaurants within a block or two.

janisj

What is your budget? That is the most important info if we are to give useful suggestions.

There absolutely is nothing wrong w/ staying in South Kensington BTW. It is on direct tube lines that would get you to most any theatres (those near Piccadilly circus, Leicester Sq, Covent Garden, Victoria, etc) and to the Tower, Big Ben, British Museum, the Ritz for afternoon tea - just about everywhere w/o having to change lines. Plus it is walking distance to the V&A/Natural History/Science museums and Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and the Orangery (for a more budget afternoon tea).

It is one of the MOST convenient locations for getting around.

Trafalgar Sq, Victoria, lots of other places are good too - but definitely consider South Kensington.

So tell us your budget and we can help a lot . . . .

jewela

South Kensington is convenient to most, if not all of the things you and your daughter want to do. There are lots of reasonably priced hotels in the area as well. Research some of the hotels on Trip Advisor.

zeppole

Sorry to once again find myself at odds with popular posters, but on such a short trip at the end of November, I'd much prefer to be walking than relying on the tube and I'd prefer to be in the heart of things.

There's nothing"wrong" with South Kensington and it is full of hotels, but it's not close to the theaters, the London eye or the Crown jewels - plus, I just don't think it's as much fun as being around Trafalgar and Big Ben and the palace.

In recent years so many people have stayed in South Kensington it keeps getting recommended. I think it's fine if people want to take the Tube. But if you don't have to, why?

gruezi

zeppole,

Although I stayed in S. Kens. I am curious about other locations that might be more convenient. You input is helpful even if contrary to other posts here.

g.

bakerstreet

Thanks for the insightful replies so far. This helps a lot. It is sounding like Trafalgar Square and environs is where I want to be. (I would not have known that without you.)

My budget will vary depending on who goes with me. If just me plus daughter and/or niece, perhaps $350/night (dollars). If with my sister, much more budget conscious. So recommendations in both price ranges are appreciated.

When I took my son to Paris when he was 10 we stayed at the Madison in the Latin Quarter and it was perfect -- balcony room looking onto the street and across at the old church, fabulous location with two great cafes and Brasserie Lipp practically across the street, walking distance to many sights, breakfast each morning in the hotel, etc. Easy to catch a cab when we wanted to.

Now that my daughter is turning 10 and it's her turn to go (she picked London), I'm hoping to have a similar great experience but don't know much at all about London. As noted, we have only a short time so would like to be in the "middle of things." The times I have gone to the theatre in NYC it has been next to impossible to get a cab after a play so I don't want to get stuck in London with my daughter, in November, at night after a play unable to easily get back to the hotel if I can't get a cab...I also want a nice view from our hotel room so each morning when we wake up we look out the window and are excited about being in London. I am probably asking too much for my budget!

I would also be interested in an apartment. I rented an apartment in Madrid for spring break -- on Calle Mayor right around the corner from Plaza Mayor, it was "in the middle" of everything and fit our needs. (yk, I still remember the great Spain tips you gave me -- especially the new train info. that led to our wonderful daytrip to Segovia!)

This may be a bit more information than requested, but if anything occurs to anyone, I'd be grateful for the help.

LJ

Okay, for that sort of budget, the one without your $-conscious sister,you can afford the weekend rates at the Courthouse (top of the line)very safe and in the right neighbourhood for theatre.
www.courthouse-hotel.com

Sounds like a great trip!

stokebailey

We love Bloomsbury, within walking distance of Covent Garden and especially the British Museum. I walk home alone late after the opera with hardly a qualm.

If just you and your daughter. Arran House is clean and inexpensive, two townhouses made into a hotel. Nice breakfast included. It's on bus line to Trafalgar Sq, and a couple of blocks from the line that takes you back north. One bus change to the Tower. ( I prefer staying aboveground.)

yk

I don't know if these 2 will fit your budget, but worth looking into:

The Hilton Waldorf in Aldwych
http://www.hilton.co.uk/waldorf

It's short distance from Trafalgar Sq, so it is not as crazy/noisy, yet close enough to walk to theatres in West End.

We had the fortune to stay there a few years ago (thanks to Priceline), and it was really wonderful.

The Marriott @ County Hall

This one is on the South Bank, next to London Eye - not as convenient as the Hilton, but my understanding is some rooms face the Thames and you get a great view of the Parliament/Big Ben.

bettyk

I checked on londontown.com for the 4 nights over Thanksgiving and found the following rates at the Rubens Hotel. This is a good deal for the Rubens (129 GBP), which is a 4* Hotel. The rate including breakfast is especially good (146 GBP), as is their breakfast.

http://tinyurl.com/5vuyfk

janisj

If you can get the Rubens at the Palace for that sort of rate - that would be an excellent choice. Just around the corner from Buckingham Palace and across from the Royal Mews and Queens Gallery.

Close to St James Park and not quite as hectic as right at Trafalgar Square yet still w/i walking distance.

zeppole

Nice rate for the Rubens.

Given bakerstreet's description of her wants -- no walk after the theater in dark November and possible damp, smack in the middle of things, compromise price for budget minded relative -- I'll point out that The Sanctuary House comes in at about $220 per night at that time of year

http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/sanc....html#calender

http://www.fullershotels.com/main/1011

http://tinyurl.com/hotelpix

http://tinyurl.com/659re9

I think the reviews (link posted earlier) are good. I can't remember what the view is across the street. Some buildings in that area were bombed in WW2, so you can get the odd modern office block.

But here is a fun tourist shot of Tothill Street:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/...7ae0b2.jpg?v=0

The Rubens is on the Palace mews, as I recall, and you can hear the horses clop back to the stables (if they are out clopping about!) but I do think it's a long walk from the theaters, although others might disagree. I've never done it, I don't think.

It sounds to me that if you could handle the Placa Mejor you can handle Trafalgar, in which case I would also recommend looking at the Thistle.

janisj

To avoid walking late at night in the dark/wet - South Kens or the Rubens make more sense than many places -- Unless one is staying across the street from the theatre. If you stay at Trafalgar Sq and are going to see Wicked or Billy Elliot for instance, you won't be walking distance from the theatre. The Rubens definitely is.

Or for other shows/hotels, you get on the tube in Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Sq, or Covent Garden (whichever station is closest to the particular theatre) and get off at South Kens or Gloucester Rd and be across the street from your hotel.

From Shaftsbury Avenue (where a lot of the theatres are) to many of the hotels near Trafalgar Sq would be a fair hike.