xxxxx

We're considering traveling as a family to London, so would need larger accomodations. An apartment would be great, but I am finding prices of about $300 per night for a group our size (5 or 6 people). Are there any "suburbs" of London where we might be able to stay less expensively, and still have an easy commute to the city of London via train?

Wayne

Although Windsor is rather popular, I think you'll find it to be more reasonable in price for a hotel. And of course the village of Windsor itself can't be beat for a place to stay, with the castle, the Thames, and some nice sights. I like the hotel Sir Christopher Wren's House, right on the Thames.

Joanne

Don't forget that if you stay out in Windssor or such, you will have much higher transport costs as well as wasting time on the train.<BR><BR>Have you considered staying in London at self-catering accommodations rather than a regular hotel? Scala House is very family-friendly, basic but clean and convenient.<BR><BR>http://www.scala-house.co.uk/

Lori

Try Nick Price Apartments - he has a web site. Various prices - some are "basic" but would fit your price range. I'd not stay out of London and do day trips, you will spend more time and money on the train then it is worth in the long run.<BR>We have used Nick and found him very easy to deal with. Also check out Hamlet Apartments (they also have website). They are at St. Katharine's Marina (adjacent to Tower of London area) and are VERY reasonable. We stayed out there last year. It's not as convenient as the one's Nick Price offers (10 min walk to Tube at Tower Hill) but it's a lovely area. Our apt. looked out at the marina and all it's boats as well as the top of Tower Bridge! There is a full size Safeway around the corner which is great for a family. Eating a few meals in (like breakfast) can be a huge savings. We are staying at Scala House in April so I cannot review that yet. Nick Price has a 2 bedroom, 1 & 1/4 bath apt. at 31 Balcombe St. - it's a super location, just 5 min. walk from Baker St. Tube. Friends stayed in that one last year and loved the area. It's close to everything and there is a small grocery store about 3 blocks away (Sherpard's Market). If you contact Nick tell him Lori recommended him. We rented studio apts. from him twice now at 31 Balcombe and while the apts were basic in furnishings they were also reasonably priced.

Wayne

To make a second entry on this question, I must agree with those who say that a lot of time and some money will be spent in going back and forth to London. If your main purpose is to see London, and if you want a maximum exposure to the city, then certainly stay in the city at one of the more inexpensive accommodations such as apartments or B&B's, of which there are plenty. Good luck.

xxxxx

Sounds like we need to re-think staying outside of London! We'd really prefer staying right in London, but the costs are out of our budget. I did check out Scala House, and Nick Price. These might be do-able options. I wasn't able to find the Hamlet Apartments web-site doing a search. Can anyone privide the direct link? Any other lodging suggestions? Thanks.

Joanne

Another possibility to consider is doing a home exchange. Last summer, I traveled with my sister and my teen-age son and daughter. For my rather modest home in a Boston suburb and a 9-year-old Escort, I exchanged for a 5-bedroom townhouse right in London and the use of their year-old Ford minivan with automatic transmission. And all of this was for free! I could never have afforded the trip without the home exchange. <BR><BR>I didn't even start looking until mid-March, so don't let anyone tell you it's too late. I used HomeLink, which is at www.swapnow.com They have a very user-friendly search system. As a new exchanger, you should look for someone with experience, so at least one of you is familar with the process. Even if you can't find a place right in London, the extra transport cost will still amount to less than any apartment you could find.

Lori

Hamlet's website is:<BR>www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk<BR><BR>The rates are much lower then in central London but you are still in Zone 1.

Lori

I just tried the weblink for Hamlet and it works - they have 2 bedrooms for about $155/night - you cannot beat that. Don't expect luxury furnishings at that price. We had a one bedroom,it was furnished very nicely and had a complete kitchen with washer/dryer too.<BR><BR>Another thing to consider is a driver pick up service - with that many people it will not pay to take Heathrow Express or anything else into London because then you need a taxi too (at least two of them). A driver service will pick yo up for one flat fee but you need to specifiy how many of you there are so they can have a large van. It's door to door service, they meet you outside of customs. We have used www.london-transfers.com several times and it's great (Ray Skinner is the owner) Tell him Lori recommended him if you decide on this. We are using his company again in April, he's a pleasure to deal with and I've recommended him several times on this Forum and everyone has been pleased.

Leslie

Just got back from London three days ago. I actually found more hotel bargains in London right now than in outlying areas! Took our kids on a previous trip and can't agree more with other posters that you should stay in central London if London is what you want to see. Otherwise, you will exhaust yourselves getting to and fro. <BR><BR>I agree that a self-catering apartment with your size family would make great sense. Two websites (www.go-today.com and www.gate1.com) have some great air/hotel packages to the UK you could consider, some for families seeking apartments. When comparing prices, bear in mind that London hotel prices are usually quoted inclusive of breakfast and taxes so it's not apples to apples with what you are used to in the US - that $300 per night room is more equivalent to a $230 room in the US.<BR><BR>I like searching also through the travel section on www.about.com. They have a travel Europe/UK with Kids section that gives sources of apartment accomodations.<BR><BR>You don't say if your "family" includes children but if it does, it is really important to be able to go back to your quarters in the afternoon for a rest. Even in summer, you can get caught on a rainy day and it was so nice to grab a taxi to transport our youngest back to the hotel (we had a family room at the London Guards Hotel in Bayswater on that trip. It was very nice and spacious with beds for 5, though their breakfast was disappointing.) <BR><BR>I was in Windsor too just last week, and had a devil of a time pre-booking as good a deal as we did in London. Windsor, by the way, is very worth a visit but I would make that a day trip on the train from London rather than the other way around. The Christopher Wren House Hotel is NOT economical.<BR><BR>Also, B & B's tend to charge by the person, abeit with a discount for young children, so a hotel with a family room might be more economical if you strike out on the apartment idea. We just stayed at the Burns Hotel in South Kensington on this trip, and got a great deal through www.hoteldiscounts.com. This included a great buffet (extensive continental breakfast) that the kids would love.<BR><BR>For hotel discounts, the website "www.hotel-assist.com" is great. Also www.londontown.com and the British tourist authority at www.visitbritain.org or the London tourist board at www.londontouristboard.co.uk are very useful and offer discounted hotels.<BR><BR>For getting around, you should evaluate the family pass on the underground. Also, the weekend underground pass is a very good deal if you are there on a Saturday/Sunday. However, with your size group, taxis might actually be most economical.

janis

try E & E Aprtaments. They have 2 bedroom flats throughout Pimlico (Very convenient for transport, near the Tate, river and Victoria Station) for less than 100GBP per night.<BR><BR>[email protected]

Joanne

The Family travel cards are definitely economical, though they can't be bought before 9:30 on weekdays. Adult fare is 2.70 each and kids age 5 thru 15 go for 80p! Each person gets their own card, good for unlimited travel that day.