girltristan

Hi everyone!
My sister and I will be in London 3 or 4 nights in mid-October. We are wanting to be within walking or easy Tube distance of pubs, attractions, and easy access to Gatwick. We'd like to spend about $150 or less per night, if possible, though we know London is our most expensive leg of the trip.
What neighborhoods should we be looking at to stay?

Thanks!

jamikins

Check out the premier inns - they have lots of locations, look for one inside the circle line and you should be fine.

Don't book one outside of that because it is cheaper or you spend all your time wasted in transit / it's not worth it for the cheaper price.

bvlenci

I used to stay in Bloomsbury, but now I prefer the area near the Victoria station. It's a good transportation hub, including a train to Gatwick. In addition, it's an easy walk to many attractions, and there's lots of budget lodging.

jent103

Look at londontown.com for deals in the whole city.

I've stayed at the Morgan, down the street from the British Museum, a couple of times (most recently, 2014). It's a little over your budget, but not a ton, and a full breakfast is included. Longish walk or a quick cab ride from St Pancras, where I believe there's a train to/from Gatwick (but double check that; it's been awhile since I took it).

http://www.morganhotel.co.uk/rates/

I like Bloomsbury but there are plenty of options in different areas, and for the Gatwick piece, Victoria would certainly be very convenient. There are a few suggestions on this thread (it's five years old, so definitely check current reviews).

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-london.cfm

thursdaysd

Funny, I used to stay near near Victoria, and now much prefer Bloomsbury, but I mostly fly into Heathrow these days. Victoria would certainly be more convenient for Gatwick.

bvlenci

I take the tube from Heathrow. Usually, though, I'm coming from Stansted, and there's a bus to Victoria Coach station.

isabel

My past few trips I've stayed at the Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace Road which is less than five minutes walk from Victoria Station. This past June and July it was about $150. Recently updated, clean, good wi-fi, etc. I do like that location a lot for reasons stated above. You can walk to quite a few places (20 minutes or less to Westminster, same to Buckingham Palace). Tube, Coach, and Train connections are excellent. This past summer I stayed there twice, and flew in or out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted and it was easy to get to/from each of them. In addition, Victoria Station has a pretty decent food court with numerous fast food and a few sit down restaurants.

The previous few trips I stayed at Travelodge Waterloo which is also a decent (clean but boring) hotel. Slightly less good location for getting to/from the airports but not bad. Easy walk to Jubilee Embankment (London Eye area) with tons of food options. I usually check both those hotels as sometimes one is cheaper and other times the other one is, for the same dates.

carolyn

We have stayed at the Park International. I looked at mid-October and saw a rate of £140 for a double room and includes breakfast. The hotel is quite near the Gloucester Road tube stop which has three tube lines and in walking distance of the V&A, Natural History Museum, and, if you are walkers, to Harrod's. Lots of information if you Google it.

Sally30

Tagging along on this thread, i am heading to London at the same time also for a quick trip. My budget is roughly the same but could go up to about $200 a night. This is a quick trip for my husband and I without kids so we would like to use our time well. Would you also recommend the Bloomsbury or Victoria areas for interesting shops (funky clothes, bookstores (I am assuming yes on this one), fun restaurants, pubs, etc.). we have been to London many times, but not recently so I am forgetting the neighborhoods, and will do the typical tourist stuff but want to enjoy some shopping and nights out given we are not traveling with our kids.

The other hotels I am looking at are The Goring and Rubens at Palace. Both look very nice and have special rates through packages on Orbitz but I'm not sure about location for shopping and eating.

Thanks

sofarsogood

$200 a night and The Goring don't often go together - good luck with that.

Victoria for funky clothes, bookstores and fun pubs - not really; more likely in Bloomsbury and adjacent Marylebone I would think.

If you want the low down on funky and fun have a look a time out

http://www.timeout.com/london

KyraS

There are some bookstores I like in Cecil Court for used books.

If you can get the Goring for USD200 per night, let me know, I want to stay there!

In addition to the Time Out London website as suggested above, you might find some helpful information on the Londonist website.

I haven't been in the area for a couple of years, but don't recall much in the vicinity of Victoria Station that was funky or fun, especially not the construction.

Perhaps something further east, like Shoreditch would suit? I suppose that's more hip than funky, but it may all be in the eye of the beholder. Or Islington? Brixton?

janisj

>>If you can get the Goring for USD200 per night, let me know, I want to stay there!<<

Ditto that ! .

I'll book flight right now (and I'm just ending a visit to the UK (fly home tomorrow)


Even the Ruben's at the Palace is generally above that

Sally30

thanks for the replies! you were all right. I was calculating an extra night in my per night hotel rate (the flight over) so the rate is actually closer to $400/night. Sounds like everyone thinks it is a nice place though!

janisj

>>. Sounds like everyone thinks it is a nice place though!<<

Nice enough for Kate Middleton to stay there the night before she became the duchess of Cambridge

Sally30

In that case, should be nice enough for this Duchess of Cambridge (MA that is)! Now, just to get an affordable rate....

Trophywife007

$400 per night is still a bargain for the Goring, I think. Go for the splurge!