Hi,
We are heading to London in a week---- get there around 7 PM the first night, have the next full day, and then leave the following afternoon. I have been there before but my husband has not--- where would you recommend we stay neighborhood wise? And what hotel?

We love educational tours, restaurants, hanging with the culture/locals, nightlife/bars, shopping, etc.

Thank you in advance!!

No one can answer that without a lot more info. What is your budget? Where are you arriving (LHR, LGW, a train station, or??) Where are you departing from (an airport, train station??). What are you planning to see and do in your short visit?


"We love educational tours, restaurants, hanging with the culture/locals, nightlife/bars, shopping, etc." . . . are in every corner of the city -- which specifically? Sorry but 'hanging with the locals' isn't very realistic

I just saw you have three new threads re Paris, the south of France, and London all in the next few days. At this late date it just may be a matter of where you can find availability. I am in London 3+ weeks from now and booking back in August I had to search a bit to find accommodations.

jet lag.. stay outside for the first day. Do not sit down. Do not have a shower and a short rest... Keep moving, stay in the light. Walk in a park, visit a canal or a river.

Do not sit inside on comfy seats and look at art in a darkened room.

Day 2. Look at the weather forecast. Then decide.

Is there a budget? If not then stay kensington, easy access to museums and central london, also kings cross could be good, lots to explore around there.

ALeighton, I stayed at the Strand Palace. Here's my TR; go down to page 126 for the London part showing where I visited from there:
Madrid and London

Good luck and report back when you can.

In your same situation this summer, I didn't go into London but stayed near and visited Hampton Court, the home of King Henry VIII. It is awesome on top of awesome and can easily take up the whole day if you like. Nearby there is also the Thames with many lovely walks around there, plus other historic places as well. The village of Teddington is charming and the Park Hotel there is super and the food is really good too.

Thank you TDudette !!

janisj We are arriving in LHR and departing from LHR. We don't necessarily have a budget... looking for ideally 4+ star hotels around $300-$450 a night if possible, but would go higher if there is something unique. My husband hasn't been so probably have to go to most of the main attractions, Buckingham Palace, etc.

I don't know where we want to go specifically, that is what I am trying to figure out on this forum. What would you do if you had 36 hours in London?

Thanks!!

The Strand Palace is an absolutely humongous hotel - almost 800 rooms - it is among the 6 or 8 largest hotels in London. Because of its size it attracts a LOT of tour groups. Not sure it would be my first (or 20th) choice

We were posting at the same time -- my comment was just re the Strand Palace.

$300-$450 (£230-£340) is moderately low to mid priced for London so you won't get luxurious but can get very nice. Rates are very date specific so not knowing your dates, I'm reluctant to make a specific recommendation.

I'd maybe plug my dates into booking.com and filter for any of the central neighborhoods near either the Piccadilly Line or the Elizabeth Line (Both have direct trains to LHR -- Elizabeth Line being much faster)

Places to Look would include Earls Court, Gloucester Rd, South Kensington, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Russell Square/Bloomsbury, Farringdon, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road station, Green Park/Mayfair, and a few others

Once you find a property on Booking you like -- then check the hotel's own website to see if they offer any specials. If not -- then using the Booking website is fine.

Meant to add - since you are booking at what seems to be the very last minute, it may take a bit of searching to find availability - especially at that budget. If you have some trouble -- then try any of the centrally located Premier Inns -- their rates are all over the place but are mostly budget friendly.

Put your dates and budget into booking.com and see what comes up. Near a stop on the Elizabeth Line is convenient for LHR. I would look at Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, near Tottenham Court Road.