Hi, folks. Quick question: we've managed to book a great room in a London hotel we really like the look of -- the Abbey Court in Notting Hill. The one con though is that this hotel doesn't have air-conditioning in its rooms, hence my question: is that likely to be a major problem? We are staying there the first week of June.

Thanks for your help!
R

Most inexpensive hotels in London do not have a/c....

Is a/c absolutely needed in June....well it's very hard to answer that question...sometimes your body has just gotten used to air conditioning to such a degree that even though it is not all that hot, you think you need a/c.

Also remember the old adage, it's not the heat it's the humidity...London can become very humid and you might (emphasis on might) feel uncomfortable without a/c.

Temperatures in London in early June, in my experience, have been in the 20 to 25 degrees level during the days and somewhat lower at night...but of course that's an average and it is not absolutely impossible for the temperature to start to approach 30 degrees.

So as with everything else, it's a trade off. My inclination is to say that with the windows open, you should be able to sleep comfortably without a/c when the temperature is running in its usual range but others might feel differently.

You might want a/c, you might not. A bigger problem is that often the heating is turned off around April 1 and you might freeze.

Sure there can be a heat wave in early June - but that would be much more likely in late July/August. I've never even asked for a/c in London - but then I try to avoid being there in Aug.

Except for high end hotels, most London accomodations don't have a/c

Thanks for your responses, xyz and janis -- given what both of you say, am very tempted to risk it in the Abbey Court: it looks exactly like the kind of charming, old world place we were searching for. Would either of you have an opinion of the hotel?

cheers,
R

arctan, I'm curious: How did your visit go? Was the a/c necessary? We are booked in London next June 5 - 12, and I am dealing with the same question.

Thanks!

Jim

arctan,

Ive stayed at the Abbey Court in Nottingham (Pembridge Gardens) many times and there was only one time when air conditioning would've been crucial...a heat spell in July. Luckily I had a room on the ground floor which was quite comfortable.

No guarantees but you'll probably be fine the first week in June. If you do happen onto a hot spell of weather, ask for a room on the lower level.

Ahaaa!

Another post from the past. I should remember to read the dates.

Information still stands.

take the room, you probably don't need aircon at that time, but if you do just rent a portable unit.

The many times I've been in London in early June, I've never needed A/C.

If you do happen onto a hot spell of weather, ask for a room on the north side of the building

It will not be the heat, but the humidity which might cause you to want A/C.

Renting a portable unit? For use in a hotel??????

We had a heat wave on our trip last year, while we were in Paris (it also hit London, but not while we were there - it'd been very cool, and we got off the Eurostar and it was hot, hot, hot!!) From what I understand, Big Ben even stopped for a few minutes.

You may not need AC at all, or you could have a heat wave where the temps could be like 90. You just don't know. I think we had AC last year at the HI Kensington Forum, but I don't recall ever really needing it while there.