Affordable London Hotel
 

Three family members (two adults and a teen) are planning to travel to London and Paris next May--approx four days in London, four in Paris. I'm doing research for a historical series set in Tudor/Puritan times and want to get a feel for what Tudor London would have been like. I also need to visit central Dartford for a day. Would also like to visit the Tower and and any museum/sites that would represent the time period between about 1520 and 1630. I would love to see anything that would help me formulate a picture of life in those times, while still having it be fun for my family.

SO, the question is, what area is best around London to stay in for these purposes? We don't want to rent a car so it needs to be close to transportation that will get us there from Heathrow, get us to Dartford, to the Tower, and to Paris on the Eurostar. We also need something somewhat budget-friendly ($100 a night or so) in a safe, clean part of town. Any help any one can provide would be most appreciated, as none of us has ever been to London. I don't know where to start.

I did live in France for 16 months in the '80s, with several months in the Paris area. I'll need a memory refresher for there as well, but one thing at a time. :o)

Check out b and b Belgravia

You may need to up the budget a bit for London

What do you think would be a minimum $$ per night?

$100 per night in London for 4 people (I assume that's what you mean) is extremely low (I don;t know if it's doable at all)

And unfortunately the Great Fire of London (1666) burned down most things you would want to see. (If you go to the Museum of London looked like - you can see some replicas of what parts of the city - and I believe a replica of the fire. And do remember that in those years London was a collection of villages - and many places that are now part of the city were then completely separate villages and towns in the countryside.

Naturally there are major sights remaining (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle) but there is very little left of the the way the average person lived in those times.

I would think you should be going to other towns that have some remains of buildings from that era in a historic center that could substitute for London.

Sorry -

And if you're doing research on that time wouldn't you have heard of this gigantic fire?

I distinctly remember learning about it in high school social studies - it's not a mystery or an obscure event .

You can stay anywhere - and no one visiting London needs a car. The public transport will get you anywhere - even Dartford.

However for three of you $100 won't touch a place in London. That is pretty low even for a single. B&B Belgravia mentioned above is great - but you'd need to double your budget to get in there.

Not much Tudor stuff remains. The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace of course.

http://www.timeout.com/london/things...-london-sights

A visit to the National Portrait Gallery - lots of portraits from the Tudor era.

A few old pubs.

Maybe Eltham Palace. http://www.elthampalace.org.uk

But not that much really. You don't have ver much time in London anyway - and w/ a day spent out at Dartford - even less.

But first of all - you really need to up your budget for a triple.

"you really need to up your budget for a triple"

Right. The place I stay - http://www.ridgemounthotel.co.uk - has a triple, shared bathroom, for around 100 but GBP, not USD. However, if you're there in the summer you could look at the LSE student residencies - http://www.lsevacations.co.uk/ - their triples start at 85 GBP.

Agree that where you stay in London, provided it's zone 1 or 2, doesn't make a lot of difference, although if you're flying into Heathrow I'd look for somewhere near the Piccadilly line.

They are going in May - some of the schools offer holiday accommodations year round - but the cheap ones aren't usually available til summer.

janisj - oops, missed that. Might be worth checking this: http://www.universityrooms.co.uk/ - they have places outside vacation times, I used them for Oxford.

Thanks for the replies. I realize four days is not much--nothing really. And yes, I'm aware of the fire. If I were to come a week earlier without my family, I might be able to do more. However, after several years of research and reading about the time period, I have come across a few things like janisj referred to--pubs, etc. Just thought someone with intimate knowledge of London might know about some gems I haven't encountered through online research, maybe even a small area of the city that preserves a Tudor feel. In Dartford I need to visit Holy Trinity Church, the Martyr's Memorial, and the central town area which still has a few buildings to remind a person of the 1500s such as the Wat Tyler Inn. My greatest fear is getting to the London area and not being able to come away with anything remotely related to what I'm hoping to find. I'm mostly looking for a "feel" or "sense" of London and the area, the countryside, and so on. I agree that visiting another area with a more intact Tudor heritage would be a good idea. I know there are living history farms, etc., in other areas of England that offer such tours. If only...

What is a triple? Anything that says "shared bathroom" would be a deal breaker for the husband.

A triple is a room for three people. If you don't want to all stay in the same room you'd need a double and a single - which would cost more than a triple. It isn't like in the states where many hotels will sleep up to four in two queen sized beds.

Or you could rent a 1 berm flat that sleeps 3. That would be cheaper than two hotel rooms. But many only rent by the week and the ones that rent for shorter periods tend to cost a bit more per night .

By the way, for more background on my intent, my forbears were high-profile Puritans who helped organize the migration from England in 1630 and founded Boston, Mass. I'm trying to reconstruct the England part of the story from the tumultuous 1500s to the 1630s when they left--hence my desire to walk where they walked and see what they saw in any way possible. So things related to religious events--the Smithfield fires, churches where Protestant meetings were held, etc.--are very relevant. I realize this will take more than one trip--just want to get a "quick taste" this time.

To find churches where specific events happened I think you would have to have the name and some idea of the location. Who knows which are still there (non in area of the great fire) but perhaps something on the south bank? (Keeping in mind that those were separate towns and not really part of London - although they are now.)

It seems to me you need to do a lot more detailed research from the US before you leave - since you have so little time in the UK you will need that just to locate and look at things.

Oh well then, you should be looking for some posh cousins to stay with, the "high-profile" relatives who didn't leave. They'd have the scoop on everything you should see besides. The problem, though, is families tend to drop socially rather than rise or even stay put as the money goes. Still, it's worth a shot.

"Anything that says "shared bathroom" would be a deal breaker for the husband."

Then you need a bigger budget. If you find a triple, never mind a double and a single, en-suite, in central London, for $100 I sure want to know where it is! You could get a double on Priceline for that, I would think, but that's not what you're asking for. Same for apartments - I was looking at Homeaway, Flipkey and Airbnb last night, and the prices were all high just for studios.

If I were looking for a place with a Tudor "feel", I'd stay in Chester. Lots of Tudor (and ersatz Tudor)and Stuart buildings makes it much easier to visualize what London was like before the Fire. Less expensive too, although I still don't know whether $100/nite for four is realistic anywhere in the UK.

Chester is a good idea. I was also thinking about York, and maybe Oxford, at least for the Martyrs' Memorial and some of the college buildings. But the OP really needs to know where her ancestors came from. They may never have been to London.

When I lived in London I enjoyed these two books focused on seeing what you can in and around London from the time periods.

The Amateur Historian's Guide to Medieval and Tudor London (publisher Capital Travels) (author Sarah Valente Kettler and Carole Trimble)

The Amateur Historians' Guide to Medieval and Tudor England: Day Trips South of London - Dover, Canterbury, Rochester (the same publisher and authors)

They have a newer third one I didn't have too for more trips outside of London.

I just checked and they are all available on Amazon.

They are a good combination of history and travel books. If you don't want to buy them and can't get them at your local library you might ask if they are available from a bigger library through inter library loan.

They are little out of date now (I had them in 2007) so you will want to confirm anything specific like sites opening hours or travel details with more current research.

The YHA St. Pancras hostel has a three-bed ensuite room for 115 GBP in March 2014, which was about the latest date I could look at. There is a small non-member fee added to that.

Their Earls Court hostel is less expensive, but you'd have to use a shared bathroom down the hall.

Lee Ann

The hostel ElendilPickle mentions is in a convenient location for your Eurostar trip. However that £115 triple is approx $175.

If you really want to see Tudor sites - London is not really the most fertile place for your exploring. There are other parts of the country that didn't have the Great Fire and weren't bombed in WWII and have a LOT more Tudor properties still standing.

Maybe you need to do a <i>tad</i> more research . . .

You know, you say that you are interested in Puritans. No doubt you have done more research than I have, but I remember the Marian Martyrs (those from the mid 16th century) as generally Protestant rather than specifically Puritan. Five of them (including the three commemorated at Oxford) were bishops - indeed, Cranmer was an Archbishop. After Elizabeth came to the throme it was Catholic priests whose lives were in danger. Rather than Tudor/Puritan I would have thought you should be looking into Stuart/Puritan.

Thank you--most of the comments are very helpful, especially about various places to stay in London & costs. (But why some people have to be nasty in response to an innocent question, while hiding behind their computer screen, is beyond me.) Thursdaysd, I'm covering a large time period starting with the Protestant movement and transitioning into the Puritan time period, and am familiar with the distinctions of different groups. I know exactly who my ancestors were and where they lived. There's a reason I'm looking at London and Dartford right now. Sheesh!

I'm currently focused on the Henry VIII period. I do know of certain churches and places that are still in existence. I simply turned to the board in case I might have missed something that those who are familiar with modern-day London might help with. Reading about a place is different than actually being there, knowing the neighborhoods, etc. And thank you, laurie-ann, for the excellent book recommendations.

Unfortunately, you're four years late for Tudorpalooza. In '09, the UK "celebrated" the 500th anniversary of the ascension of Henry VIII to the throne and that would have been perfect timing for your research.

Consider lengthening your stay in London with the fam and getting an apartment. You could get a decent one for about 100 quid/night, which would move you closer to your proposed budget. But $100 per for a family in central London, en suite, means a dump even if it's possible to find such a place.

The reason I suggested a bit more research was not to be snarky. There are terrific Tudor sites all over the country - just not many in London.

And for someone looking to do research you have very little time in London/England.

"I know exactly who my ancestors were and where they lived."

Then you might get better answers if you shared some of that information.

It goes without saying that what I really need is a month or two, or even more, to see and do what I would like. But at this point, with family in tow and limited vacation time, in-depth research isn't even a consideration.

Back to the original question, safe neighborhood near good public transportation in and out of London, from Heathrow, and how much I should expect to pay. Are there safe places in Southwark that would fit the criteria?

We stayed at the Luna & Simone some years ago; it's always highly ranked and, though more expensive than it used to be, is still inexpensive for London. I know they have triples as my sis stayed in one. It's very near Victoria Station; safe neighborhood with immediate access to the very convenient #24 bus.

Thanks azzure, I'll look into it. Final question--perhaps we should just stay in Dartford since I want to spend time there, and travel into the city a couple of days. Thoughts on that? Would a huge chunk of time and money be spent on transportation?

I haven't spent much time yet researching transportation in the London area, so pardon my lack of familiarity. As a rural, small-town dweller, I find planning travel around one of the largest cities in the world is a bit overwhelming.

Have you tried Airbnb site plus Monastry Stays the prices look really reasonable and some of the univeristies are now putting their rooms up for rent in the holiday season.

Little known fact - the place with most pre-reformation churches is Norwich - 34 I think.

Sorry - the rates for a triple with private bath at the Luna Simone are from $210 to $270 per night - depending on date.

My guess is that about $200 per night is a base rate for a triple with private bath in a place that is not condemned - barring some sort of fantastic deal.

(For a 4* double in London we figure at least $400 per night - similar to NYC.)

Staying in Dartford makes no sense at all. Stay there because you want to visit there <i>once</i>??

You'd be commuting into London just so you could spend part of one day in Dartford.

As for how much you need to spend . . . How much <i>can</i> you spend? $100 doesn't cut it (and wouldn't in NYC, or San Francisco or Rome or most any major metropolitan area). Can you spend $200?

Also how old is the child? A couple of chains (Premier Inn and Travelodge) have reasonably priced family rooms - but the child must be under 16. Not 16 - <i>under</i> 16, and they do check. The problem is their rates are VERY date specific. So one night of your stay might be £75/$120 but the next night runs £145+ / $225-ish

Okay--I can see that $100/night won't cut it for a short stay. If I were to go ahead of the fam and stay for an extra week or so, I gather it might be possible to rent a longer-term option at a more reasonable price? Let's say, $150/night or some kind of weekly price?

This will be a matter of opinion, but generally speaking is a woman traveling alone safe lodging and exploring around London and its environs, especially having never been there?

Janisj, the child will be 17. No discount. :o(

London is extremely safe.

$150 is a little less than £100 and you probably could get a large studio or small 1bdrm flat for that. Unfortunately those sorts of rates usually require a week's stay, not 3 days.

There are some small B&B hotels near Victoria, Paddington, Kings Cross and Earls Court stations that will fit that budget.

If seriously interested in Tudor/Puritan history, the British Library would be your best bet for information.However not nearly as much fun as visiting pubs/ museums/ churches etc.

The books laurie-ann mentioned are good.

I don't know London well enough to advise, but have been to Hampton Court and it was fantastic, so I'd make a point of going there.

Although I'm not a woman, I know women who have visited and explored London with no problem. I'd say you'll probably be fine, provided you exercise common sense:

1. Don't drink too much and don't stay out too late.
2. Don't eat or drink anything that you didn't buy in a bar, shop or restaurant. I haven't heard anything about London, but in Italy gangs of men drug and rape women they meet on trains. In Peru, the motive is more usually robbery, but you get the point. Beware of friendly strangers and don't be shy to be rude to someone you just met.
3. When booking a hotel, use Tripadvisor or Booking.com and read the reviews regarding peoples' experiences in the neighborhood. As you're looking for inexpensive lodging, you may find things in shady neighborhoods, so check this out before booking.
4. When booking a hotel, the second consideration after price should be proximity to an Underground station. That way, you won't have to hike a long way, and an Underground Station close to your hotel may offset an otherwise sketchy neighborhood.
5. Underground is the best and least expensive way to get around London and as long as you travel during normal hours and go to the usual tourist travel destinations, is quite safe. Get a map of the London Underground before you leave home or as soon as you arrive and use it each morning before leaving your lodging to plot lines and stops for that day. There is a little book called something like "What's On London" or "Time Out London" available free in racks at Heathrow (and probably Gatwick) that has an Underground map in the back. Most guidebooks have one as well.
6. This segues into an all around tip: Act like you know where you're going at all times--don't stop to consult a map, ask a question or anything. Although Londoners and people in the UK in general are very friendly and will help you out--even if you don't ask--there are also bad guys who may be keeping an eye out for someone who looks like she doesn't know where she's going or what she's doing. So act at all times like you know where you're going and what you're doing.--that means not stopping on the street to consult a map or a guidebook.
7. Leave your jewelry and most valuables at home. Put your passport and anything else you don't want to lose in the safe at the hotel (make sure when you book that there is one in your room) and when out and about carry a copy of your passport, one credit card, and cash in a moneybelt. You can get a moneybelt that will hang on a cord around your neck under your clothes, and it will keep pickpockets away because they can't see if you're carrying anything valuable. I've gotten to where I feel comfortable carrying one credit and a little cash in a front pants pocket so that I don't constantly have to run into a bathroom to retrieve these. I try to estimate how much cash I'll need before lunch and put that cash plus one card. Again, no one can see it's there so (so far) it hasn't attracted pickpockets.
8. Don't carry a purse or bag, even one that goes across your body. A backpack will be fine to carry guidebooks, umbrella, raincoat, sunglasses, etc., but don't put anything valuable in it. BTW--you will need everything listed because weather in London changes very rapidly and it may be raining one minute and bright sunshine ten minutes later.
9. When walking, avoid areas where there are no people about. This sounds like it would be easy because London is a very populous, crowded city and the tourist areas can be mobbed. But depending on the location, time of day, and day of week, there are many areas where no people are on the street. So notice this before you turn the corner onto a street.
10. Beware of anything "odd." The few times we've been robbed were times when we saw the thief and even commented on him or her to each other, but didn't take steps to avoid it until our purse or wallet was gone. We've since stopped carrying purses and wallets while travelling (and even while going to concerts, etc., at home) and have not had any trouble. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, get out of it ASAP.

I haven't read all the posts, but your desires do sound like a solo trip to me. I very much enjoy the freedom on solo travelling. The people you are travelling with have these same feelings? By yourself, you could rent a studio apartment for less than a hotel, keep a budget in tact by eating most of your dinners in and while touring your tours, lunches at better places.

Most of dwd's post is sort of common sense - but written in semi-hysterical hyperbole/overkill.

Don't carry a handbag? Why on earth not? And a pack pack instead - silly since a handbag is much more secure than a pack stuck out of sight on your back.