My wife and 10-year-old daughter and I are thinking about a trip to the UK this summer. We like staying in B&Bs, and have had no problems finding excellent ones outside London. But I haven't had much luck getting information on good B&Bs in London.
Because we have a limited time in London (probably 4 days), we'd like to be relatively central. We're theatre people, so the Covent Garden/West End area would be great, but we're not wedded to this. It would be my daughter's first trip, so we'd be planning on seeing some of the other sights, too.
Does anyone have any suggestions? There seems to be a general consensus that Priceline is best for hotels in London, but I don't think they handle B&Bs.
Thanks.

I haven't seen many B&B's in central London. I think their place is taken by the small hotels (6-20 rooms) in converted townhouses which are very common. These places often lack an elevator or AC and may have small or awkwardly converted rooms, but they usually include breakfast (often quite good). We like the sense of character that these places have, and often prefer them to the generic large hotels.

You might try Sandra Gustafson's book "Great Sleeps in London" (which you might find at your local library). She focuses on small B&B-type hotels with reasonable prices. She restricts herself to hotels within the Circle line (central London).

Hi

What about the B&B Belgravia - http://www.bb-belgravia.com. B&B Abbey House http://www.abbeyhousekensington.com - looks great but please note that facilities are shared. There is also the Morgan Guest House - http://www.morganhouse.co.uk

This link will help you

http://www.londontoolkit.com/accommo..._breakfast.htm

There are few B&Bs in central London, but you could try Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay.

http://www.sawdays.co.uk/home.html

The Website includes London B&Bs and small hotels. I noticed one in Chelsea - Old Church Street - that has a family room and one in Mayfair - South Audley St - that has a double and single that share a bathroom.

This agency might also be able to help you.

http://www.londonbandb.com/

Please ignore anything posted by Dayrien -- he/she registered this a.m. and has posted the exact same incoherent message on 10 different threads all over Fodors (Asia, US, Solo, Europe forums)

Dayrien: Advertising is not allowed on forums - and especially when one fakes being a "satisfied customer"

MacThespian: There are some B&Bs in London but nice ones tend to be as pricey as nice hotels. Many London properties w/ "B&B" or "Guest House" in the name are really tourist grade (2 star mostly) small hotels.

The sources mentioned already are good to get you started - but a B&B in London isn't necessarily the small, family run home w/ character that you will find out in the countryside.

For a typical English B&B you must head to the suburbs - i stay in Eltham, right by the Overground train line that is a quick shot into London in a B&B run by the archetypal B&B elderly but sweet lady for 21 pounds, breakfast included. Clean cozy but have to share WC with two other rooms. Most Fodorites are looking for more private facilities i think but if not and a 20-min commute is in the cards - i find the commute great - train full of locals- could be for you.

Wow! That's a lot of information. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post. I've got a lot of leads, and will start checking them out today.
I really appreciate your assistance!

Try the Luna and Simone...small hotel near Victoria. Gets RAVE reviews on Trip Advisor.

We stayed at a really great B&B that was probably 20 minutes out of central London. It isn't pricey, and the hot breakfast was wonderful and they were amazing.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_England.html

I cannot recommend it more. James and Janice are amazing. We have some photos of it also at neesie.org (probably a few of the same ones I posted at Trip Advisor). I just wrote to them to see if I can book for April.

Okay, I just got a confirmation (yay!), I have 3 nights at the Baytree House.

I was looking for their website, and here it is: http://www.baytreehouse.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

I have also heard nice things about the Luna and Simone, if you'd like to be more central. That was one choice on my list last year. I did one night on Priceline, and wasn't thrilled with what I got - so that is a last resort.

Hooray! The first person i've seen on this board who hasn't stayed in Kensington, but instead has chosen the heady delights of Arnos Grove.

Just close your eyes while going through "arsenal" tube station. I wouldn't want any innocent person seeing that.

Actually, I've stayed at the Gloucester Tube Station, the South Kensington Tube Station, as well as Arnos Grove. I'm not sure what you are talking about as far as what an innocent person should see, but I do recall one of the first things we saw getting off the Gloucester Tube station last year for the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum. The phone booth outside, littered with lots of offers for sex and with naked womens tops (not sure what I'm allowed to say here). We called them t***y phones.

The Arnos Grove area appears to be a working-class neighborhood, and I'd recommend the bed and breakfast anytime. I don't see anyone who has reviewed them as having any issues. I'll be by myself for this trip.

The comment about closing your eyes at the Arsenal tube stop is because it is named after the football team of the same name and no-one should be forced to have anything to do with them.

Just grit your teeth and refer to the station as "Gillespie road". Right thinking people will understand what you mean.

I guess I'd need to be a Londoner to understand. I also used the words "working class", though I'd actually consider it middle class.

Anyway, that is it - I am looking forward to staying again, and we might be there in September as well.

Arsenal is the only London Tube station to have a name identical to one on the Paris Metro and in Paris one need not close their eyes and hold their nose when exiting (as one may do in Tottenham).

B&Bs in London - i always stay in a real area of town well out of the centre and would have it no other way - instead of being in central London with zillions of foreign tourists i prefer areas with only Londoners. Arsenal sounds great.

End this "Arsenal" farago now!

Take action! Make the world a better place!

Sign up!

http://www.petitiononline.com/CFC100/petition.html

And the whole horible story here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_tube_station