B&Bs in London, early December?
Nov 27th, 2005, 10:05 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
B&Bs in London, early December?
Hello! I'm planning a trip for two to London the second week of December, and I'd love to find a B&B that's charming and convenient (I wouldn't mind a 20-min bus or tube ride into the city). I've done a bit of research online, but I'd rather get suggestions from someone who's visited recently. Our budget is below 100 GBP per night. Can you help?
Nov 27th, 2005, 09:53 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Try londontown.com. You can specify B&B price range and neighborhood you want. We found the Hyde Park Radnor Hotel B&B that way. It's in a great neighborhood, between Hyde Park and Paddington Station. The same block it's on has about three or four other little hotel/B&Bs. I think for a quad/family room we paid about $225/night with breakfast included.
Nov 27th, 2005, 11:27 PM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would recommend the Luna & Simone near Victoria. Its a family run B&B thats been around for decades, a couple of twins in the family have been running it day to day for the last decade or so.
Its by far the best B&B in the Victoria area. Room rates are around 70 GBP for a double this time of year.
It very well positioned too, about 5 minutes walk from Pimlico station, about 10-15 minutes walk from Victoria. The number 24 bus passes the door every few minutes that'll have you in Wesyminster or Leicester Square within 15 minutes
Another option is the Darlington Hyde Park Hotel near Paddington sttaion. Its a hotel not stricyly a B&B but its attraction is its welcoming staff and homely facilities. Again this time of year should pick up a double around 70-75 GBP with breakfast,
Its by far the best B&B in the Victoria area. Room rates are around 70 GBP for a double this time of year.
It very well positioned too, about 5 minutes walk from Pimlico station, about 10-15 minutes walk from Victoria. The number 24 bus passes the door every few minutes that'll have you in Wesyminster or Leicester Square within 15 minutes
Another option is the Darlington Hyde Park Hotel near Paddington sttaion. Its a hotel not stricyly a B&B but its attraction is its welcoming staff and homely facilities. Again this time of year should pick up a double around 70-75 GBP with breakfast,
Nov 28th, 2005, 08:00 AM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your suggestions, all! I've enquired about availability at Luna & Simone and the Hyde Park Radnor. They both look wonderful, and they're my top two choices -- far better than anything I've found on my own.
Quick update: Luna & Simone just replied, and they have availability for only two nights out of our stay. I wonder if it'd be worth staying somewhere on the first night, and then switching hotels. Kind of a pain, but if it's *really* great, then it might be worth it!
These B&Bs do have availability for all three days:
The Westminster House Hotel
James & Cartref House
The Belgravia Hotel
The Georgian House Hotel
Iolanthe
Has anyone here stayed at one of these lately? What was it like?
Quick update: Luna & Simone just replied, and they have availability for only two nights out of our stay. I wonder if it'd be worth staying somewhere on the first night, and then switching hotels. Kind of a pain, but if it's *really* great, then it might be worth it!
These B&Bs do have availability for all three days:
The Westminster House Hotel
James & Cartref House
The Belgravia Hotel
The Georgian House Hotel
Iolanthe
Has anyone here stayed at one of these lately? What was it like?
Nov 28th, 2005, 10:17 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
My personal preference is not to move within the same city once I've checked into a hotel. I'll bet you'll find what you want for your entire stay.
The Hyde Park Radnor is homey, clean and well-kept with a nice breakfast room serving scrambled or fried eggs, ham, tomatoes, toast, cereal, coffee, tea, etc. They serve only till about 9:00 a.m., though. Our quad room was tiny, and I didn't see other rooms. The hotel is family-owned and they were quite helpful.
As I said, there were two or three other little hotels right on the same block as the Radnor, so maybe you can find out their names by e-mailing londontown.com.
We really liked the neighborhood as it was an easy walk to Hyde Park, a slightly longer walk to Kensington Palace, and Paddington Station was the other direction. Lots of little shops, and restaurants in the area, too. Nice residential blocks where the hotel is.
If you click on my name above, you'll find my trip report of London-Paris-Amsterdam, with specific recommendations of some restaurants we liked in London. There's an especially good Indian restaurant just a block from the Hyde Park Radnor, plus others that looked really nice for neighborhood places.
Have fun planning!
The Hyde Park Radnor is homey, clean and well-kept with a nice breakfast room serving scrambled or fried eggs, ham, tomatoes, toast, cereal, coffee, tea, etc. They serve only till about 9:00 a.m., though. Our quad room was tiny, and I didn't see other rooms. The hotel is family-owned and they were quite helpful.
As I said, there were two or three other little hotels right on the same block as the Radnor, so maybe you can find out their names by e-mailing londontown.com.
We really liked the neighborhood as it was an easy walk to Hyde Park, a slightly longer walk to Kensington Palace, and Paddington Station was the other direction. Lots of little shops, and restaurants in the area, too. Nice residential blocks where the hotel is.
If you click on my name above, you'll find my trip report of London-Paris-Amsterdam, with specific recommendations of some restaurants we liked in London. There's an especially good Indian restaurant just a block from the Hyde Park Radnor, plus others that looked really nice for neighborhood places.
Have fun planning!
Nov 28th, 2005, 10:55 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Lime Tree Hotel (a B&B in the Victoria area) is offering a special rate of £47.50 per person per night (including breakfast and VAT) on regular double or triple rooms, for stays of 3 nights or longer, through December 15. The rack rates for a regular double start at £105, so this sounds like a great deal, if it's still available.
I found the offer on the Lime Tree's website, www.limetreehotel.co.uk.
I haven't stayed at the Lime Tree myself, but I've heard good things about it, and it gets (mostly) good reviews on Tripadvisor.
I found the offer on the Lime Tree's website, www.limetreehotel.co.uk.
I haven't stayed at the Lime Tree myself, but I've heard good things about it, and it gets (mostly) good reviews on Tripadvisor.
Nov 28th, 2005, 11:06 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oops -- I just realized that the Lime Tree deal I mentioned in my previous post isn't that great a deal, when you multiply by 2 (since the special rate is per person). But it would still be good enough to make the price fit (just barely) within your budget.
Nov 28th, 2005, 03:03 PM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks again for all the recs. I've sent out a flurry of emails and received a good number of responses already. The Hyde Park Radnor looks perfect; they don't have availability for my entire stay, though (just like Luna & Simone). The Lime Tree Hotel was a bit too pricey, when all was said and done (but it looks lovely).
The James & Cartref offered us a 15% discount on a double/ensuite room, and I've read good reviews about them, so we'll go with that. I'll be sure to report back!
Have a great week, and again, THANK YOU!
The James & Cartref offered us a 15% discount on a double/ensuite room, and I've read good reviews about them, so we'll go with that. I'll be sure to report back!
Have a great week, and again, THANK YOU!
Nov 28th, 2005, 05:28 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I tried the Priceline route, and couldn't get anything for $120 or under -- I was surprised, as I read of others' great successes with their $60 to $75 bids for 4* and 5* hotels. There must be something going on the weekend I'm there, because I had zero luck! I did receive one counteroffer of $98, on my first bid. I turned it down...in hindsight, perhaps that was a mistake! I think I'll be happy with my B&B, from the reviews I've read.
Nov 29th, 2005, 01:00 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't understand the rationale of only bidding up to $120 on Priceline for a 4* hotel given that at the current exchange rate your 100 GBP budget for a b and b is equivalent to $173. I do agree though that there don't appear to be any successful bids listed on BFT for the 2nd week in Dec.
I think you'll find your b & b in a convenient location. Hope you have a great time.
I think you'll find your b & b in a convenient location. Hope you have a great time.
Nov 29th, 2005, 06:19 AM
#16
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
.Cat, if you are not doing Priceline do consider the Ridgemount. I did check the recent reviews on tripadvisor (I stayed there yrs ago) and they were excellent. The location is very good but the owners of the place "make the stay". Good Luck.
Nov 29th, 2005, 07:33 AM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, travelbunny! I emailed the Ridgemount yesterday, and I'm waiting to hear if they have availability for our stay. I'll let you know what I find out! Thank you for the wonderful suggestion.
Nov 29th, 2005, 11:40 AM
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Update on the Ridgemount: They have only a twin room, shared facilities. Great price (52 GBP) and a very friendly response from the owner. BF wouldn't be happy with a twin, though, so we'll take the double ensuite at the J&C.
Travelbunny, I'm filing the Ridgemount away for a future visit (and planning farther ahead than we can this time), though! We expect to be heading that way again in a few months.
Many, many thanks for all the help and recommendations you've all given. My London file is now plump with ideas for this and future stays!
Travelbunny, I'm filing the Ridgemount away for a future visit (and planning farther ahead than we can this time), though! We expect to be heading that way again in a few months.
Many, many thanks for all the help and recommendations you've all given. My London file is now plump with ideas for this and future stays!
Nov 29th, 2005, 01:23 PM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
