We might take a trip to London this winter or spring and want to be situated near a tube station. We have stayed at the Harrrington Hall Hotel on prior visits. We were hoping the rooms had been redone and since they have not we won't be staying there. We didn't think the beds were very comfortable. I liked that neighborhood and the proximity to Gloucester Road tube station. My husband thinks it might be better to stay in Bloomsbury but I am not convinced. I don't want to pay more than 150 pounds per night for the hotel and wouldn't mind paying less! Any suggestions?

For lower budgets but still nice places look around Victoria train station - Belgravia tis called - well located for tube or walks to Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Sq - Buckingham palace, etc.

Thank-you for the suggestions PalenQ. I didn't know if 150 pounds would be the low end of the budget or not. I could up the budget a little bit if that would give me more options.

Do you have specific hotels in mind around Victoria station?

Check out www.londontown.com for lots of info and hotel ideas

Thank-you jamikins. That'll keep me busy for a few hours! It's a very helpful link. I'm looking at hotels in different neighborhoods now.

http://www.londontown.com/hotels/neighbourhoods

I spotted The Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury earlier. It's a little pricey and highly decorated but the location looks pretty good. Any opinions on that hotel?

Ms Post - you will find that this forum is all about value for the $$$ spent.

I start with Venere as a reference point, and then move on from there.

Try this. It's set for > $200 and all areas of London.
http://www.venere.com/uk/london/#p|1...|r5-c|all_rate

If the link doesn't go through then start with www.venere.com and go from there

I love staying in Bloomsbury, and Londontown will be a great help to you in finding places in your budget. I stayed at the Holiday Inn around the corner from Russell Square station for ninety pounds, though that's been a few years. There are quite a few smaller b&b-type hotels in the area, too - depends on what amenities you're looking for. I also stayed at the Morgan Hotel around the corner from the British Museum, and I think it would fit in your budget; however, our room was pretty dark and small (though it's hard to find a big room in London!), so you might want something a little higher-end.

Thanks for the help. I have a lot of research to do.

We stayed at the Hyde Park Radnor B&B a few years ago, found through londontown.com. Our quad room and bath was too small, but very clean. They serve cooked-to-order eggs (hot English breakfast) plus continental breakfast, both included in the rate. I think it would be in your price range. http://www.hydeparkradnor.com/index.html

There were about three other little hotels on these blocks, and they each looked as nice or nicer than where we were staying.

This area is midway between Paddington and Marble Arch, just a few blocks from Hyde Park. We walked to Kensington Palace from there.

We liked this homey neighborhood feel, and there was an amazing Indian restaurant nearby, too.

That's a great place PeaceOut. Their website says they've gone through a recent renovation or refurbishment. It is in my price range.

Rastaguytoday, we're big fans of value for our dollars and poumds!

We like to stay in apartments and have rented through OwnersDirect and VRBO.

We have stayed twice in Notting Hill and like access to the Notting Hill Gate tube station. It's got three lines running through it, so it's easy to get just about anyway. You can take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then take the Circle or District line to Notting Hill Gate.

It's a great neighborhood. We like to run so we can bop over to Kensington Gardens or Holland Park. Love the neighborhood and great restaurants. Close to nice shopping on Kensington High Street, if you're into that, or Portobello Road market on Saturdays.

Apartments are great. You can spread out, make a few meals and save some dough. Feels like you're living there.

Emily, here is the name of the Indian restaurant I mentioned in that neighborhood.. It is a nice, small place with amazing prawns and wonderful service. Noorjahan 2
http://www.noorjahan2.com/

Thank-you, PeaceOut. We both love good Indian food. Is it Southern Indian? I'll take a look at that link.

ksbeem, I don't want an apartment for this trip because I don't want to cook at all! We both love Notting Hill and the market on Portobello.

Northern Indian! Even better. Thanks PeaceOut. Noorjahan 2 looks great. Where's Noojahan 1 I wonder.

Hi Emily Post,


Every time this question comes up, I have the same suggestion – STRAND PALACE, only a 3-4 minute walk from Trafalgar Square. Within a mile: the Thames, Whitehall, Soho, British Museum, “the City,” Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Churchill War Rooms, and the National and Portrait Galleries right in T Square.


This is a large flagship hotel with simple rooms recently renovated and with an excellent breakfast. I was checking their website recently (why? I thought I said I wasn’t going back) and they have special rates coming up because they are now renovating the outside of the building and the rooms with “no view” that is, behind the scaffolding, will be substantially reduced.


Since cost is a concern for you (and most of us, eh?) you might look into this option. In my opinion, you could not be closer to the heart of London (without lengthy Tube rides to get everywhere) than the Strand.


If you click on my name, you may glance at my trip report last July (2011) in which I describe my experiences there.

Good luck – you will love London…

Thank you for that lead, late day traveler! I will take a look at the Strand Palace right now.

We do indeed love London and look forward to returning.

The Strand Palace looks very good. How are the beds, latedaytraveler? I was able to find rates of about $250.00 U.S. dollars a night on average for the Strand on Expedia. That's definitely in the budget but do you think this is the discounted rate? I put in dates around the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., third week of November.

I reviewed the www.londontown.com site and found SO much. I now have a MUCH better idea of things to do and how I need to get there, etc.

Wish I had know about this sooner. I know this will be a big help to tourists and hope those of you who regularly post on this site (The Forum) here will suggest that site for future visitors. Especially the helpful Maps.

Found a Diamond in the Haystack on this one. Many thanks.

Melaine

I'm also considering the new Premier Inn on Leicester Square. The price of the room is the same as the Strand for the November dates.

Melanie, where are you staying? The londontown.com site is really good, I agree.

This was my first post on Fodors and I want to thank everyone for being so nice and helpful. I got wonderful help and I will keep you updated as our plans begin to move beyond the earliest planning stages. Thank-you, E.P.