It might be fair, but unfortunately I'm rarely in a fair mood.

Spygirl - I only raised the point becuase MK is usually so particular with punctuation

My wife thinks so.

"Who knows, you could even bump into me there."

MK2, You'll be the one wiping out the sinks in ladies or the gents room?

travelchic; I lived near Brompton Cross for years, and it's my favorite area in London. I am not a big fan of pubs, but if you wander around in the more residential areas, you usually find some good ones. Ben Haines (look for his posts on this forum) has recommended the Anglesea Arms, and that is a very nice one. Behind the Myhotel, there is Elystan Street and Chelsea Green; there's a nice pub there too.
Also in Brompton Cross is The Collection; restaurant with bar area.
The problem with nightlife in London (where I lived for 9 years) is that it is often either clubs where you have to be a member, or the type of places where you have to stand in line and look good to be allowed in. Going to a restaurant that has a bar, like The Collection, solves the problem. Harvey Nichols has a good restaurant with bar on the 5th floor too.

For shopping, don't miss Notting Hill; go to the beautiful Paul Smith shop on Kensington Park Road, en then into Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road. Have lunch at Nicole Farhi's shop.

Spygirl, no I'm not Scottish - I moved from London to Edinburgh 11 years ago.

I stand by my feeling that Mayfair is for old people - and snobs. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for twenty-somethings who like enjoying themselves.

If you want a happening place and don't mind a bit of 'edginess', I'd recommend staying in Notting Hill or Ladbroke Grove. Lots of great bars etc - with young people in ! Along with open minded and laid back people of all ages.

I so agree with Tulips and Caroline! I recently returned from London and I stayed around Notting Hill, which suited me very well, as it's a charming neighborhood of shops, chic little clothing boutiques, and gastro-pubs- a very relaxing place to return to from the crowds downtown! Only problem was, I had business matters going on around Piccadilly and the City, my friends/associates were staying in Mayfair/St. James, and they didn't especially want to trek to Notting Hill, (which is not much of a trek) so I spent the majority of time in W1 with them. As a result, I didn't have time to go to some of the places I wanted to check out, like the Pharmacy and E & O Restaurant-that will be next time!

Where did you stay spygirl?

Thank you, Tulips! Great information on shopping and pubs, I am printing out your post to take along with me. Would you recommend staying near Brompton Cross of Knotting Hill, or do you think that is to far from the "center of things", being that this is my first, albeit a short one, I do want to see some of the well-known sights of the city. What do you think?

that should read Brompton Cross OR Knotting Hill

And that should read Notting Hill not "Knotting Hill".

Yes, you are correct, that's what I get for posting messages to this forum when I should be working

Hard to say where the 'center of things' is; Brompton Cross would probably be handier, since the Piccadilly Line will take you straight to Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and the Circle Line will take you to the Tower easily.
In the Brompton Cross area, Joe's Cafe is very nice for lunch, and also the Oyster Bar at Bibendum; in the Conran Shop on the ground floor, entrance.
In Walton Street, the Enterprise is great for a drink, or a casual dinner.
Let me know if you want any more shopping information!

Yes, I think I would like to stay in Brompton, happen to know of any good hotels?
I would like more information on shoppping. I am mostly interested in small independant boutiques. Places that carry all sorts of different, lesser known designers....not so much interested in Chanel, Prada, etc... not that I don't love their wares, it's my pocket book that holds me back!
If you want you can email me at [email protected].
Thanks, your help is very much appreciated!

Brown's in South Molton St. have a few shops located there: menswear, womenswear, and also Brown's Focus which sells clothes from previous seasons at high discounts, often over seventy per cent off (but I don't see the point in investing in past collections). They also have a store in Sloane St. Marni (at the same address) have a very surreal store, almost space capsule-esque. Oki-Ni in Savile Row, W1 is the ultimate contemporary shopping experience, clothes displayed in a gallery setting. You say you don't want Prada or Chanel, so I will extend this to other major designers, I take it you want smaller (and often cheaper) and less well known designers. The recommendations above - particularly Brown's - should suffice. Also, Sefton in Upper St., N1 offer both mens and womenswear in separate shops, very limited stock, but good buyers mean they usually have the cream of the crop. Harvey Nichols has six floors of fashion (I'm taking into account three levels of menswear in the subterreanean space, plus three floors of womenswear), and they carry everything from chic Chanel suits to the most casual pair of destructured, distressed jeans. Harrods has an equally large selection, most notably their Jil Sander concession (the only store to carry such a large range by her). Clements Ribeiro is available at both of these Knightsbridge stores.

I'd recommend some pieces by Siv Stodal, and Raf Simons, for men. Marni, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Balenciaga, Diane von Furstenberg, and Celine for women.

Hi Travelchic -
Hotels close to the South Kensington tube station are close to Brompton Cross - it's where Fulham Rd, Brompton Rd., Draycott Ave., Walton St., and Sloane Ave (NOT Sloane Street) all come together. It's kind of Chelsea/South Kensington/Knightsbridge area... the borders get a bit blurred.

Farmacia Santa Maria Novella has an outlet in the area. Also Neisha Crossland, Joseph, Jigsaw, etc.
Here's a list of some of the shops
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInfo...ps/Haris/1241/

Also here's a great site where you can see pics of actual shopping streets.
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/ They don't have Brompton Cross exactly but they do have Fulham Rd. which leads to the Brompton Cross area (click on Fulham Rd. The #1 one area is right at Brompton Cross - Bibendum's in the building on the corner).

And here's a page that has some bars and restaurants.
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/home_fea...mptoncross.asp

If you google Brompton Cross you'll get lots of info.

I'll be staying at the Jurys Kensington hotel in late August. It's close to the area, but probably bigger than what you'd like. And and of the Sumner Place properties are close too, as is myhotel Chelsea. I just think it's a great area to stay, and it has a safe neighbourhood feel to it.

So that I can have a better idea....just how far is it from say Brompton to Mayfair? a mile (or I should say km) or less? a couple KMs?
Thanks.

Depending where you want in Mayfair - two to three miles.

We stayed at the Rembrandt 2 blocks from the tube and 2 blocks from Harrod's in very nice SK just X the street from V and A.
The 99 GBP (+17.5% VAT) rate was about the best we could find for our senior needs and the full on English B'Fast was VG. We had no problems getting anywhere on the tube or walking.
M

Take a look at the Firmdale hotels, a group of small luxury townhouse hotels. I've stayed at The Pelham, just across from the South Ken tube station, and the Knightsbridge, around the corner from Harrod's, and liked them a lot.

A cool, upscale vibe, particularly at the Knightsbridge. They may be out of your budget range nowadays, but worth a try.

www.firmdale.com