Any suggestions on reasonably-priced great small hotels and/or inns in London? Location and room more important than amenities. Any to avoid?

What's "reasonably-priced" with a hypen or without one for that matter?

I'll assume you mean around 150GBP - use priceline.com - everyone seems to endorse it here.

We really like the Rubens Hotel. It's a smallish 4* hotel across from the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and about 2 blocks from Victoria Station. Close to St. James and Green Parks as well as walking distance to many other attractions. The staff is friendly and they have a great buffet breakfast. It also gets consistently good reviews on tripadvisor.com. You can usually get a good price on londontown.com.

http://www.rubenshotel.com/index_flash.htm

Best we could find and guarantee in March for July was the Rembrandt in Kensington just X from Victoria and Albert (and a few min from Harrod's)for 99. GBP + the 17.5% VAT for a queen/exec - (i.e. A/C, which may be superfluous this summer).
M

Hello,
I booked Holiday Inn, Mayfair for 73 pds. Does not include breakfast though.

Holiday Inn Mayfair is a superb position, 73GBP per night is giving it away.

73 GBP and NO breakfast?? I stay at a great B&B in the suburbs- 30 GBP WITH breakfast. 3 minute walk from the tube in a very quiet residential neighborhood.

You've answered your own question. "I stay at a great B&B in the suburbs". Yours is not a full service property, and it's in the suburbs which means you have to bother with the hassle of the less than user friendly tube everyday. The Holiday Inn is right on the Mayfair/St James's border which is a fabulous position right in the heart of London, it's reasonable too.

I hate to say it but I agree with M-kingdom. Why go to London to spend half the day traveling in and out of the suburbs? IMHO not to stay in a central location and have the real London atmosphere all around you misses half the fun of the trip.

I don't need a full service property to stay at when I travel. I just need a clean quiet place to sleep. I don't come to Europe to hang around hotel rooms. I've encountered very few problems with the tube. I used to stay in Central London when I came to visit- never again. On my 2 most recent visits I saved 425 GBP over what I would have paid if I stayed in Central London. The money saved covered the cost of one flight and half the cost of my other flight to London. And I am staying in the home of a couple who have become close friends which means a great deal more to me than staying in any hotel.

Most people aren't staying with friends in London - they are here for an holiday, nothing more. So what you've saved the money, you're creating extra hassle for yourself. By all means you stick to doing it your way, but an hotel is the most normal way to go. Location Location Location should always be one's priority - who wants to have to return on a nightbus (the tube stops around midnight) after an evening at the Theatre and maybe a drink at Milk and Honey afterwards? Or even a late dinner - I take it you go to bed early?

nytraveler

It takes me 20 minutes to get to Central London - that hardly qualifies as half the day. I stayed in Central London on my first 5 visits there, so been there, done that. As I mentioned in my reply to MK2 I have saved a great deal of money by staying in the suburbs. This, in turn, allows me to make more visits to London than I could if I was shelling out more money for lodging. I am getting ready for my 4th trip to Europe in 12 months. I would much rather do that than pay 73 GBP a night with no breakfast just to stay in Central London.

It's just a ridiculous concept to travel to a city and stay outside of it. What do you do if you're out late and need to get back - take a taxi - that costs a fair amount of money. Furthermore, 73GBP is cheaper than most hotels outside of London in the UK, so what you don't have breakfast in Piccadilly you can get a pastry and coffee for under 3GBP per head. I'm a great believer in quality not quantity - why have twenty cheap suits in your wardrobe when you can have two handmade ones? If you turn up to an enagement in a beautifully cut suit you'll make far more of an impression than turning up in a cheap off the peg number. The company you are with will not note that you have nineteen other suits hanging in your wardrobe, they will take you at face value. Whereas if you'd worn the expensive suit they'd be suitable impressed. Bringing the conversation back round to hotels - If you'd stay in the centre of London for a week, and sacrifice a stay next year I'm sure you'd have a far more enjoyable time than staying out of the action.

I will stick to doing it my way. I eat dinner before going to the theatre which is the way most people do. The plays usually let out around 10:30 so there is plenty of time to catch the tube. Never have taken the night bus. On holiday, never go to bed before 1 AM up at 6 AM. And the only hassle I have is not being able to visit London more than 3 times a year.

I'm not suggesting you change, you are obviously happy with your situation, however, I'd extend a word of caution to other tourists wishing to emmulate your success. If you come out of a bar/club at 1/2/3 am you will have to catch a night bus or get a cab if you are staying in the suburbs which is an inconvenient if costly exercise.

I have a great time on every visit to LOndon. I have had just as much fun on the 2 most recent visits staying in the suburbs as I did when I stayed in Central London. Sacrifice a trip just so I can pay more? Not likely. Dress to impress? Not that shallow.

I do agree with you if you did stay out to 1 AM or later, it would be a problem. Which is why I don't. My days of closing bars ended about 20 years ago. The joys of getting older!

Thanks for all the chatter. If opposites attract, perhaps m_kingdom2 and rj007 should get together to continue this debate -- in a handmade suit before the tube shuts down.

vagabondman

That was a good one! Wherever you choose to stay in London you will have a great time. It is one of the great cities of the world. Enjoy your trip!

I would like to add that the 73GBP rate was for a quad room to accommodate a family of four. Doubt that I would get this rate even in the suburbs. So I am extremely happy with this rate even without any breakfast.