lizb37

Hi! My college friends and I are going to London for a week and were curious about the best area to look for a hotel in. We are interested in going to the main tourist sites, doing some shopping, and really just seeing the city. Also if anyone knows of a fairly inexpensive but nice and clean hotel, any advice or insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

janis

There is no one "best" area to stay. London is huge and the shopping and major sites are spread over a very large area. But the public transport is so good you can easily get to anywhere,

The "best" (meaning most convenient) neighborhoods include South Kensington, Victoria, Russell Square/Bloomsbury, Mayfair and Knightsbridge (those last two are very upmarket and bargain rooms tougher to find).

Other slightly less convenient but still very central are Paddington/Bayswater, Marylebone and Kensington.

Before anyone can give useful recommendations we need to know what you mean by "fairly inexpensive". One person's budget hotel is another's major splurge. Give us a number . . . . . .

elaine

my response is, what janis said.

We're happy to help but you need to be more specific about your budget, and what you are including in 'seeing the city.'
There is not one location that is equi-distant from everything that a visitor would want to see. Well, geographically I suppose that's possible, but the geographic center is probably in a pond somewhere. -

The more important location factors imo are easy access to a useful Tube stop, and not having to ride for more than 15 minutes or so to get to a sightseeing location.

If you click at the top of this screen on Destinations, Fodors offers a lot of tips and info on London. I also have a long London file; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

nytraveler

Also, how many are you? Many european hotel rooms are suitable for only two people - either two twin beds or one double bed - and nor room for anything else. Ao are you trying to fit more than two in a room - will affect the price? Or looking for more than one room?

jennib

I agree with the other postings, but unless you are used to extreme high end luxury, try the web for Travelodges www.travelodge.co.uk or Travelin' www.travelinn.co.uk. These are basic, no nonsense, but clean purpose built hotels, which charge just for the room, all on-suite, and some of them take four. I have stayed in them all over the UK and not been disappointed. As London is so big you will need to use the tube or the buses, so staying where you can get the cheapest rooms will allow you to fund a few black cab trips, thereby adding to your excitment. My best recommendation is get a map and get on the web and research, prepare beforehand then you can have an idea of what to do when you are here. Have a lovely time.

ucsun

yeap, london is big so there is no single best...it depends on what you want to do and see. i agree with planning for a place near good tube stops. but within in 10-15 minutes you can move around quickly anyways.

KidsToLondon

How about one of the more popular "budget" hotels in central London--the Travel Inn County Hall. "Budget" is a relative term; here is means about £85 per night. For that you get a basic, but modern hotel in one of the most central locations in the city. This Travel Inn is next to the London Eye, just across Westminster Bridge and walking distance from Parliament, Westminster Abbey, etc.

But maybe the prospect of paying $160 per night is NOT what a group of college friends are looking for? You can get less expensive hotels, but they will be less central. In this case, the Earls Court and Paddington areas may work (I'd avoid the lower-cost lodgings around the Kings Cross rail station).

Before making reservations at any particular hotel, check the TripAdvisor.com site to see if there are any reviews posted. You can also search the Fodor's site.

Also, since you are in London for a week, you might want to consider renting an apartment. There are many rental agencies available...I've heard good things about Priceapts.com and BAD things about Yourstay.com. You can scan this bulletin board for info on London apartments too.

Also, at the low end of the price spectrum, some London colleges and universities offer dorm space during their school breaks. I suppose staying at a dorm, during a vacation where you are presumably getting away from dorm life of your own, may not have much appeal....but here's a sample link:

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/comserv/

Dave White
[email protected]

lizb37

Probably no more than 110 pounds a night. Thanks!

taggie

lizb37 - more info please!!!
How many per room?
£110 per room per night? Or per person?
You'll get many many good ideas here but help us out a little please!