We have found a good deal thru Virgin-Atlantic for a week in London. They have tons of hotels to choose from, but we've managed to boil the list down 2 that are at the top of our price range. Can anybody tell me which of these is better? Is one area better than another for getting to the rest of the city? (I know, travel is easy on the tube, but sometimes one place is better than another.) The two hotels are: <BR> <BR>Melia White House, near Great Portman Street tube stop. <BR> <BR>Plaza on Hyde park, near Lancaster Gate tube stop. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, are you there? Can you help? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance to anybody who has input on these two hotels.

Hi Linda, <BR>I'm sorry I can't say which hotel is better, but I have stayed 8 days at the Plaza on Hyde Park in 1995. It isn't fancy, but clean and nice enough. The staff was efficient and not unfriendly. The included continental breakfast was also not fancy but had enough variety that you could eat a filling and well-balanced meal. This hotel has a more "European" feel than, for instance, Novotel or Metropole. No AC and no washcloths. Our room was on the small side, but nicely decorated, pleasant and clean. I very much appreciated the location, less than 2 blocks from the Lancaster Gate tube station and directly across the street (Bayswater) from Hyde Park. It's an easy walk to Oxford Street, Hard Rock Cafe, Kensington Palace and Paddington RR Station. I have stayed in London hotels with more *s, but wouldn't hesitate to stay again at the Plaza, and probably will. <BR>Whichever hotel you choose, have a great time in London!

You can see a picture of the London Underground Map on http://www.thetube.com/ which might help. It's not to scale though so it won't allow you to see distances between areas. <BR>

This site shows maps of London Underground through the ages, including the geographical maps which were used before Brent created the representative maps we use today (ie not to scale). <BR> <BR>The 1937 geographical central map is very useful for you as well as the current geographical one at the bottom of the page. <BR> <BR>http://www.sitw.f2s.com/london/maps.html

Thank you for the replies so far, and Boomer Babe, thank you for actually answering my question. I really wanted to know about the hotels, not the Underground. I've spent a lot of time in London, but don't know these two hotels. I think that the Plaza may be too far out of the way. Has anybody stayed in the Melia White House?

I haven't stayed at the Melia White House but friends have and they were pleased with the accommodations etc. They said the rooms were large and the breakfast buffet was impressive. It is located very centraly being in front of Regents Park, a few minutes from the Oxford street, Close to Madame Tussauds' and London Zoo. Great Portland Street Underground Station is opposite the Hotel. <BR> <BR>It's quite a large hotel with 582 air conditioned rooms. <BR>

The old underground maps superimpose the tube stops ontop of a real scale map of London streets which should give you a better idea of location for both hotels. <BR> <BR>It might also help with visualising the different lines and which stop to walk to and how far they are which might influence hotel choice.

... To add to the above, the reason I thought it would be useful for you to see the exact location of the tube stops on a real map of London was because you did actually ask in your original post if one area was better than the other for getting around London.

<BR>hello. my mother and i stayed at the <BR>plaza on hyde park may 2000. the room that we had was very small but comfortable and clean. the bathroom <BR>was also a comfortable size, not a "closet" which we have found in other hotels.our room had a small table chair and we brought and ate dinner in our room one night. the room does include a continental breakfast but you can pay extra for the full buffet. there is a nice restaurant in the hotel plus a bar with sandwiches. right next door is the swan inn - lively with fun pub food and nightly sing-a-longs. the location is great and i would not hestiate for a second to stay there again. have a great time.

I've had a look at those geographical tube maps. Had always noticed the "distances are not accurate" disclaimer on the ordinary tube map, but never realized there are "accurate" versions. They are useful and also very interesting (I'm one of those people always fascinated by maps, anyway). Thanks London@London! <BR>I am continually amazed at the things I learn here without even trying..........

I'd say Great Portland Street, not Lancaster Gate, as by choosing between stops you can be on the Circle Line east to west and on the Northern Line north to south. Also there are better pubs. <BR> <BR>Sorry for delayed reply <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, of London, in Krakow

Another thanks to London@London. I've always been disconcerted by the London tube map and would be delighted to see a geographical tube map--now if I could only get the site to come up. I can access www.sitw.f2s.com/london, but the maps link freezes. Maybe too much traffic?

Linda, <BR>My wife and I stayed at the Plaza in April for 10 days. It is right across the street from beautiful Hyde Park and was recently renovated. The rooms are small but nice and clean. The breakfast area overlooks the park. The tube is one block east of the hotel. The Swan pub is next door. It is close to Portobello Road in Notting Hill (great flea market on Saturday). With the tube station so close and a bus stop at the corner; anywhere is within 15 minutes from the hotel. I wish we were going back this fall. Whichever you choose, I wish you a memorable and safe trip. Don't forget to check out the theatre performances if you enjoy plays; Buddy and Les Miserables are really good! If I can offer any more info, please feel free to contact me. <BR>Ronn

We too are going for a week in London the beginning of November to visit my son who is a student over there. We were offered the Plaza on Hyde Park through British Airways and the Forte Posthouse in Kensington from Virgin Atlantic. Anybody have any preference? The Posthouse is closer to my son so guess we will stay there. It's on Wrights Lane off Kensington High Street. Near the muffin shop. This is the only place I could find any personal reviews of the Plaza on Hyde Park. It sounds very similar to the Posthouse. So thanks.

Thank you so much for your replies. Now I just can't wait to get to London!

I can only vouch for the Plaza on Hyde Park, and was very pleased. Thought the location was excellent. Right across the street from a beautiful park - not too hectic, but close to tube stops. I would definitely stay there again.

This is in response to Sue who could not get the map to show up when using http://www.sitw.f2s.com/london/maps.html. Because no one else is responding, I'm assuming they aren't having the problem we are. I've had this happen before, and I'll tell you what worked for me. Get on that page, even though nothing shows up, and email it to yourself. When you look in your email, it will show up. At least it did for me. Hope this helps!

I stayed at the Plaza On Hyde Park in May of 1999 while it was undergoing a much-needed renovation. We enjoyed the location -- especially being right across the street from the park. The renovated rooms are quite nice. We would stay there again. Some restaurants in the area that we enjoyed are The Black Lion, The Pavement and Mr. Frascati’s.