I have booked the Forum Hotel (holiday inn) in South Kensington in late March. They have a great price of as low as 50 pounds per nite. Did anyone stay in this hotel before ? How can I get to this hotel from Heathrow airport ?Is it near the tube?<BR><BR><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>

Veronica--<BR>As you know, there are several Holiday Inns in London. I have been in one, but I cannot remember the street on which it was located. I vaguely remember that it was in the Kensington area, but perhaps I could help if you know what street the hotel is on. The one I stayed in was one section of a nice long row of town homes built against each other in standard English style. I also recall that the big Swallow International Hotel was only a block or two away on the same street. Without going to a detailed street map, which I don't have handy, that's the best I can do---except to say that the HI I remember was very acceptable--probably a three star level.

Wayne; You remember correctly about the look and location of the Holiday Inn Kensington. I don't know if it's still a Holiday Inn because the Forum (just down the street) is now the Holiday Inn.<BR><BR>Veronica: I stayed there several times before discovering less expensive boutique hotels in the area, however, you got in at a great rate and I'd be happy to stay there! It's huge--several stories high. Airline personnel and tour groups use it. Rooms are small, but so is every other hotel and the beds have down comforters, which are great. The hotel is just around the corner from the Gloucester Road tube stop--great stop. The hotel has a pub that locals use and they serve a good (if pricey) roast beef dinner from a carving station. The Gloucester Road deli is also in the hotel and they have great soup. You can grab a paper from the wooden dowels at the entrance, take a table by the window and stay as long as you like--nice staff!<BR>Finally, the included breakfast is substantial and good. There's an excercise room, as well, if you're so inclined (I'm not).<BR><BR>You've gotten a real bargain for a good, full-service hotel.<BR><BR>Everyone has different ideas on how to get from Heathrow. You can take the Heathrow Expess to Paddington station, then take the tube (circle line) south to Gloucester Road, get off and walk to your hotel (just around the corner, remember). Or, if you don't have lots of luggage and you're not arriving during rush hour, you can take the tube directly from Heathrow to the Gloucester Road tube stop. Finally, if you post the question "Car service from Heathrow to Kensington" you'll get responses from people who use them. A recent post gave an e-mail of a $35 service. That's a good deal. Taxi's can run $70.<BR><BR>Have a great trip!

Topping so Veronica can find it.

To Mel---<BR>Although this isn't your original posting, I want to thank you for refreshing my memory, because it was a few years ago that I was in the HI that I remember. My guess is that indeed the Forum has now replaced it, and the one I recall is no longer a Holiday Inn. Thanks again for the update.

Just wanted to say that the Holiday Inn is still a Holiday Inn, the HI Forum across the street notwithstanding. Our family of five stayed there two weeks ago and we couldn't have been happier. Two beds plus a rollaway in one room, which meant we could all be in one (decent sized) room, with a balcony window opening out over the garden below. Quiet, beautiful view, spa and fitness facilities, breakfast buffet every morning included in our rate, kids 18 and under free just as at all Holiday Inns, concierge helpful and pleasant, thirty second walk to an excellent tube station, walking distance to Natural History Museum, V&A, Harrods, Kensington Park, etc. If I was going on a romantic trip with my hubby alone I'd look for an atmospheric British club-type hotel, but for travel with kids, the Holiday Inn could not have been better. There's even a nice grocery store across the street (in the arcade next to Gloucester Road tube station) where I picked up cheese, bread, wine, kid food, etc.

I just stayed right near there in August and coming in from Heathrow I took the Airbus in and got off around Marble Arch where it's easy to get a cab right on the street, and then took a cab over to my hotel. Leaving London, I wanted something a little quicker than Airbus because I had a very early flight, so I took a cab from the hotel to Paddington and then the Heathrow Express. The Airbus+cab was pretty cheap, I think about 7 pounds for the Airbus and then 5 for the cab. Heathrow Express cost 12 pounds instead of the 7 or so for Airbus. I didn't mind taking Airbus in because I wasn't in any big hurry, knowing my hotel room wouldn't be ready anyway and I kind of like looking at things from buses.<BR><BR>Having used that Gloucester tube station quite a bit, I'm glad I didn't try doing that instead for the airport because the elevators in it were broken several days during my week-long stay. I forget the details, but I think there is one line going through there where you have to use the elevators rather than stairs, and they were advising people to go to the South Kensington stop and then transfer to that line (I think that may have been the line coming from Heathrow, actually, that had broken elevators).