Honeymoon in London
Dec 7th, 2007, 01:04 PM
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Honeymoon in London
Hello!
My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon to London & the Lake District next September. We're looking to spend 3 nights near Windermere & 3 nights in London. Any suggestions for hotels??
We've looked at the Punchbowl in the Lake District... anyone have feedback?
And we're having trouble with reasonably priced London hotels. We're looking for something classic, quiet, and relatively near a tube stop. We're hoping to be in Kensington/South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, or Soho... but are open to suggestions!! We are willing to spend around $350/night, but $500 is mostly what we've found and feels a little rich for our blood.
Thanks so much!
Julia
My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon to London & the Lake District next September. We're looking to spend 3 nights near Windermere & 3 nights in London. Any suggestions for hotels??
We've looked at the Punchbowl in the Lake District... anyone have feedback?
And we're having trouble with reasonably priced London hotels. We're looking for something classic, quiet, and relatively near a tube stop. We're hoping to be in Kensington/South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, or Soho... but are open to suggestions!! We are willing to spend around $350/night, but $500 is mostly what we've found and feels a little rich for our blood.
Thanks so much!
Julia
Dec 7th, 2007, 02:01 PM
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Check out the Rembrandt. It's on busy Brompton Road in Knightsbridge but it's been refurbished & you can't beat the location. Directly across from the Victoria & Albert museum, lots of restaurants nearby & you're really close to the S. Kensington tube stop. It should be within your budget.
http://www.sarova.com/rembrandt/
http://www.sarova.com/rembrandt/
Dec 7th, 2007, 02:31 PM
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Also check out the Beaufort which is a bit above your budget (unless the $ gets stronger) BUT it includes afternoon cream teas & complementary bar from 3:00 to 11:00.
I stayed right by it in June & Beaufort Gardens is a very quiet street with trees lining the center. It's just a couple of blocks from the Knightsbridge tube and maybe a 10-15 minute walk to the S. Kensington tube station. It might be worth keeping tabs on if the $ strengthens or the hotel runs specials, which they do.
http://www.thebeaufort.co.uk/
I stayed right by it in June & Beaufort Gardens is a very quiet street with trees lining the center. It's just a couple of blocks from the Knightsbridge tube and maybe a 10-15 minute walk to the S. Kensington tube station. It might be worth keeping tabs on if the $ strengthens or the hotel runs specials, which they do.
http://www.thebeaufort.co.uk/
Dec 8th, 2007, 01:45 AM
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We stayed at the Renaisscance Chancery Court in Holborn this past August (with our kids) and would recommend it. Great tube stop (Holborn) is one block away and you can easily walk to Covent Garden and the West End from there (which are fun places). The rooms are typical upscale Marriot rooms and the public areas are posh. I would think you could get a room for $350 there (we used points).
Dec 8th, 2007, 09:05 AM
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Thank you for those suggestions...
We've emailed the Rembrandt because it appears they don't have rooms available for our Sept dates. I'm wondering though if they just haven't released them yet?
We're also looking into the other two. The more we research this, the more we like South Kensington & Knightsbridge.
Other suggestions welcome!!
We've emailed the Rembrandt because it appears they don't have rooms available for our Sept dates. I'm wondering though if they just haven't released them yet?
We're also looking into the other two. The more we research this, the more we like South Kensington & Knightsbridge.
Other suggestions welcome!!
Dec 8th, 2007, 11:24 AM
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We liked both the Collonade, a few stops from the Little Venice tube stop and the Academy, in a little more crowded area but convenient to the theaters and museums.
Because the Collonade is in Little Venice, a particularly charming area of the city that has some relatively less costly restaurants, it would seem most appropriate.
Both hotels are well within your price range and can be accessed through, www.theetoncollection.com.
Because the Collonade is in Little Venice, a particularly charming area of the city that has some relatively less costly restaurants, it would seem most appropriate.
Both hotels are well within your price range and can be accessed through, www.theetoncollection.com.
Dec 8th, 2007, 12:07 PM
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I'll second the Rembrandt. I agree they might not yet have their Sept. rates posted.
..You might also check out Londontown.com. They often have good rates for the Millenium hotels. We especially like Millennium Baileys, right across from the Gloucester rd tube station.
we had a delightful stay at Miller Howe on Lake windermere and the food was excellent.
http://www.millerhowe.com/index.htm
Their website does not list rates but you could email them.
..You might also check out Londontown.com. They often have good rates for the Millenium hotels. We especially like Millennium Baileys, right across from the Gloucester rd tube station.
we had a delightful stay at Miller Howe on Lake windermere and the food was excellent.
http://www.millerhowe.com/index.htm
Their website does not list rates but you could email them.
Dec 8th, 2007, 12:16 PM
#9
Hi Julia,
don't want to rain on your parade, but how are you planning on getting from London to the Lake District?
whether you choose train, car or plane, or a combination thereof, it'll take a day. Honest.
it would be easier to combine London and Paris!
and 3 nights/2 days in the Lake District will just be frustrating. hardly time to see anything.
It'll still be there another year.
IMO you'd be better off sticking to London, or doing open jaw into London, eurostar to Paris [2 1/2 hours or so] and home from there.
if you want to stay married, that is.
regards, ann
don't want to rain on your parade, but how are you planning on getting from London to the Lake District?
whether you choose train, car or plane, or a combination thereof, it'll take a day. Honest.
it would be easier to combine London and Paris!
and 3 nights/2 days in the Lake District will just be frustrating. hardly time to see anything.
It'll still be there another year.
IMO you'd be better off sticking to London, or doing open jaw into London, eurostar to Paris [2 1/2 hours or so] and home from there.
if you want to stay married, that is.
regards, ann
Dec 8th, 2007, 12:16 PM
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While The Collonade is quite lovely and intimate (more like posh B&B), the only drawback is it is in Zone 2, not really in a walking distance from main tourist attractions. (On the other hand, it is a very short taxi ride from Paddington--good if you're flying in/out of Heathrow.) For only 3 nights, I'm tempted to find somewhere more central.
Dec 9th, 2007, 08:18 AM
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Thank you for all these suggestions and feedback.
- Is Gloucester Road a safe area? For some reason, I'd been leaning away from it, but perhaps I'm mistaken?
- In response to Ann's post: We are aware that it's a trek to get from London to the Lake District (3 to 4 hour train ride??). We're planning to hop on the train directly after landing at 6am Monday morning. It'll be a long day, but our main focus in the Lake District will be relaxing and laid back exploring. We don't want to spend the entire week in London because I lived there for several months (as part of a very sheltered study abroad program in college), so we wanted something old and something new...
Right now we're looking at the following hotels in London.
-The Rembrandt
-Kensington House Hotel
-The Cranley
We've pretty much settled on the Punchbowl Inn for the Lake District stay.
Anyone have experience with the Cranley or KHH?
Thanks!!
- Is Gloucester Road a safe area? For some reason, I'd been leaning away from it, but perhaps I'm mistaken?
- In response to Ann's post: We are aware that it's a trek to get from London to the Lake District (3 to 4 hour train ride??). We're planning to hop on the train directly after landing at 6am Monday morning. It'll be a long day, but our main focus in the Lake District will be relaxing and laid back exploring. We don't want to spend the entire week in London because I lived there for several months (as part of a very sheltered study abroad program in college), so we wanted something old and something new...
Right now we're looking at the following hotels in London.
-The Rembrandt
-Kensington House Hotel
-The Cranley
We've pretty much settled on the Punchbowl Inn for the Lake District stay.
Anyone have experience with the Cranley or KHH?
Thanks!!
Dec 9th, 2007, 08:53 AM
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www.nationalrail.co.uk is a good place to check train timings and prices - important if you're on a budget. The cheaper tickets are pre-booked for specific trains, which might be a bit tricky beacsue you don't know if your flight might be delayed landing, or it may take longer than you expect to pick up baggage, get through immigration etc. The trip itself will be over four hours, including several changes. An open single seems to be £134 per person, so over $500 for the two of you even before you've paid for the accommodation, so I hope that wasn't included in your accommodation budget?. A return ticket should be less than double that, though, but I'll leave you to check that for yourself. The Punchbowl Inn looks as though the nearest station would be Kendal, and you'd need a taxi from there to the hotel, and back again at the end of your stay.
Dec 9th, 2007, 11:11 AM
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Thanks for the tip.
Our contact at the Punchbowl said Oxenholme was the easiest train station to access, and there are direct trains from London Euston to Oxenholme - it'll be right around 3 hours. You're right though, it could be tricky to book ahead (even giving ourselves 3-4 hours to clear customs, etc).
We're still in the beginning stages of all this planning, so this feedback has been incredibly helpful. Thanks!!
Our contact at the Punchbowl said Oxenholme was the easiest train station to access, and there are direct trains from London Euston to Oxenholme - it'll be right around 3 hours. You're right though, it could be tricky to book ahead (even giving ourselves 3-4 hours to clear customs, etc).
We're still in the beginning stages of all this planning, so this feedback has been incredibly helpful. Thanks!!
Dec 9th, 2007, 01:43 PM
#15
If you haven't yet bought your plane tickets -- you will save a LOT of time and a LOT of hassle if you book open jaw.
Fly into Manchester and home from London. MAN is much more convenient to the Lakes than arriving at LHR or LGW, traveling across all of central London and then taking a train north.
Fly into Manchester and home from London. MAN is much more convenient to the Lakes than arriving at LHR or LGW, traveling across all of central London and then taking a train north.
Dec 9th, 2007, 02:16 PM
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South Kensington at the Gloucester Road tube stop is my favorite place to stay in London. G. Road begins at Kensington Park, near the Palace, and the tube stop has several lines and a small shopping mall adjacent with a Waitrose grocery and an ASK restaurant. Well, it has a Garfunkel's, too, but I don't consider that worth mentioning.
Someone mentioned the Millennium hotel; there are two, the Gloucester a block away and the Bailey's just across the street from the tube stop. I've stayed in both and prefer the Bailey's.
Someone mentioned the Millennium hotel; there are two, the Gloucester a block away and the Bailey's just across the street from the tube stop. I've stayed in both and prefer the Bailey's.
Dec 9th, 2007, 03:52 PM
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Check the Rathbone Hotel. Very nice location with lots of restaurants (not expensive ones) nearby, convenient to the tube. I'm not sure of the prices for your dates, but a double is usually under 200 GBP. I've stayed in several London hotels, and I found this to be one of the best values in this expensive city. It's now my favorite place to stay.Contact: www.rathbonehotel.com. Might be a tad outside of your budget with the current exchane rate, but worth checking....September might have some special deals. Don't rely on website for prices and availability--write a nice letter directly to the hotel (including the fact that it's your honeymoon) and ask for the best possible rate.
Dec 9th, 2007, 04:13 PM
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There's two Cranleys; the one in Bina Gardens is beautiful, perfect for a honeymoon, and the other I think in Paddington is not. Someone asked about the Kensington House...TripAdvisor said it's a dump.
Dec 9th, 2007, 05:09 PM
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Great suggestions!! Thank you! Thank you! I just emailed the Cranley, innocently mentioning our honeymoon, and asked about room rates. We are looking at the one in Bina Gardens.
- We have actually bought our plane tickets already (airmiles, so we had to do it sooner rather than later). We're flying out of a smaller airport in the States, which only goes direct to London. Thanks for the Manchester suggestion though!!
- I feel much better hearing positive things about Gloucester Road. The Cranley looks to be close to that stop as well.
Thank you so much for all this advice!! I can't say that enough!!
- We have actually bought our plane tickets already (airmiles, so we had to do it sooner rather than later). We're flying out of a smaller airport in the States, which only goes direct to London. Thanks for the Manchester suggestion though!!
- I feel much better hearing positive things about Gloucester Road. The Cranley looks to be close to that stop as well.
Thank you so much for all this advice!! I can't say that enough!!
Dec 9th, 2007, 06:38 PM
#20
OK - London it is. But you still can fly up to MAN. Normally I prefer trains to flying 80% + of the time in the UK. But in this case - I would not try to take the train up immediately after arriving on a transatlantic flight. You'd have to collect your bags and travel all the way across London to Kings Cross and then get on a train for 2+ hours.
You can book a cheap flight from LHR to MAN about 2 or maybe 3 hours after your arrival and be on the ground up north before you even get on the train at KingsX. And depending on which airline you use for the MAN flight, you can probably check your bags all the way through.
You can book a cheap flight from LHR to MAN about 2 or maybe 3 hours after your arrival and be on the ground up north before you even get on the train at KingsX. And depending on which airline you use for the MAN flight, you can probably check your bags all the way through.
