I am having second thoughts about my hotel in London and would appreciate some feedback. I have booked the Hotel Caesar in Bayswater, London for four nights, three days in November, about GBP 125 per night including taxes - http://www.thecaesarhotel.com/ . It seems to be decently close to three tube stations and gets pretty good reviews. I like the idea of a smaller guest house with a bit of character but updated bathrooms. I am paying in CAD so would not want to go above GBP 150.

I want to visit some of the usual attractions, the Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Hatton Garden area, etc.

Thoughts?

You'll be fine. It isn't my chosen part(s) of London but not terrible. And for the neighborhood it is one of the better properties.

It isn't terribly convenient to Heathrow but you can get there on the tube w/ one change at Earl's Court. Or via the Heathrow Connect (not the Heathrow Express) to Paddington and then a short cab ride.

You could do worse and pay more. (and I'm not damning with faint praise -- you really could do a LOT worse)

Thanks for that, Janis.

Which neighbourhoods are your first choices?

I just personally don't like to stay in the general Bayswater/Queensway/Paddington area. Though I have stayed right at Lancaster Gate a few ties it still wouldn't be my choice. They are just farther from the sites and not walking distance to much except Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and Portobello Rd.

But there are a couple of Fodorites who swear by Bayswater.

I've stayed in just about every part of London from Highgate/Hampstead to Tower Hill and everywhere in between. The public transport is so good, you can make any location work. I personally love Pimlico, Sloane Square, parts of South Kensington, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, and Tower Hill.

I think it looks very good value for the price.

In the early 90s my company put me up for 3 months in a 2-bed flat on Gloucester Terrace (the executives were put in St. John's Wood or better). I was disappointed at first but got to like it.

Queensway is (or at least was, last there around 2005) a really funky street, lots of ethnic restaurants and a Marks and Spencer.

The things you want to see are spread anyway and as the area has good bus and tube connections, why not?

I think it's a good looking property and for Bayswater, it's the better part, you're also nice and close to Kensington Gardens which is good for a morning walk if that's your thing. You're easy access to Central line tube stations isn't bad either for getting around. Like Janis, I never stay in that area, but I wouldn't worry about your choice.

Cath and kmo, I appreciate those comments. It looks "fine" and I like the idea of some nearby greenery.

Janis gave me some good ideas for alternate areas. Which neighbourhoods do you two prefer as well?

For me I like a quieter area to stay so have enjoyed the areas around Gloucester Road tube and South Kensington tube stations...at Christmas we were in a flat just north of Kensington High St, very close o the park and really liked that area too. You aren't too far from here so that's why I think your choice will be fine.

My brother lived in Pimlico for years and I loved staying there also...I know that Janis also likes that area.

I tend to like being close to the Piccadilly line tube which gives easy access to Heathrow and can cut down on the travel cost into London if traveling light.

Are you from Toronto? If so and you haven't booked your flight yet, I'd recommend the AC morning flight to London...really cuts down on the jet lag, but you do arrive in London at night and have to pay for a hotel room without the benefit of any daytime sightseeing.

Have a great time...I love London, so enjoy

Thanks, kmo. I just spent another hour looking for alternates but think I will just stay with the Caesar.

No, I live in Vancouver but adding London at the tail end of a trip to Sicily. Haven't returned to London in eons and am really looking forward to it.

Good decision IMO. The Caesar is one of the nicer properties in that area and that is a great rate. So you'll be fine.

Great, Linda. I am tempted to try it myself, particularly if we go to some Proms concerts next year. Please come back to let us know how you got on.

In answer to your question, I often stayed in Holburn when the Chancery Court Hotel was a Marriott property. It's now the Rosewood and even more expensive. I loved the location and the hotel but the prices now are way, way out of my reach.

We sometimes stay in our son's flat in Camden but although it's a two BR, with his partner and son it's pretty crowded, okay for a long weekend.

Have a wonderful time.

Much appreciated, everyone. Yes, I will return and post a hotel review.

Back from three days in London Oct 22 - 26, 2014 at The Caesar Hotel. Some maps show it located in Bayswater, one showed it in Notting Hill. It was "fine". The Derby chain is Spanish owned and staff were accommodating. Exterior of the hotel was pretty, double room was fine, bathroom was miniscule and I do not see two people sharing the room. Quiet street with easy access to two tube stations. I can't recommend it because of the check-out process. I was offered the option of paying in CAD currency at a horrific exchange rate, and declined. The front desk ordered me a cab and when it came I noticed it was not a licensed taxi. No monitor to tell me what the ongoing trip was costing. Driver simply looked at an app on his phone and ballparked it.

The area was just fine but I wouldn't stay in it again but would move further east or perhaps stay in Southwark.

Rain held off for me and I had a wonderful time re-exploring London by foot and tube. I found it expensive compared to NYC and Paris and most certainly Sicily which I had visited prior to London for ten days.

Next year, Greece and Istanbul, hopefully.

Thanks, everyone, for your help.

L

Thanks for coming back to report.

>>The front desk ordered me a cab and when it came I noticed it was not a licensed taxi. No monitor to tell me what the ongoing trip was costing. Driver simply looked at an app on his phone and ballparked it. <<

Most of the time when a hotel calls a car that is that you'll get - a mini (not anything to do w/ the car's size) cab or car service. Was almost certainly legit. Usually they will tell you the cost either when calling or when the car arrives. It is a flat fare - not metered. So often a good deal when there is traffic.

I don't think your criticisms are that warranted. They offered you a choice of CAD or not, so what's your beef with that? If they had just tried to run it through without giving you the choice, I could see it. I've had several hotels in Europe do that and while I know it is a rip-off, I don't usually have that affect my general opinion of the hotel as a place to stay IF they have offered me a choice. Which they always have, some smaller places have have offered a choice, like museums.

And the cab is normal.

Agree with the last two posts. If you order a taxi, it's nearly always a 'minicab'. I always use Atlas Cars in London, and they give you a price when you order the car.

When you hail one in the street, it's always a 'traditional' London taxi.