janisj thank you. if I asked you to recommend the area you think is best would you do so. We are going to be there for 2 1/2 days. The first full day we are taking a tour that comes highly recommended and covers most of the major sites including the changing of the guard etc. We thought the second day we would go about on our own. So tell me as a tourist what would be the area you prefer. We are not really picky about hotels just something comfortable in an area that isn't too noisy. (thats why I prefer traveling with my girlfriend we are very easy going - my husband is another story!) Thanks again

I must say I refer to my friend as my girlfriend but we are in our 60's so that might not be the right term. We have been best friends since we were 8 years old so have been through everything together and can weather any storm. The only problem with a really small room would be perhaps keeping one another awake with snoring!! We are doing 3 weeks of cruising after the London visit so I guess we can handle small!! I will be having more questions for you if you don't mind as we get closer. I really appreciate the input.

here are three places - I've not stayed in any of them but have peeked inside all three and they all get lots of good reviews from Fodorites - all include a full breakfast in the room rates.

http://www.morganhotel.co.uk/ right next door to the British Museum. Just under $200 at today's exchange rate.

http://www.lunasimonehotel.com/ is near Victoria station and their best twin rooms will be around $175

http://www.georgianhousehotel.co.uk/ also near Victoria w/ twins from around $165 to $205.

<i>So tell me as a tourist what would be the area you prefer.</i>

The area where the hotel offering the <u>best value</u> is. The transport system is so well-developed that proximity to a bus stop is all that you have to consider - because you will have to get from where you sleep to where you sightsee no matter where your hotel is.

I stayed in the Kensington area near Hyde Park when I visited last year and even though I wasn't &quot;close&quot; to central London, it was never more than 10-15 minutes on the tube. London has the best public transportation system of any city I've been in.