I have spent way too much time researching accommodation, and after reading countless reviews have come up with some possibilities. I posted here a couple weeks ago and got some suggestions as to neighborhoods, and I have followed up on that advice. I don't think I am being overly picky, but I can't believe how difficult it is to find a decent size room with a fridge and a comfy armchair and a desk and a place to store my clothing. While I would definitely spend more for the truly right place, I am hoping to keep it around 200 pounds a night. I am looking at both hotels and serviced or grouped apartments in a building (I don't want to be on my own in an isolated, single apartment).

I have 4 nights (2 full days and two half days) in London around the 1st of April. I want a location that is pretty easy to get to Heathrow by some sort of public transportation. This will be my 1st time in London, but I don't intend to run around making myself crazy doing nothing but the typical tourist biggies. I am looking for an interesting (dare I say charming too) neighborhood that is safe for a solo, older female and more upscale. I really don't want to be in tourist central, and I hope to spend some time just walking around enjoying neighborhoods and hopefully seeing some early spring flowers. I'll maybe visit a couple museums or an evensong service or a free lunch concert. When traveling on my own, I usually prefer to have a lunch out and then get takeout for an evening meal and a glass of wine back in my room. So, some convenient ethnic restaurants or delis for takeout would be great.

Please comment on the location of these places that I have come up with.

A. London Lodge is .4 miles due north of the Earl's Court tube station, 1 block north of Cromwell Road. I am looking at either a superior double or twin room. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/londonlodgehotel.html?

B. Cleveland Residences in Bloomsbury is about a block away from the Russell Square tube station. I a looking at either a deluxe or executive studio. The chain also has places in Russell Square, Kensington, Chelsea, Paddington and Farrington, but I haven't investigated any of those. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/cle...oomsbury.html?

Based on the rooms/buildings alone, those are probably my 1st choices. But, I have others I am also contemplating that I could book if the neighborhoods are much nicer. In no particular order, here are some more.

C. Templeton Place by Supercity Aparthotels is a block or 2 NW of Earl's Court tube station. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/templeton-place.html

D. The Rembrandt Hotel is just off Cromwell Gardens Road a couple minutes walk to the Victoria and Albert Museum and a couple minutes walk to the South Kensington Tube station. I'm not sure, but I'd probably select a room size that is larger than the classic twin. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/rembrandt.html?

E. The Rockwell Hotel is north of Earl's Court tube station very near the London Lodge Hotel. I would probably be looking at a superior double room. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/the-rockwell.html?

F. The Resident Kensington on Barkston Gardens Road is NE and a 2 minutes walk from Earl's Court tube station. I'd probably get the superior king or twin room. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/base2stay.html

G. 54 Queen's Gate Hotel is in South Kensington just north of Cromwell Road and is equidistant from the Gloucester Road and South Kensington tube stations. I'd probably get the deluxe double or twin room. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/queensgate.html?

H. 100 Queen's Gate is a couple blocks south of Cromwell Road and is also equidistant from the Gloucester Road and South Kensington tube stations. I'd probably get the atrium queen room. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/dou...ensigton.html?

So, those of you who really know London, what do you think? Is there any place you'd definitely recommend solely due to location and neighborhood?

I really appreciate your assistance.

Hi - My advice is stay away from Earl's Court. The Rembrandt is a good area and I have friends that like to stay there. We also like to stay in Kensington and South Kensington. Lots of great walking areas -- not to mention close to the parks.

I feel like we have done this before Julie! lol.
My picks would be either 54 Queen’s Gate or 100 Queen’s Gate. You will find plenty of places to eat or get takeout. If you are energetic you can walk down to the Chelsea Physic Garden, it’s lovely. Or it is a short tube ride away and you would be close to South Kensington station.
‘Not 100% sure about the Bloomsbury one maybe Janis can answer that but to me it looks awful close to ‘tourist central’.
The other ones would just be too close to busy roads for me and I don’t find that area very charming or all that upscale. You would be safe in any of these areas however.
Hotel rooms in London do tend to be on the small side, but I have always had room for my clothes in any of them and I usually have a fair few things with me.
As a solo traveller myself I like a hotel with other people around, a sitting area, a bar, etc.
I think you will find some charming streets around those 2 South Kensington places and you can go to the V&A museum, walk up to the park, walk down to Sloane Square area, plenty of places to wander. The Institut-Francais has a theatre- Cine Lumiere, not far from those 2 hotels, if you were inclined to see a film. 17 Queensberry Place, South Kensington.

You sure are putting us through our paces I'm not going to comment on most of the actual hotels -- only the ones I know personally. I assume all meet your budget and 'atmosphere' taste. So mostly re the locations. (BTW - it is usually best/easier for all concerned to provide the post code rather than description of the neighborhood)

A. Not a location I would enjoy.

B. The Russell Sq and Bloomsbury properties are essentially next door to each other so no difference really. Farringdon actually might be a good choice because it is very close to the Elizabeth Line station.

C. See A above

D. I last stayed there over 20 years ago so no idea what its like now -- but it is a very well regarded. Across the street from the V&A and close to S. Kens station.

E. See A above

F. See A above (though slightly better IMO than A, C & E)

G. Haven't stayed there but have at two other properties within a 2 minute walk. Would be fine.

H. Basically same as G above.



ps: To give you an idea re post code . . . instead of "D. The Rembrandt Hotel is just off Cromwell Gardens Road a couple minutes walk to the Victoria and Albert Museum and a couple minutes walk to the South Kensington Tube station." - all you need to post is "The Rembrandt SW7 2RS" - or even just 'SW7 2RS' and we'd know exactly where it is. But really the Rembrandt is such a well known property - just 'the Rembrandt' would be more than enough.

For your purposes, I'd choose the Cleveland Residences Bloomsbury. (There's another poster who likes the Celtic Hotel, which is right next door, I believe. And had mentioned the Fortitude Bakehouse, which I've bookmarked for my next trip.) The walk out the door looks very nice. Have you clicked on Google Street View (on Google map) to get a feel for the neighborhood? That's something I do when I'm unfamiliar with a hotel's location. In my map view, the toggle to street view is in the bottom right corner (see screengrab below.) You can do a virtual walk around to get a feel for the place.

I really like the Residence Hotel in Earl's Court, but Earl's Court Road is not charming--just full of conveniences. For wandering, it's easy enough for me to stay off it, through the more residential areas. BTW: if a Residence Hotel is in the running, you definitely want to book direct as a member to save 15%. They also email with special promos every few months.

Don't be too worried. I don't think you'd hate any of the choices above.

Google maps' Street View is the photo inset on the bottom right. You can take a virtual walk around the neighborhood.

I agree with ditching the Earl's Court locations. Right away, that narrows your list considerably.

The Rembrandt is in a good location. Although I've never stayed there, I have attended (long ago) a few meetings there. I also lived nearby for a time in Egerton Gardens.

Okay. You have definitely helped me to narrow down my choices. I am tossing all of those around Earl's Court out of the mix. Now I can take a new, good hard look at the other places on my list. As we all know, areas can be radically different in just a few blocks, and the entire atmosphere can change. And, I guess I need to just admit that as far as lodging (especially for a 4 night stay where I won't be out sightseeing from 8am to 10 pm), I am pretty picky. With a very few rare exceptions, being choosy has paid off for me because I am then happy with my stay.

janisj suggested I use post codes, but I am not at all familiar with how the British system works.

For example, this is the address for the Cleveland residences in Bloomsbury 64 Guilford Street, Camden, London, WC1N 1DD, United Kingdom

For those in the know, is this the postal code? WC1N 1DD

And, one more thing please. I read somewhere that there are no lifts at the Gloucester tube station. Does this also mean no escalators so I would have to carry my suitcase up many flights of stairs?

Thanks much.

Yes - WC1N 1DD is the post code

Gloucester Rd can be a bee-atch with luggage -- no lifts and there are 40 steps up from the Circle/District lines. The Piccadilly line (the one in from LHR) has a lift partway but still there are 26 steps. At least the the Piccadilly line is easier and that is the one you'd be using with luggage.

ps: if you Google WC1N 1DD it will bring up a map showing the exact location. Then if you're curious you can 'walk' the building / street / neighborhood using street view.

Oh -- and if you google/search any station you will get links describing the station, accessibility, # of steps, lifts or not, etc.

I have stayed at 54 Queens Gate, and it was very nice, but for location I'd have to go with Bloomsbury.

I love the Celtic Hotel, but I don't think any rooms there would meet your specifications, like the fridge. The desk staff would stick something in the kitchen fridge for you, but not the same. Also, I would describe it as homey rather than upscale.

Russell Square tube stop does have one medium flight of stairs. Maybe 15 steps?

My daughter just dropped by, said she met somebody who'll be staying at Morton's hotel, across from Russell Square tube stop. I think rooms are £200 ish. Maybe closer to what you have in mind? I do like that neighborhood a lot.

When I stayed at the Celtic Hotel in September, they were remodeling the space next store. Maybe now the Cleveland?

I appreciate all of your help. I am now debating between the Russell Sq/Bloomsbury area and south Kensington. Yes, the Cleveland Residences is right next to the Celtic Hotel. And, the Morton Hotel is only a block away.

I think I have decided I need to read a little more about what I really want to do and where I want to go in London. Then I can make a more informed decision.

"I think I have decided I need to read a little more about what I really want to do and where I want to go in London. Then I can make a more informed decision."

You can get to anywhere in London from either South Kensington or Bloomsbury pretty much equally easily. The V&A is in S Kens - the British Museum is in Bloomsbury. Theatres are w/i easy tube ride fo either neighborhood. Same with parks or shops or the river or galleries or anything.

Don't drive yourself crazy - pick one.

I have stayed in both neighborhoods and would happily return to either one.

Sorry a final question now that you all have assured me that both locations are great for regular sightseeing purposes.

I want to take public transportation to and from Heathrow, and this is going to be the deciding reason to choose either Bloomsbury or South Kensington. I will have a roller suitcase slightly larger than a carry-on and a standard backpack.

If I choose a Bloomsbury hotel, I take the Elizabeth line and get off at Tottenham Court. From there I either take a cab or walk almost a mile to a hotel close to Russell Square.

OR, I take the Piccadilly line and get off at Russell station which has an ungodly number of stairs. But once I am up I would be nearly at my hotel. Did I read that there is also the option of walking up 15 to 20 steps and then being able to take a lift?

OR, I get off the Piccadilly at Goodge and walk about a half a mile to a hotel on Russell Square.

If I choose south Kensington, I would take the Piccadilly line and get off at South Kensington station and walk .4 miles to a Queen's Gate hotel or 1/3 mile to the Rembrandt hotel.

OR, I could get off at Gloucester Road and have a slightly shorter walk, but this station has no lift.

Now that I have written all this down, unless I have missed something, it looks like South Kensington is a more efficient place to stay in relation to Heathrow. My arrival flight is at 13:00 on a Sunday, and my departure flight is at 17:00 on a Thursday.

Thank you so much.

The Elizabeth Line sometimes doesn't run on Sundays. I have run across this a lot. For that reason alone I would choose South Kensington, since you are arriving on a Sunday.

julies, I'm sure you'll do beautifully in South Kensington. There are the museums around there, of course, and posh neighborhoods to stroll.

I'll admit the one flight of stairs then lift at Russell Square, and ?Holborn, can be daunting after a long night in the air. For my recent solo trip there, partly for that reason, I packed super lightly.

Sorry, back again.

Before booking a room I decided to check out local dining and took a look on Google maps at local restaurants near the hotels (Rembrandt or 54 Queens Gate) in South Kensington I was thinking about booking. As I initially said, I will be solo and am often more inclined at the end of the day to just grab some food to go to take back to my room to enjoy with a glass of wine rather than going out to a restaurant for a real dinner. What I am thinking about is finding a Thai or Chinese or Shawarma or Italian type place where I could get a hot meal to take back to my room in say 10 to 15 minutes of walking.

Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that South Kensington doesn't have many of these take-out or deli type places or casual ethnic places. If I want those options available, I would be better off in Bloomsbury (near Russell Square) than South Kensington. Right? Or, wrong?

I did do some research on the Elizabeth line, and it does run of the Sunday I will be arriving, so that isn't an impediment to staying in Bloomsbury.

Once again, I really appreciate your input.

p.s. If anyone is reading this while deciding where to stay themselves, I have discovered that some of the hotels I haves been contemplating offer good incentives and prices for booking directly with them or by joining their members club rather than using an intermediary like booking.com.

There are tons of the tyoes of restaurants you are looking for in South Kensington. There is an excellent Thai restaurant, Thai Taste, on Cromwell Road. And a bustling Waitrose at Gloucester road station for all manner of provisions.

Just because the schedule says the Elizabeth line will be running, doesn’t means it will be. But I wouldn’t worry about that, just make a decision. Once I planned a stay on Cromwell Road and the Piccadilly line wasn’t working! Flip a coin, this is often what I end up doing.