London areas and hotels

This will be my first trip to London. I'm planning to do so in May. Can anyone recommend a good area near the tube. And also some hotels in the $200 price range.

Thanks so much.

What I posted on the other thread:

>>janisj on Feb 7, 11 at 10:24am

"Can anyone recommend a good central area in London and some good hotels near the tube for about $200."

Central London is huge and just about every single bit of it is near a tube station(s)

What sort of ambiance are you looking for?<<

i'm looking for a hotel with a bar and restaurant if that's possible in my price range, and of course, very clean.

does this help.

Many modest/moderate London hotels don;t have either a restaurants or a bar. And even ifa hotel had a restaurant I certainly wouldn't eat there - except breakfast. Hotel food is notoriously poor - unless there is a oted restaurant involved.

I rarely interject in hotel questions. But I just can't see the point of taking an interest in bars or restaurants in central London hotels.

Except at the very top end, Londion hotel bars and restaurants are never of any distinction, and almost always badly overpriced. In central London, you're never going to be more than a few yards from lots of decent places to eat and drink. There ARE value hotels on the periphery of the centre that are located in catering deserts - but in most of the town, requiring facilities that are better done in the pub or restaurant next door eliminates some very useful good value places that don't have a proper restaurant but do a decent breakfast

You can check out www.londontown.com for hotels.

I would look east side for hotels, the hotels in the west are very over priced, look at travel lodge near farringdon for a good deal too

http://www.thelondoneye.org

thank you for the info about the bars. i only wanted a bar to perhaps have a drink before going to sleep. but i guess i can find a pub near where i stay.

i guess i basically want a nice, clean hotel in a good area

I hate to be a broken record but I recommend Priceline - you bid on something in South Kennsignton area or wheverever you like and pay about $80 -to $100 for a middle aged 4 star chain hotel (i.e. Hilton, Holiday Inn, Copthorne, Marriott, etc.) It gets more expensive to go closer in to the downtown but you can still get deals. It probably will not include breakfast in the rate, but there are so many places nearby that who wants the hotel food anyway.

You bid blind - that is, you don't know the actual hotel, just the area and star level. (A 4 star is usually what most consider 3 star and so on). Low ball the bid - look the hotels up on Expedia or whatever and then start off bidding around 50% - then work your way up unitl you either get a room or you reach your price point.

It works well - I have stayed in London three times this way - all the hotels were clean and while maybe tired, they were nice. (Not as good as I would want from an similar rated hotel in the USA but a price deal in London). Spend the money you save on nice meals or in the pubs. To see current rates go to biddingfortravel.com to see what other are paying and how to go about bidding. Take your time and spend a few days at it - you'll be happy. Lots of Fodorites do this in London and other cities.

Look at the Millennium Bailey’s, 140 Gloucester Road, just across the street from the Gloucester Road tube station that has three tube lines. It has a bar for a nightcap and is a nice hotel. I got it once on a Priceline bid, but I don't think it is offered there anymore.

Once you've settled on a hotel, try www.fancyapint.com for pub recommendations nearby.

Lee Ann