IMO if you could get away from this "boutique" idea which is not necessarily congruent with the whole "budget" notion that might actually make your search a bit easier.

You say you want a "good location" as in good for what? Public transport? Attractions? Some of the recs above aren't in the best locations in terms of transport and attraction; well not in locations as convenient as some others or close to those "attractions."

The amount of money you have in mind would be helpful to know and what is "convenient" for some may not seem so convenient for others.

I know a hotel which not only has a gym but also has an indoor pool but a lot of people would never even consider staying in it because of where it is located.

It seems that you should be able to find some good rates in February... You might check out St. Ermin's hotel. It's about a 30 second walk from the St. James's Park tube station.

It's not what I'd call a "boutique" hotel but it's a lovely property. I checked out 4 nights there for Feb. (including a weekend since I don't know your dates) it was £198 or $300 per night.

Few 'boutique' hotels will have a gym since they tend to be smaller. Some do but that will up the rates. Some provide access to neighborhood gyms though so maybe check on that.

The Royal Horseguards (again -- not a 'boutique' property) does have a full gym and the location can't be beat for convenience w/i short walks of Westminster, Charing Cross station, the river, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and much more.

<i>Take a look at the Indigo...the boutique side of IHG properties. I stayed in the Paris Indigo this summer, very happy...will be looking to book the Rome Indigo for next summer</i>

Definitely a good idea, but unfortunately the London Indigos are not in what I would consider great locations for sightseeing. I resisted mentioning the Andaz for the same reason.

<i>These are all wonderful ideas for me to explore - an additional wrinkle is that my husband really would like a hotel with a gym facility! Rules out the very small townhouse hotels....</i>

Again, not a boutique, but we were quite happy with Le Meridien Piccadilly on a recent stay. Good location if a bit too in the thick of it (though not as good as the W, which might also be worth a look). Decent service, nice rooms, nice style. There is a gym and indoor pool. I think it can sometimes be found for the price you want.

I'm unclear what location you'd consider good. The South Place hotel has an excellent location for public transport and I personally think food/bars as well, but it's not Mayfair or Westminster. I mention it because it is well within your budget for Feb, has a gym, not overstuffed decor and pug-dog pillows but sleek, witty + designer bathrooms.

Don't know if you'd consider a Mondrian (it's on the south bank, which I actually prefer) and decor is minimalist to say the least, but it is in your budget and has a wowser gym and you can get river views.

The Mondrian has nearly 400 rooms, far from a boutique hotel.

The South Place is super nice, but Moorgate might not be the best location for leisure travelers.

Thank you all for your suggestions and your patience. I much prefer the more intimate experience of a boutique hotel compared to the impersonal nature of most large hotels.
We would like to be either in the center of things or close to a tube stop on a good line, but would not like to stay in the City or south of the Thames.
My current thinking:

Dorset Square Hotel - no gym, but they do have an arrangement with a gym nearby. Have any of you stayed here?

St. Ermin's - not boutique, but good location and seems to get good reviews

or
splurge and stay at one of the more centrally located Firmdale properties
Thoughts?

<i>or
splurge and stay at one of the more centrally located Firmdale properties
Thoughts?</i>

Personally, I've never seen the value in the Firmdale hotels. I like the style. I like several of the locations. I'm sure I would enjoy staying at one.

But... when I am in London, having a nice hotel to hang out in isn't terribly important to me, because I don't spend much time hanging out in the hotel. I want the bed to be comfortable and I want a good location, but I'm not going to pay the Firmdale premium when I can get an experience that still largely delivers for less.

have a butchers at these

http://www.timeout.com/london/hotels...tels-in-london

hang out with the trendy gals and geezers

We have come to like the Holiday Inn at Oxford Circus . . rooms for £160 - 250.

Nice location close to busses on Oxford Street and Bond St Metro and close to many pubs and restaurants.

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels...mr/hoteldetail

I've stayed in the St Ermin's and don't think it is any great shakes. It's got 300+ rooms, so I don't think of it as offering an intimate experience. Plus the decor is quite stuffy unless they have refurbished since last I was there. But more importantly the immediate area is something of a black hole for restaurants in the evening, which made me never want to stay in that area again.

Marylebone is a lot more convenient for the things I like to do in London, but most of all it has a very wide choice of restaurants. Marylebone itself is an interesting neighborhood. I've no experience of the Dorset (stayed at the Mandeville, which is typical London club-like decor, nice service, but no idea about gyms and wasn't paying myself so don't know the rate).

Wild horses could not drag me to Oxford Circus.

Can't help you out about whether you should splurge on a hotel -- but if you were surprised by hotel costs, make sure you take a look at the cost of many other things, because food and drink in London can have a sticker shock too.

JMK, I've stayed at the Dorset Square as well as the Knightsbridge, both Firmdale "townhouse hotels" with fewer services than the larger hotels. I liked both very much but preferred the location of the Knightsbridge, just around the corner from Harrod's in a quiet leafy street. Having said that, the Dorset Square would give you the "boutique hotel" feeling you are looking for. Whether to splurge or not is too personal a decision for me to comment on.

sofarsogood,

Interesting list of "boutique" hotels from Time Out. Looks like their definition of boutique has more to do with style and unique personality than size. I was especially interested to see CitizenM on the list, since it has something like 200 rooms. I almost recommended it to JMK (before I knew she defninitely didn't want the south bank) but then figured the Tom Dixon design and amazing gym of the Mondrian might be more appealing, especially with river views. But there were a couple of hotels on that Time Out list that I would be surprised if others described as "boutique."

I agree with Sandra, it's all in the definition and in places like London and NY a boutique property seems to be as much about aesthetic as size. I don't generally spend more than $250 a night so I wouldn't favor going above the $400 budget as I think you should find some good options within it. Frankly in London I spend most of my time outside the hotel but I am looking for some nice public space to relax in when I get back.

I agree with Shellie <Whether to splurge or not is too personal a decision for me to comment on.> I'd be much more inclined to splurge on theatre tickets, food or staying longer but you may love staying in a fancier place or getting more space etc.

I have to say the Mondrian looks pretty good to me too but then I like the South Bank. I'd like Marleybone too.

"Wild horses could not drag me to Oxford Circus."

Yeah . . I thought the same thing before I stayed there ( Company booking ) . . why it is called "Oxford Circus" is beyond me . . it is not close to Oxford Circus at all . . closer to Bond St actually.

I started using it before it became affiliated with HI . . nice neighborhood with several pubs nearby

The Nadler Soho is definitely what I'd call a boutique hotel - great location - in the midst of everything yet in a quiet part. Prices in Feb start at £160 early bird .

I stayed at The Nadler last year and agree. No bar or restaurant but they will bring in breakfast for guests. Love the location and rooms are well done.

The Marylebone hotel would be perfect for you; lovely hotel, great location and gym + indoor pool. don't know if the rates are good, it's become quite a bit more expensive.
The smallest rooms are very small; go for the next level up.

Holiday Inn Oxford Circus is actually in Welbeck Street, same as the Marylebone Hotel. Why they call it 'Oxford Circus' is beyond me. Good location, and a lot cheaper than the Marylebone Hotel.

I'm always looking for new boutique hotels. I've stayed in a lot of hotels in London, some great some and some just so-so and a lot of price ranges. I don't need over the top luxury but I want clean, nicely appointed and near restaurants and close to tube station. Last year I tried a new boutique hotel called the Hotel Xenia located in South Kensington. It's a Safe, upscale neighborhood, close to Gloucester tube station and in walking distance of a lot of major sightseeing locations. I booked the executive double even though I was by myself and it was wonderful, roomy with nice linens and lots of extras. Has a beautiful lobby and nice restaurant and bar although I usually like to try all the area restaurants. Best of all the price was, I thought, amazingly reasonable. Around $225.00 ( I'm sure it varies according to the season) but Feb. should be in the lower price season. I highly recommend it and I will definitely stay there again.