Hello!

I will be visiting london in July and was wondering if anyone had advice to give on Hotels. We were wanting something central to the sights and fairly decent price since the GBP is worth almost double our American Dollar.
Please Advise.
Thanks

Central London is very large. No single location is close to more than a handful of major sites. But the public transport will get you anywhere so don't worry about that.

Bigger problem though - what is your budget? "fairly decent price" could mean anything.

In London hotel choice you need to select location, price range and quality (roomsize, clenliness, amenities). You can get any 2 of 3 - unless you have a LOT to spend.

So - what do you actually have to spend in $ - and what are you willing to give on?

In addition to what JAnis already said, the various sightss of London are spread out as well. There is no 1 central location, but there are several good one. Many years ago I stayed in the Russell Square area and most recently stayed in the So. Kensington area. Both areas were convenient, near tube stations and some sights. The 'times Square' (lots of people, traffic, noise) equivalent in London would probably be the Picadilly Circus area.

If you clue us in on your budget, poepl can make suggestions in several of the decent areas to stay.

If it's 1 or 2 of you, consider priceline (priceline only guarantees rooms for 2). For more info check biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com.

Hello thanks for the quick reply.
I think that we would be looking at around 100-200 US dollars a night. I found a few places online but do not know how central they are. Such as
1. the tower
2. Apex City of London
3. City Inn Westminster

they look like nice decent places to stay. Does anyone know about these hotels? or good B&B's I also would like a place near harrods or a good shopping area.

Thanks

Here are a few places within your budget that are really central and are very british and charming:

- Academy Town House ( in Bloomsbury)
- Number Sixteen ( in Knightsbridge )

Another nice hotel, larger though , where I once stayed , located in Knightbrdge, very near Harrods, you could consider is " The Rembrandt ". At www.hotel-assist.com it comes at 120 GBP for a double, breakfast and taxes included.

I've stayed at the London Elizabeth (right across the street from Lancaster Gate tube station-Central Line) and Kensington Close (Kensington High Street-Circle Line). Both are very nice and usually within your price range. If you stay at the LE you'll want to request a room with air-conditioning. Not all of the room have it, but it is a really nice hotel. KC is more like a "name brand" hotel and it does have a spa and pool, but it's hit or miss with the pricing. You may want to check out this website: http://www.12bookhotels.com. They are like the Expedia of Europe. I've used them twice and got the lowest prices for the rooms (and the price includes breakfast and all credit card and VAT charges).

No, you probably don't want the Apex nor the Tower hotel. Both are pretty far east near the Tower of London. Of the 2, the Tower would be better because of the river views and St Katherine's Dock. But neither is near much else and it would take you a lot of time to get most places.

The City Inn is much better located near the Pimlico tube station and just behind Tate Britain. it is walking distance from Victoria, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, etc.

Not recommending it one way or the other since I haven't stayed there - but if you want to pick one of those 3 the location of the City Inn is the best.

Try your dates in http://www.londontown.com
We've stayed at Number 16 several times but it will not be in your price range. Our current favorite is Milleniumm Bailey's...2 steps from Glouscester Rd tube staion with good connections to everywhere. Stayed there a few months ago for 90 GBP with breakfast included.

I know some will tout Priceline, but I like to know exactly where I'll be before I put my money up and none of their hotels suit me. Might suit you though.

Try Londontown, I've always had good luck with them.

Jody, did you like Number Sixteen? My friend stayed there and liked it very much. I am booked to stay there next summer but I still have doubts if I should stay there . Thanks

Teresa

Hi

This one is pretty funky - http://www.bb-belgravia.com.

I just checked the Mileenium Bailey's and it is the same price range as the Number Sixteen. NS is 100GBP for a single room , no taxes or breakfast included and The Millenium is 99 GBP for a small standard single with no taxes or breakfast...! This is in July.So I think they are in the same price range.

Tere, we loved #16 . Sumner Place is very well located for shopping, Tube,eating and drinking, and several museums. We've stayed at all 3 hotels on Sumner, Aster House, #16 and #5, which is no more, and would stay there again if the price was right. Unfortunately they are now all over £175 for a larger double.

If you are getting the same price for Bailey's and #16, I'd go with 16 in a heartbeat.I've not seen their single rooms but their queen doubles are very nice.

We did not have their breakfast ..but there are lots of places close by , even a PAUL, on Glouscester Rd

Thanks so much Jody. I will definetly stick with Number Sixteen.

Tere!

I was just reading another post of yours..that you like auctions at Sotheby's..you do know that #16 is just a few steps from Christie's auction rooms on Brompton Rd..and Bonham's is just a few blocks away on Montpelier St. even if there are no auctions going on , they always have something on view at both of them.

Oh, that's a great tip Jody! I never went to Christie's. I will surely have a look at it on my next stay in London. Thanks again

Thanks so much for the good advice. I spoke to my husband about the hotels you mentioned and we thought the maybe we would splurge a bit and get two nights in #16 and the other 5 nights in a different place like twenty navern or maybe the Milleniumm Bailey. We will have to see what the prices are for those during the middle of July but the #16 we know it over $300 US. I may just be a little romantic. Also, what kind of day trips from london are the best... even if it requires an over night. Thanks so much!!!!

Travelingsteph, another hotel I stayed at several years ago was the Bonnington. I was a nice hotel, located in Bloomsbury, also a nice area. I just checked it at www.otel.com and you get a rate of 151 USD ( other sites ask for more) for a double with taxes and breakfast included ( I remember the english breakfast there was pretty good). The site also has reviews and it looks it's still good. Not as nice as #16 but you could splurge a couple of nights at #16 and consider the Bonnington for the rest if it comes less expensive than the Millenium Baileys.
Good luck!

Steph, I just remembered something..#5 Sumner Place, which was a lovely hotel across from #16, has closed. Someone bought it and is renovating it into a private residence!!

But the owners have opened a new place on Upper Berkeley St, The Sumner Hotel. It looks lovely and the rates are very very good , as it has just opened. £115 for a king double , summer rate,. It might be worth checking out.

http://www.sumnerplace.com/