TPAYT

Not new to Europe but definitely new to London. We realize that location is key for a 3-4 night stay.

We are just beginning our research for June, 2014. Still haven't decided on tour (London-Paris) or go on our own. Paris, no problem as we've been many times.

London
My initial question is about which area to start looking for a hotel most convenient for the top sights. IIf I can narrow down the area, I can make the choices less confusing.

nytraveler

London is a spread out city with major sights in a bunch of different areas. Public transit (esp tube) is convenient - as long as your hotel is near a stop.

However, hotels in London tend to be quite expensive - so before even suggesting an areas it would be good to know your budget and the number in your party.

(We only stay quite centrally - Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Covent Garden, etc) but these areas tend to be expensive - and many stay a little farther out to save money.

Where are you in that balancing act?

Tulips

London is a large city. It's best to be near a convenient underground station. South Kensington is good; walking distance to the museums of South Kensington, and near the Piccadilly Line.

Don't take a tour - it's easy enough to visit London on your own, with some help from the people at Fodors.

TDudette

We stayed at the Reubens in the 1990s. It was convenient to Victoria Station and faced the Royal Mews. It was a 3-star at the time and it looks more luxurious now ( http://www.rubenshotel.com/ ).

I'm going back in 2014 and will be staying on the Strand Palace Hotel ( http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/ ). I can't give a review yet but it's near theatres, National Gallery area. Price better than Reubens as well. Charing Cross is close station.

I'm always OK with a city tour in a large city. It can give you a city overview and you can more easily figure out if where you wish to return is in walking distance.

TPAYT

Budget--hopefully under $500 US per night, but would consider a little more

Travelers--2 seniors and our 13 yr. old grandaughter

All this help already---I'm so looking forward to the planning. I know with Fodorites help we can go on our own and just include day tours.

The only reason we considered a family London-Paris tour was maybe to be with some other kids. We get along great, but 10 or so days with 24-7 G&G (grandma & grandpa) maybe is asking too much.

Viajero2

After pondering the same, I decided to stay near Victoria Station and was very happy. No matter where I wanted to go the connections from that station were there and easy. I had the Pimlico Station really close as well, but the walk to/from Victoria was not an issue whatsoever...and we are talking February. The thing is the London Tube is so easy and convenient to use that the location factor is less than a factor and possibly value and safety should be your main concern.

nytraveler

For seniors I would stay as close to the center as possible and your budget is quite a reasonable one - even for a triple room.

I would look at some of the discount websites to see what hotels you can find in the center - the 3 areas I mentioned - in your price range(consider prepaying for a discount)

laurie_ann

For your situation of grandparents/granddaughter and the 3/4 nights I might suggest one of he "apartment hotels".

My brother and his family stayed last summer in the Fraser Suites Queens Gate (right between Gloucester and S. Kensington tube stations). We visited them there but stayed elsewhere. I just checked and for 4 nights random in June a one bedroom apartment is just under $2000 for four nights.

And my parents have enjoyed the Citadines property near there on another visit. And June rates are about the same.

There are lots of smaller restaurants in the S. Kensington area and transportation both to and from Heathrow and elsewhere is London is very easy from either of those tube stations.

Avalon2

Wever the Millenium Gloucester Hotel and the club rooms, breakfast included all day coffee and before dinner wine and snacks included also internet. Staff is great and location is ideal. Tube across the street and good bus transport. V7
&a and natural history museum a short walk away great shopping too loads of pubs and good cafes and restaurant!

bardo1

Your generous budget allows you to stay extremely central, which I recommend.

I would look at hotels in the following neighborhoods: Covent Garden, St. James, Mayfair, and Soho. Most hotels in these neighborhoods are high-end but there are some that are not so pricy. There is even the occasional budget B&B (or is it a 1 star?) like the Seven Dials Hotel.

Stay in any of the above areas and you'll be fine. If the hotel ALSO happens to be within a few blocks of a Tube stop, that's icing on the cake.

Here are a few specific hotels at various price points to get you started:
http://www.dukeshotel.com/
http://www.sheratonparklane.com/
http://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/
http://www.thefieldinghotel.co.uk/
http://www.themayfairhotel.co.uk/
http://www.hazlittshotel.com/hazlitts/
http://www.sevendialshotellondon.com/

flpab

http://www.flipkey.com/london-condo-rentals/p530140/

nice apartment, you might want more space with a 13 year old!

flpab

http://www.flipkey.com/london-condo-rentals/p229657/

cheaper but only one bedroom. Great area though.

socialworker

This location was wonderful for us. I am not so much recommending the hotel. It was fine but too expensive for what it was, IMO. (Altho, a full, really nice breakfast buffet was included in the rate we paid.) However, I thought the location was perfect!!

http://www.thistle.com/hotels/united...are/index.html

travelhorizons

Take a look at 51 Buckingham Court. They have reasonable rates for a 5* and some great amenities if you can find a Virtuoso travel consultant (google it) to book it for you: upgrade if available, full English breakfast for two daily, Afternoon Tea for two once during stay, one-way airport transfer with 3 night stay, tickets to the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Seamus

Our favorite hotel is the Crowne Plaza St. James. Lovely facility including nice fitness facility and spa, great service, good onsite dining options, convenient to many things but outside a tourist fray.

If you would consider an apartment, have a look at London Connection. They are based in the US, accept US$ payment and have been consistently good in terms of service. Just got a promo message about a new property they are featuring that looks good at what is an excellent price for London. https://londonconnection.com/property/2-12-west-street/

nytraveler

Just so you know the South Kensington/Gloucster places people re talking about are further out from the center - 10 to 15 minutes via tube. Although they are near some of the Museums (V&A and Science/Natural History - but Nat'l Gallery and British are more in the center).

socialworker

That was why I was so fond of the location where we were. Out the hotel door and around the corner and you were in the middle of interesting places!

Boveney

First, may I say what great grandparents you are! How nice of you to treat your 13 year old granddaughter to a European trip. It may be worth figuring out what you intend to do in London and then select a base convenient to that. Charing Cross may be the official 'centre' of London but the South Ken area may be good as a base if you know she'll want to go to Harrods, dabble her feet in the Princess Diana memorial water fountain, visit Kensington Palace, home of Will & Kate....On the other hand if she is not a royalist but, eg theatre mad, may make more sense to be in the Covent Garden area. I'd like to make a plea here not to overlook the buses. . Everyone focuses on proximity to a tube stop and of course that is paramount but using the bus is easy and such a pleasant way to see the city (out of rush hour, when traveling by underground isn't very enjoyable either.) And I often find the bus so much more relaxing than taking the tube which can require a lot of walking to reach the platform. I wouldn't use a bus when rushing to catch curtain up at the theatre but a bus journey can often be more or less the same duration as using the tube if changes are required.

TPAYT

What good ideas! I will definitely look into all of your suggestions. I appreciate the location advice.

I now have a map so I can get oriented. I then will make a list of what we want to do to help with the location.

With just the 2 of us we would just wing it and see what we see, but with the GD along we want to have a plan.

Seamus

travelhorizons - think you meant to refer to the 51 Buckingham <u>Gate</u> hotel. It is actually right next to - in fact, contiguous with - the Crowne Plaza London St James. Both properties are owned by Taj hotels. 51 BG is quite luxurious indeed; wish my travel budget would allow for it to be a place I regularly stay.