I will be making my first trip to London this fall. Any recommendations on 4 - 5 star properties would be greatly appreciated. At this point, I have a reservation at the Park Lane Sheraton, but am open to suggestions.<BR>My friend and I are both 30, enjoy history, art, theater, interesting dining experiences and nightlife. Thanks in advance for the advice!

<BR><BR>I normally stay at either the Dorchester or the Connaught, but this last time (in May), my wife and I stayed at the Covent Garden Hotel. It's much smaller than the Dorchester, and is much more intimate. Also, I think it's a much nicer place. The room we had was large (particularly by European standards) with a large bath and very nice furnishings. The staff was very polite and most accomodating. <BR>The area, Covent Garden, is young, close to the theater, and has numerous restaurants. I found it to be a very rewarding area and hotel.

Hi matt<BR>Top hotels I can suggest are the Mandarin Oriental, Grosvenor House, Lanesborough, le Meridien, the Ritz, the Dorchester,etc. If you go elsewhere on this Fodor's website and check out London hotel recommendations, you will find all the top places and all guidebooks seem to agree on which ones they are.<BR><BR>Having been to London several times, Park Lane is not my favorite location. It is between the Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner tube stops, but depending on where exactly the Sheraton is on Park Lane you can have a 10-15 minute walk to either tube stop. Grosvenor House, for example, was situated that way. <BR>If money is no object, I would choose a hotel in the Mayfair or St James neighborhoods, closer to Piccadilly and to the Green Park or Hyde Park Corner tube stops. That puts you walking distance to some top restaurants, walking distance or an easy cab ride to theatres, etc.<BR>I have a file on London; if you'd like to see it, email me.

My wife and I just enjoyed our 8 day stay at the Renaissance Chancery Court near the Holborn tube stop. Quiet area but only a few blocks from Covent Garden. Great bar and restaurant. And Michael jackson stayed there the frist four days we were there. The rooms are the biggest in Central London, and the bathrooms are brand new and big. We plan another stay there, we loved it so much. It's a newer hotel, so most tourbooks don't mention it. But it's first class and relatively inexpensive.

I'd strongly recommend the Marriott County Hall. The rooms are spacious and the hotel as absolutely beautiful. It's located right on the Thames accross from Big Ben. The tube is an easy walk accross Westminster Bridge. My family and I have stayed there a few times and keep going back.<BR><BR>GJ

Matt: Check out the Churchill Intercontinental near Marble Arch. Central location a block north of Oxford Street but quiet, right on Portman Square a small park. The hotel is definitely a 4 star but reasonably priced, similar to Park Lane Sheraton. We considered the Park Lane but ultimately choose the Churchill. We were very pleased with our choice, and it included a full breakfast in a very elegant restaurant each morning.<BR>

Matt,<BR><BR>After much research, we chose the Chelsea Green in Chelsea-So. Ken. Lots of folks seem to like that area, and the only four-star suite w/AC that I found for &#163150 inc. of VAT, that I found. Nothing but raves on London Hotels' site. Back in April, they even sent me a birthday card! Still trying to figure that out.

HTML didn't work, 150 pounds per night, inc of VAT.

ttt

Robert -- What does "relatively inexpensive" translate into in pounds (or dollars)? I am fairly horrified at the price of decent London hotels these days. I guess I've been doing too much travel in SE Asia.