We are trying to stay in nice, affordable place in London in an area where we will find a lot of pubs and people. Any suggestions? I've heard Bloomsbury, but am unable to find anything available for early November in my price range. Is there another fun area? <BR> <BR>Appreciate the input!

Try the St. Margaret's on Bedford Place. It's fairly reasonably priced (for London) and run by very nice people. It's about a five minute walk from the British Museum and right off Russell Square.

My daughter and I stayed at The Swiss House Hotel in South Kensington, very clean, very safe, residential neighborhood. The staff was wonderful. Close to two tube stops, small grocery, laundromat and restaurants. Good luck -- I'm jealous!

Just got back from London. I stayed at the Garden Court Hotel (30 Kensington Gardens Square) in Bayswater. Here is the website: www.gardencourthotel.co.uk. <BR> We paid 82 pounds for a twin room. Loved the neighborhood, the adorable lobby, reception area and the room. Everything really except for the shower. The shower floor was kind of gross, and the shower curtain had obviously not been changed in a while (very musty). However, I went in the hall bathroom and saw that the shower in there was immaculate (large shower, glass sliding door on it), so it might have just been our room??? Take some tongs to wear in the shower, just in case. The showeer was the only bad thing about the hotel. Everything else was immaculately clean, fresh fluffy towels everyday, new sheets everyday. A good tidy up of the room too. So other than the shower, I highly recommend this hotel. Great location among many gift shops, grocery stores, laundromats, excellent affordable restaurants, and 5 minutes from 2 tube stations. There are rows and rows of hotels in this area, so you also might find another budget one that you also like in this area. <BR>Hope this helps, <BR>Vanessa

The best place to stay in London hands down is the Waterloo Days Inn. Just 500 feet from the Lambeth North tube station on Kennington Road. All rooms are 62 pounds per night. All rooms have recently been refurbished and the bathroom was much nicer than that at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel. <BR>You will not be disappointed.

Beth, <BR> <BR>Another vote for Bloomsbury. I've also stayed at St. Margaret's. <BR> <BR>I had reservations there last year for a trip with my daughter, and changed them at the last minute when someone convinced me that the Kensington area might be more enjoyable for a teen. I kicked myself the whole time that we weren't in Bloomsbury. We went to a lot of plays, and I missed the easy proximity of Bloomsbury. I know Kensington is still central, but when you figure waiting for a subway, the subway ride, the walk from the subway to the hotel . . . . We were hard pressed to get in from sightseeing, clean up,change, and get back to a show without scrambling. A few nights we grabbed bagels to eat on the subway and then ate dinner later. <BR> <BR>A friend here had also recommended the Fielding, in Covent Garden. We went by it in April, and it sure is in the middle of stuff. It looked like it would be fun and funky, but perhaps a bit loud.

P.S. <BR> <BR>If you do stay in Bloomsbury, you must promise to go to the Lamb (a pub frequented by Dickens). Regardless of where you stay, you must go to the Museum Tavern, across the street from the British Museum. <BR> <BR>P.P.S. <BR> <BR>Try www.hoteldiscounts.com if you haven't already. <BR>

I live in Yorkshire, and I stay at the Days Inn Waterloo, when I go to London. <BR>There are a couple of pubs in the vicinity, who are frequented by real Londoners. When I stayed there in May, for the 1st Division play off final, we had a sing song and a lock in !!! (the doors are locked, the curtains are pulled and the beer keeps flowing). <BR>I have eaten in several resteraunts in the area all which were good value ittle Saigon, a cuban resteraunt - the name escapes me, Fire Station, and Thai Silk. There is a daily market on Lower Marsh Street. <BR>To sumise, it is in an excellent location and offers VFM. <BR>Feel free to email me.

What ever you do, don't stay at the Bloomsberry Park. It is a real dump, and the people running it are very indifferent. STayed there last sumer, and there we no drinking glasses,t he place was dirty, and they lost several important messages at the front desk, and didn't even apologise.

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