"<i>lizzieao6, what did you mean by "bring a few bottles" ? Did you mean vodka</i>"

I'm sure she means the place isn't licensed so you need to BYOB, whther that is beer, or wine, or even vodka -- is up to you..

That Flexistay looks better than the Days Hotel. However just so you know what you're getting into . . From the hotel to Westminster takes about 50 minutes, and from the hotel to the Tower of London takes an hour. Not quite sure why you keep looking at accommodations so far out? There ARE bargains w/i walking distance of some sites -- you don't <i>have</i> to stay an hour out to save a few ££ . . .

I was not able to find a hotel close to the center of London with decent Tripadvisor reviews for less than L80. I guess I should've started booking earlier.

Ya know -- TA is not the be all and end all . . .

(You could have very easily booked a 4 star, full service hotel using Priceline for around $100/£60)

Please consider that what you are doing may be penny-wise and pound foolish. If you up your budget by as little as 10-£15 per night, you can stay in central London. Considering the cost of transportation and the inconvenience of traipsing in from the burbs, I don't think you are saving that much money, if any.

In addition to Priceline options, you should take a look at wotif.com. For example, Best Western Burns Hotel in Kensington is available for £69 per night. http://goo.gl/qIhan

Henley House Hotel in Earl's Court is available for £67 per night. http://goo.gl/7jQvd I know you dismissed it, but take a look at the reviews on booking.com and venere.com. They're pretty good. I'm not a fan of Earl's Court, but I would stay there before I would stay in Tooting. http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/henl...ehotel.en.html

http://goo.gl/TUOsI

I realize that everyone has different tastes, but staying an hour outside of central London for a first-time visitor is ill-advised IMO, particularly since you are in town for such a short time. Good luck to you, whichever hotel you choose.

You know, Tooting really isn't the end of the world. You can grab one of the frequent busses to Balham and be at Victoria in less than 30 minutes. The Northern line is also a 30 minute trip right into Central London. It's not the most amenity laden neighborhood, but it is pretty close to town. Much more convenient than some of the options discussed above. I would definitely choose Earls Court if I had the option, but let's not exaggerate how far out Tooting is as long as one is near a tube station.

Bring a bottle = bring your own alcohol

lizzie06: The times I posted as examples are directly from the tfl journey planner. I used the post code of the hotel as the starting point.

Sure, Tooting isn't the end of the world - but it isn't at all convenient for a visitor wanting to see the sites.

Jubilee Hotel near Victoria Station is available for £65 per night. So-so reviews.
http://www.jubileehotel.co.uk/index-2.html
http://goo.gl/SF1Nh

I jst lod at Londontown, you could have booked and still book the Copthorne Tara for 68 GBP, it's right at South Kensington tube stop, can't get more central than that

http://www.londontown.com/hotels/res...36ee766a8b8ba8

Meant Kensington High St tube station !!

I have checked Henley House Hotel in Earl's Court as part of my search, and the bad reviews on the Tripadvisor were really bad. Same goes for a couple of hotels near Victoria station. Actually, I stayed at one a few years ago, for about L60 - never again.

igorek: "<i>I have checked Henley House Hotel in Earl's Court as part of my search, and the bad reviews on the Tripadvisor were really bad.</i>"

I think the upshot is you don't know HOW to use TA.

Henley House has 94 reviews on TA

3 terrible = 3.1%
11 poor = 11.7%
18 Average = 19.1%
52 Very Good = 55.3%
10 Excellent = 10.6%

85% are Average to Excellent. Some 5 star properties don't get that good of reviews. Even the Ritz @ £500 a night can have 3 people who hate it . . .

Again, I have not stayed there and am not necessarily advocating it--just that it has very good reviews for a budget hotel.

Check out the Celtic Hotel in Russell Square. It is central. It is squeaky clean. It has friendly staff. Very good breakfasts. It is well-reviewed on TA.

We have stayed there a number of times on a budget and maxed out on our savings by booking rooms with shared bath. You don't have to do that if you don't want to. But from my perspective, I'd rather do that than spend 64 minutes on the hot, smelly tube that I didn't have to twice a day.

Celtic House does have really good reviews -- but there are those <i>two</i> poor ones . . . ;)

Every hotel has some bad reviews - since there are some people that hate very hotel they stay in (either the wallpaper pattern is ugly, or the staff "rude" when given unreasonable requests or the rooms are too small - like every other room in europe). You need to look at the bulk of the comments - unless the complaints are specifically about lack of cleanliness, crime in the hotel - or similar.

Why are you guys busting your rear trying to help this guy? He seems bound and determined to stay in Tooting. Let him. He has shot down every suggestion you've made, so he gets what he gets.

Because we'd like him to enjoy his stay here and reassure him about his uncertainties?

наверное лучше проверить отели поближе к центру города.

"Because we'd like him to enjoy his stay here and reassure him about his uncertainties?"

Yes, but everyone here seems more concerned about his wellbeing than he does himself. I don't see any uncertainties on his part. Just blowing off all of the very helpful suggestions he has been offered.He hasn't taken one single solitary hotel suggestion,refused to consider Priceline, won't consider hostels even though his funds are very limited, acts as if Tripadvisor reviews are sacred and infallible, and turns his nose up at budget hotels in central London.

He's been to London before, so he's no babe in the woods. Let him slog back and forth from his hotel for 2 hours every day. He obviously doesn't mind. Save your advice for people who appreciate it.