janisj

Westminster is central and walkable to several major sites, but unless you have a very generous budget you won't find many hotels. How much do you want to spend per night?

Other very convenient locations would be anywhere along the Piccadilly line (Gloucester rd, South Kensington, Leicester square, Covent Garden, Russell square, etc.) or near Victoria.

PalenQ

Versailles or Hampton Court - the Tudor Versailles engfrandized by henry VIII to evoke Versailles - well if you only go to the palace of Versailles you may say Hampton Court is a better thing, especially for kids but if you explore the vast park surrounding Versailles - go to the Petit Trianon where Mario-Antoinette was said to dress up like a peasant and play a peasant farm girl - all that area is renovated and fun for kids

and kids and families can rent bikes to cycle around the vast park or rowboats on the large basin, etc. Lots for kids at Versailles.

Not saying which one I would chose but I think all in all it would be impossible to say one is better in general than the other - unless one has only toured the palace of Versailles itself - much more congested and much less tourist friendly than Hampton Court simply because Versailles is so so crowded compared to Hampton Court and never explored the captivating gardens.

And in summer of weekends the many water fountains at Versailles that dot the statue gardens play in tune to music piped in the famous Grandes Eaux des Versailles - for info -

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/prep...grandes-eaux-1

So it also depends on when you go, etc. Hard to say one is better in general than the other IMO. Do whatever is most convenient to you IMO.

janisj

And on summer weekends when the fountains are going . . . The place is even MORE crowded. So not a good idea IMO . . .

emmamarie

Hi we will be travelling mid june. Budget wise I was thinking up to 300pounds per night if possible. I think an apartment would be great - will have to do some research. Not sure if they will allow for 4-5 nights? I will have a look around the pica dilly line as suggested. Thanks

Tulips

300 pounds per night is a good budget for an apartment. There are many available for just a few nights.
This one is under 300 and a great location;
http://www.onefinestay.com/london/cranley-gardens-2/

We have used onefinestay, and were very happy with the service. They even give you an Iphone to use while in London, with local information on it and for local calls and internet.

emmamarie

Thanks Tulips - have had a look at the sight and it does look good

PalenQ

$500 a night for an apartment - you could probably stay at the best hotel in town for that price!

janisj

>>$500 a night for an apartment - you could probably stay at the best hotel in town for that price! <<

Not the 'best' which would be more like £500+ but $500 will certainly get a very nice, upscale property.

But that would be for two and this is a family of four so no, £300 is a nice hotel budget but certainly not extravagant.

BigRuss

<b>NO LONDON PASS</b>

Will you read wisdom? I wrote this and it applies:

<i>You need to get a paper travelcard for you and the hubby for [Tower] day and get the 2for1 admission voucher from www.daysoutguide.co.uk for the Tower because a one-day travelcard will cost about 7 quid and you'll save nearly 22 on the Tower admission. You may also want to do this for the Kensington Palace day because that's probably on offer from the same website and Kens Palace is about 16 quid.</i>

Hampton Court Palace is also on the 2for1 offers and you won't need a single-day travel card for it if you all go to Hampton Court Palace from Waterloo on South West Trains (just go to a ticket booth at Waterloo and purchase return tickets for Hampton Court).

$500/night is more than enough for a sizable flat. If your budget is that high, look at Oakwood for fully furnished flats.

Versailles is bloody crowded on gray rainy days in May.

janisj

Oh jeeze. I totally missed the London Pass question (it was posted the same time I was posting something else). Big Russ is correct -- avoid the London Pass at ALL costs . . .

PalenQ

, £300 is a nice hotel budget but certainly not extravagant.>

$500 a night not extravagant - no wonder they call London one of the most expensive cities in the world!

What would an extravagant hotel cost?

janisj

PQ - I was responding to your post that that amount would get them into any hotel in London . . . it wouldn't.

And definitely not for a suite, quad room or two doubles that this family would need. So no, for four £300 is definitely not extravagant. Nice but not close to extravagant.