Has anyone ever stayed at the Thistle Charing Cross Hotel in London? I know that it is next to the train station - is it crazy busy out in front - do you think it is good location for an elderly couple that want to be close to some sights?

Thanks
CC

It's a great location. Forget the fact that the train station is next door as that really means nothing for a negative impact to you, and there is an underground station just below it which might be convenient. You can walk to theatres, you're practically next door to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery and more, and easy to get transportation to anywhere else.

Well you will never be close to all sights but this is a good location since you can get to most everyplace easily from the Trafalagar Sq./Charing Cross area.

Pretty much all of central London can be thought of as "crazy busy", particularly if the visitors are from a small town/city. There are millions of people out and about every day in what are called "tourist areas".

that would be a fine location. Very central, cabs readily available, buses, trains and the tube right there, close to the river, Trafalgar Sq and St James Park. And you could walk to Simpson's in the Strand!

Not a quiet, residential area if that is what you prefer, but you couldn't be more central

agree with the others. this is very convenient to many of the big sights in london...also convenient to the south bank as the hungerford foot bridge is right behind the hotel.

quiet it is not and to answer your question, yes, it is very busy out front (and in back, and all around). the front of the hotel is shared by a very large and busy taxi rank that services both the hotel and (mostly) the rail station. this is also at a very busy (and convenient) set of bus stops.

it is not a bad choice at all but for myself i would prefer something in a less hectic location. it's a trade off and, as others have said, you are very convenient to everything....i would say that it is one of the most convenient locations in a general tourist sense.

that said, i know the city very well so i wouldn't mind being out of the way a bit. if you don't know the city, it is convenient to have everything right on your doorstep. also, if you want to use the bus during your visit, it is very easy to find a bus that terminates in trafalgar square (2 min walk from your hotel). this is basically considered the exact centre of london. i have never stayed there but, like many, pass right by the hotel regularly.