Can anyone offer insight on what the Shoreditch neighborhood in London is like? I am considering the Crowne Plaza Hotel Shoreditch (100 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JQ) but am not familiar with it. Is this an old, run-down area or newly renovated area? Cafes and pubs nearby? How long to get to Hyde Park or Picadilly Square via tube?
Thanks for your help!

Some Londoner told me the other day here that Shoreditch is tacky and full of strip bars - the kind of place i would like he said.

<If you want proximity to a bit of rough, you'd have more fun in the strip pubs around Shoreditch High St and Hackney Rd>

flanner.uk's exact quote

Kaneohe - a few weeks ago you were asking about the location of Canary Wharf, and now about Shoreditch. May I ask why you don't want to stay more central? There are lots of hotel deals in London right now, and if you are willing to use Priceline, many people are reporting wining bids of $60-90 for a 4* in Kensington or Mayfair, both of which are more central than Canary Wharf or Shoreditch. What is your budget and when are you going?

Well the place is full of knobheads, including our own little ray of sunshine walkingaround.

It's an achingingly trendy area full of galleries and other ponceterias selling pointless crap to Nathan Barleys.

You may gather I am not a fan.

Having said that, it's pretty central and certainly not short of places to eat and drink - if you can put up with the knobheads. In fact the phrase "shoreditch twat" has entered the language as a shorthand way of referring to a certtain type of plonker:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...&defid=1121974

The immediate surroundings are not enticing, because it's on a main road near the point at which a number of key traffic arteries connect. There is also building work for the East London Line extension for quite a few months yet. So in your terms, it is renovating, with quite a way to go: in a way, CW shifts it rather more upmarket than it strikes me, at least in the immediate surroundings of the High St itself. The bits that are more as he describes, though, are within a fairly easy walk of the Crowne Plaza, if that takes your fancy, as are the Sunday markets; but along the High St itself, you'll find some grubby-looking pubs, wholesale shoe shops, and some more "alternative" cafés (which tends to mean wobbly tables and distinctly alternative service) as well as what might be some very greasy spoons.

If you really want the West End, look around Bloomsbury.

Thanks everyone for your time and help.

Palenque, thanks for the "insight".

YK, I'll be in London May 2-13 and have been looking at various websites for deals on hotels. I've used Priceline before in London and had great success, however it always seems to be in increments of 3 nights, maybe 4 and I can't get excited about having to change hotels every 3-4 nights. I've been looking at LondonTown, Orbitz et al and have seen some good deals and am considering some more central hotels. I am not familiar with either Canary Wharf or Shoreditch and was curious---"was" is the key word here. I've been to London 4 times and have stayed near Paddington, Bloomsbury, and Islington, and am curious about other neighborhoods. I'm looking for a 4* hotel, budget is approx $120 per night depending upon location and amenities; I prefer large hotels rather than B&Bs. I will be travelling alone and am familiar with the "London Single Room" aka walk-in closet with wall to wall mattress and am trying to avoid that this trip. I welcome any suggestions you have!

C_W, you're killin' me! Where do you learn this stuff---don't tell me university!

PatrickLondon, thanks for your comments. I'm pretty sure I'll pass on Shoreditch.

Isn't Shoreditch where Boy George lives?

With such a long time, you're right that Priceline won't work, unless you break it into 2-3 different segments like you said. Have you tried Hotwire?

How about aparthotels or even apartments, though sounds like you prefer more amenities. But do look into the Citadines aparthotels... for me at least, if I'm away for so long, I prefer to eat in at least a few times as I get tired of eating out 3 meals/day.

I just plugged in your dates into Hotwire and there are a couple of choices, with the cheapest being a 3.5* in Bloomsbury/Marble Arch zone for $69/n, which comes out to about $80 after tax/fees added. Based on the list on betterbidding.com, the hotel most likely is the Holiday Inn Regents Park. I stayed there last year and I like its convenient location.

Your Crowne Plaza Shoreditch is showing up at $105/night (4* City), as well as the Holiday Inn Camden Lock for $112 (4* Regents Park/Camden).

I would definitely choose the HI Regents Park (3.5* Bloomsbury) over the other choices.

YK, thanks for the advice about HI Regents Park and Camden Lock---have been watching Hotwire and have seen these; HI Regents Park is on the Short List! I have read many good reviews about that property.

I've briefly looked into a flat, but was having difficulty finding anything in my price range that was not a studio (most studio's I've seen photos of look just like hotel rooms). I travel a lot for work and agree that eating out can get tiresome.

I am also looking at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Millennium Baily, The Grafton Radisson Hotel, and Rydges Kensingotn Hotel. Can anyone comment on their experience(s) with these properties?

C_W, you're killin' me! Where do you learn this stuff---don't tell me university!>

Nope some toff posh Public School i guess - Public means Private BTW

Isn't Shoreditch where Boy George lives?>>>>

No he's in Pentonville.

>>>>>I am also looking at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Millennium Baily, The Grafton Radisson Hotel, and Rydges Kensingotn Hotel. Can anyone comment on their experience(s) with these properties?>>>>

I don't know these hotels (I live here, I don't use hotels) but I would plump for all of them over Shoreditch in terms of area.

One question would be where will you be working in London during those 2 weeks? If you need to go to an office daily, I'd pick the hotel closest or direct ride on the tube.

C_W, thanks--I've decided to pass on staying in Shoreditch.

YK, sorry maybe I wasn't clear--I'll be in London on holiday not work and am looking nice 3 and 4 star properties in Central London. The logical conclusion is to choose a hotel that is near to the sights I want to see, except that things I'm interested in (theatre, museums, parks, pubs, etc) are scattered throughout London.

I appreciate your insight on the Holiday Inn and will give that serious consideration (especially with the deals offered thru Orbitz, et al). Any other suggestions?

If it's for holiday, I'd just pick the hotel based on the most convenient location. By that, I mean plenty of bus lines that go every direction, and at least one or 2 "covenient" tube lines nearby.

I've stayed at Millenium Bailey's 6 or 7 times now, In fact I'll be there next week for 10 days.

The neighbor hood is full of nice pubs, in cluding one that was listed as a Best London Boozer, there are also shops, all kinds of restaurants, internet cafe, and the transportation is excellent from Gloucester Rd tube or bus lines. Several musuems are wwithin walking distance.

Thanks for the review Avalon. Were you in a room for one person or two? I've read mixed reviews about the Bailey, so I appreciate a first-hand review, espeically the part about "London's Best Boozer" being nearby!

I wouldn't worry about Shoredich. Most people in all of these trendoid neighborhoods are twats.