Thanks to all who responded to my earlier plea for help - great links to threads, Ira, and excellent suggestion from Rex to plane to London from Italy (what could I have been thinking!???)

Once in London, our group (one grandma, two teen boys and my husband and I) have been trying to find a self-catering apartment of some kind (4 rooms, place we can do laundry, etc.) I found one through shortstay.com in Mayfair but the cost was almost $1000/night. More than what we were able to pay.

We will be in London 6/28 and leaving 7/9 - total of 11 nights. We are looking for somthing pretty central as we hope to be doing the usual touristy things: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Trafalger Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, National Gallery, National History Museum, Cabinet War Rooms, see a Globe Theatre production, take an Orinigal London Walk of Shakespeare's London, British Museum, Sherlock Holmes Museum, visit friends in Cambridge, maybe a riverboat ride.

Anyone know of housing alternatives for a multigenerational group of 5 for 11 days that won't 'break the bank'?

Did I leave any 'must do' items for first time goers to the London area?

Try the Kensington Court (serviced apartments). It looks very nice from their brochure and has a great location. They have a two bedroom apartment that will sleep 5/6 for 240 GBP's a night and a three bedroom that will sleep eight for 340 GBP's a night.The larger apartments have oven,dishwasher,coffee machine,microwave,toaster,hob and a laundry facility is available. Special rates are available for longer stays. Their website is www.kensingtoncourt.co.uk or email at booking @ kensingtoncourt.co.uk

Here are some more to get you started:

E&E Apartments (no website but they do have e-mail) [email protected] phone 011-44-171-828-0453
Moderately priced studio, 1 and 2 bedroom flats in Pimlico and Victoria. Near the Thames, Tate Britain, Chelsea and Victoria Station. 3-night minimum. £360 - £700+ per week

Hamlet (UK) Ltd. www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk/
Phone 011-44-181-883-0024 1 and 2 bedroom flats at St Katherine?s Dock next to the Tower of London. £500 - £675 per week

Cottage Net (Nordqvist & Co.) [email protected] phone 011-44-171-828-2424 Many apartments throughout London £450 - £750+

London School of Economics www.lce.ac.uk/vacations Low cost B&B and self-catering accommodations in university residence halls from mid-June thru September. Phone 011-44-171-955-7575 to request a brochure.

Scala House www.scala-house.co.uk Phone 011-44-171-580-6644. An Apartment bldg with 2-bedroom flats near Tottenham Court Rd and Oxford Street in central London. 2 night minimum £665 - £1225 (for the penthouses) per week

Price Apartments www.priceapts.co.uk
Studios thru 4-bedroom flats throughout London. £360 - £3,300

Chelsea Cloisters www.chelsea-cloisters.co.uk Phone 011-44-171-403-7760 Full service studios near Harrods from £480 up to £1000

barbaralk - one of the places that janis mentioned was in St. Katherine's Dock. We just stayed in a flat in that area two weeks ago. We were right on the Thames with views of the Tower Bridge. We found the area to be perfect, although not centrally located as you had hoped. St. Katherine's Dock is right next to the Tower of London, and the tube is a short walk away at Tower Hill. Taxis are easily accessible at a hotel (Thistle? - the name escapes me now) right nearby. Also within walking distance is a Safeway grocery store, Dickens Pub and restaurant, shops, and a Starbuck's coffee. Because we were there on business, we did not book the flat ourselves, so I can not help you in that regard. Good luck!

Have you tried looking at www.craigslist.org - this is a website where people advertise their holiday homes or their own home available for rental. Its normally a lot cheaper than those offered by holiday companies though they may not all be in the area you are looking for.

Someone is even providing a service to inspect the property for you before you arrive.