London, where to stay
 

On a budget, looking for clean, safe place to stay in London for mom, dad, 16 yr. old, near tube/public transportation system. Visiting college son who lives in King's Cross area, but he suggests it's not the safest location. We'll be sightseeing in London and traveling by Chunnel to Paris at the end of November 2009. Would love some recommendations. -lfw

1) What is your budget?

and 2) How many days in London?

Just about EVERY area of London is near the tube, buses go everywhere, and anyplace a tourist would be is safe.

The "How many days?" would help determine if renting a flat makes sense.

The Eurostar leaves from St Pancras - so one area to look would be Russell Square/Bloomsbury. It is convenient to King's Cross/St Pancras (w/o being IN King's Cross) and is home to the British Museum. Walking distance to Covent Garden, theatres etc.

But there are 20+ other good neighborhoods too . . .

I love the area near Russell Square. You can arrive there directly from airport by tube. It is near British museum. There are a lot of hotels in the area, not very expensive, we felt very safe there. Even when I was alone , it was OK , no problems late in the evenings.

We are great fans of the Accor Hotel chain who have a delightful IBIS Hotel in Cardington street - diagonally opposite the back ( and very handy entrance/exit) to Euston station. Looking at your map of London you will see it is just up the road from St.Pancrass & King's Cross stations.(about 6 streets away)and well within strolling distance of 10-15minutes.
The rates are not cheap nor expensive and we enjoy the fact you can grab a freshly baked croissant or other pastry and a coffee at several eateries on Euston station itself. Walking down to Paddington there is a little cafe tucked away in a corner serving a bargain hot breakfast.
The hotel itself has a restaurant for meals going all day, and of course if you are into trying one of the most mentioned Fish 'n Chip places on Fodor's, you have The North Sea Restaurant in Leigh street. There are pubs all over the area for a quick pint and a bar meal.

I would try to book online and see if you can get a better rate than the normal rack rate from an agent or by telephone.

You can stay at The Ibis Hotel Esplanade La Defense (very handy metro direct to Champs Elysees) for 49 euros from a Friday throught to Monday morning. This does not mean you won't get one of the regular rooms on offer during the week at 126euros. They just need to fill up the hotel over the weekend as it's in the business district - but oh so lovely and peaceful with great views over the Seine and Paris.

Another advantage of the Ibis Euston is that it's very close to a block of Indian restaurants on Drummond Street. I stayed nearby and dined there a couple times last month.

I always go with Priceline, but this would be tough with 3 people. So, unless the 16 year old would be getting their own room, then there may be cheaper options.

I should ask where, exactly, your son lives. I lived in a dorm near Kings Cross and it really wasn't that bad of an area and it has only been cleaned up since then. For the most part, as long as you are staying between Kings Cross and Russell Square, or even West toward Euston, rather than to the North or East of Kings Cross, I wouldn't think you would have much to worry about. Some of the areas are kind of quiet, but should be safe and relatively convenient. In the area, I have enjoyed the Novotel St Pancras, but have only stayed through Priceline, so I don't know how expensive it is if you wanted to pay the rack rate.

Priceline would be good if you get two rooms, as travelgourmet mentioned.

However, if you don't want to do that, use Hotwire, and enter 2 adults, 1 child, and you will get prices for triple rooms. Go to BetterBidding.com for more information on how to decode the hotel amenities.

Shame that you didn't give any answer! :(

Hey, Felix, if you're referring to OP, give him/her a chance--it's only been 7 hours since first posting.

WillTravel, have you ever been to that "cabbies" little Cafe down Eversholt street - runs down beside Euston station?
We were walking down to a pub recommended here on Fodors and noticed it packed with chaps on a break as all their black cabs were lined up in the road.
A gentleman outside on the sidewalk told us it's a great bargain for a generous plate of food. He didn't say what the quality was like but think cabbies can be fussy too!

Once upon a time the area around Kings Cross was very dicey indeed however after a lot of effort the place has been transformed (modesty forbids me from saying who did it....).

It's now easier to say where is dodgy. Firstly the bottom of Caledonian Rd should be avoided at all costs. It's still a drug market and a favourite meeting place for football hooligans on match day.

It's unlikely you will find yourselves near the gasometers in York Way - but if you do, leave. It's a street prostitution area with the associated crime.

You will hear horror stories about Argyll Square but the brothels and crack houses are long gone and have been replaced by small hotels and guest houses..

Another place to avoid are the Somers Town and Maiden Lane estates (which I can see no reason for you to go to) as this is where much of the drug market has been displaced to (the rest are in Camden Town).

Other than that (and these are small areas and easily avoided) it's fine.

CW - Kings Cross 1992-1998

CW - Thanks for pointing out that good info. If you think most of what Fodorites put forward is ignored - think again.
I immediately got out my huge Collins map of London and looked up every place you mentioned and marked it as a "No Go" area. You are one of a very few who knows about London indepth. Thank You, Tod.

Staying in Etap and Hotel Formula1's, you can sleep 3. Two on the bottom bunk and one on the top. I THINK Ibis is a two bed room also, but not sure. You might check with Accorhotels.com. Also, look at easyhotels, they are a cheap place to stay -http://easyhotel.com/. Travelodge is having a sale on rooms right now, so you might want to try them.

The Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace Rd had very low rates if you call them directly, was abt 20 pounds less than their website. Near Victoria station.

Travelodge
Travelodge - great value accommodation at over 300 hotels throughout the UK and Ireland. Family rooms from £19 per room in England, Wales, Scotland and ...
www.travelodge.co.uk/ -

The Travelodge chain IMO is a great budget option and has properties all over London - the Covent Garden one is in the heart of tourist London - though you may not get a hyped 19 quid room you may find this a clean, modern and good for London budget option. Premier Inns another.

Premier Inn - Book Cheap Hotels in the UK & Worldwide from £29
Find high-quality, cheap rooms from £29 at Britain's biggest hotel chain. Over 580 budget hotels across the UK, ideal for families, business and leisure.
www.premierinn.com/ -

Pal - Just checked with Travelodge Euston - It's 123pounds per night for a family room for three people. I think it would be about the same at Ibis - wait let me check!
NO! Seems Ibis has a double room rate only at 90pounds and they advise children book a seperate room. I think this must mean they have interleading rooms in the case of small children - but it's still the double rate. So 2X90 = 180 but then you gettting much more space.

folks have reported scoring 19 pound rooms at Tlodge Covent Garden, but i think you'd have to be searching a lot and be lucky - i only present these chain hotels as another possibility not to overlook - not that there will always be something truly budget but you never know

The Academy in Bloomsbury. Very nice

Re Travelodge rooms, to get the really good rates you do need to be booking several months ahead, and it also depends very much on which night of the week you want to stay. You will get a much better deal on a Sunday night - when few theatres have shows - than you will on a Friday or Saturday.

However, family rooms sleep up to 4 adults comfortably, and Travelodge offers very good value, clean rooms with comfy beds. I've stayed in quite a few of them around the country now, and do recommend them for a basic budget stay.

not in earl's court area

Another possibility is a family room at the YHA St. Pancras - www.yha.org.uk

Lee Ann

ElendilPickle thanks for posting that YHA Euston link. Even for old foggies like us - well into our 60's - the fact they have 10 rooms with just 2 beds is a great attraction. The rate is half of what it would cost at our fav hotel, The Ibis Euston! Can't thank you enough!

not in earl's court area>>>

There's nowt wrong with Earls Court.

Cholmondley_Warner: We stayed in Pennywern road once. One of those big old triple storey houses converted into a warren of rooms and now called an Hotel. We too found nothing wrong with Earls Court until I read sometime this year that the hotel we sent my young son & friend to the previous year - need I name it? R.....l - also Pennywern Rd, was raided for drugs.
I'm also aware that drug dealing and prostitution are rife in most areas of London and that it's probably going on right under the tourists noses without them being aware half the time. Maybe it's a case of what the eye doesn't see...........
Thanks again for the assurance.

For upscale foreign tourists there is plenty wrong about staying in Earls' Court - a sleazy crowd of starvation budget Ossies and New Zealanders, etc. Not that that there is anything wrong with that but even the streets here are often full of litter, etc. in my many visits to the area. I suppose any place in London would be OK for for most Fodorites at least Earls' Court will not be their cups of tea. And yes be careful of which budget hotel you select there - read tod's post above - make sure it's a hotel, some of which are really hostels or bed sits parading under the name 'hotel' Not that there could not be perfectly decent hotels there but Caveat Emptor

Complete cods. There hasn't been an Aussie in Earls Court since 1975.

It's no worse than any other part of london and a great deal better than most.

But what do I know. I just live here.

Chol - give us some eating recommendations in the area PLEASE!
We did not know where on earth to go. I don't mean fancy, on the contrary, a good grub pub will do nicely thank you.

In Kings cross? Or Earl's court?

If Kings X then you're laughing....

If so I'll be back tomorrow (I have to go now - the pubs are open).

Bon nuit!

I posted just about the exact same question a couple of months ago for my sister and someone recommended studios2let. They are very affordable and you should easily be able to find a place to stay in a safe area. Oh, and my sister had a blast. :) Good luck!

http://www.studios2let.com/our-properties/list-view

rradan: "<i>I posted just about the exact same question a couple of months ago </i>"

Uh - no you didn't. You just registered and this is your first ever post. [-X

(unless of course you used a different screen name - care to tell us what it was?)

Advertising isn't allowed on Fodors - especially pretending to be a 'satisfied' customer.

Tod, Mr. Pickle and I (in our 40s)stayed in a variety of YHA hostels around the UK in 2007, all in private rooms. Not all had ensuite facilities, but that wasn't a problem for us. We saved some money by cooking some of our meals and packing lunches, and enjoyed meeting fellow travelers in the evenings.

Lee Ann

Sorry Cholmondley I wasn't too clear - I meant Earls Court.
Even if we don't get to lodge there I like walking the different London areas and if it happens to be around lunch or dinner time it's nice to have a little eaterie marked on ones map.
From the previous time in Earls Court I distinctly remember not seeing too many even around the main entrance/exit of the Tube station. Yes, lots of quick food but not really a nice pub or anything.
Kings Cross - We could always do with a little secret hideaway?!

The place I like best (and is one of the best pubs in London - mainly because its well hidden) is the King's Head in Hogarth Place (to get there come out of teh station on the Earls Ct Rd side, cross the road, turn left and go down a small side street - Hogarth Place which has several restaurants in it and The Kings Head is at the end). It has good food, good beer and isn't full of either nutters or tourists.

travelodge is having a sale now. Might score a great rate there. Also, look at Premier lodge. The have cheap rooms too. Easyhotel.com has rooms from £24.50

janisj: Uh - no you didn't. You just registered and this is your first ever post.


Why do you assume I was talking about posting on this site? I honestly was just trying to help rwwlfw out. I have no affiliation w/ that company.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions;will take some time to check out these sites and let you know how it works out.

Any suggestions for a long weekend in Paris, ie. where to stay and favorite eateries we should not miss?

Any suggestions for a long weekend in Paris,>>>

My suggestion would be to start a new thread......