We are planning a trip to London for early March, and are looking for some ideas. A neighborhood for lodging, a B&B or smallish hotel where locals might stay. Looking for local "color" and experience, not other Americans. Want to visit flea markets and thrift shops, very into latest fashion. Music &/or dancing clubs, theater. Want to do some touristy things, but not sure where to start to keep Mom and teen happy. All ideas and web links welcomed.

NewbeTraveler, I see this is your first post, welcome to Fodors. The best way to start planning a trip is to read a guidebook, like Fodors and see what appeals to you. London has lots to offer a traveller, whether it's their first visit to the city or 10th.

Locals don't stay in hotels - they stay at home.

And w/ the $ the way is is you will run into as many tourists from other countries as you will Americans.

Don't worry about who is staying in the room next to yours - pick a hotel based on budget and neighborhood. The most important info you left out - what is your budget? Also, how many days will you be in London? (If several days, an apartment is often better better than a hotel)

There are hundreds of threads on here discussing accommodations in London.

Part of the London experience for locals is commuting - massively. So the neighbourhood you'd stay in is less relevant.

But from what you say about your interests, you could look in the Bloomsbury area, around Cartwright Gardens, which is very near a lot of university academic and residential buildings, so the atmosphere is quite studenty.

It sounds as though you might be interested in the Sunday markets around Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Hanbury Street, but you wouldn't need to stay in the area - there are some hotels in the area but mainly on commercial streets and through roads - not particularly attractive.

Don't forget to use Google Street View to get a feel for particular areas.

You can get discount theater tickets on line at http://www.broadwaybox.com/london/

If you don't have a particular show you need to see, you can get discount tickets the day of the performance at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. To see what is being offered, you can check daily at http://www.tkts.co.uk/whats-on-sale-today/

The TKTS website above also offers some shows for advance purchase if you click on the "advance purchase" tab.

If the show you want to see is offered regularly at a discount, you might take a chance that it will be available when you show up. But if it is a more popular show, it is best to reserve ahead, although this will probably mean paying full price.

My wife and I are going to London in early March and will be staying in this hotel near Marble Arch:

http://www.sumnerdale.co.uk/index.html

It's a small hotel, gets good ratings on TripAdvisor.com and appears to be close to mass transportation. We will be there for 7 nights.

Patrick, I was going to suggest that area too. I've stayed at a few of the B&Bs on Cartwright, Harlingford Hotel (B&B despite the name) is one that I liked (at the time). I also just stayed in May at the Academy Hotel, which is a nice hotel, bit upscale, housed in multiple inter-connected row houses.

From this area, I walked to British Museum, St Paul's, Covent Garden,West End (theatres), Oxford Street, the City, etc.. Some good restaurants nearby. The Queen musical was playing just around the corner.

Tube access is good.

Hi Newbe, what a great trip. You are bound to build some happy memories. I recently went to London with my goddaughter who was 15 at the time. She loved the fashion shops, especially TopShop and Zara. For the really high end fashion, window shopping for us, we enjoyed Bond St. and Sloane St.
I rented a one bedroom apartment just off Sloane St through Farnum and Christ. It was ideally located for walking around London. If you click on my screenname you can find my trip report.
A couple of things my goddaughter loved: London Walks(www.londonwalks) visit to Stonehenge and the London Eye.
Have a great trip.

Hi Newbe, my mom and I (I'm 31) are headed to London in late March before we take the Eurostar to Paris to meet up with my sister. I haven't been to London since summer 2000 when I stayed at the Millenium Gloucester through a University trip. That was out of our budget for this trip so I looked in the forums here and tripadvisor and found the Luna Simone Hotel in the Victoria neighborhood. The rates seem reasonable and it look like it has some charm. Something to think about:

http://www.lunasimonehotel.com/

Others who've already stayed here may chime in. Would love to hear other thoughts!

Luna & Simone =

Good/convenient location
Very clean
Helpful staff
"Charm" - not so much.

It is a very good (and very popular) budget hotel. You'll be fine there, but don't expect charm/atmosphere.

We still need the OP's budget . . .