For those of you who can advise me on London.... we have our very first trip coming up & cannot decide on where to stay. I have read many things about the County Hall Travel Inn (cannot find any photos on the web of what it looks like). BUT there are mid-range & budget hotels in the KENSINGTON/ KNIGHTSBRIDGE & BAYSWATER/KENSINGTON GARDENS /NOTTING HILL areas. Does it make much difference or would we be better off at County Hall? We want to do the basics Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, etc.... etc.... Any advice would be really helpful. Thank you.

Sorry.... also has anyone ever stayed at The Windermere Hotel <BR> <BR>...in the Victoria/Westminster area of London? <BR>Many thanks in advance.

Rosalie, depends on your budget and length of stay. It is easy to get around London on the buses and tube. <BR>In 1998, I stayed at the Grosvenor Court Hotel in Bayswater. I booked via their web site, got a fantastic deal because I booked early and they had just renovated. It was within walking distance of Paddington Station, self service Laundry round the corner etc. <BR>Other's will advise other areas of London. <BR>I'm back in London in July and have booked single room accommodation with ensuite at The Imperial College (University accommodation)for 58 pounds a night for myself and 2 friends. This is a bargain compared to single hotel rates. It is situated next to the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington. <BR>The web site is http://www.imperialcollege-conferencelink.com <BR>or email [email protected] <BR>Uni accommodation for tourists is only available during their Uni breaks. <BR>London is wonderful, enjoy!

Rosalie, <BR> <BR>Public transit in London is great (if you're not commuting 5 days a week). You can take the Underground pretty much anywhere in the city and the Night Buses, which run after the Tube shuts down at midnight, are quite extensive as well. I travelled to London in August 2000 and stayed in the Leinster Inn (a hostel in the Astor chain) in Bayswater, which was 2 blocks from both the Queensway and the Bayswater Tube stations. It was a quick 10 minute tube ride to Soho and the West End, where most of the tourist sights are located, i.e. Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tate Modern, etc, etc. As long as your hotel/hostel/B&B is within walking distance of a tube station, you'll be fine. <BR> <BR>As a sidenote, the Leinster Inn had 6-bed dorm rooms at 15 pounds a night and a weekly rate of 70 pounds a week. Good for the backpacker/student set and filled to the rafters with international students flocking to London to learn English; all in all, a good party hostel and a great intro to "cool Britannia". <BR> <BR>

Hello Rosalie, <BR> <BR>You asked: <BR>&gt;Message: Sorry.... also has anyone &gt;ever <BR>&gt;stayed at The Windermere Hotel <BR> <BR>I have stayed in that hotel for horrible 10 days. I had to use wet towels over and over again, the room was dirty, cold and I had to beg for a <BR>heater, I had the smallest colset, the room service prices were like at the Ritz, and also the phone calls. <BR>Do yourself a favor, avoid this hotel. <BR> <BR>Malca <BR>

Malca, thank you! I think after everything I've read & doing a search on this forum for County Hall Travel Inn -- we will just stay there. I think it's the best location & price for our sightseeing purposes. Thank you everyone! I've never read anything negative about the County Hall Travel Inn on this forum! <BR>Rosalie

We stayed at the Marriott County Hall (in the same building as the Inn.) The location can't be beat! Just across the bridge from Big Ben and the Westminster tube station.

PS - Big Ben is a Bell , not a clock, or a tower