tds0212

Thanks for the info Maudie! The Morgan is still in the back of my mind. I dont know what it is, but for some reason I have been hesitant to book thinking something right dab in the center of town will come up and slap me in the face if i look hard enough! haha!!

I will probably be kicking myself later for it. You wouldnt think that places would be getting booked up this far in advance, but they are! Crazy. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this b&b is legit and avail. If so I'm jumping at it! I will let you know.

I enjoy the guidebook reading and planning, but I'm telling you...sometimes it's just downright stressful trying to book this stuff! Can't imagine how I am going to feel when I start having to book things and communicate in FRENCH!! I took 3 yrs in H.S. but that was 8 yrs ago and I don't use much French here in the states! Will definitley be driving to and from work listening to French, working out listening to French, whenever i can FRENCH! I know I won't be fluent, but maybe I can at least get directions, order, find a restroom, say hello/goodbye/goodnight! haha!

janisj

"<i> I have been hesitant to book thinking something right dab in the center of town will come up and slap me in the face if i look hard enough!</i>"

If you are leaning towards the Morgan --it is <U>plenty</U> central. Not as 'smack dab' central as the Strand -- but pretty darn central. It is right next door to the British Museum and a short walk from three different tube stations (Holborn, Russell Sq and Tottenham Court Rd)

texasbookworm

Don't mean to add any stress to your info gathering--but did you look at AtHomeinLondon website for BandB's? We've used that agency once for a 2 person place in Belgravia that was under $100/night since we stayed 2 weeks but still would have been reasonable if we stayed shorter and just got back from staying in the Bayswater area in a room for 3 for under $150/night (these prices include the agency fee). Might take a gander at their offerings before you seal a deal! But I do understand the need for decision making soon!

texasbookworm

Sorry I meant we used that agency TWICE.

tds0212

Thanks texasbookworm! I inquired about-- Buckingham Gate, Westminster, London SW1 [Ref: 5]

I also found another site in my guidebook...i inquired about one of those too! Hopefully by tomorrow I will have a good idea of what is avail between the 3 b&b's and maybe even book!

dutyfree

I just got back from two weeks in London helping my son look for apartments for graduate school next month.
I had booked the Copthorne Tara hotel over by High Street Kensington tube stop and would strongly suggest that you NOT be over in that area. Although the tube station has many connections-you seem to ALWAYS have to change at Earl's Court to go anywhere....Covent Garden;Russell Square;Warren Street;Heathrow,etc.Then add when they close the Circle line every weekend for repairs and then add a few other major tube lines and it becomes a major pain!Seriously rethink it.

Cholmondley_Warner

The Morgan is about 10 minutes from Central London - straight down Tottenham Ct Rd. Or get the 24 bus.

europeannovice

Not that I am an expert, but I agree with Janisj and C_W, the Morgan is right in the center of all the attractions you are interested in seeing for the short period of time you will be there. We stayed in Holborn which was within walking distance to Bloomsbury--5-10 minute walk at most to the British Museum and Covent Garden in one direction. The other direction you are not far from St Paul Cathedral and the city. You could even walk to Trafalgar Square from there or hop on the tube from Holborn just two stops to Leicester Square--near where many of the theaters are located.

We took the 242, 8, or 25 bus from Holborn to the city, St Paul and to the Tower of London (bus #25). I think those buses also go through Bloomsbury before approacing Holborn and then onto the city etc. It was quick and easy and they ran very frequently.

The #15 bus was useful too.

Also near the Holborn station (which is within walking distance to Bloomsbury) are the buses #1, 168, 68 and 59 which all go to Waterloo so if you happen to be on the south side and want to head back north or vice versa you can take any one of those buses for a 10-15 minute ride.

Didn't mean to give a littany of bus routes but my point is that the Bloomsbury location is as central as you can get and the tube and bus transportation in the area is wonderful to get you anywhere you are interested in going. We traveled more with buses because of MIL who is a senior so I had all those bus route maps printed from the TFL website and we used them a lot. But many things that we hopped on a bus to get to could have been walked to also.

europeannovice

Don't mean to confuse--From Bloomsbury, Trafalgar Square is in one direction and the City and Tower of London are in the other direction. My wording above was not clear.

Also meant to add that from Bloomsbury you can walk to the Strand. It is not that far. The day DS was stuck in the room with MIL when he had food poisoning DH and I walked to the John Soane Museum around the corner from our hotel which is fascinating and free by the way and then walked to the Courtauld Gallery which is in the strand and back up toward the British Museum.

tds0212

I think we have found our place! Wanted to see if anyone has been in the area and your thoughts on booking it. I found this place on the web, thanks to texasbookworm!

You can see it on www.athomeinlondon.co.uk and it is the Buckingham Gate, Westminster, London SW1 [Ref: 5] The cost is 92 GBP or $144 USD/night. This includes breakfast, reservation fee, and taxes. Details of home are on web. No a/c but will offer a fan in bedroom, which is fine. I doubt it will be sweltering hot in May. They didnt give me a #'d address but said this was the location---> http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=sw1...countryCode=GB

The location seems great and it is w/in our price range. We have it reserved until Monday. Then we have to give them a yay or nay...Let me know what you guys think!! You know more than I do!

justshootme

You sound so excited I am hesitant to respond, locationwise, yay, no a/c, nay would be the way I sum it up.

The location is convenenient and you can visit the sights you plan on easily using public transport. You're right when you write "the location seams great".

While it is possible it may not be sweltering hot, it certainly could be hot enough to need a/c. I've experienced both hot and cold weather in May, who knows what the weather will be when you visit. One year, in one year in April (yes, April, this is not a typing error!) I experienced temperatures of 17 or 18 celcius and then suddenly the weather changed and 30 plus celcius was the norm. If you live in a hot climate obviously this could make a difference as to how you tolerate the heat. Only you can deceide if a/c is a must. It can get hot in London in May.

How much is the Morgan and do they have a/c?

janisj

You are going in May right?

I lived in the UK for 5 years (sans a/c), and have been back countless times --and not once have I even asked if a place was air conditioned. Just never crosses my mind.

Sure -- it <i>might</i> be warm in May - but you'd more likely need heat than a/c. (I'd bet that 80%-90% of London B&Bs don't have a/c BTW).

That is a wonderful location very close to St James's Park and Victoria tube stations, and just up the road from Buckingham Palace.

If it was me -- I wouldn't give a/c or lack there of a second thought - especially in May.

Maudie

I looked at that B&B as well, but "sharing the bathroom with the hosts" put me off. Sorry, but its my holiday and I don't like the idea of sharing a bathroom - but then you are much younger than us (just going by your profile) so it might not be a problem for you. But the location looks really good.

Happy for you that you have found something that appeals, I think we get ourselves tied up in knots worrying too much about whether a place is right or wrong. I know I do as I have spent hours and hours looking for "something better" and always seem to end up with the first place I looked at.

Cholmondley_Warner

In May you'd be better off asking about heating than AC.

>>>it is the Buckingham Gate>>>

I know this area all too well (Scotland Yard - ie head office is round the corner).

It's a great area. Victoria is just down the road, and has transport to everywhere (there's a big bus station there as well as tube and overground). There's plenty of pubs and by virtue of being infested with policemen very safe.

It's notso hotso regarding restaurants but you are a hop and a skip from plenty of places.

I'd be a happy holidaymaker if I stayed there.

If you want specifics I will try to help. I'm in the area one day a week so can go and look.

tds0212

justshootme: Maudie booked The Morgan on Aug 14th for 120 GBP/night and is going in May as well. I know that isn't much more per night but for some reason 144 USD compared to almost 190 UDS sounded good to me. Don't be afraid to respond...it won't crush me! haha!!

Maudie: I too thought about the "sharing the bathroom w the hosts", but it said that guests have first dibs on the bathroom. When reading the replies, one even wrote that they didnt even know the hosts were sharing a bathroom bc they never had a problem getting in. I guess that might pose a problem. If we book, i'll let you know afterward! And you are absolutley right about getting in knots trying to find the perfect place...ugh! It is stressful!

Janisj: Yes, we are going in May. Thanks for your response, as always.

Cholmondley_Warner: Thanks for your response. Glad you think this is a good area! Any suggestions on places around there to stop would be great. I'm sure that, as you said, it will be easy to travel here and there w/o any problems. We don't mind having to tube to go eat. If you happen to see a cool place while you're out, just shoot a reply my way!

The reason we are leaning toward the b&b idea is bc we thought it would be a cool experience to stay w a family that lives in London. They could offer suggestions on little "nook and cranny" places that the guidebooks don't talk about. Just thought it might be a little different experience than the hotel. With that said, everyone is different and likes different things...that's what makes the world go round, right?

justshootme

tds0212, I didn't look at the details of the b and b, when I looked at the link you provided, I just checked the location. Therefore, didn't know that you'd have to share the washroom, that would be a much much bigger nay to me than the lack of a/c. I wanted to draw the a/c issue to your attention simply because alot of people do not realize that it does get hot in London; the jokes about English weather that you may have heard (cold/wet/damp/etc) are what most people think of. Everybody is different and only you can deceide how important a private washroom is to you when travelling. The difference in price btw the Morgan and this b and b is $184 for four nights; $184 will cover some of the other expenses involved in your upcoming trip. If this b and b suits your needs then I would not hesitate to book it, the location is good for sightseeing in London.

janisj

This is essentially a one-room B&B - so the sharing thing seems to be a non-issue IMO. (BTW - even where a bath is 'private' it isn't attached to the room like some might think. It would be a bath for your sole use . . . but down the hall. To get what most North Americans think of as 'private' facilities - the term is 'ensuite')

It sounds like this is a situation of a two bedroom flat w/one bath and the owner is the only other 'guest'. I'm sure they have perfected what's necessary to make their guest feel at home/comfortable.

I'm not trying to talk you into this place (other than to say it is a great location). But you wouldn't be sharing w/half the population of London or 6 teen age girls.

tds0212

janisj...very true!! teenage girls would scare me away for sure!! haha! They do provide bath robes, which is a good thing IMO...in case the facility is down the hall. Would hate to make a mad dash in my under garments. hehe...

janisj

"<i>Would hate to make a mad dash in my under garments. hehe...</i>"

If you travel much around the UK/Ireland you will almost certainly see folks running to the loo in the morning (or the middle of the night) . . . in their raincoats. NOT because they are flashers, but because they thought 'private' meant ensuite and didn't bring a robe/pj's

SISer

Why spend so much at a B&B when you can get a room at a Travelodge for 19 pounds? Last time I booked 4 nights and got all but one for 19 pounds, the one I couldn't get was 29 pounds, still much cheaper than your B&B. Also check Etap and Ibis hotels.