I am booking my parents on a trip for their 50th wedding anniversary. They will have a 2 day layover in London. Looking for your wisdom on London Hotel. Need accom. close to shopping and must be old world luxury. Cost is not the big determination, need something special and central for this 50th celebration. Thanks everyone...You are the best.

try this website. www.londontown.com: it is a very useful site with loads of info

Try DiscountCityHotels.com We recently booked a London hotel using that site and found a great deal in the Kensington/Chelsea area - convenient to the shops, etc.<BR>

Try the Moat House site..Sloane square Moat House couldn't be any closer to shopping than it is and the tube is just across the street

happy,<BR><BR>Here is my advice. Go to laterooms.com, and enter London in general, and put in dates a week or two from now. Hundreds of listings will come up, from budget to luxury. Pick your hotel from all of these, then book somewhere else. A week or two before the trip, go back to laterooms and put in the right dates. See if your hotel is there. That's what I did, and the price went from 150 to 110 GBP per night, as the hotel then honored the laterooms rate. Over five nights, do the math. It was great. Good luck.

You absolutely have to book them into the Basil Street Hotel. They will love it and love you for it. And if you let the staff know that it is their 50th, I'm sure they will spoil them rotten. The Basil's website is: www.thebasil.com/ Also Karen Brown reviews and recommends it at: www.karenbrown.com/ews/thebasil.html<BR>And if you put "Basil Street Hotel" into Google you'll get lots of other perspectives on it - all great. It's not cheap - doubles w. bathroom start at 198 pounds, but it's worth it. I can only afford to stay there every third or fourth trip to London, but it's worth waiting for. (And what a lovely child you are for wanting to do this for your parents!)

happy:<BR><BR>Although we haven't stayed there, the group of Firmdale hotels look lovely and we'll probably choose one on our next trip to London. Their website is: www.firmdale.com.<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Carol

By all means check out the Harrington Hall Hotel in So. Kennsington. My sister and I took our parents there and it was 1st class all the way. Customer Service and rooms were incredible (heated towels racks in the bathrooms, and food was outstanding). It cost 140GPB per night but worth every penny. My parents are in their 70s and they loved it. We just got back from there on July 10.

If cost really isn't a factor but you want old world luxury then it has to be Claridges.

If money isn't an issue, then definitely The Savoy which is on the Strand, Claridges or The Ritz which is central to Piccadilly. These would be well suited for a 50th wedding anniversary - wow!

Check out the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel- gorgrous, central Holborn) , reasonable rates (last summer anyway)its been in many films and has huge beautifully appointed rooms.

For a reasonably priced (for London that is) hotel with old world charm (not over the top luxury--for that I guess you're looking for the Ritz), I'd recommend the Pelham Hotel (part of firmdale group at www.firmdale.com). The rooms are lovely with plenty of room, the decorations done by the owner Kit Kemp. Directly across the street from the South Kensington tube station, and a short walk to fabulous shops and restaurants (in Kensington and Knightsbridge). We even made the short walk from Harrod's to the hotel. Staff is very helpful, etc. and the dimsum from the room service menu is a delight. The beds are some of the most comfortable we've slept in--maybe since we're always completely exhausted in London. Skip the breakfast at the hotel and head down old Brompton Road for delights at a little French bakery (name escapes me). We've been twice to this hotel, the most recent being over the 4th of July weekend. <BR><BR>Alternatively, if you stay out of London for a lovely respite, I'd suggest Gravetye Manor--a Relais & Chateaux near Gatwick Airport in East Grinstead, or for a more gourmet stop, Manor Aux Quat Saisons.

I will have to agree with Pat. Harrington Hall is first class, convenient and reasonably priced.

If you want something central, old world, near shopping and top of the line luxury I would suggest the Ritz #1, Claridges #2, or the Savoy #3. However, expect to pay well over 600 dollars per night. The Savoy just quoted me for September 350 pounds plus 22.5% with no meals. The dollar has fallen about 10% in the past few weeks which hurts.

Another thought---<BR><BR>If they are in London on a Saturday night have them check out "Stomping at the Savoy" whether they stay there or not. It is really a lot of fun for people of your parents (and my) generation. I am sure they have heard the song many times.

<BR><BR>As an alternative, but with all the luxury of the large hotels mentioned above, think about 47 Park Place. Great service and fair location (near Grosvenor Sq)<BR><BR>Rich

<BR><BR>Opps . . the name is 47 Park Street . . here is one website:<BR><BR>http://www.hotel-booker.com/gb/london-hotels/47parkstreet-hotel-london.html<BR><BR>Sorry . . Rich

ttt

Your parents may also enjoy the Chesterfield Hotel, located in the upscale Mayfair area, just off Berkeley Square. The hotel is fancy, with good service and in a nice location, but it is not in the "over the top" category with the nearby famous Ritz hotel.

try<BR><BR>www.londonrooms.biz<BR><BR>Great deals on 3-5 star hotels in central London.<BR><BR>Regards