Please advise/ help with London Trip
 

Hi Everyone,
I have read several threads on where to stay in London. I didn't see anything on Hotels with Swimming Pools. I will be traveling to London with a 12 year old and would like information on a Hotel that's family oriented with a swimming pool. Price range is somewhat flexible ($100-200 per night). Also, needs to be near tube and some/any tourist sites.
Just one more question and I'm done :)
Does London have any amusement parks?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I am sure there must be a hotel in London with a swimming pool, however in that price range, I cannot imagine it,. I think so few people go to London with that in mind, also amusement parks as it is known for so much more. However I know the Dolphin Square apartments I believe they are called does have a swimming pool and that might just be what you would want. I believe they are near Earl's Court tube exit. Have a good one. Halfpint

London hotels normally do not have swimming pools and certainly not in that price range.

There is so much to see/do in London that amusement parks are not something that most people zero in on for a London trip. If you are interested in activities a 12 yr old might find interesting there are many posts on this board covering that. Just do a search.

Here is a link to another thread about travel to London with children about the age of yours:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34774808
Ben Haines has provided a TON of info on that thread about things that interest children and young teens.

Thanks Half pint for your hotel suggestion.
Lori, I do realize that there is a lot to see and do in London. I didn't tell you that we are going in July and my little one is on her swim team in school. I just want to keep everyone as happy as possible. We really don't plan on spending too much time in the water.
I was just wondering if anyone has stayed in a hotel that has a pool and wouldn't mind recommending it to us.
I have done several searchs and plan on doing several more.

Most of all I respect the people that write on this board and I know that personal experience far out ways the "hotel descriptions" one reads on hotel searchs.
I only mentioned the amusement park as something optional to do as we all have fun going to new ones. If not, I'm sure we will have fun seeing all the unique sites London has to offer.
Anyone else have any advice?

I know we're giving you unasked for advice, but if I had a 12 year old I was taking to London, it would be for the purpose of introducing him to a culture and some activities different from his own. Spending the day in a swimming pool and an amusement park seems like such a waste of transportation money. Couldn't he do that closer to home? Meanwhile which London activities are you going to cancel because he's too busy swimming?

If he is in training for swim events in the junior Olympics or something, then my apologies. But if that were the case you should be able to make arrangements with a club that has swimming training facilities.

I just read an article in National Geographic Traveler mentioning the indoor swimming pool at London Marriott Hotel County Hall. Price is somewhat higher than you requested, though.

www.marriott.co.uk/lonch

A central London hotel w/ a swimming pool is about as likely as finding one in the historical center of any European city (or NYC for that matter). That is to say extremely rare at any price and about impossible for only £57-£114 per night.

So, I don't have any hotel suggestions - I just don't want you to feel frustrated if you don't find anything. Best of luck.

And I forgot the second part of your question. Two years ago I went to London in July with my husband and eaughter and we spent a day in Brighton, where there is a pier full of carnival rides and attractions. We had fun walking along the beach and people watching.

I currently have reservations at the Hilton London Docklands, which has a swimming pool. There are photos of the pool on the internet www.hilton.co.uk/docklands. I'm a Hilton Honors member & will be using some of my Hilton points to stay there, so I don't know how much they charge a night, but it might be worth a look.

It's on the Thames and is 4 miles from the center of London. The hotel has a courtesy shuttle boat that takes you across the river to a ferry that connects to downtown London and they have a courtesy bus that runs from the hotel to Canada Water on the Jubilee Line tube. The courtesy bus takes 4 minutes from the hotel to the tube station & runs every 15 minutes between the hotel & station.

Hello, as you have heard, hotel pools are diffucult to find in London, and if you did find one I doubt it would be large enought for your daughter to get a decent workout. My husband is a serious masters' swimmer, and we have fun searching out public pools on our travels (we had a wonderful experience with the one in Venice). There are several public pools in London; here is the link for the one at the Queen Mother Sports Center on Vauxhall Road, between Westminster and Victoria Station: http://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisur...ueenmother.cfm

There are others, such as the Chelsea Sports Center. Just Google "London swimming pool" and you'll get several.

A hotel we like that would be not far from there, and very close to attractions such as Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, etc., is the Sanctuary House Hotel:
http://www.fullershotels.com/main/1011

Thanks Nikki for your response to my questions. We were thinking of visiting Brighton. Now it's a must.

Thanks for the links Enzian and Chocolate. They will come in handy.

Bardo1 I appreciate your advice. I would never get frustrated at planning such a great vacation.
After reviewing finances, we can spend a little more for the hotel if it's worth it.
Our trip is from 15-30 July. We want to see and do everything that has been recommended and more.
So, again thanks to all for your time and help.

We enjoy amusement parks and totally understand your question. Thorpe Park is near London and although we've not been, it looks like a good amusement park and our boys are hoping to visit it someday soon. It's famous as the place Diana use to take the princes.

If your 12 year old is a lego enthusiast, Legoland is near Windsor and that is a convenient day trip, although I'd not bother with a 12 year old, unless they are a big fan.

The playground at Holland Park is very good for older kids, and the park is very nice as well.

Most hotel pools are too small, shallow, and crowded with mums and toddlers for a serious swim. Still, an early morning dip can be a nice way to start the day so if you want a pool, go for it.

Amusement parks - there are no parks within London but it's a nice idea for a family day trip out of the city. Your holiday is supposed to be spent doing what you enjoy (I love theme parks too).
She is bit old for legoland but both 'Thorpe Park' and 'Chessington' (which also has a zoo) are good with rides for all ages and interests. They are accessible by train from London. It's worth looking out for special offer tickets on-line (quite often you can find kids free entry vouchers).