The Tune is in a 10000000000% better location that the other places you mentioned. However you do need to know what it is. It has very small rooms and if you need a twin room -- there are 27, half of which do not have windows.

. . . If you don't mind that, go for it. How much time are you in the room anyway ;)

That is very cheap and you would be VERY well located for all types of transport.

yes i did notice this, although, from what i've seen so far, even hotel rooms in American chains around the city are significantly smaller than what i'm used to seeing in the states, so i've just kind of accepted this, though i certainly will want a LITTLE space, as i'll be there for a solid week.

Will basically just be in the room to sleep and shower, and for a few hours to relax in the evening

The bedrooms rooms will be small even by London standards, and you really won't have 'stretch out' space. There is a small lounge area -- but with the number of rooms I wouldn't count on maybe ever getting a seat there.

"Will basically just be in the room to sleep and shower..."

This is the usual and I think, misguided, reason most give for shortchanging one's self on location.

- It will cost more to get to & from.
- The neighborhood will likely have fewer choices for eating.
- Time spent every day going both ways.
- Inability, because of time & cost, to return to your sanctuary during the day, a thing I often do.

And I'm sure others. However, if you decide to plan this trip in the cheapest possible way, give it a try. You may find all or most of the reasons for not doing it differently aren't important to you and, if some are, you can do it differently next time. Everyone is allowed trial & error. It's what we all do and no one has yet, as far as I know, planned a perfect trip. Something can always be improved.

Please disregard much of the above if you decide on King's Cross. Apologies for not noticing the updates. The last paragraph still applies, give it a try and see how it goes.

Are Tune hotels generally fairly clean? The only reason I was leaning towards American chain hotels at first was because of the familiarity, but Tune hotels seem fairly reputable, if not spacious.

They are mostly brand new and very clean. Just very basic.

Agree with Janis...they are a newish chain and functional.

I hear the Beeb are going to dramatise this thread once War and Peace is finished.

Just some quick empathy for OP -- having grown up in a city with iffy public transit, and then having lived in a small town of ~600 people the last 30 years or so, I totally get your confusion about London-area public transportation.

We are planning our third trip there and I'm only just now feeling really comfortable with understanding and navigating it all.

Hang in there, you'll get it. Enjoy your time in London!

Note that not all American labeled chains outside of USA are really the same chain, just franchised-etc-nonsense.

Flanner, "beyond the Pale" ;-)

thank you, @Kandace_York! I'm truly not a nervous traveler, and i'm sure if left to figure it all out with no previous instruction everything would be fine, but it can't hurt to be a little prepared :)