Hello,
Traveling with husband and 2 kids in August to London. I have finally narrowed down my hotels to Travel Inn County Hall or Travel Inn Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is marginally cheaper. Which is a better location for sightseeing, food etc? Also we are flying into Gatwick. Which hotel would be easier/cheaper to get to? (We don't plan to have lot of luggage)

Thanks for all the help!

jand,
Since no one else has replied, I'll jump in. In my opinion County Hall is the best bet by far. Not only do you have all the attractions on the South bank to hand (including the London Eye), but it's only a short walk across Westminster Bridge or Hungerford Bridge to all the main attractions.
It will also be easier to get to from Gatwick. Take the Gatwick Express to Victoria train station, then probably it would be best to get a taxi to the hotel.

If you can get in (they often are fully booked up) DEFINITELY choose County Hall.

the location cannot be beat, and the kids will love strpping out the door and being right on the river, and at the foot of the Eye.

Tower Bridge is not terrible but not nearly as good a location for most sightseeing - except of course for the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

jand - We have stayed at County Hall Travel Inn, Euston Travel Inn, and Putney Bridge Travel Inn and I can tell you they all suited our purposes at the time but for sheer BUZZ, County Hall is the one! Step outside and you can people watch at the sidewalk cafes, Go acroos Westminster Bridge and catch the boat up river to Tower of London and tube it back, not to mention London Eye right there. The only reason we are not staying there this May/June is because I saw The Ibis Hotel is right next to the tube station and was told by someone on this very sight that it is slightly better that Travel Inn - in anycase who wants to do the same thing twice when there is so much on offer? If you intend to stay at County Hall make the booking soon as they are always full.

jand

I travel to London on business reasonably regularly and always lodge at Travel Inn Tower Bridge. It was recommended to me by a colleague and as I always value his judgement I booked up and have never regretted the choice.

My usual route to the hotel is subway to the Tower Bridge stop. From there it's a walk over the bridge itself and say, an eight minute or so stroll from its other side to the hotel.

This is quite a small Travel Inn located on a tree-lined street adjacent to a small park. All rooms I've been allocated have looked out onto that avenue and I like that a lot. The road outside seems busy daytime hours but seems quiet in the evening. I think rooms at the rear probably have a view of the park. The rooms themselves always feel reasonably large and they have all the usual amenities such as tea/coffee making facilities etc. Your room key will also open a small utility cupboard on the landing that holds irons and ironing boards.

There is a restaurant attached to the hotel where I usually dine. Some evenings I'll stroll up closer to the bridge and find a restaurant there. Banks and ATM machines are close by.

Right across the road from the hotel is a small pub called The Raven. Nice people, a local clientele mostly, and they do a good job in remembering a face. I get warmly greeted now and that's nice when so far from home.

A few times I have walked from the hotel to the office at Blackfriars. This is a very pleasant stroll with the option of a number of routes including walking along past HMS Belfast and the Globe theatre.

joe

My opinion, being that of one who has always lived in London, is that County Hall is a far superior location.

Did they not have any good offers at the Mariott - I went there for the first time recently as I was in the area, it was quite pleasant, a little hotel international, but comfortable none the less.

In response to joe4212's post - If I were going to London on business I might also stay at Tower Bridge Travel Inn since it is closer to the east end and the City where many major companies are based. But for a tourist family, the County Hall location is FAR AND AWAY the better location

Our family of 4 is going to London in July and I have booked a room for 4 at the County Hall Travel inn. I have had the reservations for a few weeks, but did call them today to alter our reservations (add a couple more days) and it was not a problem. If you make the reservations soon, I don't think they will be full yet.

Hi jand,

My family with two children stayed at County Hall and it was great. It was our first trip to London and we visited all the sites easily from this location.
==Mike

Thanks everybody! I have made the reservation at County Hall. Now that the accommodation question is out of the way, I can concentrate on planning the fun part of the trip!

Glad you were able to get reservations for Co. Hall. We enjoyed it 2 years ago. It would be nice if others can comment on the current status of the immediate neighborhood. 2 years ago there wasn't much in the way of food available in the immediate, vicinity other than the overpriced and marginal hotel restaurant and a bagle joint across the street, which we used for a quick breakfast. I think there was kind of an upscale or hipster restaurant close by, but otherwise you had to walk back toward Waterloo or over to the area near Parliament. Not that it is a long walk, but unlike other areas of London there did not appear to be a restaurant, pub and/or wine bar every 50 feet or so. I'd be interested in others opinions and/or updates.