Am trying to figure out where to stay when we visit in February. Our choice is Thistle's<BR>Hyde Park, Euston,Horseguards,Kensington Park,Marble Arch, Tower and Victoria. Thanks for any help.

I don't have the addresses, but a location near Euston Station doesn not appeal to me at all. And I would find a location near the Tower to be quite out of the way for other sightseeing, although of course doable by Tube.<BR>If the other hotel names accurately reflect where they are actually located, I'd suggest Marble Arch, Horseguards, Victoria, and K. Park.

Kensington and Hyde Park areas are great spots. You can't go wrong.

Euston is the worst of the areas you've chosen. There are some truly rough areas around there (Somers town and Kings Cross). Avoid if possible.<BR><BR>The others are all fine. Horseguards is in Whitehall which means that there's not much of a neighbourhood around there, but it is very central.

Oh goodness! I have booked the Thistle Euston and now after reading these posts, I'm concerned. This hotel is close to Euston Station and not at King's Cross from what I can tell. Is it really an unsafe area?

Catherine, I really like the Kensington area. It's quite safe and heavily policed due to the shopping areas. You will be happy staying there.

Euston is quite unlike Somers Town and Kings Cross, and even those places look run down but in fact give no trouble to passers by. A small space in front of Kings Cross main station was dedicated to prostitutes and drug dealers, but their trade is now much disrupted by excavations in readiness for the Eurostar terminal, and by the many police. Somers Town Goods Station is now the British Library, an interesting and peaceful space. The socialist borough of St Pancras rebuilt Somers Town after Hitler?s war, and it is now a quiet, rather dull, area of local government flats and some good pubs. I cannot think of any reason you would go there, except for a good breakfast, with bacon and sausages, served by Algerians in a caf&eacute; on Eversholt Street above the arrival platform for sleepers from Scotland.<BR><BR>No London hotel is in a dangerous area: it would close for lack of guests. The unsafe areas of London are selected rough estates of social housing, some three miles from Piccadilly, where the police walk in pairs.<BR><BR>In your selection, the most central Thistle hotels are Horse Guards and Victoria, but Thistle Charing Cross is most central of all.<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to London.<BR><BR>Ben Haines<BR>

Ben sugar coats everything. he is a dear, but you would be very, VERY disappointed by the area around Euston Station. If the prices are anywhere similar choose Horseguards, Victoria or Kensington Park. The Tower Thistle is BRILLIANT for views, etc - but it is too far east to be convenient for day-to-day touring/sightseeing.

Thank you all for your informative replies.<BR>To: Native<BR>What difference does it make if I am staying near the Tower verses Victoria as both have accessible tube stations near. Do you mean I can walk to more attractions without using the tube?<BR>Thanks for your help.

Catherine - The Tower Thistle is a fab place. BUT it is a bit of a walk to Tower Hill station and then a fairly long tube ride to get anywhere. Whereas, if you are near Victoria for instance, you would be one or two tube stops from Green Park, Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Westminster, Kensington, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner, and walking distance to Buck House, the Tate Gallery, parliament/Westminster Abbey and many other things. The Tower is not walking distance (especially at night) from anything except the Tower of London and a few places on the South Bank.<BR><BR>

For native. Thank you for your appreciative cmment. You will see that I recommend Horse Guards, Victoria,and Charing Cross ahead of REuston, so we are in agreement.<BR><BR>Please do tell me about the sugar coating, like the lovey I am sure you are. What did I mis-represent ? Do you expect blue murder on Drummond Street, or just boredom ?<BR><BR>Ben Haines

ok, so you guys are scaring me now. I've booked a room at the harlingford hotel at 61-63 Cartwright Gardens which is closest to Russell Sq station and also within walking distance to Euston and Kings Cross tube stations. I thought this was pretty safe, central and accessabale to everything. Was I wrong? Is this area ok?

Of course it is. Cartwright Gardens is in Bloomsbury, and a pleasantly residential backwaterish part of it at that. Plenty of small hotels and university student residences in the area, with small shops, restaurants and caf&eacute;s to match. In easy walking distance of public transport, but away from the noisy main roads.

Yey!!!<BR><BR>Thanks Patrick. I was scared there for a second.