Where to stay in London?
 

We'll be in London at the end of September for four nights and I am so overwhelmed with trying to figure out where to stay! As of right now I have a room booked at Hotel 41, but I am having second thoughts. Anyone stayed there recently with opinions on it?

Other hotels I've been considering are the Sheraton Park Tower, Sofitel St. James ... any others? We want to be in a good location within walking distance to sights and ideally don't want to spend more than $400 USD/night.

I haven't stayed at any of the hotels you mentioned, but I do want to recommend the Thistle Royal Horseguards. It's in the perfect location for the major sites and less than 5 minutes walk to Horseguards bus stop, Embankment underground, and the Hungerford foot bridge over the Thames. Our room was very large for London, and you should easily be able to get a deluxe room for under $400. Have a great time in London!

We stay at the Holiday Inn Kensington, and the Holiday Inn Forum. They are around the corner from each other. Both are within 5 minutes walk of many museum (Natural History Museum, V&A museum, etc.) We love the location. A tube stop is right there as well as is a Waitrose grocery store.
We love this area.
Travelatte

I stayed at the Waldorf Hilton on Aldwych for $120 a night Priceline. I loved it. Perfect location, easy access to public transportation though I walked everywhere. Microwave and fridge in room, nearby restaurants, Covent Garden, theatre district, and a grocery store. Bid for a four star in Mayfair and I really don't think you can end up with a bad hotel. Not to mention the savings.

I'm new to the forum so this might not be relevant for booking outside of the UK, but there is a website here called Lastminute.com which usually has a really good selection of hotels. From what I understand at the moment hotel bookings are way down at the moment so you might be able to get yourself a bargain.

Kim, if you want to stay in the St. James's area, which I highly recommend, the DeVere Cavendish might be priced within your requirements. We stayed there last year with a special BA rate so I don't know exact room prices. The hotel is an easy walk to Leicester Square, Trafalgar area, plus there are several metro stops within a couple of blocks. It doesn't hurt either that it is across the street from Fortnum & Mason, yummy ;;) Have a great trip. Deborah

I can't speak to the specific hotels in your post but just want to second the recommendation for the DeVere Cavendish in the St. James area.

It's a wonderful hotel in a perferct location. If you can get a room there under your $400 budget, then it is one of the best values (not the same as the cheapest) you'll find.

I found a discount hotel boking site that list them:

http://www.londonhotels.net/london-h...#39;s_info.htm

Having stayed there a few months ago, I highly recommend the Sofitel St. James. Great location, beautifully decorated rooms, cozy bar. Check the Sofitel website for specials and take a look at Tripadvisor for reviews. Location can't be beat.

I've just secured the sofitel for £100 a night (+fees) on Priceline - bidding 5*/mayfair for this weekend. I'll try and remember to update this link when I return

I booked my hotel via Priceline.com. For expensive London, this is the only way to go! (at least for me). The “regular“ hotel rate during my stay (May 2005) was around $380/night. I requested a non-smoking, king bedroom. My room, #904, was located in the second building. Room 904 is actually on the 6th floor. Who knows why they numbered the rooms on the 6th floor with 900 series? My room, an executive room, was very nicely decorated with a king bed, sitting area with table and 2 chairs, desk, tv, and tiled bathroom with bidet, hair dryer, and speakers to listen to the tv. The view from my window faced the Thames, but the train station building blocked my view of the Eye. The room had been renovated and was decorated in red and cream colors. It was very elegant. The closet contained a room safe, bathrobe, ample closet space, and an iron and ironing board. There was also a mini-bar, but I certainly didn’t use it, as the prices for the drinks were outrageous! Complimentary bottled water was provided. The a/c drowned out any outside noise, including the hum of the trains from the station underneath the building. For the quality, comfort of the room, the price I paid, and the friendly service I received, I would stay at the Charing Cross again.

Monica ((F))

Just got back from the sofitel st James - Wonderful hotel - not big, only about 150 rooms. Great location -100 yards from St James Park, 200 Yards from Picadilly Circus


We were upgarded to a superior room (this still faced a tiny inner courtyard - if you can call it that) - rooms lovely but smallish - everything looks virtually new. Pricey food and drink (£23 for breakfast) - wd suggest joining the privilege club you get free welcome champagne and late check out.

We bagged this for £100 a night via priceline - for that price its a steal - the tariff rate is £376 a night - at that price I'd expect more of a view - people in the adjacent office could see into thr room so we needed the curtain closed when we were there and wanted privacy

Claridge's. Super location, super service, super style, and it should come within your budget!

We just got back from visiting London for 3.5 days on the way to a Baltic cruise. We stayed at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, part of the Red Carnation Hotel chain that Hotel 41 is also a member of. It was excellent!! I got a book ahead rate online last winter for about 180 pounds for a junior king suite including the full English breakfast. The location is great - very walkable to the Palace and Hyde Park.

It is a small boutique English hotel - very pretty. Service is outstanding and I mean that. The front desk people are very nice and Ian, the head concierge, is amazing!!! The dining is very lovely and the food is very good. The room was a very nice size with beautiful king bed, chairs, desk, etc. The bath was lovely - walkin shower as well as full tub with shower also. TV in both rooms.

I heartily recommend this as another option for you.

Have a great time!!

Ginny

Say hello to Simone and Ian!

We have stayed at the Rubens Hotel next door to the 41 twice. We really like the location,. Its just a couple of blocks from Victoria Station, St James and Green Parks, Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, etc.

The Royal Horseguards is good, and better is Thistle Hyde Park. thistle Marble Arch gets good post on this forum.

So take a look at www.thistlehotels.com and see what deals they can oofer.....

i second the Holiday Inn Kens...i love that area if for nothing else gloucster tube stop is close and gives you tons of options. i'd priceline the hotel and save $$$. go to biddingfortravel.com

Wow, this thread got away from me somehow and I didn't realize I had so many replies! Right now we're still booked at Hotel 41. I wish there were more people here who had stayed there and could tell me about it. I'm still also considering the Sofitel St. James. I'd try Priceline, but I'm afraid I wouldn't get the hotel I wanted! Thanks for all the feedback.