My mistake, not the Standary, the hotel was called The Sanctuary House Hotel.

Thank you very much. I value all of your comments and I am thrilled to have such great advice. I am definitely looking into the BB's. Rightly so, I don't think we will be spending much time in our rooms so location does sound like a good idea. I love the advice of where to stay and how to travel around. We have not traveled to Europe so this is very exciting for all of us. We need all the help we can get....Thanks Ptm

Try Sloane Apartments, off Sloane Square; www.sloaneapartments.com. We liked it very much, loved the location.

The following was posted on the Sloane apartments website
Sloane Apartments has now closed its doors. The Management & Staff would like to thank all the guests who've stayed with us over the past 15 years, it's been a pleasure to serve you.

Our first trip to London was 6 full days, and we never had time for a day trip out of the city - there's just so much to do! We went with one teenaged daughter, and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Mayfair; quite a nice hotel, with 2 double beds. Worked for 3 of us, but I don't know about 4. The rates are a bit higher in the middle of the week, and lower on the weekend, but average to 135 pounds/night. The area of town is fantastic, and the hotel is 1/2 block from the tube. I am about to visit for my third time, and will again stay at this hotel for part of our visit.

For the length of time that you will be visiting, most people will recommend apartment rentals. Also Priceline is good for London, and I believe you can do it for 2 rooms.

I would do the apt route. As an alternative, try priceline though you must real biddingfortravel first.

&quot;<i>You can sufficiently see everything in 3 days</i>&quot; Is just about the <u>most</u> ridiculous statement I've ever seen on Fodors (well not THE most but pretty darn close).

You may live in London but you seem to know very little about the UK. Aisle of Wight?? the Cotswalds?? And to suggest the Lake District as a day trip from London??

For 7-10 day trip I would look into renting an apartment. It will be a much more comfortable stay and be less expensive as well.
I have your daughters start saving for their shopping money too!

What a pity about Sloane Apartments; I didn't know. We were there for a week in November, and they didn't mention closing.

I'm with Janis! I have six full days in London coming up and I had to cut out half the things I wanted to see! And we're just planning one day trip out of the city.

Holiday Inns are a good suggestion as you can get two double beds in a room. The Holiday Inn Kensington can be had for about 120 GBP with AAA for June - didn't check July. And people get this and the HI Kensington Forum for about $85. per night pretty often on Priceline. For two rooms, this might be the way to go.

My family of three is spending three nights at Renaissance Chancery Court and three nights at Royal Horseguards because we were able to stay under 150 GBP per night by moving - and I don't mind staying in two different areas... Just having one young daughter, we didn't have to weigh the benefits of two rooms vs. an apartment. We just don't have the luxury or expense of privacy yet...LOL!

I think HI Mayfair sounds great as noe suggested. And londontown.com is also a good site to peruse for hotel deals. So don't despair, fellow &quot;weak dollar&quot; Americans!

Thanks for all the great info. Yes, both my daughters have been saving for this trip. They take great pride in being able to buy their own stuff. Not that I anticipate they will be doing much shopping but they are prepared and understand the exchange rates. Should be interesting to see the look on their faces when we exchange our money. Thanks for all the help. Ptm

Take your daughters to Top Shop, they will find something!

Another vote for the Holiday Inn Mayfair! Stayed there Nov 2005 and paid &pound;70 through Priceline. It has to be the most fantastic location in London - close to shopping and nightlife. We walked everywhere and did not use the tube at all on that visit. They also had computers in the bar and foyer which were free to guests.
Hope you have a great time in London!

Yes, do take them to Topshop, at Oxford Circus! Very reasonable prices (for London anyway).

Regarding London hotels, I've had good luck with:

www.lastminute.com

The computers in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Mayfair are not free anymore. The rate was high enough to discourage us from even using it for a short while (can't remember the actual rate).

As for shopping, here is a thread with some info on London shopping with teens:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34761253
The Oxford Circus Top Shop is huge and an absolute madhouse. In fact Oxford Street itself was packed with people and not the best experience.

My daughter and I love going to Liberty - beautiful old store (neo-Tudor) lovely designer handbags and clothes to look at and a whole floor of Liberty cotton fabric. It is located near Oxford St.

The Covent Garden area has many of the high street shops in a more enjoyable atmosphere, and I have heard that Kensington High Street has nice shopping.

We really enjoyed shopping on King's Road, starting at Sloane Square. We found some nice things at Jigsaw and LK Bennett, and there's a great second hand store down a bit (we rode the bus) called Steinberg and Tolkein.

Here's a link to my trip report for our first London trip with our 17 year old:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34771547
It might have something of interest.

Try this link for apartments:
http://www.astons-apartments.com/
My family and I enjoyed them a few years ago.

FWIW, we got two rooms at the Milennium Gloucester in South Kensington for approx. $500/nite total -- looks like a nice place, we have not been

You'll like the M. Gloucester. It is a nice hotel and so convenient to the tube stop, and there is a Paul's across from the tube with heavenly macaroons as well as croissants, etc., for breakfast or snacks.

South Kensington is my favorite area to stay in London. Walking area to K. park, the V&amp;A, Harrods, Partridge's Grocery, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and ASK in the small shopping area above the tube station.

Check out Kand K George in Knesington. It is really inEarls Court but on apretty residential quiet street with a lovely large back garden. It is a small German chain. We have stayed at many hotels in London as well as very nice vacation homes. This fits everything, free internet and computer, great breakfast, two blocks from Tube, 5 blocks to Holland Park. Check it out. Rooms are newly contemporary renovated, small of course. Our children stayed in the room across from us.

As far as shopping, Topshop is like Forever 21 or Express. Another suggestion for the girls shopping is Sloan Square and down Kings Road (Chelsea), they have fun boutiques as well as Chain Stores like Topshop and sadly The Gap! Great Restaurants too!