Toralina

Dear all

I will be visiting London in Dec with my family (2Aduls and 3 children) for the first time and debating between these three apartments:

In Mayfair:
http://www.hertford-street.co.uk/20/

in Kensington:
tripadvisor.com.sg/VacationRentalReview-g186338-d…

In Russell Square:
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1205905

Assuming price is not a consideration (already went through many iterations where price is concerned and these 3 are within budget, although some more than others haha.) which would be the best location for a first time family? We will be hitting the usual tourist spots, taking a day trip to Manchester, and then taking the Eurostar to Paris at the end of our trip.

thank you!

mamcalice

No real way to compare as only the Russell Sq. apartment shows any detail. I would choose between the Mayfair and Russell Sq. apartments based on location. The link for the Kensington apartment doesn't show anything but unless the apartment is in South Kensington, I would eliminate it from consideration.

Tulips

Couldn't open the Kensington link. Russell Square and Hertford Street are both good locations. In the area of Russell Square you'll find more reasonably priced restaurants than in Mayfair, as it's a student area. You're also close Charlotte Street, with many restaurants.
I've never booked with airbnb - the other looks more like a hotel type service.

LilyGarcia

Based on location alone, I'd probably choose Russell Sq - it's close to the British Museum and the Sir John Soane Museum, within walking distance of Covent Garden and Shaftesbury Ave, and will have a better (mid-priced!) range of restaurants and cafes nearby. Having said that, Mayfair is also v central, but eateries around there are much more likely to be pricey, and personally I don't think it's a particularly interesting neighbourhood. Kensington is handy for the Natural History Museum but is a bit more...middle-aged, perhaps, than Russell Sq!

Seamus

The TripAdvisor link was truncated during your copy/paste so could not see details, but unless it is a palace let for a shanty rate I'd go for the Russell Square property in a heartbeat. Very well located for "usual tourist spots" as well as your trips to Manchester and Paris from Euston / St Pancras train station.
The Mayfair property is lovely, would not be horrible by any stretch but not as well located for your itinerary.

nytraveler

I would definitely go with the first one - a better area and it looks like a professional operation which MAY be more reliable.

Can't tell anything about the Kensington one - the connection doesn't work. And in any case Kensington is much further from the center.

RoamEurope

Russell Sq for me, then Mayfair. As others have said, more restaurants and nightlife, British Museum, easy access to trains, SoHo and Covent Garden nearby.

Toralina

Thanks, Russell Square it is! So glad to bring my apartment hunt to an end

Rubicund

Let me know if you need any help with Manchester, places to go, see, eat etc.

Tulips

It looks very nice, let us know how it turns out.

Nearby is Lambs Conduit Street; very nice shops, particularly for menswear. It's a lovely little street, off the beaten path.

Toralina

Thanks!

Rubicund - we are only spending a day in Manchester, Most importantly we have to visit Old Trafford. Any other ideas what we could do? Im thinking…recommendations on where to eat / logistics etc most welcome. Haven't booked our tickets as I think they aren't available yet !

Tulips - any suggestions for mid-priced ladies/kids shopping near the apartment ?

Tulips

How old are your kids? My 15-year old son like Jack Wills, but they don't do children's sizes.
My favorite shopping street is Marylebone High Street. Not very close, maybe 20 mins walk.
Don't know what you would call mid-priced. If you are from the US, prices in London will generally be higher.
But Whistles is good for women's wear, or Reiss (a favorite with the Duchess of Cambridge). Both are UK brands.
For teenage girls; Topshop on Oxford Circus.

Odin

The location of the first apartment is much nicer than Russell Square. Both areas are great, but the first one has the edge, right in the heart of Mayfair. Easy to get to Bond Street, Oxford Street, little (mid priced) eateries in beautiful back streets. Easy to get to M&S and Selfridges, close to Knightsbridge, close to Hyde Park, have lunch or cocktails at Windows at Galvins with a great view of London.

Toralina

My kids are 13, 11 and 6. Perhaps we will devote an entire day to exploring the Oxford street/ mayfair area!

We are from a Singapore and more interested in looking for brands not available in Singapore. That said, it being winter I'm not sure how much suitable stuff I can find for our tropical climate either!
Also would love to explore little independent shops. Always interesting!

Recommendations for eateries near Russell Square?

Thanks so much!

Rubicund

Hi Toralina. If your trip to Old Trafford is to do the stadium tour, then tickets are most certainly available now. There are already sold out days, so book soon. You could eat at the Red Cafe within Old Trafford, but it's NOT available on match days.

If your trip is on the day of the Liverpool game, currently due to be played on the 13th December, you need to be aware that this game will almost certainly NOT take place on the Saturday with a 3 o'clock kick off. Due to the demands of television, this game could be a 12:45 or 5:30pm kick on the 13th or Sunday the 14th at 1:30 or 4pm or even Monday 15th at 8pm. Confirmation of the actual date and time will probably not be available for a month or two yet. Your next difficulty will be getting tickets, as this game will definitely be a sell out with very few tickets being available online.

In any case you will need to be a member of the club to get tickets. Maybe the Singapore supporters club may be able to help. However, tickets are available for this game if you purchase hospitality tickets online, although again, very few remain. Have a look at

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/muticke...?itemref=-5511

Tickets are horrendously expensive however, for what is one of the most sought after games of the season.

Rubicund

Here's the contact detail;s for the Singapore Supporters Club Branch:

Singapore
10 Anson Road #21-02 International Plaza Singapore 079903. Supporters Club Secretary: Ken Lai Mobile: +(65) 97683314 Email: [email protected]

Toralina

Thanks! We will be in London fr nov 28 - dec 6. Still deciding which day to go to Manchester! Regarding a match, probably not going for that. It'll cost 5 of us a bomb!!!

Tulips

Hi Toralina, Oxford Street is a zoo on Saturdays, go on a weekday in the morning. Lots of UK brands, but you will probably see these stores in Singapore as well. Some stores have a children's range but I can't think of any now.

Rachel Riley is on Marylebone High Street; very English. There's also a Little White Company and Bonpoint there.

Dinner with kids? Byron Burger or something like that. Cote is a chain that's good, reasonably priced and kid friendly. Not nearby, but I would also take kids for an early dinner to the Wolseley or Delauney; they have wiener schnitzels and great fries, and fast service. There's a restaurant from the same group on Marylebone High Street as well; Fischer's.

Rubicund

Avoid the 2nd December for your Manchester trip then, as it appears that it will be a match day against Stoke City. It's currently a Tuesday night match and stadium tours are curtailed on match days as are your eating options at the ground.

Do have a look at:

http://www.manutd.com/en/Visit-Old-T...dium-Tour.aspx

to book your tour. If you just want to see the ground, you won't be able to go inside unless you're on a tour and wilol hyave to just walk round it. You won't see much apart from the Megastore though.

Rubicund

There is tour availability on:

Sunday November 30th.
Monday 1st December
Wednesday 3rd December
Thursday 4th December
Friday 5th December