I will be arriving at Gatwick and was thinking of either Victoria Station area or Kensington Gardens. We are leaving on the high speed train to Paris from there. Which do you think best? I guess I'll take train from Gatwick to Victoria whichever I stay and either walk or take taxi if to Kenn. <BR>Also, anyone have info on Winchester or Garden Court, which I understand are both really good values. <BR>Thanks.

We stayed near Victoria station which is a little more centrally located than Kensington. Also, the Gatwick Express has direct service to Kensington. You can get to Waterloo station from either location easily. <BR> <BR>I would find a tube map and plot out the areas you plan to go to and decide based on what's more convenient to transportation. London is pretty spread out and you will probably rely on the tube for long-distance transportation. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip!

I believe there have been recent posts on this subject. You might try searching for Victoria Station. Good luck. <BR>

Londoner Ben Haines doesn't seem to mind if I quote him from one of his previous postings: <BR> "In my view, Earls Court, Paddington and Kings Cross are too far out to be close to the "hub". Of course you can go anwhere fast by tube, or on top of a bus, but most attractions lie on a fairly straight line from South Kensington via Victoria and Trafalgar Square to the City and the Tower. Which is to say the District Line." <BR>Ben recommends the following neighborhoods for visitors: <BR>South Kensington, West End, Bloomsbury, the Strand, and Victoria, the latter seems to have some hotel and restaurant bargains near the station. <BR>I have stayed in the South Ken. and Bloomsbury areas and like them very much. <BR>

We just returned from London. Stayed at the Airline Hotel near Victoria which was a good price at 67 pounds, but not fancy and short on maintenance. We did check out the Winchester recommended by Rick Steves and found it to be very clean and nicely decorated with decent-sized rooms. About 3 blocks from Victoria Station. Twins or doubles are 75 pounds and they do not take credit cards. It is not run by Indians which a lot of the other inexpensive hotels are.

I've only been to London once and stayed in the Kensington area. I liked it very much. Hotel was across the street from the park. There was a subway station 2 blocks down and the subway is very easy to use.

I want to second Susan's advice about using the tube map as a guide to choosing your location. I had a very frustrating experience staying in London near Paddington Station. Nothing wrong with the hotel, except that only one Underground line (the Circle line, I believe) came anywhere near it. This means that almost anywhere you want to go is a long trip with possibly multiple stops. This became very tiresome after a few days. Location is at least as important as the basic comfort of the hotel.

Goodness me. Here I am. filled by an excellent Bohemian meal (4 US dollars including a bottle of decent red wine), I drop into the neighbouring Internet cafe (1 dollar 50 an hour), and find myself correctly and helpfully quoted by Elaine. <BR> <BR>The hourly train straight from Gatwick to Kensington Olympia is the Connect South Central, not the Gatwick Express. <BR> <BR>That Elaine had a good stay heightens my elation. <BR> <BR>Welcome to London <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR>Of London, in Teplice