MaureenB

I'd love to hear descriptions of everyone's favorite small- to medium-sized hotel in London. Where is it located? What is it like? Why did you like it? Would you recommend it to a first-time London visitor? Thanks!

Intrepid1

And with the very greatest of respect, I'd like to hear about your particular interests and budget before I start recommending places and areas you couldn't, or wouldn't stay in.

Poshspice

This was a few years back, but my first trip to Europe was to London, and we stayed at what I thought was the most adorable 3 story B&B in West Kensington called the Avonmore. It was in the middle of a quiet residential street, so you got a real neighborhood feel and not too far from a train stop (although not in the heart of the city, either). Flower boxes outside of the windows. I remember it being fairly affordable. Mind you, it was a B&B (hallway bathrooms and no elevators) and certainly not fancy, but economical, clean, quaint, and for 2 best friends on their first trip to London, absolutely lovely.

m_kingdom2

Please don't use the word "neighborhood" (sic), London isn't a collection of naff "picture perfect" American suburbs. Use area or something like that instead!

elaine

I'll recommend a hotel I've looked at but not stayed in--The Knightsbridge, on Beaufort Gardens. It was completely renovated 3-4 years ago. It is on a quiet street, yet just 3 blocks from Harrods, 5 blocks from a Tube stop. I stayed next door at the Claverley, which was more a B&B than a hotel. It was pleasant enough, but shabby around the edges and while clean, definitely in need of refurbishing. I do love the area though.
An even more convenient neighborhood/area/district is South Kensington, and I once stayed in one of the small hotels on Sumner Place. Another quiet street that is only about 2 blocks to the South Kensington Tube stop, and that is a very convenient one because more than one Tube line can be accessed from that station. South Ken. is also a straight ride from Heathrow, though I understand that with current constructin going on, taking the Tube from H'row is now involving some bus transit as well. In South Kensington you can find yourself walking distance to Chelsea, as well as to the V&A museum, and farther on, to Harrods.

gualalalisa

Claridges in Mayfair.

The hotel is so "veddy British," the rooms are very nice, the afternoon tea and Room Service outstanding and the service is the best. It also seems smaller and more intimate than other places I've stayed, like the Dorchester.

I like walking around Mayfair with all the Edwardian-era houses and it's also convenient to Hyde Park, Harrods and other tourist spots.

m_kingdom2

My dear, I was going to recommend Claridge's, but the poster doesn't sound like she's in line for that type of property.

MaureenB

Thank you all for your helpful replies. Yes, I know about Claridges, but we want something a little less high-brow, although I'm sure it's lovely.
When I looked up Knightsbridge, it said the nearest tube stop is Kings Cross, which a friend from London said to avoid. No?
Please keep posting your helpful ideas.

MaureenB

P.S. Sorry- I was wrong about Knightsbridge. I checked my notes. King Cross is near another place that I'd seen recommended elsewhere.
MKingdom2, does the word "neighborhood" offend Londoners? In America, it is a very common and endearing word to indicate the area near one's home. On the other hand, "...naff 'picture perfect' American suburbs" is rather offensive. Our neighborhood here in Denver is eclectic, historic and not picture perfect. Please be aware we don't all live in plastic 'burbs here in America.
Elaine, I think you helped me with tips for Prague and/or Vienna when we visited there last summer! Thanks again.

m_kingdom2

It just sounds ridiculously homely and quaint when you're talking about central London, it's an American thing, and it's best to use area in London, it makes more sense.

TMWeddle

We stayed at the Swiss House - on Old Brompton Road in South Kensington - right at a bus stop. You can catch the bus in front of Harrods and get out right in front of the hotel. Tube stop is a short walk away (Glouster Rd. if I remember correctly.) Stayed there in 2000 - just looked at the web site seems the same. Continental type breakfast - not the full English hot breakfast. We really enjoyed it.

Patrick

I never heard that thing about neighborhood, but when a group of us went to perform a play at St. Alban's, we were guests at a garden party in the wonderful rear fenced "area" behind one of the local board member's homes. Someone said, "what a beautiful yard" and I thought our hostess would have a coronary. A yard is a place to keep livestock or train cars. This was a GARDEN. I'll never call a rear yard anything but a GARDEN again.

Madison

My favorite "area" to stay in while in London is Knightsbridge. I stayed at the Millenium Knightsbridge Hotel on Sloane Street. The hotel was okay but for a woman traveling alone the area was perfect. Harrod's was just around the corner. Almost everyday I stopped by their Food Halls for snacks to bring back to my room.

JJBhoy

Maureen,

It's true that "neighborhood" isn't a term used in the UK.

People will know what you mean, however & I can't imagine that anyone (with the possible exception of M_K2!) would be offended by the term.

Have a great trip.

Jim

Grandma

Certainly here in New York City it's all about neighborhoods. Maybe we're just more neighborly than Londoners -

MWM1

I know this will sound oh so unadventuresome, but the Sheraton Tower in Knightsbridge is a great hOtel - not huge - acros the street from a main entrance to Hyde Park - 3 blocks from Harrods. Lots of great little pubs ( The Nags HEad) and restaurants VERY convenient to subway stops.

Underhill

brown's hotel in mayfair is a long-time favorite of ours, but the basil street hotel in knightsbridge is also quite nice and would be excellent for a first-time visitor. very old-English atmosphere with lovely drawing room for taking afternoon tea. harrods is just around the corner and the tube stop is close at hand.

CaliNurse

I love the area around the Glouceter Road Tube Station. Very convenient tube top and relaxed street, and lovely neighborhood--oops--i mean area, Stayed at Harrington Hall a few yrs ago, but can't find as well priced rom there now iunfortunately. I t hink if you're looking for something a bit less "high brow" you'd like that area. A less expensve hotel right across the road is is a 4 star hotel, the Millenium Gloucester. Rooms not as nice as HH, but the prices..!! Just booked via a bidding site for this summer, for $80/night. That's right--80 USD, not 80 GB pounds

carefreecelt

I second the Millennium Gloucester as a good choice, both for location and overall cleanliness & safety for the price.
However, my 'secret favorite' boutique hotel is the London Elizabeth on the corner of Lancaster Terrace and Bayswater Road. The hotel overlooks Kensington Gardens on the northern border of Hyde Park, and is an excellent location for many reasons: - it's an easy walk from Paddington Station if you are arriving at Heathrow & taking the Heathrow Express; -convenient bus routes and Lancaster Gate tube stop right nearby; -walk to Kensington Palace, or across the Gardens to the Albert Hall and Kensington shopping areas; -easy walk west to Notting Hill or east to Marble Arch and Oxford Street shops.
The hotel is an old mansion with Victorian decor, non-cookie cutter suites and rooms. Not fancy but a clean place with friendly multinational staff. There's a small bar, and continental breakfast is included in the room rate (nothing to write home about). By far the best feature is the pound=dollar special that they run, whereby if you pay in cash or with US traveler's checks, you pay $1 per British pound on the bill.
An outstanding value in this deflationary period....not sure how long it will be offered. Have a pleasant stay in London.

adamhornets

Almost next door to the Millennium Gloucester is the Millennium Bailey's which also has offers from time to time and is a more old fashioned hotel.

And we do have neighborhoods. It's just that we call them areas.