StantonHyde

Please reassure me that my family will be happy with our reservations at Citadine Trafalgar Square. We are going in June 2017 for 6 nights. Kids will be 12 and 14. I like the idea of the close location, the not too hefty price--we need a 2BR apartment and I would rather go for a hotel type place than a VRBO at this point. I am hoping that there are decent family friendly restaurants around, that it is close to some sort of grocery store, and that the neighborhood is ok. I have looked at so many places that my head is spinning. This seemed the best priced, would let us cancel within a week or so of the trip, and in a good location.

Should I stick with it or run to some other apart hotel?? (I looked in depth at Fraser Place Queens gate. the Town Hall, 23 Greengarden, and Castletown after eliminating some others)

tuscanlifeedit

The only one of your other choices that I know the location of is Fraser Suites Queen Gate, which is a location I like a lot. To me it is more of a neighborhood than the Citadines Trafalgar Square location.

I'll be anxious to hear if anyone has input.

goddesstogo

Regarding family friendly restaurants near Trafalgar Square, there's a Prezzo practically at the front door of the Portrait Gallery (a chain of reasonably-priced Italian food restaurants, very clean, nice service, decent food). Also, there's a nice cafe in the crypt of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Your kids can do brass rubbings down there too. There are also a couple of cafes in the National Gallery but SMITF has a more meal-like selection. You'll also be a short walk from Covent Garden where there are tons of places to eat.

StantonHyde

The issue with Fraser was that the only reservations available were non-refundable. Not doing that this far in advance. Otherwise it was awesome

Thanks for the info on restaurants!

flanneruk

Trafalgar Square is the basepoint for how London postcodes were first set: postcodes are the basis for accessing almost all British geographic information on the web.

Paradoxically, this can make it confusing to check the proximity of local facilities. The hotel itself is WC2N 5EA (six or seven character postcodes often refer to just one building), a hundred yards or so east of Trafalgar Square. The nearest convenience store is the Tesco at SW1A 2DR - on the corner of Northumberland Ave and Trafalgar Square.

Slightly bigger is the Tesco at Regent St, SW1Y 4LR about 500 yards away - which is about as far as the Tesco in Bedford St, WC2E 9EQ about 400 yards away. Within half a mile, there's a good range of classic big-city Italian delis in Soho (clustered round I Camisa at W1D 6HS) of Chinese groceries in Chinatown (start with New Loon Moon in Gerard St W1D 5PL) and of specialist food stores around Covent Garden (around Neals Yard Dairy, Shorts Gardens WC2H 9AT)

The nearest decent-sized conventional supermarket is Sainsbury's at 15 Tottenham Court Road W1T 1BJ (NOT its microstore at 145 TCR), about 1,000 yards away. Since this is tough to lug a week's groceries from, you should familiarise yourselves with the internet-based home delivery offered by Tesco, Sainsbury and Waitrose. Amazon's faltering attempts to match professional British retailers in this are still ineptly managed, impossible to navigate and seriously overpriced.


There are no non-OK neighbourhods in Central London.

mjs

We have stayed at the Citadines Trafalgar in a 2 bedroom suite. We found the rooms to be dark but otherwise fine. Think 3 star quality Ikea. Has air conditioning if necessary and a laundromat. Kitchen typical Citadines. We have stayed at Citadines in London, Paris, Barcelona and Tokyo and they are all rather similar. The Trafalgar location is rather pricey but ok. Location is fine. I have stayed at over 20 locations in London over the years from a bedsitter to a B&B to a three bedroom house to a five star hotel... and there are more convenient locations perhaps but really no location in central London is that bad. Trafalgar is close to Covent Garden and Soho so plenty of Tescos around for groceries. There are tons of restaurants nearby including Chinatown. There is a Paul's close too for breakfast, sandwiches or bakery goods. Close to a tube stop. It will be fine although not luxurious.

janisj

I have stayed at the Fraser suites and know the locations of all your choices.

Tr. Square is not a 'neighborhood' w/ all sorts of groceries etc. but for a family vacation and sightseeing it is just about optimal. (If you had little kids I'd recommend Fraser to be close to the parks)

flanner has explained your grocery choices

The transport options are quite good from there are many sites are within walking distance. The #15 bus will take you past St. Paul's and to the Tower w/o having to take the tube.

menachem

google maps...

https://www.google.nl/maps/search/su...7,17.03z?hl=en

https://www.google.nl/maps/search/re...1,17.62z?hl=en

https://www.google.nl/maps/search/ca...7,17.13z?hl=en

by "is the neighbourhood ok" do you mean "can I walk around with my children after 6 pm without being mugged?"

answer to that is "yes"

it's not a residential area.

StantonHyde

Ok this all sounds good. Thank you. The idea that there is a Neal's Yard Dairy store in the vicinity strikes joy into my cheese loving heart. Any other good cheese shops I should know about??

mjs

You don't need another cheese shop. Neal's is about a 20 minute walk from the Citadines. A little hard to find north of Covent Garden.

StantonHyde

oh mjs--I don't know how I am going to wait till June!

mjs

I can recommend the Wensleydale, Stilton and Caerphilly. Pick up a baguette from Paul's and something to drink and you're good to go.

flanneruk

"Any other good cheese shops I should know about??"

Within a bit over half a mile of Traf Square:

The fading and ageing grande dame of British cheese retailing, Paxton & Whitfield, continues to trade in Jermyn Street, where it continues selling much the same range of cheese as any decent proper British supermarket, but smells cheesy and charges only about twice as much as anyone else.

Britain's best food retailer, Waitrose, is the grocery brand under which John Lewis department stores trade. For most of us, by far the best cheese shop in London is its operation in the basement of John Lewis Oxford Street.

StantonHyde

Thanks for more cheese reccos

anicecupoftea

The Tesco at the top of Northumberland Avenue is tiny and badly laid out. The Co-op on the Strand opposite Charing Cross station is bigger and better. Plus there's an M&S food store at the entrance to the station. Shortcut to both from the apartments by going up Northumberland Street past the Sherlock Holmes pub.

geetika

We've booked a three bedroom apartment at Vancouver Studios for next June, this is in the Bayswater area, very close to Queensway where there a lot of restaurants and shops. You're within walking distance of three Tube stations and they also have free cancellation up to a week ahead of your stay, which is a huge plus. Do check it out.

http://vancouverstudios.co.uk/en/home

janisj

>>Do check it out. <<

Not really relevant for this OP - They are staying much more central than Queensway . . .

rachill_az

What a coincidence! I too am considering Citadines Trafalgar Square for next June 2017. I have a hold for 4 nights for both Citadines and Amba Charig Cross Hotel. Amba is more expensive - do you think it's worth it?

janisj

>>do you think it's worth it?<<

They are totally different properties - the Citadines is various sized apartments with kitchens, the Amba is a regular hotel -- so not comparable re facilities.

Depends on whether you want a flat or a hotel room.

rachill_az

Thanks janisj. Didn't realize that Citadines are apartments. We won't need a kitchen for our 4 nights in London, so I guess the Amba Hotel it is. Thanks!