Hi all,
First time to London and will sadly only be there for 2 nights. (Stopping for 2 nights on the way to Israel for work).
Anyone want to recommend where to stay for 2 nights? I do want to see touristy things and major sites.
I checked a few of Rick's recommendations, and Lime tree is not available for my dates.
Any other recommendations?
We just stayed at the Premier Inn Waterloo and loved it! Not fancy but right behind the eye. We walked everywhere. If I leaned just the right way I could see part of " big ben"(Elizabeth Tower)
I stayed at Number 63 on Bayswater Road this past summer. It's near Paddington Station and Lancaster Gate Tube station. My room was small, but breakfast is included. I loved staying right across from Hyde Park, and found it a great location. I'm planning on staying there again this summer.
Happy Travels!!
With just 2 nights I'd stay as central as you can. I'm sorry the Lime Tree is booked for your visit but there are others in the Victoria Station area. That location makes it very easy to walk to Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, St James' Park, etc. It's not close enough (for me) to walk to the Tower of London.
Do you need to consider transportation from/to an airport? Heathrow or Gatwick? You could also consider staying near the terminus of whichever transport you decide to use. That's what motivated me for the Lime Tree the first time as it is right near the Victoria Coach Station.
@Pam it will be Heathrow. Considering private car if the tube will be too confusing after a long flight.
We always stay by the Gloucester tube stop. It’s on the Piccadilly line from Heathrow so easy to get to and from the airport. Three tube lines run through it (Piccadilly, Central, and District) making it easy to get to all the main tourist sites. We’ve stayed at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt, The Bailey’s, the Ashburn, and Meliá London Kensington. Each is within a block of the tube station. There are a number of restaurants and others hotel in the area too.
Don't worry too much about the location, other than roughly central London (Zone 1 of the Metro), near a station, and some decent pubs nearby. The places you will probably want to see are scattered enough that you will be using buses or the underground. There are a number of Premier Inns that are always dependable comfortable rooms, perfect for a couple nights.
Rick Steves has a couple of good walks that can be combined to see most of London along the river (Westminster, St Pauls Area, and Southbank). The British Museum (free by the way) would be the top of my list (besides the stuff you can see walking around) then whatever is within your interests (Art: National Gallery or the Tate, History: Imperial War Museum or the Victoria and Albert, Tower of London, Westminster, etc.)
Kensington High isn't a bad place to stay. If you're into luxury hotels, try the Gore on Queens Gate. The Copthorne Tara near the Kensington High tube is a huge business hotel but rooms are spacious and comfortable. They have a few restaurants that are open very late and they are close to the tube, shopping and restaurants. Action is not like the northeastern parts if the city but you're only minutes away from that by tube.
63 Bayswater. Premier Inn Victoria. Premier Inn Waterloo.
We have in the last 2 months stayed at both 63 Bayswater and the Ashburn. We liked them both. Considering your extremely short time in London I would give the edge to the Ashburn. It’s very close to the Gloucester Tube Station where there are several lines available, including the Piccadilly line that goes to/from Heathrow.
