Planning a two-week vacation for my husband and I in early June to England and Scotland (6 or 7 nights in London, flying to Isle of Jersey and staying 2 nights, flying back to London and taking a train to Edinburgh with 1 or 2 nights in York on the way; staying in Edinburgh for a few nights and then flying back to U.S.). Looking for a place to stay in London and thinking either a Premier hotel or finding an airbnb to rent but not sure in which area to look. We have been to London before, so this time the main activities will include the British Museum, British Library, Churchill War Rooms, Victoria and Albert Museum, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park LDS chapel for church services on Sunday, seeing one or two musicals, and a couple of day trips from London. Given those scattered sites, any suggestions regarding areas in which to use as a home base for the week? Just curious, has anyone gone from York to Whitby? We don't want to drive so will be relying on public transportation, and not sure if going from York to Whitby and back again is do-able in one day or if we would need to spend the night in Whitby. Thank you.
Posted by
New York, NY
1582 posts
Here is one in the kensington area of London and it's near the metro:
Airbnb Aster House
You can do day trips to Bath, Stratford Upon Avon, Windsor Castle, and Kensington Palace.
Posted by
1 posts
I do recommend AirBNBs. You can save enough to afford your next trip! You can look them up by map in your price range. I stayed in Shepherd’s Bush and just went out by bus & tube. Pick a place close to a station/bus stop for the most flexibility. I also prefer a place with a superhost, a real local homeowner who can greet you and help you solve small problems. They are friendly people who enjoy meeting visitors. (Some corporations are renting empty homes/flats and posting them. I had an issue with a beautiful place that had a musty smell in one of the rooms from these type. These are usually lockbox entry, and less of your money will go to local real people.) A local super host can give much needed local information with the wisdom that comes from living there, making your entire trip more enjoyable. In Spain I stayed for ten days for the price of one or two hotel nights. And the AirBNB reviews are worth combing through for helpful insights. While in London have a pint and meat pie at the Wellington pub, and a cocktail on top of Citizen M Hotel overlooking Tower Hill, the Tower bridge and Thames. Lovely!
Posted by
Land of La
8660 posts
Although I have not stayed there noticed a Premiere Inn by St Pancras Kings Cross directly across the road from the British Library. That whole area behind and adjacent to St Pancras has been redeveloped. Granary Square, Coal Drops Yard, Gas Tower flats. New shops, restaurants, bars. Easy peasy access to your preferred sites via the tube.
Figured since you been before might like to stay in Area you’d probably not been to. Don’t miss having a cocktail in the Booking Office bar and restaurant in St Pancras station. Walk into the lobby of the Renaissance hotel and turn right before the check in desk. Gorgeous location. Not cheap but so relaxing.
Try the Dishoom restaurant at Granary Square as well.
Check out AirBnB’s in Holland Park, Kensington, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury. Even Earl’s Court.
Posted by
8 posts
Just returned from London. Three of us stayed in a three bedroom AirB&B two blocks from King's Cross. This means very close to British Library and British Museum and very close to public transportation to go anywhere else. Also a good location if you plan on taking day trips. We paid 200 dollars (not pounds) a night for three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. I agree that very important to get a place with a SuperHost. Once you start using AirB&B you will likely never stay in a hotel again in Europe, though I do agree with the person who said that if you like things hotels do for you like making bed, etc, then that is something to consider. Last fall we spend 5 weeks in Denmark and stayed at 8 different AirB&Bs. Take you out of tourist areas and into real neighborhoods and in the process you often meet locals, hear about local things to do and have a very different experience from hoteling it. But it does take awhile to get the hang of matching what you are looking for with what you find. The website is a lot of fun to play around with; addicting really! I did find it a lot harder to find a place in London with "charm" that was in the price range I was seeking. Churchill War Rooms are fascinating! Be sure to get tickets ahead of time on line so you can go straight to front of line at your designated time. Also, be sure to get your theatre tickets ahead of time. We were able to sit in fifth row at Hamilton for face value (about 200 pounds). I bought tickets in December for February. Not sure what June is like, but very good tickets for Wicked were under 100 pounds. Oh, I have traveled from Whitby to York, but it was in 1984 and my husband and I rode our bikes!
Posted by
Washington DC
27104 posts
Schedule for the Coastliner bus from York to Whitby: York-Whitby bus schedule. I appears that service is neither rapid nor frequent, but a day-trip appears doable. However, even 2 nights feels short for York if you are going to spend a good chunk of one day on a trip to Whitby.
Although Jersey is a sort of low-key destination, I found a lot to do there (gardens, War Tunnels, a prehistoric site, the museum). I wouldn't go through the hassle of two flights for just two nights there, but perhaps you are going for just one specific purpose.