Hi folks
don`t hate me for asking but could use some good recommendations for two night stay next year. I am usually pretty adept at selecting hotels but London is just too much. Criteria around 180-200 bucks per night, A/C, breakfast , and convenient to arrival from Heathrow. Like a more quiet neighborhood but good access to public transit for doing some touring. From London we will be taking train to Bath.
Thanks all and be well
Mike DC
We usually get apartments but last spring we stayed at The Rockwell on Cromwell Rd and found it very quiet, modern, and convenient. I would not recommend the breakfast though. It is at substantial extra cost and not a good value.
The London Elizabeth Hotel, 4 Lancaster Terrace., it’s a two minute walk to Lancaster Gate tube station and a 8 minute walk to Paddington Tube station. It’s across the street from Hyde Park.
The train to Bath will be departing from Paddington station anyway, so staying somewhere in the vicinity might help ease the logistics somewhat. Transportation from Heathrow to Paddington is pretty straightforward too, whether you opt for the train or a taxi, and the Paddington/Bayswater area is central for explorations further afield via the tube.
Your big cost driver for accommodation will probably be the requirement for A/C - most London hotels don't have it and you'll pay a premium for the amenity. You'll need to book early to get it - it's getting more and more popular.
Given the current situation you won't want to commit to anything that can't be cancelled without penalty. We've found that the various filters on Booking.com can help narrow the search and simplify the whole exercise.
Good luck.
We are not the biggest fan of Paddington station area as it is farther to the west, less convenient to tourist sites in London, and fairly dull. The area is full of nondescript hotels because of the convenience of the Heathrow express direct train to Heathrow. We stay in that area for one or two nights when departing from Heathrow, generally the next day. We much prefer the Victoria station area for multi-nights. Much closer to most tourist areas, lively pub and good restaurants area, good hotels, obviously good access to public transit (Victoria station). Walkable to Buckingham palace. Our favorite hotel disappeared a few years ago so now stay in the annex at the Best Western - Victoria Station. Price is right, rooms are nice, but no breakfast. BUT -- great breakfast just around the corner with a couple of great pubs near by.
Prices will vary by time of year so it’s difficult to answer your question with any certainty. In late May 2019, we stayed at the Ashburn Hotel on Cromwell road. It’s fairly basic but more than adequate, and a nice buffet breakfast was included, which isn’t overly common in London. It’s a block from the Gloucester tube station and on the Piccadilly line [dark blue on the tube map] so it’s direct from Heathrow. Very convenient to all the main sights. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the Paddington station from the Gloucester station. On the down side, even being a somewhat basic hotel it will probably be above what you want to spend. You may want to look at some of the Premier Inns or Holiday Inns around the city as they may be within your price range.
As others have said, AC may be tough. However, this is London we are talking about, and you likely wont need it. If you are heading to Bath Spa, you'll train from Paddington so it makes some sense to stay in that area. Me, I might try the Thistle Kensington Gardens.
Many (probably most) of the Premier Inns are air-conditioned. A lot of them would fall within your budget. I cannot vouch for their breakfasts, because I find hotel breakfasts overpriced and skip them unless they are unavoidably bundled into the room rate. The Premier Inns are what I call "business hotels" in that they are highly functional (hot water, plumbing, a/c, Wi-Fi) but without local character. They are scattered all over London.
