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Hotel near Kings Cross / 7 nights / some character?

Posted by (Centennial, CO (Denver area)) on

Help me with choice overload! I'm overwhelmed with the countless hotel options in London. Here are our details:

  • 2 adults, 1 child (age 11)
  • 7 nights (March 2023)
  • Desired budget under £1600 for the week
  • We don't need luxe, but would prefer something with a bit of character—even if just a wee bit!—versus a chain.
  • We've narrowed to Kings Cross/Euston area mainly to be close for an early-morning day trip train departure (not a requirement; I just had to narrow down our options somehow).

A couple of places we're considering are:

  • Premier Inn (several in that area; London King's Cross and St. Pancras are both under £1300)
  • The Suites - St Pancras Hotel Group (under £1500)

These seem ...fine, and would suit our needs. Just wondering if you lovely people have other, more unique recommendations. I feel that I've passed the point of diminishing returns with my own research.

p.s. I want to avoid asking what the weather will be like in March, because likely none of you are clairvoyant. But if you have a crystal ball and can hazard a guess, feel free!

Posted by
8671 posts

Go with the Kings Cross Premier Inn. What it lacks in “character” will be made up in comfort and cost savings.

Have a meal at Dishoom at Granary Square.

Walk along the Regent canal path past the former Gas Holders which have been converted into condos.

See if the Postal Museum or Water and Steam Museum are of any interest.

Walk across Tower Bridge.

See theatre: Lion King is playing. So is Wicked or The Play That Goes Wrong. Might also like The Woman in Black or the venerable Mousetrap.

Is the 11 year old adventurous? Could climb the O2.

Visit Spitalfields and Brick Lane. Shoreditch wall murals.

Dress in layers.

Posted by
15007 posts

The Premier Inns don't have character but they will be clean and quiet. I've stayed at the Premier Inn St. Pancras a couple of times when I had early morning trains.

Posted by
1943 posts

I can second the St Pancreas Premier Inn. Perfectly clean and functional. There have a cafe inside, but there are numerous restaurants and a shopping center nearby. Close to the British Library as well.

Posted by
8381 posts

Get your character when you are out and about with the money you save while you sleep. Stay at the Premier Inn.

Posted by
713 posts

Get your character when you are out and about with the money you save
while you sleep. Stay at the Premier Inn.

Well said. "Character" in a budget London hotel often means a small room and sometimes a teensy tiny bathroom. I've enjoyed a few of those - but I was a single traveler. I'm trying to imagine a couple with an 11 year old spending a week in a room with one of those teensy bathrooms, but my mind balks at it, lol. I'll choose comfort over character when it comes to my sleeping quarters for a week!

Posted by
1924 posts

There are a lot of fans of Premier Inn's on this site.

I would also suggest booking.com for research. You can also book through booking or go directly to the hotel or aparthotel site.

Posted by
1325 posts

Book the Premier Inn and forget about character. You’ll be far too exhausted to care about it after traveling around with an 11 year old all day.

Posted by
3110 posts

https://www.booking.com/Share-CsIGCp

The Euro Hotel, Cartwright Gardens.

I stayed here for 3 nights in 2018.
It was very clean, a 10 minute walk from King’s Cross one way, and to Russell Square tube station the other.
Easy to get to places by bus too.
(CityMapper app is great for London.)
The breakfast is great, made to order, and the staff were lovely.
It’s apparently been renovated since.
They gave me a huge room with two beds, the bathroom was a normal size, the room was warm as I was there in winter, and there were so many towels I lost count.
I would definitely stay there again.

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