Will be arriving on a Sunday from Paris via Eurostar train. Plan to take Heathrow Express to LHR on Thursday. ( May 2018)
Looking for suggestion for hotel that would be convenient to for our departure from Paddington Station and arrival at St Pancras and for our 3 days to tour/wander about London.
Room for two for $150US a reasonable price target? Want Clean safe & comfortable--- fancy not necessary
Any comments about the hotels in the RS book?
Thanks for the help/ideas
Vancouver Studios, 30 Princes Square, Bayswater.
They have a kitchenette in each room, with a 2-burner stovetop, microwave, fridge, sink, and all sorts of dishes and pots & pans. We usually buy breakfast stuff at a nearby Marks & Spencer, and have breakfast in our room. Saves money and we don't have to get dressed up to go out for breakfast. Very friendly staff.
About a 5 or 6 minute cab ride from Paddington Station.
Firstly, forget Paddington and the HEX. Secondly anywhere along the Piccadilly Line (how about near St Pancras as you are arriving there), then onto the Piccadilly Line straight to LHR. Less hassle, less cost. The Premier Inn Hub at Kings Cross would be in budget.
Convenient to Paddington Station is The Rhodes Hotel which gets very good reviews. I stayed there this summer and, by London standards, it is very good. But you don't have to stay right around Paddington or St Pancras. Ubers and taxis will get you everywhere you need to go quickly and affordably. I also stayed in the Hub Hotel at St James' Tube stop by Premier Travel Inn. They have a standard room and then a larger room (that's the one we got). They're brand new and modern and stylish and actually quite affordable. Right around the corner is Westminster Abbey.
I always stay at the Jesmond Dene on Argyle St. It is just 2 short blocks to the
area of Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations. There are also entries to tube and plenty of local buses.
It is more of a B&B than a hotel, but they do offer an huge English Breakfast.
No elevator.
I've stayed there several times and found that I can walk to many places, Russell Square, The British Museum etc.
Book directly with the hotel (much cheaper than using booking.com or another booking site.)
Jesmond Dene
If you're okay with chains, we've had good luck with the Holiday Inn Expres-Swiss Cottage, with is kitty-corner to the Finchley Road tube station and pretty much the mid-point between King's Cross-St. Pancras and Paddington in terms of Tube route. Some noise on the side that faces the road, but rear backs up to what sounded like a primary school. Adjacent to a small shopping center and many restaurants, and a little less touristy than many other parts of London.
Thank you to all for your responses.
Jim- Vancouver Studios is already fully booked for my dates in May 2018 --- must be a good place!
Although my experience is old, I used to work in the hotel industry. Showing sold out for May 2018 doesn't at all mean that all the rooms are rented. They may not know exactly how they want to set rental rates, they may know that some renovations are coming, they may have some room blocks allocated for wedding parties or conferences, or any number of reasons.
I also agree to skip the Heathrow Express, there's no need to stay near Paddington just to catch that overpriced train. I'd look at any of the numerous Premier Inns. I'd wait until about 6 months out before booking, they usually have advance saver rates that require payment in full up front and don't allow cancellations, but can be excellent value.
Joe - I agree that it's too early to book for next May. I looked at Vancouver Studios and they have tons of available rooms up through March 2018, but then it drops off. I would wait a few months and then try again.
Joe, Be aware that the famous Chelsea Flower Show is on for five full days from May 21 (Mon). Tens of thousands of visitors. Everything gets very booked up that week on the West side of London in my experience.
