My sister and I will be in London from Oct. 20 - 27 and are looking at hotels. For my first visit to the city I stayed in Vancouver Studios in Bayswater and liked it, but she doesn't want to stay there because she thinks the kitchenettes take up valuable space in already-small hotel rooms. She's never been to London but has been to Paris and knows that European hotel rooms are small, which she's fine with. She's a foodie and wants to try different restaurants, not go to the grocery store and cook in the room to save money the way I did. :) I'd like to know which hotels you guys like in London. I'd prefer to pay 100-150 pounds per night for a room for 2 people, and I want to be close to at least 2 Tube line stations because of all the planned engineering / construction. I like the Bayswater neighborhood but am open to other neighborhoods. Thanks!
Posted by
Texas, California
70 posts
Stayed at the Best Western Phoenix Hotel in Bayswater. Perfectly fine. Quick and easy walking distance up to Westbourne Grove Road, which had loads of restaurants. Two nearby Tube stations.... give it a look for price.
Posted by
London, England.
662 posts
If she's a foodie, near Borough Market / South Bank might be nice.
http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-london-tower-bridge-LONTBHI/index.html
The Hilton London Tower Bridge is in a great location, I've never stayed there, but most people know what they are getting with a Hilton.
Close to this also, a touch cheaper, but always reliable if not fancy, is the Bankside (South Bank) Premier Inn, in a great location.
There are many hotels in this area, and you can go to The Shard for breakfast :o)
For a super foodie treat, 0.2m from the Hilton is the Michelin starred 'The Story' restaurant. A 10 course tasting menu evening meal for two is likely to cost £200 excl. drink, so it's super high priced, but worth it by all accounts.
http://www.restaurantstory.co.uk/
A more affordable foodie experience is the 2 Michelin star 'Dinner by Heston Blumenthal' restaurant. With a lunch for two starting at a more reasonable £80 for two. It's an amazing place so I'm told.
http://www.dinnerbyheston.com/
Booking around 3 months ahead required for either place. But there are no shortage of good places to eat in all price ranges in London.
Posted by
London, England.
662 posts
Update, apologies, I saw somewhere the Hilton was from £135 a night, on your dates, it's nearer £200 a night. However, that area is still a good place to look, and the Premier Inn is below your max. £150.
Both are fairly close London Bridge (2 lines) and a 3 minute walk over the river to Monument (2 lines).
Good luck.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6552 posts
Sarah: We were in London in February, and stayed at the Kensington Gardens Hotel in Bayswater. It's small, very clean, and was under 100 GBP per night. It's on a quiet square close to a bustling business street, and there are two tube stations in walking distance. The downside is - no elevator, but you can request a room on a lower floor. I posted a review of that hotel in this forum in late March - put Kensington Gardens Hotel in the search box and it should pop up. Another hotel in that area that was recommended to us here was Kensington Hyde Park (I think.) We loved the neighborhood - lots of restaurants in all price ranges and a couple of small grocery stores. Great ethnic mix, as well.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6552 posts
Oops - I just checked, and the review is in the "Reviews" section. (Duh.) It should still show up in a search. And the other recommended hotel was the Darlington Hyde Park.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
Sarah - You might look at the Falcon Hotel(www.falcon-hotel.com) it is close to Paddington Station. It met my needs quite well.
Posted by
Raleigh, NC, United States
24 posts
I just stayed at Rydges in South Kensington and thought it was a great value and very comfortable. Steps away from Gloucester Road tube. Join their rewards program (free) and you get at least 10% the lowest rate.
Posted by
OP
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
Thank you all very much for these suggestions! I'll discuss all these with my sister. Her foodie homework load just grew by a lot! :)