London Hotel with Family - overwhelmed with areas and choices.

Finding a hotel with two double beds can be a challenge, anywhere in Europe. I would look on booking.com, but change the number of people to 5. Otherwise you get results that include sofa beds instead of real beds. We’re a family of 4 and I’ve had very little luck fitting us all in one room, except for one place in Spain. We’ve always had to split into two rooms, or get an apartment. Your budget should be able to accommodate two rooms. You might have to sacrifice the mini fridge. Those are harder to find in Europe.

I just checked booking.com using your dates for central London with the following parameters: 2 rooms, 5 adults, AC, breakfast included, hotels only, under $3000, with a rating of 8+ (personal preference). There are only 10 results.

We like the Citadine's Trafalgar Square which is an apartment hotel. Although it is in a busy neighborhood, we have never had a problem there with street noise. If you get a one-bedroom, the adults could enjoy the living room area after the kids go to bed. (Assuming you are OK with the pull-out sofa bed.) The apartments have a full kitchen - there is a small supermarket two blocks away. Our unit even had one of those washer-dryer combos. (Use only if you really need it, because it takes a looooong time to do a load.)

Trafalgar Square is a major transit hub for buses, the tube stop is two blocks away right next to a pedestrian bridge across the Thames. Parliament and Westminster Abbey are within walking distance and so is the theatre district.

I'd back off of the breakfast requirement if possible, because that will probably limit you somewhat, and in many neighborhoods there will be places to get breakfast that will be fresher and probably less costly than what the hotel (in effect) is charging you for breakfast.

In your price range I'd be looking hard at aparthotels. I'm sorry that I don't have any experience with those or with anything larger than a twin room.

Thanks for the advice. The kids would be okay in a sofa bed for a few night so 2 real beds are not required, nor is breakfast included, paying extra, a fridge for breakfast items, or some where close by is acceptable.
I will check out the apartment suggestion.

You have a good budget. The Park Plaza Waterloo offers 1 bedroom suites that would be in budget and offer a decent amount of space. They have a kitchenette and the hotel is in an ideal location.

We spent a week at The Clermont, Charing Cross. They offer family rooms which a family of 3 (child is 14) occupied. Their room seemed quite spacious as did our room for two considering that we were in London. We enjoyed our stay here. Right next to Charing Cross and Embankment tube stops. Easy walk to St. James Park and Buckingham Palace and right across the street from Trafalgar Square. Very convenient location. Staff was very kind. Very nice breakfast was included with our room at the time.

Try the newer Premier Inn at Paddington Basin. Ask for a room with a Double and 2 single beds. Have not stayed at this PI but have stayed at and enjoyed others.

Use the Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. 5-10 walk to the Premier Inn.

Whole “ modern “ looking neighborhood that doesn’t look like what you saw 15 years ago.

I'm going to suggest the Premier Inn Earls Court London Kensington.

It is located in a semi-residential area one block from the Earls Court tube station. They have family rooms with three beds, kettle for coffee/tea, and air conditioning. They have premier plus rooms that include refrigerator and actual coffee machine but I'm not sure they could handle a family your size.

The hotel has a restaurant for breakfast but there are numerous restaurants, pubs and cafes on Earls Court Road which is where the station is located. Most of the restaurants are family oriented and many are well known fast food.

Central London is 15-20 minutes away by tube. Museum row is a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

While I've never stayed at the hotel I stay one block away so I know the neighborhood very well. I have stayed at many Premier Inns and never had a bad stay. Always very clean and quiet. If they came to the U.S. they'd put most of our mid level to cheaper hotels out of business.

If you want something a little nicer, look at Fraser Suites. They will offer more room than a typical hotel. They are dotted all over London.

For two double beds you will have to look at either American chains or some from Accor.

A Premier Inn room for 4 is quite a squeeze. I wouldn’t recommend for 5 nights if you can run to something better. Also, there is no fridge or coffee maker in the room. The Premier Plus rooms have these but only sleep max 2 people.

Maybe consider Doubletree by Hilton in Kensington. It has good sized family rooms (2 x double beds) and a garden for burning off kid energy. Very close to Gloucester Road tube station (413 feet, 2 minutes) and less than 10 minute walk to the Natural History and Victoria and Albert museums.

Maybe consider Doubletree by Hilton in Kensington. It has good sized
family rooms (2 x double beds) and a garden for burning off kid
energy. Very close to Gloucester Road tube station (413 feet, 2
minutes) and less than 10 minute walk to the Natural History and
Victoria and Albert museums.

I haven't stayed at that hotel, but have stayed at another hotel just the other side of the Gloucester Road tube station, and I liked the location. There's a handy shopping arcade on top of the tube station, with a Boots, a Waitrose, and IIRC a coffee shop and restaurant or two.

I went to the Resident Hotels website, put in your arrival and checkout dates, number of adults, and kids, and found availability at the Resident Victoria, for five nights at under $2400. I stayed at the Resident Kensington back when it first opened under another name, and was completely happy with it. Those hotels don't have any in-house food service or restaurants, but each room has a mini-kitchenette. The Victoria seems to be the only Resident hotel in London with availability for your dates - but that was just my quick search, lol. Could be I missed something. Not sure if the hotel would appeal to you, but it did seem to meet the budget.

Have you searched for London hotels in the IHG Group? Holiday Inns. I don't know how good they are but there are some in London. I have formed an impression that US-based hotel chains including IHG and Hilton, may be more likely to have rooms with 2 double beds.

I was in the same boat you are in until I stumbled upon a deal that I could not pass up on Expedia. That had great reviews. We are going for spring break and places were spendy. We are staying at Leonardo Royal St Paul, 2 queen beds. Somewhat central to the sites and close to the tube. We are not big breakfast people but they do have an option for that. We are more of a coffee and pastry, and be on our way. Our kids are 12 and 15. For 8 nights it was around $2500USD. I couldn't find anything with 2 queen beds or they were already booked. Most of the places I was looking for the time we are there were in the 3500 to 4500 dollar range for 8 nights. We considered VRBO or AirBnB but like having the resources at the hotel for good places to eat, and store our luggage since we get into London at 7am. Hope this helps!

They do have availability for the dates you are looking for ranging from$2288 to $2787 total depending on which option you choose for 2 Queen Beds

https://www.leonardohotels.co.uk/hotels/london/leonardo-st-pauls?utmsource=google&utmmedium=local

We almost booked this for our family but then one of our kids had a trip conflict, so it opened up different options. But this might work for you. Two queen beds plus a sofa bed.
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lonmetw-hilton-london-metropole/?SEO_id=GMB-EMEA-TW-LONMETW

Thanks again for the wonderful suggestions. The Doubletree seems like a good option. I do like the Resident and the Leonardo. I know the kids will love a pool after a long day. I guess it is a good problem to have, lots of good choices!
This is their first trip to Europe and first stop so I want to make it as fantastic as possible.

I am. a big fan of booking.com for research.

Can you try to narrow down your search on booking so that you get fewer results?

Decide on which neighborhoods you are really interested in and check off those neighborhoods. Check off free breakfast. Maybe check off coffee machine in room and maybe refrig or kitchen amenities, etc etc.

And put in your budget to begin with. Do not forget free cancellation. Booking now offers apartments on their site.

I am going to suggest an Aparthotel instead of a standard one. There are several Aparthotel chains in London—- Citadine was mentioned above. We like the Marlin group, specifically the Queen Street location, very near St Paul’s and the Millennium pedestrian bridge over he Thames.

This is not the location you were thinking of, but it has a lot to recommend it. The Thames path, a wide pedestrian path lined by shops and restaurants, is great for pleasant traffic-free walking. The Tower of London, Shakespearean Globe, Tate Modern and HMS Belfast are all nearby. There are several early Tube stops close by, and a good East-west bus route that takes you to Trafslgar Square or Coventry Garden area.

https://www.marlin.com/locations/London-City-Queen-Street

You can get a one-bedroom apartment with king bed in the separate bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room, or a 2-bedroom with 2 king beds and the sofa bed. Plus a full equipped kitchen. Prices vary by date, but could be under £360 a night.