Looking for London hotel

Safe? London is super safe. Not much to worry about there. I'd concentrate on proximity to your preferred form of transportation to get you to the sights you most want to see. For me that's proximity to a station on the Circle or Piccadilly lines. The tube isn't always very mobility-issue-friendly though, so if you're planning to take taxis most of the time Tube stations may be less relevant to you.

What do you consider mid-range? For me that would mean between 150 and 250 pounds per night per room. It may mean something else to you. The most important factor for you might be an elevator, which limits your choice of hotels.

More info on your needs and desires and planned activities would help us offer advice.

We're staying at:THE GEORGE
58 – 60 Cartwright Gardens, London WC1H 9EL
Tel: Your Int. Code + 44 20 7387 8777
Fax: Your Int. Code + 44 20 7387 8666
www.georgehotel.com

We've booked 2 ground floor rooms and they're recommended.
Jean

Given it sounds as though you might have 2 people with you that could potentially have some difficulties with lots of walking, climbing stairs in a smaller hotel or navigating the stairs and long passageways of some of the Tube stations, I'd suggest staying in a very central location so you have very easy access to public buses and taxis.

Your idea of "mid-range" price can vary dramatically from others. Best to give a range (in GBP) that you are willing to spend per night and whether you are looking for one hotel room that will accommodate all three of you, or if you are trying to get two rooms for that price (single for mom and a double for you and your husband).

I would recommend staying right near Trafalgar Square. It's not a pretty residential area, but you can basically walk out the door and get to number of sights that are in that area, tons of bus lines converge there and it's really easy to get a taxi.

In that area, you could look at someplace like Citadine's (apart'hotel), Club Quarters, etc. There's also London School of Economics Northumberland House location right there (if you are willing to get a single for mom and double room for you and husband) which is a great value as all rooms have ensuite bathrooms and housekeeping is provided daily. Further, it has an elevator, coin-op laundry facilities, access to a shared kitchen and lounge areas.

I've stayed twice at the Lime Tree and really like it. If you have mobility concerns they have a couple of rooms on the ground floor. It's on a quiet street, but not far from Victoria Station. Also the breakfast is absolutely killer. It's one of the more expensive rooms that Rick recommends, but London can be crowded and hectic and it's nice to retreat to a cozy hotel like the Lime Tree: http://www.limetreehotel.co.uk

London is safe!!!!! The London Elizabeth Hotel, 4 Lancaster Terrace (011-44-207 402 6641) is a great hotel. It's across the street from Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens, and just around the corner from a great pub The Swan. It's two minutes from Lancaster Gate tube station.

Hi. Not knowing what you want to see, I will just tell you about one of the places I have stayed more than once. I like to stay at the Premier Inn County Hall. It is a big box hotel with elevators - right at the London Eye. They have a restaurant and take out for your room. Across the street, which for the block of the hotel is closed to traffic, are some cute little restaurants and cafes. At the end of the block going over Westminster Bridge is a bus stop for numerous bus lines including some evening buses. Not a difficult walk at all.

At the end of the block in the other direction is a taxi stand and the entrance to the Eye. About 1.5 -2 blocks is Waterloo station (train and tube) with a supermarket and many other shops.

The front of the building, which is the Marriott Hotel (pricey) faces the Thames and the Eye. A not too long walk along flat pavement will get you to some additional shops and restaurants also facing the Thames. There are benches here for folks to stop and look at the river and Parliament across it. Even in October/November, people promenade here.

I have stayed in the Lime Tree and like it, but it doesn't have the public spaces you might like with a party of three. It is very convenient to Victoria station, but a bit more difficult to find than the Premier Inn if you are on foot the first time. If you are in a cab, no problems for either place.

Westminster Bridge is right at County Hall and if you have a desire to stand on a bridge and look over the Thames, it will be handy - crowded, but handy.

Note, the Transport for London website, https://tfl.gov.uk/, does allow you to look at accessible options. For instance, I avoid escalators when possible and the website allows me to tailor my search on the tube for that. The website addresses buses, tube, river transport, etc. Give it a look. I am a big fan of buses myself.

Happy Travels

My wife, mother, and I visited London about a year ago and we also fit your profile (with the addition of 5 to 10 years all the way around). I chose the Holiday Inn Kensington because of its proximity to good public transport. Being a "big box" hotel brand, what you lose in local quaintness, you make up for with consistency. We had moderately large ensuite rooms, lifts and on-site amenities (pub, coffee shop, etc.) While I would have preferred a quaint little London hotel, the need for a (functional) hotel lift and tube station with a lift pointed be to the big-brand hotel.

The HI Kensington is right on a major bus line and a block or so from two tube stations. While Gloucester Rd Tube station, half a block away) doesn't have a lift, we all could negotiate the stairs going down just fine. Earl's Court station was a little further away but has a lift and the same bus that runs in front of the hotel picks-up just outside the Warwick Rd entrance.

We also love the South Kensington, Earl's Court, Knightsbridge area for its proximity to parks, museums and monuments as well as the ample shopping and dining options.

I have also stayed in the Darlington Hyde Park and enjoyed my stay. However, this hotel is several blocks from Paddington Station so if walking that distance is an issue, it might not be right for you.

Good luck and have a great time.

We also recommend the Crowne Plaza, South Kensington. It is down the street from the Holiday Inn. The Crowne Plaza is an upgrade from the Holiday Inn, as is all Crowne Plaza's. It is directly across the street form the Gloucester tube station. The hotel is lovely. They offer free computers in the lobby and they have a pretty back yard to sit in. We have stayed there three times, for up to two weeks each time. If you belong to the IHG hotel group, you earn points every time you stay at a Holiday Inn, Holidsy Inn Express, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza's, etc. You will also be upgraded to a better room. The Crowne Plaza, on Cromwell, receives great reviews on Trip Advisor.