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Looking for recommendations for first time visitor hotel or area

Hello my family will be visiting London for 2 nights only in early April. We are taking the Eurostar from Paris and have never visited London. Can you recommend an area or hotel for us that is walkable to many of the sites? Should we book a hop on/off bus any specific tour recommendations we don’t know anything about the areas. Should we buy pounds in advance or just use credit cards? Restaurants you recommend? Open to any information. Thank you in advance.

Posted by
8372 posts

Are you both arriving and leaving via Eurostar? If so, I would stay in the area of St Pancras Station.

Do not buy pounds in advance. Credit cards will work for everything. If you desire, pull out 20 pounds from an atm while there.

Hop on hop off bus is a bust in my experience. I would not waste time on it.

You should start planning your itinerary by determining what are the top 4 priorities for your family during this visit. You can reasonably plan on two major sites daily.

Posted by
4392 posts

Rick does this for a living, buy his guidebook all will be revealed

Posted by
8660 posts

Use tap credit or debit cards.

Book at County Hall Premier Inn. Next door to the London Eye.

Walk out front door, turn left. Climb up the stairs to Westminster Bridge. Walk across the bridge and the Thames stopping to take photos of Parliament and Elizabeth’s Tower.

If the clock face is on the hour you’ll get to hear Big Ben chime. Parliament Square. More pics. Then follow Birdcage walk adjacent to St James Park up to Buckingham Palace.

If you have any interest in The Tower of London and seeing the Crown Jewels book tickets in advance.

Countless restaurants and cafes to chose from. Pub grub is good.

And as stated by another poster invest in the RS London Guide. Practical and useful info.

Posted by
27104 posts

London has key sights scattered around the city. There isn't one specific area that is ideal for everyone. The Underground will help you get around to what you want to see, but if you tell us your sightseeing priorities, we may be able to suggest an area that would be convenient fo ryou.

Posted by
32740 posts

key question - are you coming and going by Eurostar, or are you flying out (Heathrow??) at the end?