Need advice on London

1) It depends on where you are staying and your budget. Many of us take one of the rail services. Which one depends on where you are staying. This, along with the bus, is the cheapest. If you want door to door service, then a car service will do that for less than a taxi.

2) London is pricy. Premier Inns are a budget chain spread out throughout London as well as the UK. If you look on a map you'll find the places you want to visit are spread all over the map. The more centrally located the hotel, the more expensive it will be. If you look at at a tube map, try to stay within zone one. Otherwise a good deal of your time will be traveling to and from your hotel most likely at times when commuters are trying to get to work

Get familiar with the Underground (tube). It will be the most effecient way of getting around. Buses and taxis are also good but traffic is terrible.

We used the tube from Heathrow to get to Waterloo area very simple to do. We chose that because we wanted to do a couple of day trips by train and felt Waterloo station was the best. We stayed at the Hampton Waterloo and it was around two hundred to two hundred fifty dollars a night which included a huge breakfast that was awesome. The hotel was a block and half from the station. It had a lovely bar and good restaurant and there were several other good restaurants nearby. It also had bus stop outside and we felt it was very safe even coming in at eleven or so at night.

I’ve stayed in Bloomsbury near the British Museum on my most recent visits with the Tottenham Court Road tube station handy. Trafalgar Square, the National gallery, Whitehall. and Buckingham Palace are within walking distance. The Circle tube line will get you within walking distance of most attractions except for the Tower and Harrods which are a bit off on their own. If you combine Leadenhall Market and Sky Garden on the day you visit the Tower, you can cover that area all on one of your 5 days.
London is extremely safe. The police have cameras throughout the city to keep an eye on things and this is a great deterrent to crime. Even if you don’t see the police presence- they are there.
Have a great Trip!

The Heathrow Express train from the airport into London has been our means of getting into London, for the last several visits. What had been our favorite, surprisingly affordable B&B near the Baker Street Tube station, and recommended in the Rick Steves guidebook, closed permanently after the Pandemic hit.

For our London stay earlier this spring, we found a new favorite place, and we plan to stay here again on the next trip: 122 Great Titchfield Street. That’s the name, and also the address, of the B&B, which has two rooms, and also one apartment. Would your daughter and you need separate rooms? http://bb-london.co.uk/ They call themselves a “Luxury B&B,” but it’s still just £130-£150 a night. It’s a short walk to the Great Portland Street Tube station in the Fitzrovia neighborhood. We walked to the British Museum from there, and the area had fabulous dining options, and was convenient to getting elsewhere in London. The King’s Cross station for your Edinburgh train is just 3 quick Tube stops from the Great Portland station, although the B&B advertises that they’re within walking distance of King’s Cross, if you wanted to go on foot with your bags.

All great questions. As others have pointed out, how you travel from the airport may depend somewhat on where you're staying. I travel on a pretty tight budget, so tend to stay in Paddington. This means I generally take the Elizabeth Line train from Heathrow to Paddington station and a short walk from there to my hotel. Tube is also a good option, but the Elizabeth Line trains have plenty of space for luggage, and are cheaper than the Heathrow Express. I did get a taxi once, and frankly all that happened was it look longer than a train due to traffic.

I love the Mitre House Hotel in Paddington and have stayed there many times over many years, but there are many other similar hotels in the area. It generally costs about £100-£120 inc breakfast a night (depending on season and when you book). Some don't like Paddington/Bayswater, but I'm a big fan given the proximity to Hyde Park. You can also walk across Hyde Park to Knightsbridge and Harrod's if the weather is nice. If you're keen to visit Harrod's, I'd also suggest both Fortnum & Mason's and (especially) Liberty.

Other areas to look at are near King Cross Station (given your trip to Edinburgh - another basic but nice hotel there I've stayed in is the Alhambra Hotel). Equally, Covent Garden is also popular (and if it's a first visit, Covent Garden Market is definitely worth visiting). I've stayed at The Kingsley, which is quite nice.

There's no single 'perfect' place to stay in Central London, but it's is very easy to get around. It's a good city for walking (rain permitting) and the tube network is extensive. We do sometimes get a cab, but normally just either walk or take the tube.

Your key issue won't be safety (which is really not an issue in London) but price/value. The two hotels I've quoted are cheap and small (albeit very friendly). So the question is how 'moderate' is your 'moderate' budget?

The area that contains most of the tourist sights is roughly 5 miles by 3 so there is no one place to stay. Transport by tube or bus is extremely easy and good fun. Premier Inn are a budget chain of hotels, you know exactly what you are getting and highly recommended. The one at Southwark is in a good location. Safety is not really an issue in Central London, but when you have decided on a hotel, repost and you'll get opinions on it, before you book.
There are many hotels around Kings Cross for your trip North.
Many people advise against using the Heathrow Express as it is cheaper using the Piccadilly Line tube that actually starts at Heathrow. The HX also goes in to Paddington which may then require another trip to your actual hotel, whereas the tube stops at various stations which may be closer.

I should add that with your departure flight, assuming is 1530hrs that you mean, you'd be better off staying in Central London and getting the train or tube to Heathrow than trying to stay near the airport. I would only do that if I had a very early morning flight, in which case make sure you pick a hotel near the terminal you're departing from, as some of the 'Heathrow' hotels are actually some distance away.

We take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then get a taxi to our hotel so we don't wander around looking for it with luggage in tow. If you have much luggage, the Tube would be difficult to negotiate, especially at stations without elevators or that have lots of steps. I haven't done the river cruise/tea thing, but I suspect that the tea is better on land. It's expensive, but since you want to see Harrod's, you could make a reservation for tea there.

If you want to use Heathrow Express, make sure that you reserve it in advance. It can be as cheap as £5.50 in advance or as expensive as £25 for a walk up fare.

I like Premier Inn Waterloo or Premier Inn County Hall.

We always stay by the Gloucester tube stop. It’s on the Piccadilly line and easy to get to from the airport. Three lines run through it so it’s easy to get anywhere in the city unless there is a tube strike. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in the area. Earlier this year we stayed at The Bailey’s, but have also stayed at the Ashburn, Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt, and Melia Kensington. Each is within a block to the tube stop.

Thank you all. I am on a quick break at work and I see some wonderful tips that I will be acting on later.

I'll clarify one or two things quickly. Yes, our flight out is at 3:30PM. Our budget is up to $200 a night USD. I'm interested in Premier Inns as they have twin rooms and my daughter and I will share a room, but would prefer separate beds if possible. I've also seen a few Hilton branded hotels in my budget.

Thanks again, everyone.

A lot of good ideas above to pursue when your workday is done. I'd suggest the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Russell Square or Kings Cross station, and look for a hotel in that area. That would put you close to your northbound train and also the British Museum. The museum is so big that you might want to take it in a couple of shorter visits instead of a long one, which would be easier if you're based nearby. And it's free, so no cost to split up your time there.

The Heathrow Express is fast and very cheap if you buy in advance -- and note that the non-refundable ticket isn't for a specific train but only for a specific day, so you don't have to worry about a late flight or delays at immigration. The Elizabeth line is brand new, I didn't know it served Heathrow but if so it could be a great alternative.

You said no tour of Buckingham Palace, but you should know that in September it is open for visitors, with timed-entry tickets. The inside is very interesting and well worthwhile, especially if you're going to the palace anyway. Here's the info, allow a couple of hours.

The Circle Line (tube line) will take you to Tower Hill which is in walking distance to the Tower of London.

I’ll add to the pile on in suggesting Premier Inn, I always strongly recommend them. That goes twice for you and your daughter since you’ll want two beds.

I quite like the Premier Inn breakfast, you can definitely fill up and only need a light lunch if anything.

The full details on the Elizabeth Line service from Heathrow are here - https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train/elizabeth-line

We caught it a few days after they opened it, and they're nice new carriages with plenty of luggage space. It basically runs the same route as the old TfL Rail, stopping at Hayes & Harlington, Southall and Ealing Broadway, then Paddington, so very quick. Payment by contactless or Oyster card.

I stayed near the Tottenham Court station and liked this area well enough, although London has an issue with homelessness as do most cities, so you’ll see tents along businesses in this main road. But as a single woman walking back from the theater at night, I never felt unsafe. It’s otherwise a quiet area just far enough away from the hubbub but still close enough to walk to places if tube strikes happen. There is a Premier Inn at Holborn that I considered and you could get a premium room (or whatever they call it) with a mini fridge to help save food costs. You could eat at the hotel and save the money for a pint! Some pubs get so busy at dinner that this would be easier anyway.

I can't thank you all enough! I'll share these ideas with my daughter and get to booking our hotel. You've all been a big help.

Last week I stayed at Vincent House in Notting Hill. It's a long term stay hotel used often by business and student travelers in a very quiet neighborhood. My nephew and I had a twin room - on website it shows two separate bedrooms with shared bath but in reality it was a separate sitting room and a twin bed room. Worked great for us and good breakfast included. Near Notting Hill Gate tube which has three centrally focused lines. We used contactless credit cards for tube and worked well though each person needs a separate card to tap in and out. Hotel also has self catered laundry £4 wash and £1 dry.

Also there is a new thing at Tower of London this year for the Jubilee - called Superbloom. They have planted the moat with flowers and you can pay to walk through (not normally where you can walk). Can purchase tickets in combo with Tower entrance. We just viewed it from the public path above but it's a special option for 2022 visits and will likely be pretty still in September.

Have a great time!

I always like to stay along the Piccadilly Line since it is a straight route from Heathrow. Although others recommend the Heathrow Express, I like to just get on one means of transportation and then get off, rather than transferring. Since I use the Piccadilly Line, I like to stay in the Covent Garden area. In April, I enjoyed my stay at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street hotel. I was traveling with an old college friend so we had a room with two twin beds. There are other Radisson hotels in the area that may be in your price point. I always join a hotel's loyalty program since it usually gives me extra discounts or free breakfast. The Resident Hotel chain is another one I recommend that may be in your budget. Look along the Piccadilly Line stops for hotels and double check the reviews on Trip Advisor. I always make my first stop the British Museum because it is free and there is a ton to see. Touring it helps to fight off my jet lag.

I just got back from five weeks in Europe and since this is your first time, let me share the following tips. Do only carry-on luggage. With staffing shortages and blips in transportation, I was very thankful to only have a backpack and carry-on size rolling suitcase. It really saved me. Have a travel purse that is secure and get a leash for your phone. I felt bad seeing newbies carrying purses that were easy acces for pickpockets. I brought my trusty Travelwise maps and never used them because google maps makes things so easy. They would give me the exact stops for the tube, what entrance and exit to take etc. (so pack a small battery for on the go phone charging). Be prepared for crowds and for high prices. It seems like everyone is heading to Europe this year and prices were much higher than in previous trips. If you are looking for a quick, cheap bite, I like the Pret Managers which are all over.

With respect to Edinburgh, I recommend you take the Free Walking Ghost Tour at night. It was fun, the tour guide good and best of all, it was free! We ate at the Makars Gourmet Mash Bar and enjoyed it. It was reasonably priced, just be sure to make a reservation because they didn't take walk-ins when I went. Also download the Rick Steves free Audio Guide tours. We did the Royal Mile one and found it interesting.

From Heathrow, we found the Elizabeth Line was a great option to London. You may use the Oyster card and much less fare than a walk up on Nat'l Express. Only issue we found is that if you use your phone for navigating, the apple / google maps have not updated their information to include the Elizabeth line (at least as of 4 June). We used this line back and forth between LHR to Paddington Station 3 times when we went to meet our daughter at LHR. Direct and much quicker than tube, and not as costly as Nat'l Express.

I’ve been to London at least a dozen times in the last 30 years and canceled two trips during the pandemic. in the last few years I have been taking the Heathrow express to and from Paddington. I always book the Heathrow Express ahead of time for much cheaper rates. I often stay in the Paddington area especially when returning home because it’s so easy to get to Heathrow. I am a 75-year-old woman and often travel with other women. I have never felt uncomfortable in the Paddington area. Don’t try to skimp too much, for example take a black cab if you are tired after the theater or feel uncomfortable. Go to the theater. London Theatre is some of the best and in many ways priced reasonably. Take a look at the London Walks group, they are always great fun and quite inexpensive. Pig out at an afternoon tea. Allow extra time when visiting sites and likewise if you find some thing not so interesting, just go on to something else. Think about your own particular interests, e.g. Winston Churchill – – I have visited the Churchill war rooms three times and each time stay much longer than I intended. Use public transport BUT walk as much as possible. I stumbled on to the Little Venice canal area that I love by just walking around the Paddington area. Consider dividing your time between the major sites and some of the less obvious interesting sites like Highgate Cemetery, The London zoo, Little Venice or Sir John Soane’s Museum, all of which I have greatly enjoyed. London has incredible parks that make for interesting people watching as well as incredible landscapes. London is expensive but more than worth it. For reference, I’ve been walking in the English countryside half a dozen times, but I also love Disney World, Hawaii, France, Italy, Spain and I live in Chicago.

We stayed a few weeks ago at Premier Inn London Covent Garden which is just around the corner from the National Gallery. It was a great central location with 2 tube stations close by. Not sure if this hotel has twin beds though.

As for transport, we just take the Picadilly line to/from from Heathrow and pick hotels within walking distance of a station for that line. Depending on time of day it is 35-60 minutes.

One thing to keep in mind is this may be the summer of strikes on the tube and rail. I hope things are settled by the time of your trip. We were fortunate that we were only affected by one day of the tube strike (which led to a 2 mile walk to the Kings Cross station for our train, there were no cabs to be had) but as your trip nears if strikes are still happening you might want to research alternate methods of getting around London (eg. buses) and long distance buses for Edinburgh,

If there are two of you taking the train back and forth to Edinburgh, you might want to look into a two together railcard, which saves 1/3 off the price of tickets, and also saves on some Heathrow Express fares.

https://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/

Once again, thank you all for the generous advice. I'm taking it all into account.

We booked at the Premier Inn near Kings Cross as they have twin beds, there is a coffee shop nearby, it's close to the tube station, and the train we'll be taking to Scotland (God willing). It also seems more than feasible to walk to the British Museum should the weather allow.

I am a planner by nature, but I have to admit that London has been my biggest travel challenge ever. There is just so much to choose from. I'm nervous about the Edinburgh part of our trip as the strike could easily continue into September. The train journey was one of the things we were most looking forward to. Hopefully there is a satisfactory resolution for all by that time.

Just a reminder, the Piccadilly line goes direct from Heathrow to the Kings Cross tube station. No changes. It should take about an hour

As for any strikes, it doesn't pay to worry about it now since there is nothing that can be done. Keep an eye on any news. The union has to give at least a two week notice of any strike action. If it should be on your travel day, there are numerous flights from London to Edinburgh. People will also mention bus service but it will take 9-10 hours.

King's Cross is a good (perhaps noisy) area to be in, with all the bus options right there, St Pancras hotel right next to King's Cross is gorgeous, great place to have an afternoon tea, and the British Library's Treasure Room is a must-see (next door to St Pancras), especially if you're tired out on a rainy day. It's all in one big room, Magna Charta, Beatles, Leonardo DaVinci, everything. There's a little cafe' inside it, and has comfy benches all around the room.
And you're right, London IS a big travel challenge, it's much bigger than we expect. I've been there 4 times, 2 with my daughter (and she went 2 other times too), and we lived there for 2 months while we both volunteered at the Girl Guides/Scouts' hostel Pax Lodge in Hampstead, and we still make mistakes. Much of it is deciding what's your highest priorities, and being detached when plans change. I was there when there was a small protest allowed to shut down lots of the transportation for some reason, so I found the hop on hop off buses were really helpful, less crowded and more helpful to the riders. It made my trip viable when it was going to be basically ruined. The other thing I never expected was how completely fabulous the V&A Museum is, the jewellry room outshines the crown jewels' room at the Tower (tho not the same of course, but crowds of tiaras in the V&A do out-sparkle other places). Way better investment of time than Harrods, and in the same neighborhood. Flexibility and time in Windsor, near Heathrow, were critical highlights.