I just read the Little Venice thread. It looks like a possible location which might combine peace (less bustle) with walking opportunities. Does anyone have other suggestions? Near one of the parks?
Paddington station has the advantage of being a stop for the Heathrow express train. Less hassle upon arrival. This is another consideration for us.
Thanks for any suggestions!
I would second Emma's recommendation for a little further west to enjoy some ideal walks and greenery. Richmond and Chiswick are both ideal with their proximity to the Thames paths, restaurants, historical stately homes, hotels and B&Bs. There are train and tube lines to both suburbs that can wisk you into the heart of London in 20 minutes or so. I can highly recommend both the Hammersmith to Chiswick and Richmond to Twickenham Thames Path walks.
Kirsten, Little Venice is a residential area. There are not hotels in the area; primarily townhouses, and I have never seen any apartments for rent there.
A better area for you might be along Bayswater Road, between Paddington Station and Hyde Park. Hyde Park for walks, and Bayswater Road for bus and tube transportation, plus restaurants, grocery stores and pubs.
You have Hyde Park right on your doorstep for walking. And you are walking distance from Paddington Station.
Hotels in this area include:
Corus Hotel Hyde Park--www.corushotels.com About $115.
Best Western Mornington Hotel--www.bestwestern.co.uk About $82.
The Lancaster--www.lancasterlondon.com About $132.
Lancaster Gate Hotel--www.lancastergatehotelhydepark.co.uk About $69.
This section along Bayswater Road has lots of cafes, pubs and grocery stores.
Also good transportation around London from here; buses and tube stations.
I think this is what you are looking for while staying in London.
If peace and quiet and a respite with nature is what you are looking for, you will want to take the train out of London and stay in the Cotswolds for a couple of days. That's out in the countryside, with the Cotswold Way walking path. Just a short train ride and you're there.
Thank you for your suggestions. Our stay in London is short and since I'm traveling with a not-so-enthusiastic-about-cities travel companion, we're keeping things low key. I will check out your recommendations and I appreciate the insights!
A short time in London, traveling with someone who is not enthused about cities, and wishing to use the Heathrow Express. Sounds like my first time in London. I have since come to love this city and recently spent three weeks there.
I am one of the people who contributed to the Little Venice thread that attracted you to that area. I agree with others that it is a nice place for walking---but not a great place to stay.
In the Bayswater area you can stay very close to Hyde Park/Kensington Garden, which together form a huge and mostly undeveloped park---just meadows and trees and paths, and a serpentine-shaped lake. You can access a number of great museums by crossing the park to the south side---the Science Museum, Natural History Museum,,and Victoria and Albert are all right there. Or head east through Hyde Park to Green Park, another green open space, connect to St. James Park which is just past Buckingham Palace. the streets you cross are busy but the park paths are traffic-free. St. James Park has beautiful plantings of flowers and trees, and more people than the other two. From the south end of St. James Park, you can easily reach Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, or turn east and head to Trafalgar Square in heart of London. This is how we move around London---using the parks as much as possible, along with the Thames path along the river. If it is too far walk we take the bus or the river bus; the tube is a last resort for me.
In addition to the hotels suggested by Rebecca above, you might look at Number 63, which is right across the road from an entrance into Hyde Park.
If you intend to take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, buy your tickets well in advance for the best price. Ninety days or more ahead is best of all. Depending on the hotel you have chosen and your amount of luggage, you may want to take a black cab from the station to your hotel.
I made some of my suggestions because the OP said,
"Paddington station has the advantage of being a stop for the Heathrow express train. Less hassle upon arrival. This is another consideration for us."
So I thought she might be looking for a hotel near nature, but also near Paddington Station.
Yes, there is hustle and bustle around that area. But I though she was asking to be near Paddington, yet near a park.
I will say that regardless of your travel partner not liking cities, you will be in London, a very large city; so, he or she may just have to bear with it for a day or so.
Kirsten, the Bloomsbury area is also a good location for you. This is the area mentioned by Emma. It has Russell Square, which is not a large park like Hyde Park. Russell Square is a one block square park with lots of trees, benches and grassy lawns. You can easily reach Bloomsbury from Paddington Station by bus or tube.
There are some good hotels in this area. Let us know if you are interested in Bloomsbury, and want some hotel suggestions.
Bloomsbury is also a good location. It is walking distance to the British Museum (actually it's in Bloomsbury), the British Library, Covent Garden, and has good tube and bus transportation to other tourist attractions around London.
A secret respite for me is the small park next to the Cafe Nero which is attached to the Sir Christopher Wren designed St James of Piccadilly church. Can enter this small green enclave from Jermyn Street or Piccadilly.
Then again you might be asking about a less loud and hectic spot to stay. The Marriot at Regents Park is in a residential neighborhood with the Swiss Cottage underground station two blocks away.
Consider staying in an area away from the center of London. You could stay in Kew, near Kew Gardens. There are several hotels and B&B's there, with easy transportation into central London.
