My wife and I will be in London for the first time for 3.5 days in May. We plan on seeing the biggies and would like to be located near the Circle Tube Line closer to St. Paul's than Hyde Park, but not pay too much. Nothing fancy, but an included breakfast would definitely get a second look. Do any of you have some recommendations based on places you've stayed that might work for us?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
We have stayed several times at the Sanctuary House Hotel, which is right near Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the St. James tube stop ( on the Circle Line).
http://www.sanctuaryhousehotel.co.uk/
Breakfast is in the pub downstairs, with a choice of continental or "full English" which costs extra. It is not particularly close to St. Paul's but itis on the Circle Line. We duck through a little alley to St. James Park and walk to the West End from there, passing the Horse Guards Parade.
Our more recent "go to" place is nearer to St. Paul's but nowhere near the Circle Line. That end of the Circle line, around Temple and Blackfriars stops, is quite close to the Thames and prices are accordingly higher.
Posted by
107 posts
I love this question because it gives me a chance to recommend the Darlington Hyde Park. It's not exactly cheap. A room will cost you about $165 per night, but the breakfast is first rate and the hotel is located about three blocks from the Paddington railway station and tube stop. The airport express trains comes directly from Heathrow to Paddington, so that's a big plus because you can easily make the airport-to-hotel transfer. I noticed you had a preference for the Circle Tube line, but you'll find that it's quite swift and convenient to start your trip to central London from Paddington.
There are some good restaurants in the area as well.
Check it out on TripAdvisor to see what others say. It's one of those hotels that has high customer ratings and a relatively low price.
Have fun!
Posted by
Clawson, MI, USA
199 posts
Hi Josh, if money is an issue try one of the local colleges or universities. When students go home for the semester they rent out dorm rooms. I stayed at Imperial College last July for 3 nights. It had an en-suite bathroom and it was clean. Breakfast was free. It was a 5 minute walk to the cafeteria but it was worth it. It's located near the South Kensington tube stop which I think is on the Circle Line. Also the Picadilly line stops there from Heathrow.
Also, you can try London School of Economics or King's College too.
Good luck.
http://www.universityrooms.com/en/city/london/home?gclid=CKzHjP-1hcICFQQSMwodZDwAZg
Posted by
Central Indiana, USA
357 posts
I have stayed at the Citadines Barbican, and booked early enough that I paid less than £100 per night.
http://www.citadines.com/en/uk/london/barbican.html
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3895 posts
A great place to stay is the YHA London St. Paul's hostel, at 36 Carter Lane. It is one block south of St. Paul's. If you walk six blocks east of the hostel, you are at Mansion House tube station, which is on the Circle Line.
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-st-pauls
It is one of the best of the YHA hostels in London, £30 for a private room; serves a great breakfast. The rooms are comfortable, and many of the London landmarks are walking distance.
If you prefer a hotel, one block from the hostel is Grange St. Paul's Hotel, 10 Godliman St. About $200 per night.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Be sure to check out the award winning Aster House B&B (with ice machine!) featured in Rick's London TV episode:
It's a short walk to the South Kensington underground tube metro subway station which serves the Circle, District, and Picadilly lines.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3895 posts
Consider Covent Garden as a location for your hotel. Covent Garden is walking distance to Buckingham Palace, The Mall, St. James Park, and Westminster Abbey.
A moderately priced hotel in CG is The Fielding Hotel, 4 Broad Court, about $200 to $219 per night; reasonable for London. www.thefieldinghotel.co.uk Very nice. We have stayed there and found it to be comfy, and a great location.
More upscale in CG is Radisson Covent Garden, 20 Mercer St., about 220 to 250 U.S. dollars per night. Luxury, but not over-the-top expensive. www.radissonblu-edwardian.com
Covent Garden is a great location because of restaurants and pubs located there and transportation options. Temple tube station is nearby; on the Circle Line.
Posted by
2 posts
There are a number of Premier Inns in and around London and their prices are very reasonable. Breakfast and/or dinner are optional if you want to eat onsite. I stayed at the one in Woking and at Gatwick airport and both are very well run. Six nights in Woking averaged 55 pounds per night and the one at Gatwick was 67 pounds for one night.