What area to stay in - or avoid?

Avoid Central London if you want to avoid the busier areas.

I like the South Kensington and Earl's Court areas. They are more residential, have plenty of hotels and only about 15 minutes by tube to the center of town. I spend a lot of time in London and have rarely ventured from these neighborhoods.

Be aware, many of the older, more boutique hotels have smaller rooms and if you are trying to get a triple for your daughters the rooms can be small.

Others will tell you about areas north of Hyde park but since I have never stayed there, I will defer to them. Some will suggest the area around "Victoria Station" because that is a "Rick Approved" area but it is very busy and there is a lot of construction.

South Kensington and Bayswater are both great area. The Rhodes Hotel, 195 Sussex Gardens is a lovely hotel has a family room that sleeps 5, and a short walk to Hyde Park. The London Elizabeth is also a lovely hotel it's across the street from Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park, around the corner from a great pub, The Swan. It's a 2 minute walk from Lancaster Gate Tube Station. Lancaster Gate is closed now to replace the two lifts, to reopen the first of July, if by chance it isn't its only a 8 minute walk to Paddington Tube Station.

I'm with Emma, the South Bank, esp Bankside, is wonderful and not at all inundated with tourists, yet within walking distance of many tourist sites. Since you are 5 and probably arriving Heathrow reserving a car service makes sense and then you can stay anywhere without worrying about public transport to get there from the airport. If perhaps arriving Gatwick that works too since there is direct train service Gatwick to Bankside.

Despite the crowds, places such as Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and such, are like Fisherman's Warf in that one should at least "pop in", however briefly. Then one can at least say "been there -- did that -- don't need to do it again". If you go really early in the a.m. the crowds will not be as bad as later in the day.

We've been to London a few times and all but once stayed in Marylebone. So I can't do a compare & contrast for you but I can tell you why I like Marylebone.

• It's busy during the day but off the main streets it's quiet traffic-wise at night. Peaceful sleeping.
• Plenty of shops to stock your flat if you've gone that route
• Plenty of small places to grab coffee and a quick bite for breakfast or lunch
• Easy walking to several tube stations on a few different lines
• Enough restaurants that if you don't want to go far for dinner you don't have to
• Pubs (tho that's true everywhere really)

We've found the area bounded by Wigmore St to the south, Marylebone Rd to the north, Seymour Place to the west and Great Portland Rd to the east to be the section we always gravitate towards for accommodations.

That's why I avoid saying it out loud.

Rats. "Marylebone" is one I've always wondered about. Sorry to learn there isn't a single, accepted answer.

Check for an apartment. We stayed in London Southwark (I only know how to pronounce that because they say it loud in the tube) and enjoyed it.

suth-uck where the uck is a cross between uck and ick. Others will disagree probs

Thank you!! My plan at the moment is to start with VRBO and get an apartment, followed closely by a B & B with two rooms. There is no way we can all stay in one room - my kids are 16, 18 and 20. Not sure if my 20 year old can even go because of work, but this may be our last trip together, so I am pushing for it! And the "No Times Square" analogy is just as great! Some people love it - but not me. I will start my research from here, and am sure I will ask more questions. Thanks!