Staying in London for a 3 day layover to Amsterdam (March 2-March 5). We want to stay at a good hotel ($100-$160 a night). Where should we stay ? We are going to be doing all the touristy things so maybe something close.
What are the best LOCAL pubs to check out (not tourist traps) ?
What "area" are the major attractions in ?
London is a large city and the "major" sites are all over. That said... London is easy to navigate and you can get to almost any location with public transportation or by walking in a short to very reasonable time. Your budget will not get you a "good" hotel if you mean 4 or 5 star. It will get you a clean, small room in a budget hotel. We like the Victoria area- easy access to transportation, good resturants, shopping. It is near Buckinham Place. I'd suggest you start by using the hop on/hop off tour buses (several companies to choose from). They will take yo all over the city- do one complete trip first. Then you can use them as a kind of tranport system (tickets are good for 24 hours) to the major sites that you want to visit. I'd encourge you to "do" the Tower and either St. Paul's or Westminster. Then go with your interests. Art? Lots to see there History? can't beat the British museum. Gardens? Kew Gardens.
As to pubs- check out fancyapint.com it reviews London pubs.
Feel free to private message me (we've been more than 40 times).
"We want to stay at a good London hotel ($100-$160 a night)."
Each traveler's definition of "good" hotel is different--but in general $100 or thereabouts is low for a good hotel in London. If you mean clean and decent, that's one thing, but what you consider a good hotel may not be obtainable in London at the low end of the price range you gave.
Unfortunately, London is one of the more expensive hotel cities in Europe. Quick examples (obviously it is only an approximation to give costs in dollars due to changes in the exchange rate) Rick has published average London hotel cots, in 2009, as follows: average cost of a double room at a "mid-range tour hotel" in London averaged about $225, with a $330 average for a double rm at "upscale business-class" hotels, and $120 as an average for a double room at "budget hotels."
Hotel idea = Cherry Court Hotel - Victoria
Pub ideas = Hung, Drawn, and Quartered – Tower Hill; Bag O’ Nails - Victoria; Red Lion – Whitehall; and Jugged Hare - Pimlico
James - For info on pubs try fancyapint.com. I've found them to be pretty reliable.
