We are staying at the Arran House for 5 days in a few weeks. I have noticed it mentioned here several times. Anyone who has stayed there, or nearby, can you recommend any of the pubs or relatively inexpensive restaurants close to the hotel? Thanks.
There are a ton of pubs around the Goodge St Station, a Marks & Spencer's etc. Arran house allows you to store food in a communial fridge if clearly marked. I eat a hearty breakfast at Arran House and eat a good lunch out and then have a bed spread picnic for dinner (from Marks & Spenser - turn right coming out of Goodge St Station and go o/a a block). You also have kitchen privlages so you can microwave food etc. Just clean up after yourself.
The Fitzrovia in Goodge Street itself is probably the best pub in the area, and does reasonable food.
Only about 5 minutes walk away, in Drummond Street (near Euston Station) is Chutney's an excellent vegetarian indian restaurant. I also like the Ravi Shankar in the same street, and there are other indian options nearby. Chicken tikka is the most popular dish in the UK, so Indian is really our national cuisine.
A few minutes to the south, in Frith Street in Soho, is Jimmy's, my favourite Greek restaurant in London. Details here
http://www.london-restaurants.com/london/areas/restaurant.asp?classID=52
Cheers
Alan
Congratulations you are within a stones throw of one of the world's greatest pubs.
Walk down Gower Street to High Holborn. Swing left onto High Holborn and cross over the road. Walk along for a couple of hundred yards until you come to the Princess Louise.
It's been closed for some time for refurbishment. It has been refurbished beautifully and completely in the original style of the great and historic pub it always was.
It's still selling Sam Smith's Old Brewery Bitter ( OBB ) at £2.00 a pint ( fantastically cheap ! ) and you can get a decent plateful of food without breaking the bank.
All of Alan's recommendations are well worth a visit, but you'll kick yourself if you don't make it to the 'Princess'.
Also worth a look:
The Seven Stars on Carey Street - good beer, expensive food (but the pub did survive the great fire of London in 1666).
The Prince of Wales on Drury Lane - good beer and good food
The Sir John Russell on Marchmont Street - a good all round pub.
Thank you for your suggestions. I appreciate your taking the time to answer. We will be getting to as many of these places as we can. I am anxious to have my boys try some good Indian cuisine; there is little around us.