London Hotel Suggestions

Are you sure about Piccadilly Circus? That is a heavy commercial area and I don't remember see a lot of hotels in that immediate area. We always stay in the Victoria Station area -- Lime Tree, Winchester hotel, etc.

Kelly, I would recommend base2stay near Earl's Court underground in the Knightsbridge area............

It is a great value for the price and very modern...mini-kitchen, internet connection, spacious bathroom and comfortable beds........with a lift.....
Check out their website....you will see what I mean.......so many of the hotels in London....are older and the rooms are very cramped...

At any rate....whatever hotel you decide on...use Tripadvisor ---- it gives you traveler's reviews with photos ---- updated constantly....

Have fun!!

Use the Graffiti Wall on this website for recommendations as well. Not sure why someone would suggest the Piccadilly Circus area but each to there own. You might check out this B & B as well. I find that staying in a B & B for a first trip to another country always helpful. Owners are proud to show off their city and surroundings and give you insiders tips for places to see. Anyway, Belgravia is a VERY nice area of London. http://www.bb-belgravia.com/ Enjoy your visit.

Kelly, I'd also recommend the Victoria station area. I stayed at Cartref House on Ebury Street, and had a great time! It's a nice area and very convenient for walking to the Parliament Buildings, the London Eye, etc. It's also just around the corner from the Victoria Coach station, which is convenient for taking trips to Bath or other areas.

Happy travels!

I personally wouldn't limit myself to one neighbourhood. I would compare the cost, facilities and location, and make my decision based on all of those factors.

My husband and I stayed at the Winchester Hotel near Victoria Station the first time we went to England and the room - a regular room with a double bed - was small but clean, and breakfast was great. Last year, we rented a family room that was absolutely horrible. The overhead light fixture globe was broken with jagged edges, the electrical sockets were all loose, the light over our granddaughter's bed was loose and the glass globe broken with jagged edges, the cord to the television was draped across the light on one wall over to the outlet which was 6-8 feet away, and the "tea tray" was a very small, very cheap, plastic affair that sagged and looked as though it would dump the stacked teacups, water heater, etc. onto the bed (did I mention it was right over our granddaughter's bed?) at any moment. The room was so small that only one person could pass between the double bed and the single bed at a time. I took pictures of all of the things that were wrong and, when we got back home, sent them with a letter explaining our disappointments to the Winchester specifically to the attention of Jimmy, but never heard a word back. During our stay at the Winchester we never saw Jimmy and we understood that he was starting up a new hotel on the next street. Breakfast at the Winchester last year, by the way, was awful. We got downstairs well within the time frame for breakfast but were told there was almost nothing left, and what we did get was terrible. The Winchester, last time out, was a huge disappointment.

Kelly,
My husband and I are going to London in September as well. We are stationed in Germany with the military. And from friends here who have traveled they recommend the Victoria area as well. I am gonna give it a shot this September so well see. But I booked through Surtees Hotel. The prices were reasonable, the night consierge Maria is EXTREMELY helpful in getting information. Hope you have fun.

Has anyone stayed at the Winchester recently? I stayed there in '04 and had a lovely time--and am staying there again in a little under four weeks! But I must confess, after just reading Julie's review, am a bit nervous...

Thanks! (Hoping it was just a one time bad experience)

Check out Tripadvisor.com for the latest reviews on hotels. I like it because it has the traveler's reviews and their photos.....

This way you have access to timely updated information for your plans.......

It saved us from some noisy, less than desirable and cramped places during our recent trip in May.

In the area around Victoria Station check out Luna&Simone. It has rave reviews, and my contact with them through email (I made and later cancelled a reservation) was top notch. Also Belgravia B&B has excellent reviews as well.

First, thank you Melissa :-) Second, I am not here to push our hotel because I think that's just wrong and unprofessional to do. I wanted to make a couple comments/suggestions, though. While our hotel is also good (we're not 5-star, but we try to make you comfortable and happy), the suggestion for Luna Simone is good as well.

As for the Winchester -- Julie, the reason why you may not have heard from Jimmy is because the hotel has changed hands and is no longer his. That's the "word on the street". We've heard quality is not to his standards, which is unfortunate.

The Victoria/Westminster area is a wonderful area. Perfectly situated for touring, as we have Victoria Station right here with the coach, tube, trains and buses. A 10 minute walk to the Palace, and add another perhaps 5 or 10 to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey (don't forget Westminster Cathedral also!). Wonderfully safe to walk in at night (I've walked from Piccadilly Circus back to here at Midnight by myself with no problems), so very many great restaurants from every corner of the world, shops ... If you'd like, feel free to ask about hotels and I'd be happy to give you a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" from the "word on the street", so to speak, if anyone's walked in and walked straight out, that sort of thing ;-)

Whatever you decide, have a great time here, and I hope you take home many wonderful memories!

I'd like to add another vote for the Cartref House on Ebury Street. The neighborhood is lovely and it's a bonus to be so near Victoria Station. As others have mentioned there are other great B & B's in that neighborhood that would be pleasant as well. I think the location is a good one for visiting London.

I know some people may say this is a bit too far outside of the main "tourist area", but my wife and I had a great stay at the Rhodes Hotel on Sussex Gardens, just north of Hyde Park last September.

In fact we are staying again for a few nights this September. It's a small family run place, one of the owners, either Chris or Maria are always at the front desk and are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The rooms are not tiny like we had been led to expect in London, the bathroom was very nice as well. I would say as far as room size and quality is concerned it would compare to a room at a mid-priced inn in North America. And 80 pounds for a double room is really quite reasonable for London.

I anticipate that we will be visiting London yearly for quite awhile and will stay at the Rhodes as long as they are there.

We didn't really find that it was too out of the way wither, we walked most places, Hyde Park was a 5 minute walk, it was maybe a 20 minute walk to Buckingham, 10 minutes more to the Thames, but London is really a beautiful walking city. If walking doesn't work for you, Paddington station is very close by and you can get anywhere very quickly.

All in all, I consider us to be fairly discerning travellers and I don't give recommendations just offhand. At least Google the Rhodes hotel and check it out.

Victoria is a great area with good links.

Piccadilly area is smack in the middle of everything. I got a great deal at the Holiday Inn near Green Park Tube and the Ritz.

Have a look at everything.

Morgan House near Victoria Station. I've stayed twice and it's great, unless you get on top floor cuz no elevators. Couple blocks from VS, and I've walked it at 1 AM and felt safe. I wouldn't stay anywhere else.

Thank you for your recommendations, I booked the Rhodes Hotel based upon the responses, it was just the type of place I was looking for. We are traveling to London in November. Can't wait!!