Overwhelmed with which area to stay?

Sally, I think an apartment could be a wonderful thing, especially with a large family group. I don't have info on accessible flats but this idea about a hotel: The Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum Hotel. (That's a mouthful; it was some version of "The Forum" before the HI chain bought it. And you need to specify "Kensington Forum" since there is, or was, a different HI also in Kensington) The Forum (for short) is a high-rise American style hotel in S. Kensington where I've stayed in the past. It has elevators and I believe would be easy for your mom to navigate in a wheelchair. Of course you'd need to confirm that with them if you consider booking there. I visited the hotel website and they seem to now offer some "accessible" rooms which may be over-equipped for your mom's needs. Sounds like she really just needs to avoid steps and stairs. The hotel is set back from the street with a nice driveway for taxis etc. It's also located next to a shopping center with a large grocery store, a Boots, and restaurants. With other shops nearby too. I haven't been there lately but stayed there on 5 visits from the mid-90's to 2002. I've stayed in that area of London (S. Kensington) as recently as 2009 and really like it. If you find a short-stay flat in that area that would be workable for your group and accessible for your mom, I'd say go for it. I've used the Tube and buses, so haven't a clue what a taxi ride from there to Westminster, the West End, and other sights would cost. But right in the neighborhood are Harrod's and the V&A Museum.

I feel I should add to what I wrote a few minutes ago. There may be better areas to stay when you consider the time/cost of taxicabs between the hotel or flat and the attractions you plan to visit. I really don't have a good idea about how S. Kensington would compare to other areas in that regard. I do like it because it is generally an attractive area and once you're off the major roads/streets, surprisingly (to me) quiet even. I know it's convenient by tube and bus, just not sure if there are somewhat closer-in locations that would involve shorter and cheaper taxi rides.

I found the Good Access Guide, a website which features accessible accommodation. I note that it's not a non-profit, and probably advertiser supported. Just so you know. I also found Inclusive London which could also help. An area that would be closer to the center of London than S. Kensington, is Bloomsbury. Just in a quick check I found that Holiday Inn (again!) has a hotel in Bloomsbury that claims to be quite accessible. I think the taxi fares to the central London sites from Bloomsbury would be lower (and the trips faster) than from S. Kensington.

Hi Suz,
Thank you very much. I will look into the Bloomsberry area.

For your 82 year old mother, S.Kensington is not the area to stay- practical transportation to the areas for sightseeing from S Ken is by tube. Not all tubse stations are free of the need to use stairs or escalators. A taxi from S.Ken would be expensive ( i even had one tell me he was not allowed to go that far. Long taxi reides are also not the fastest or efficient way to get around London. (They are great for short distances and cutting across the traffic flow)

Hi Brian, My sister and I have stayed twice at High street kensington area before and used the tube a lot. You're right, with my mom's condition, I think it would be too far. Perhaps the Bloomsbury area would be the most convenient.Thanks.

I'm a little late to answer this - but I'll add my 2 cents. We have stayed in London several times. My husband is in his 80s - but agile. I have polio and travel wtih a folding seat.
I think a cab from LHR would be very expensive. I would suggest the Heathrow Express Train (which handles wheel chairs) from the airport to a major station - and then perhaps a cab to your final destimation. I don't know anything about apartments in London, but we usually stay near Victoria Station because it is so accessible to all forms of transportation. With our limits we find that area very convenient. The Tube can be tricky - but not impossible if you watch for transfer stations that have elvators. I think the biggest challenage for those of us with disabilities is to get over feeling we are an "inconveniece", slow down, be polite and don't stop traveling.

One thing I forgot - have you considered a folding companion chair, rather than a traditional wheel chair? It folds smaller, you need to be "pushed"; cannot wheel yourself, has smaller wheels - so not as comfortable on a cobble street - but much easier for someone who can walk even a few steps. We've taken it on the Tube by standing just before the train arrives folding it, and stepping into the car. Can be tricky but do-able.

Hi Sandi, Thank you very much for your response. Yes, my mom has this folding wheelchair that We got online at Costco. We used in our last trip to Hawaii. We love it . It is lite weight, very portable and doesn't break our back to load and unload the wheelchair. I think the last sentence on your paragraph is very true that the biggest challenge is for the disabled person to feel that he or she is not an 'inconvenience' and not to stop travelling.