My husband and I will be driving(12-14 days) through England in June 2008 with our 3 daughters(14, 11, and 7). This is the first trip to Europe for our children. We will fly into London and out of Edinburgh. We are having trouble finding rooms for 5 people or 2 rooms to share. Can anyone help me with suggestions on hotels or B&B's? We want very clean, quiet places with good beds with breakfast. When my husband and I used to travel before children we would often pick R. Steve's nicest small hotels or B&B's. We will probably be in London 4 nights, then Bath, the Lake District, York, and Edinburgh. London is the place that I need help with the most. Thanks!
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1429 posts
My family of 5 will also be in Great Britain in June. In London we are staying at the Arran House Hotel - which for some reason isn't in Rick's guidebook. We're paying 135L for an ensuite room for 5. This place was recommended to me by someone on this helpline. It get's really great reviews on tripadvisor. I'll let everyone know how it was when I return from my trip. You can check out their website - www.arranhotel-london.com.
In Edinburgh and York I booked 2 separate rooms at B&Bs in Rick's guidebook.
Good luck, maybe we'll run into you in June!
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
You might look into the Ridgemount Hotel on Gower Street. (Google it.) Not expensive, family-run, close to transportation and restaurants etc., on Tottenham Court Road. The British Museum and the John Soanes Museum are within walking distance. Stayed there in 2005 with friends. The rooms are small but en-suite and the breakfast is very hearty.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
I think Arran House is on Gower Street right near, if not next door to, the Ridgemount Hotel that I recommended.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
380 posts
If you are willing to stay in a town outside of Edinburgh I can recommend Bonsyde House Hotel in Linlithgow, Scotland. It's just outside of Edinburgh and you can easily take a 30 minute (at most) train ride to the main station in Edinburgh. My husband and I stayed there last March and it was a wonderful stay! They have 8 rooms in the main house, I believe I remember one being a family room, but they also have 4 or 5 cottages that can be self catering or on bed and breakfast terms. The room we were in was very nice, all are ensuite with tv and the staff was extremely nice and very welcoming. They have a restaurant/bar onsite & our breakfast was cooked to order every morning, unless we wanted just cold cereal. We will stay there again when in that part of Scotland. Their website is www.bonsydehouse.co.uk. Let me know if you have any questions about the hotel or the area, I'll be glad to help.
Karen
PS: The house was surrounded by fields and sat on top of a hill looking at town.
Posted by
OP
Salisbury, NC
6 posts
Thank you for the help. i am looking at all of them. Are there cheap places to eat @ Gower street that would appeal to kids?
Posted by
Powell River, Canada
359 posts
My wife and are using the Luna & Simone near Victoria Station,London, this spring and they have singles to quads. They're #7 for London on Trip Advisor, many kudos for spotless rooms/toilets and reasonable $'s to boot. We used the Lime Tree last year and to me, was just OK, yet highly rated by Rick; for some reason he doesn't even list the Luna&Simone; go figure. We're doing Bath as well and it could be a bit more tricky for 5 (expensive as well and we're only 2).