Where have you stayed while in York and London?

I stayed at the Charlotte Guest House in West Hampstead last fall. It's basic, inexpensive by London standards (40 GBP for standard single), and on a direct tube line to Waterloo Station. The people there are friendly and helpful. You can have full English breakfast or other choices in the breakfast room. It's an old building, in the process of being fixed-up last fall. Www. charloteguesthouse.com

I would recommend either the Best Western Victoria Palace (£69 single incl full breakfast) or the Surtees Hotel (£55 single continental breakfast). Both are clean, well-run, simple accommodation near Victoria Station. You can walk to most every major attraction or you are about 8 minutes from the bus/tube/train. This is my favorite location in the city. It is mostly residential with a few hotels thrown in. There are several pubs, other eateries and supermarkets up and down Belgrave and Warwick.

I'm heading back to the Surtees over Thanksgiving weekend. I can't wait.

We stayed at The Abbey Guesthouse in York in 2003. Ten minute walk from train station, directly on the River Ouse, 10 minute walk past St. Mary's Abbey to the old city and York Minster. If you don't have a problem with stairs or small bathrooms, it is terrific. Also, the free walking tours in York are great, and get to an evensong at the Minster if possible.

http://www.abbeyghyork.co.uk/contact.html

We just spent a few days in York. Stayed also at the Abbey, great place, great people. I want to also echo the report on the free walking tours. I have done the free tours in Bath and York, guides were great.

As to London, we stay at Harrington House, a small hotel in Bloomsberry, halhway between the Brit. Museum and Library.

Tom

Scrapper,

Hello again!

On my last trip to York, I stayed in the HI Hostel (it's in an elegant old Mansion). I normally travel "solo" so just used a Dorm Room. However, I believe they have some double (private) rooms available (you'd have to check their web site). They also have a Bar, which is another nice touch!

The location was great (about a 15 minute walk to the TI where the walking tours depart; also a short walk along the river to the Railway Museum). At that time (2004) they had a full cafeteria and as I recall the "full English breakfast" was included in the cost of the room. It was possible to pre-arrange lunches and dinners. They also had free parking, which was great!

If you want "budget travel", I don't think you'll find a more reasonable cost.

Regarding London, check Rick's Guidebooks as there are lots of clean, safe and affordable listings. I'm heading there in about 10 days, so will let you know what my experiences were.

Cheers!

Bayswater Inn two blocks from the Bayswater Metro stop.

Thanks so much! I've checked them all out. Seems as if most of them don't have availability for us on the dates we're going. But, I think I've found a couple that are wonderful options - just waiting for confirmation/reservations.

Thank you, everyone.

This may be too late for your travels, but may be of interest to others. We have stayed several times at the Jenkins Hotel in Bloomsbury. It is a family run hotel since in the early 1900's, well run, clean, in a quiet area, close to trains and tube, with several pubs/restaurants close by. It was featured in one of Agatha Christie's Poireau Mystery series movies several years ago. I always think we should explore other locations, but somehow we always end up at the Jenkins. We've never been disappointed.

I have recently heard of the Travelodge in York city center running £26 deals on the internet. You have to book at least 3 weeks ahead and it doesn't include breakfast but the location is great and when my husband and I stayed there on our honeymoon we had a nice time.
We loved York so much that we are now living here.

We ended up staying at the Bootham Guest House & it was wonderful. The place was darling and the food was good. Loved that place. Would stay there again.
In London we stayed at the Charlotte Guest House & it was awful! The placed reeked of something stinky, mold around tub faucets, nail heads poking out of the floor. Dark, dingy. Required a 5 lb. cash key deposit - didn't tell us until we got there at 10pm - Had to go back to an open store to make change. Not helpful at all when asked questions & they weren't answering the door at 7am when we left, so we not only didn't get breakfast, we didn't get our deposit back, either. & the location was only ok. I can say that the room was big, sheets & 2 sm. bath towels seemed clean. I imagine if there had been any hand towels or wash cloths, they too would have been clean.
We also stayed at the Hilton Metropole, in view of the tube exit. It was a great location. Clean & smelled good. And the concierge was very helpful! A++

The Bar Convent in York was wonderful - I almost don't want to tell people about it. Not a full english but the best continental I had during my trip.