London: Where to start?

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Ash

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We must be some of the few people left in this country not to be familiar with London as a city. We're thinking of heading there shortly for a midweek break to see the sights, all the usual things, maybe a museum, a show.
We've checked the information on AAM about London but it doesn't seem to cover our basic, very basic, problem i.e. where to stay, more specifically, in which area? An area central to many of the attractions. It looks like we would be flying in to Heathrow.
Usual hotel websites like wotif.com and hotelclub.net list according to area but I'm afraid this doesn't help us much at this stage.
Can anyone offer some basic ideas, for a three day stay?
All replies would greatly appreciated. :)
 
Hi Ash

I usually head for Knightsbridge or Kensington - good areas of town with a lot going on. Natural History Museum and Science Museum are in this area and you can walk, catch a bus or tube to the West End - theatre land. Shopping is also good in Knightsbridge with Harrods, Harvey Nics etc.

Try londontown.com for accommodation - stayed at the 3* Kensington Palace Hotel right on Hyde Park last time and it was very reasonable GBP65 for double room with breakfast.
 
I'd recommend staying in the Covent Garden area. There's some lovely hotels on some of the smaller/quieter side streets - there's a couple of Radisson hotels if I remember correctly.

Like below, you're in the centre of a lot of action around there, except there's not as much traffic around, and there's a lot of interesting shops in and around the Covent Garden area.

Plenty of choices of where to eat and be entertained, and you're a walk away from Leister Square for the shows etc.

Central for tubes as well, with a hell of a lot within walking distance. Would personally recommend above Knightsbridge/Kensington for the fact that it's sort of cosier type of area.
 
We stayed at the Jury's Inn in Angel a few years ago. The hotel is very centrally located and only a few minutes from the Tube. The rooms were air conditioned (very important during the summer!) and the hotel was of a higher standard than their counterparts in Dublin. As for what to see, myself and Mrs C (who lived in London for 10 years) would recommend the following:

Tate Modern- former powerstation in Bankside is now an impressive museum of modern art and is quite impressive for it's sheer scale if nothing else.

Greenwich- lovely place to while away an afternoon, lots of quaint shops and tea shops plus the Cutty Sark.

London Eye- I presume it's still up and running? Costs about £10 but worth it for the view- depending on the weather and visibility that is.

West End- take in a show in the West End and if you're feeling flush treat yourselves to a pre show bottle of champers.

Shopping- Oxford Street, Bond Street, Knightsbridge

River boat trip-
Go for a boat trip on the Thames, lasts about an hour and is great fun.

Real Ale- Go to one of the old Victorian gin palaces and sample some real ale- a pint of Spitfire or Old Peculiar! Check out the CAMRA web site for locations of authentic london Victorian boozers.

And I could go on, there's so much to do and see in London, it really is a fantastic city. Enjoy yourselves.
 
If you live in Dublin check out the with British Tourist Board on Dame St

Tel 670800

Usually great help for a first timer

The only place for me in London at the mo is Highbury
 
A few links- hope it helps

Hello Ash,The first link is for hotels, it is quite good as it has a map for all the local attractions.
http://www.hotel-assist.com/hotels-victoria-london.html
I stayed in the Days inn in Waterloo. it was handy, clean and reasonable. Breakfast was not included though!

London is great- you can walk around most places.
When I was there with my brother for 1 day, we walked from Waterloo to the london eye, past the houses of parliament, through trafalgar square, to leicester square and onto Oxford street for some shopping. We also visited Westminster cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

Harrods and Harvey nicks are in Knightbridge so may have to get the tube. If you are going on the tube, get a map with the zones. Then just get a single or day pass for the zones you will be needing. Otherwise you will pay extra unneccessarily.
http://www.londontown.com/
http://uk.visitlondon.com/city_guide/attractions/
http://www.explore-london.co.uk/attraction.html

In the following link, if you click on the name of the station, it will list the attractions nearby.
http://www.uktravel.com/londonmap.asp?tubeID=48

You could also go visit the Queen (the Palace anyway), down along the mall and into St.James park. Quite nice actually! the changing of the guard is supposed to be impressive!
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/
http://www.explore-london.co.uk/

W.r.t. museums Science, Natural history, and Victoria and Albert are located in South Ken. If you get the tube there, follow the signs for Imperial College and it will bring you out onto the street beside the Science museum. Further down on the same side, the natural museum. Opposite the tube station is the V and A (if i remember correctly).

If you want to visit an Irish pub, a large one in the centre is Waxy O'Connor's, 14-16 Rupert Street, W1
Tel: +44 (0)20 7287 0255
Tube: Piccadilly Circus

This is a link to the markets, Petticoat lane, Convent garden,
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/

for general shopping,

http://www.choice-hotels-london.com/attractions/shopping.htm

If you are planning to visit Madame Tussauds, it would probably be better to prebook tickets.

http://www.madame-tussauds.co.uk/

I would recomend going on the sight seeing double decker bus, if it is a dry day! The view from the London eye is impressive, also there is an exhibition hall nearby.

Hope this helps,
Have a great weekend :D
 
Last edited:
Ash,

place to stay - very good value, next to end of oxford street, leisure centre and really good deals on rooms - st. gilles international hotel (www.stgiles.com) - have booked a weekend there in december and double room (room only) rates are £40 - stunning value
... it is a big faceless hotel but its location,value and amenities are second to none
 
doogo said:
Ash,

place to stay - very good value, next to end of oxford street, leisure centre and really good deals on rooms - st. gilles international hotel (www.stgiles.com) - have booked a weekend there in december and double room (room only) rates are £40 - stunning value
... it is a big faceless hotel but its location,value and amenities are second to none
Click to expand...

I've stayed here a couple of times. I wouldn't recommend this place. Centrally located and as cheap as it is, it's got poor enough bedrooms, is very noisy and the service was pretty poor.

Not value for money in my book. But that's just me.
 
I'd have to question what you're looking for value for money in London if a centrally located hotel with clean basic rooms (I can't say that they were noisy when i have visited in thepast) comes in at £40 per room ... sorry ronan d john, i can't agree with you on this one - this place is a good find - if the noise is that bad, a pair of boots ear plugs should do the trick:)
 
Thanks for coming up trumps again.
Some terrific information and suggestions there already. Definitely a big help for making any plans.
The 'Top Ten' list was a great idea. I would like to visit the Tate Modern and Greenwich would be of interest too.
Any further suggestions would be useful for today and tomorrow.
Thank you all. :)
 
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