Good places to stay in London?

Macgyver

Dormant account
PABnononaccred
Joined
Feb 3, 2004
Location
North Carolina
Bryan, feel free to move this where you see fit ...

I'm 95% decided that I'm going to take a last-minute vacation and go to London is just over a week. I can really only stay 5 nights and plan on being out there from March 12th until the 17th. Yeah, I know, not nearly enough time to be out there, but that's all I got right now ... :D

I am now faced with the daunting task of finding a relatively inexpensive hotel to stay at. I've heard horror stories and what-not and am trying to find a 4-star place that's close to a Tube station and isn't gonna kill my wallet too much.

I've gone to a bunch of websites (bookings.net being the most recent), but I just don't know enough about the city itself to limit my options.

Anyways ... essentially, I'm looking for a 4-star hotel at around 100 a night (or less ;) ) that's not run-down. Any specific hotel suggestions or specific areas of London I should stay in would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! :thumbsup:
 
Hi, Mac - you're sure to enjoy London. Take a lookie here:

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


This is a very large hotel chain, and their Premier range hotels are pretty good and in reasonable central locations like Earl's Court close to tube stations - no frills but comfortable and usually with bars and restaurants that you can take or leave as you wish. They have vending machines, too. If you are travelling with your partner it works out around GBP 40 each (they charge you by the room)

Here's another useful link you may want to look at:

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.
 
Thank you, sir. :notworthy

I've actually changed my plans and I'm now going in May and staying for 7 nights. However, I welcome all other comments/suggestions that people may have as to where I might stay.

Right now, I simply have the plane reservations set to Gatwick Airport and I'm working on where I want to stay.

Again, thank you, jetset. :thumbsup:
 
Gatwick - Victoria Express(train) - 40 return (1st class), 25 (2nd).

For 100 a night, you could get away with the Hilton somewhere. 16 in London I think if I recall.

Dress warm.
 
Haha ... :lolup:

No, that really doesn't matter. From what I hear, the Tube will do me just fine getting me where I want to go.

I just really want some place with decent rooms (good beds, air conditioning in the room, a private shower) where I can lay my tired head down for a good sleep at the end of the night.

Besides, I'm spending enough money on the trip ... don't know if it's too wise to tack on gambling expenses as well. ;) :thumbsup:

P.S. Jetset's recommendation of Premier Travel Inns may be exactly what I'm looking for, I'm just waiting to hear something back from another contact in London.
 
Macgyver said:
Haha ... :lolup:

No, that really doesn't matter. From what I hear, the Tube will do me just fine getting me where I want to go.

I just really want some place with decent rooms (good beds, air conditioning in the room, a private shower) where I can lay my tired head down for a good sleep at the end of the night.

Besides, I'm spending enough money on the trip ... don't know if it's too wise to tack on gambling expenses as well. ;) :thumbsup:

P.S. Jetset's recommendation of Premier Travel Inns may be exactly what I'm looking for, I'm just waiting to hear something back from another contact in London.

BTW, Mac - if you're planning on using the Tube a lot, ask about the Oyster Card. It could save you some pounds over the week.
 
Macgyver said:
...I am now faced with the daunting task of finding a relatively inexpensive hotel to stay at. I've heard horror stories and what-not and am trying to find a 4-star place that's close to a Tube station and isn't gonna kill my wallet too much..
I usually go to London alone, so I don't care for the high end stuff, plus I'm not allowed to have too good of a time. :D

So most of the time I go, I stay at the St.Giles
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

It's relatively cheap - it's a three star, and lives up to the three star rep. The breakfast buffet is over priced and sucks, and the rooms are dingy small - you need to order a double.

But the hell with the room, you're in London - you should not be spending any time in the hotel. The St. Giles is in the northern tip of Soho and is in walking distance of many theaters, cinemas, tons of shops (Virgin records is across the street - and a huge Internet cafe). The tube station is 50 meters away (Tottenham Ct.). Leicester Square is a 15 minute walk away (or the next tube station) - the night life can't be beat there.

People laugh when I tell them where I usually stay, but to me the location is second to none.
 
Thanks, Bryan. :thumbsup: I, too, am going alone ... aren't there two St. Giles hotels, though ... one in Central London and one in Heathrow?

I was given a contact from a co-worker and that person initially mentioned the St. Giles hotel actually when I was looking at going next week.

I'm waiting to hear from the contact now that my dates have changed. If she offers the St. Giles again, I'll be torn between jetset's recommendation and yours. :D
 
Macgyver said:
Thanks, Bryan. :thumbsup: I, too, am going alone ... aren't there two St. Giles hotels, though ... one in Central London and one in Heathrow?

I was given a contact from a co-worker and that person initially mentioned the St. Giles hotel actually when I was looking at going next week.

I'm waiting to hear from the contact now that my dates have changed. If she offers the St. Giles again, I'll be torn between jetset's recommendation and yours. :D
Yeah, you want the Central London one. Being close to Heathrow would be an absolute drag.
 
I think the St Giles will work out cheaper for a single guest, Mac.

Premier Travel Inn charges per room (GBP 80) rather than per person, so if there are two of you it's only GBP 40 each a night, but if you're single occupation it's GBP 80....I think the St Giles might be cheaper than that for a single person.
 
Actually, they're pretty comparable when booking through their websites:

St. Giles double room for the 7 nights I'll be there = £506 (including VAT)

London Kensington Premier Travel Inn double room for those same 7 nights = £553.

I listed single occupancy at both sites, but was given a double at either hotel. I'm just not sure if the VAT is included in the £553 price in Kensington.

I've also looked at general reviews on both hotels (tripadvisor.com), and I want to say the Premier Travel Inn fared just a little bit better in that respect.
 
Macgyver said:
...I've also looked at general reviews on both hotels (tripadvisor.com), and I want to say the Premier Travel Inn fared just a little bit better in that respect.
Yeah but, at the St. Giles you're across the street from Virgin records, the Odeon theaters, and Sushi is right around the corner one block away :D
 
Hmmm, anyone know about the Westminster hotel? (
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.
)

My contact through work just emailed me and said I could get a room there for £50 a night, which is about £20-30 less than the other two mentioned.

I hate not knowing enough about hotels ... :confused:
 
Casinomeister said:
Yeah but, at the St. Giles you're across the street from Virgin records, the Odeon theaters, and Sushi is right around the corner one block away :D
Oh wait a minute, you're in the states so you don't need that stuff. :D
 
Casinomeister said:
Oh wait a minute, you're in the states so you don't need that stuff. :D

Ha ... the theaters definitely, but I'll pass on the sushi. :p

And any comments on the Westminster would be appreciated ... see post above.
 
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


15 walk minutes or so from Oxford St (the other end of Tottenham Crt Road where ~B stays) (7 bus)

10 minutes walk to the top end of Portobello Road market.
10 minutes or so to Kensington High St.
5 to Notting Hill Gate.

Close enough to a train station and buses to go anywhere really. Back to the US asap if I were you ;)

The whole gaff is grim as far as I'm concerned. Location-wise good enough for a tourist who wants to see London yes.
 
The St. Giles is in an excellent location, and the rooms are clean and relatively new.

The downside is that their service sucks shit - two years running they lost my reservation, so I stopped going there even though Meister still likes it. If you do stay there, make doubly sure you have a copy of the reservation with you when you arrive. Price is okay, but there are plenty of other hotels - including the Hilton Kensington - which have similar prices.
 
Casinomeister said:
Oh wait a minute, you're in the states so you don't need that stuff. :D

LMFAO... if you didn't live in some remote village in Germany, you wouldn't need this stuff either :)

You also forgot to mention that there is a Gala Casino right around the corner - literally! But make sure you register 24 hours in advance... and don't expect it to be anything like a Vegas casino...
 
spearmaster said:
You also forgot to mention that there is a Gala Casino right around the corner - literally! But make sure you register 24 hours in advance... and don't expect it to be anything like a Vegas casino...
You don't need to wait 24 hours any more if you get the urge to gamble, but you are right, it is definitely not Vegas.
 
amandajm said:
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


The whole gaff is grim as far as I'm concerned. Location-wise good enough for a tourist who wants to see London yes.

Yeah, I'd looked up the Westminster here as well and wasn't too impressed with the reviews. Though I'm not sure what "The whole gaff is grim" means. :D ;)

Judging from the responses, it looks like I've got St. Giles, Premier Travel Inn and the Westminster in that order. Thanks much ... still haven't decided, though. :thumbsup:
 
Macgyver said:
...Though I'm not sure what "The whole gaff is grim" means. :D ;)
Looked it up here - didn't find it either.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


This is a good reference - you learn not to say "excuse me" when you bump into people on the street. :D
 
GrandMaster said:
You don't need to wait 24 hours any more if you get the urge to gamble, but you are right, it is definitely not Vegas.

My bad - thanks for catching that, I forgot that restriction was recently removed.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Meister Ratings

Back
Top