London Hotel Tips by tvor

I found this website in 2004 and used it to book a hotel in London several times. I generally got good prices and the site was easy to use, secure and i didn't have to pay until i checked out. I had to cancel the booking once and it was easy and problem free. They get great rates and many hotels provide at least a continental breakfast. They have all levels of hotels from 1 to 5 stars. Prices are quoted in Pounds Sterling.


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Theme: Other

Website: http://www.londonnights.com

I booked this through Aeroplan.com as an Aeroplan reward so it cost us nothing! The default booking was a twin room but we wanted a double. I emailed the hotel to request a double instead and they responded very quickly. A good sign.

Location is very good, a few blocks from Victoria rail and bus stations and a block or so from the Pimlico tube station, bus stop almost directly across the street heading to Victoria station, up to Trafalgar Square and up Tottenham Court Road (bus number 24). Good route to get to the city centre and it's a Night bus as well, i believe. Rooms are en suite with internet access, satellite tv, no smoking rooms and a lift. Building is a Victorian conversion but with modern amenities. Rates are 95 - 135 pounds for a double, about average for a good London hotel. Not exactly budget but not break-the-bank either.

Room was very nice, we were given a family room with a Queen and a single bed. Nice, modern decor, clean, large room.

Unique Qualities: Electronic room keys, data points in room.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 78289279
Address: 87 Belgrave Road Victoria
Directions: Exit behind Victoria station, Buckingham Palace Road to Belgrave Road, Looks to be a 10 - 15 minute walk. Alternatively, it's around the corner from Pimlico station, maybe a block up. Bus number 24 stops nearly right outside.
Website: http://www.bw-coronahotel.co.uk/
Other Contact: info@coronahotel.co.uk

Three star hotel in a Grade 2 listed building, 40 rooms en suite from singles to large rooms that can accomodate 6. Hotel has an elevator/lift but there are a few steps to get into the building. Located on Lancaster Gate, a quiet square steps from Bayswater road and Hyde Park. Very short walk to Lancaster Gate and Queensway tube stations and not that much farther from Bayswater or Paddington stations. Satelite tv, safe and small fridge in rooms which is very useful for snacks and milk for your tea and coffee (provided).

Unique Qualities: Restaurant and bar on premises. They will also arrange transport from the airport for a fee. Concierge services. Part of the same hotel group that owns the Paddington hotel where we stayed in Jan. 2005 and the Royal Court Apartments.

Prices on website are good but you might get a cheaper deal on londonnights.com. Not always and i think it's probably seasonally dependent. Prices for May 2006 were ?75 for a double en suite and continental breakfast. That was the same from the hotel directly and from pretty much every other hotel booking site i generally check. Winter prices might find you a better deal.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: Tel : 020 7402 1101
Address: 36-37 Lancaster Gate
Directions: See photo for location map
Website: http://www.londonguardshotel.co.uk/
Other Contact: Fax : 020 7262 2551

The Paddington Hotel is a converted Victorian building and has been renovated and redecorated inside recently. All rooms are en suite and all have double/queen size beds. They accomodate singles in a double room or two in a room. It's just a few steps from both the Lancaster Gate tube stop and Paddington Station so the location is convenient too. The shower stall we had, had no shelf to hold soap or things which was a nuisance. The room did have a dvd player attached to the tv and there was a small fridge in the room as well as a floor fan. The window/doors opened onto a little balcony.

We paid £65 for the double room for two people, continental breakfast included. Breakfast was the standard cereal, toast, juice, tea/coffee. Staff at the desk were all very nice.

Unique Qualities: Internet access in the lobby for guests (at a cost). Only 18 rooms. Check in across the street at the Royal Court Apartments where there is 24 hour access and night porters. The Paddington Hotel is across the road, breakfast room in the basement. No lift.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0207 40205077
Address: 28 Gloucester Terrace, W2 3DH
Directions: Gloucester Terrace joins Bayswater road at the Lancaster Gate tube stop, or crosses Craven Rd which turns into Praed St. at Paddington Station. Check in at the Royal Court Apartments, 51 Gloucester Terr. across the road (blue canopy)
Website: http://www.rcahotels.co.uk/paddington/

I stayed here a number of years ago and it's still quite a popular hotel with tourists. Good prices, good location. I have stayed in this area of London a few times. Close to Euston Station, King's Cross/St. Pancras and Russell Square. The Tavistock is handy for Bloomsbury and the British Museum and not that far from the theatre district.

All rooms en suite, some smaller than others, breakfast included may be continental or full English, depending on price.

Unique Qualities: Overlooks a nice green leafy square. Two blocks' walk to Euston Station or Russell Square. Russell Square is on the Picadilly line to Heathrow airport.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: Tavistock Square, London, England WC1H
Directions: 2 blocks south from Euston Station along Woburn Place. 2 blocks north along same from Russell Square.
Website: http://www.imperialhotels.co.uk/tavistock1_hotel.aspx

The first time i stayed here in 1996, it was called the Kennedy. It's just a couple of short blocks down Cardington St. from Euston Station. (tip, exit the station out of a side door by Left Luggage) Decent hotel, all en suite, if the room comes with breakfast, it's cold, delivered to your room. Stayed there again in 2000 because we got an ok deal calling the hotel directly. Stayed there in 2003 (April) because i got a fantastic deal off www.londontown.com for £35 for a single with en suite. No breakfast included but there's a cafe around the corner on Euston road.

Prices vary widely depending on specials. 35 pounds is unusually cheap (Easter Weekend may have had something to do with it). I've never seen any deals that cheap again. Prices average about 85 - 100 pounds.

For accessibility, although there are elevators/lifts, be aware that some of the hallways have short staircases along them. Check to see if your room is past the steps if you have mobility issues or a very large suitcase.

Unique Qualities: Nothing really unique. It's a tourist and business class hotel. The nice thing about it is that it's so close to Euston Station, Euston underground and Warren Street underground around the corner so you have your pick of a few handy tube lines. Lots of busses from Euston Station and Euston road. About 20 minutes walk to the British Museum or up into Camden and Regent Park is only a couple of blocks west.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: reception: 0870 333 9107
Address: Cardington Street, NW1
Directions: Euston rail station, two blocks north down the road on the station's left as you are looking at it. It's across the street.
Website: http://tinyurl.com/2jexuz

Cottage Hotel, on Euston Street, a short stagger from Euston Station. Cheap, relatively clean accomodations (walls were a bit dank and damp and the carpet had seen better days but the sheets and bathroom were immaculate). Smallish cooked breakfast in a pretty basement breakfast room. Singles, doubles and twins with and without ensuite. It's more of a B&B type place than proper hotel.

Unique Qualities: Budget price, decent place, convenient for Euston and Warren Street underground and Euston Rail, a block or two from King's Cross/St. Pancras stations. Paid about 50 pounds for a single en suite a few years ago. Will be more now. I've seen one rather grim review from someone that said the cost was 75 pounds and they weren't impressed so take my experience with a grain of salt. This hotel may have gone downhill and up in price and may not be worth the cost these days.

Don't confuse this with the Best Western Swiss Cottage hotel which is more upscale and in the north west end.

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 7387 6785
Address: Euston Street
Directions: a block to the west of Euston STation's west side exit.

Located in a quiet square a short walk from the Bayswater tube station and about 5 minutes more from the Queensway tube station on Bayswater road. Also in walking distance to Notting Hill area, Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and Paddington train station. Hotel has a cafe and bar that stays open late for residents and room service to midnight.

Unique Qualities: Elevator/Lift to all floors, all ensuite facilities. Rooms are standard size for London (i.e. not large). Depending on how you book, you may get continental breakfast included. Generally you can get that via sites such as Londonnights.com or Expedia. Prices on londonnights.com are cheaper than booking direct through the hotel.

reservations@bayswaterinn.co.uk

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: Tel: +44 (0)20 7792 3536
Address: 8-16 Princes Square, London, England W2
Directions: Out the Bayswater tube station, turn left on Queensway and immediate Left on Moscow Rd. 2nd major right, into Princes Sq.
Website: http://www.bayswaterinn.co.uk/
Other Contact: Fax: +44 (0)20 7727 3346

This hotel was the Inverness Court Hotel when I stayed there in September, 2000. It is a converted Victorian mansion in Bayswater, which we booked through the Holiday House brochure. IT IS NOT recommended! The lobby and stairwells were very elegant, the elevators small and slow. There were stairs once you got to your floor. Hmmm. The room was small as we expected, but our first impression was not great. The carpet was filthy, wallpaper yellowed, curtains hung limply. The outside glass doors to the balcony
(well, just wide enough so you could stand if you wanted to brave the pigeon do-do) didn't shut and there was a hole in the glass about an inch round with cracks in the glass. We joked about our bullet hole! The inside sliding glass doors came off the runner once and would have every time if we weren't careful. The beds were narrow and really hard though at least the sheets were clean.

Checking on the hotel these days at Tripadvisor.com shows that it hasn't improved any and the customer service is really awful. I'd still say avoid at all costs.

Unique Qualities: convenient, across from Hyde park and around the corner from the Queensway underground station, a block from the Bayswater station.

Not worth it though.

AVOID

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 44 0 207-229-1444
Address: Inverness terrace

The Strand palace hotel is all about location. Smack dab on the Strand, 2 or 3 blocks from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross station on one side, Aldwych, Waterloo Bridge and Embankment station on the other and fronting Covent Garden, it just doesn't get much better than this. The hotel is quite large, 9 floors high with several restaurants and bars under it's roof but you probably won't need to eat there with Covent Garden at your feet. However, we did eat at the Carvery one night before the theatre and also had lunch in the bar on the day we checked out. Both meals were very good. A full breakfast buffet came with the room and that was also very good with lots of choice. The breakfast room could get busy but we always got there without having to wait for a table. You can have breakfast in the Carvery or in Johnston's, the other main restaurant.

We had a twin room at first, on the fifth floor. It was adequate in size with a large-ish bathroom (along with heated towel rack!) The only complaint i would have is that the door opened right into the room without any sort of "hallway" and that seemed to be what made it noisy. You could hear anyone out in the hall talking or laughing. However, it was facing an inside "court"... i.e. no view but no traffic noise either.

My fiance and i then had a double room on the 7th floor that did have the inside entryway and we found that quiet although this room faced the Strand so you could hear noise from the traffic. A fan was provided though in March, we didn't need it and could leave the windows closed. The room was nice and large and sunny. My mom's single room on the same floor was small but sunny and cozy and she was quite comfortable.

Unique Qualities: The beds are very comfy. The breakfast buffet was very good. The Concierge desk men were really helpful to us all week and the staff were all really good, quite friendly and welcoming. We used the bus exclusively and there are loads of busses that go by the hotel. Covent Garden with all the theatres is right there behind the hotel and we could walk to quite a few places in the area. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. It isn't a budget hotel but not hugely expensive either. I usually go for cheaper rooms, in the 70 pound per night range, this was about 150 pounds per night per room booked through the travel agency so you might find that more expensive than average though for London, i would say it's the high end of average.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Address: 372 Strand, London WC2R
Directions: East on the Strand from Trafalgar Square or Charing Cross station about 3 blocks.
Website: http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/