London Hotel Tips by Mariajoy

I've never stayed on one of these on the Thames and I am not sure that short-term holiday lettings are available - they are probably longer term residential lettings - but I thought I would include it here anyway - just as an interesting alternative type of accommodation.

Unique Qualities: Staying on a boat on a river is always pretty unique - at least in my experience elsewhere.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: most expensive

Address: 106 Cheyne Walk
Directions: Fulham Broadway Tube
Website: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1275/12643.php

There has been a Swedish church here for over 300 years. This one in Rotherhithe was built in 1966 and offers help and cheap accommodation for Swedes in London.

Not being Swedish or a seaman I can't use the facilities here but for anyone who DOES qualify, it is an excellent location being less than 30 minutes or so from Central London.


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Theme: Other

Address: 120, Lower Road
Directions: Rotherhithe
Website: http://www.swedish-church.org.uk/index.html

I got here very late (24hour reception) and left early. I only stayed here because I was in London for the evening and didn't want to have to rush away to catch the last train (or miss it and be stranded!). So I booked the Gresham in Bloomsbury.

Before booking I had read all the reviews so I knew it wasn't going to be good - and it wasn't. But on the positive side, the bed was clean and comfortable, there was hot water in my room and they had provided a towel and soap and the TV worked. I didn't try the shared facilities but I had a look at them, the shower looked clean at 6am - (don't know what it would be like later after several guests had used it). There were two loos on my floor, one was in complete darkness and had a hole in the ceiling where the light used to be. The other was perfectly adequate.

My room was small but very very hot and although I was able to turn down the heating, I couldn't turn it off completely. My window looked out onto the street and the noise from the traffic was awful when I opened it in the morning. The decor was shabby and the whole place needs complete modernisation.

Breakfast was included in the price and was ok - a cooked breakfast - eggs scrambled or fried, bacon and sausage. I just had the scrambled eggs and toast - it was ok. There was cereal and fruit juice available too.

The most worrying thing about this hotel was the door locks - they don't. Unless I was doing something really stupid (which is entirely possible) I just couldn't work out how to lock the door - I had read in the hotel reviews that other people had had this problem too so I wasn't entirely surprised. Of course it meant that I wasn't able to leave anything in the room and this is the main reason why I wouldn't stay here again.

Unique Qualities: The unique thing about this hotel is that it's in Bloomsbury and you would expect to pay a lot more for a hotel room in this area.

I have indicated that I was somewhat unsatisfied with this hotel - a hotel with doors that don't lock is can never be satisfactory. Check your key/lock works as soon as you arrive.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Address: 38 Bloomsbury Street
Directions: Bloomsbury, near Bedford Square and just round the corner from the British Museum
Website: http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/gresham-hotel.html?aid=311076;label=hotel-116767-gb-AYua4hdmUZLaet34jL5DDQS670199244;ws=&gclid=CNelp4T21I8CFQqVMAoddjB

The Hesperia Victoria is conveniently situated right next door to Victoria Railway, Coach and tube stations. It was clean and comfortable and the staff were helpful and friendly. Breakfast was part help yourself and part ask the waitress (if you wanted tea or toast).

The bath plug was complicated - and I had to ring for assistance!!!!! Honestly I don't know why a plug can't just be of the "push in pull out" variety? - why do people have to change the design of a simple, perfectly functional object and turn the whole thing into an awkward, embarrassing situation??? (But it was VERY funny, even at the time!)

The bar stays open veeeeerrrrrrrryyyyy late for guests and is of modern, trendy decor with lovely squishy leather sofas. I would definitely stay here again.

Update! - the hotel was renovated in 2004 and is now known as "The Hesperia".

Unique Qualities: Much the same as any other Holiday Inn (Hesperia) anywhere else in the world - it was nice and clean and comfy and they were very keen on being environmentally friendly and everything worked... only.... our room didn't have a mini-bar!!!! There was a fridge sized space where it should have been... but it wasn't there... but it didn't spoil our stay!

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: 2 Bridge Place, London, England SW1V
Directions: Next to Victoria Station
Website: http://www.milesfaster.co.uk/london-hotels/hesperia-london-victoria.htm

For £20 a night you can get a bunk in a 4 bed dorm in this friendly, and well run chain hostel in Shepherd's Bush. There are other St Christopher's in the UK in Brighton, Edinburgh, Camden, and Greenwich and also in Europe in Amsterdam, Brugge, etc. They are quite well known as safe havens for backpackers on a budget. Check the link for more locations.

Downstairs in St C's is the busy and lively Belushi Bar. (All the hostels have a bar attached). When you arrive you have to check in at the bar and you will be given a magnetic key card and enter the hostel via the internal door. Getting the attention of the receptionist might be difficult in the busy bar as she/he is also the barman. After midnight you take the side entrance. The hostel is a bit of a rabbit warren and locating your room can be a challenge - but there's always someone around to ask if you get lost!

There are no lockers so don' t leave anything valuable in your room. Most people are fairly aware of hostel etiquette and it doesn't take too much thought to realise that it's pretty inconsiderate to come into your room at 4am and switch on the lights and start taking a shower - which is what our roomy did - and then say "Oh dear! Did I wake you???" "Well YES actually!!"

The room was warm - in fact it was too stuffy at 4.30am!! (our roomy put the heater on for when she came out of the shower - but when we got up at 8am it was freezing and didn't seem to be working at all!) Our dorm was *ensuite* but remember to bring your own towels as they are not provided.

Breakfast is available downstairs in the bar from 8am - 9.30am and consists of cereal, toast (only white bread), jams, tea and coffee. I'm not sure how long it takes to set up this simple menu but we arrived at 8.30 and they had only just put the hot water urn on so we had to wait for our hot drinks.

Unique Qualities: Lots of Austalian and Americans and Irish staying here. It's right near Shepherd's Bush Empire so you don't need to worry about catching the last train/tube home after you've been to a gig. There's a really good atmosphere at this hostel and it feels very safe and secure.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Address: Shepherds Bush
Directions: Directly across the road from Shepherd's Bush Tube Station.
Website: http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/

Another weekend in London with Petra - We chose the Acacia Hostel in South Kensington purely because we know the area and it was cheap. We were in a 5 bed dorm. The bathroom was on the landing, (the floor was wet). The room was clean and the bed was comfy. We had a locker (which required a 5 pounds deposit). Nothing much else to say really... There was a bare bulb hanging in the centre of the room and the floors were squeaky. There was a big notice in the reception forbidding (by order of the London Fire Brigade) anyone (staff or guests) from entering the 4th floor of the building! I tried not to lie awake wondering why!!

This princely sum of 12 pounds a night also included breakfast (would you believe??) This was toast, marmalade (or strawberry jam), Weetabix or cornflakes, tea or coffee. (There's no option of brown bread or semi skimmed milk either- ONLY white bread and fat milk.) Don't forget to wash up your things afterwards.

The room had a TV and fridge (residents can also use the cooker in the breakfast room to cook their own food).

Towels are also provided. There is no curfew but be mindful of others sleeping if you are coming in late. Some people live here and have been working all day.

Unique Qualities: For 12 quid a night you get what you pay for.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 7823 7103
Address: 14 Queensberry Place
Directions: S. Kensington SW7
Website: www.acaciahostel.co.uk

....to have a bunch of boy scouts in the dorm next door. Baden Powell House is a hostel run by the scout movement and anyone involved in the scout movement gets a discount! (I dont know if this is just the UK or worldwide). Anyway... we are not involved in the scouts so we didn't. It is a nice place to stay though... directly opposite the Natural History Museum.

Unique Qualities: The hostel was opened in 1961 - 20 years after BP's death, as a living memorial to the founder of the Scouting movement, built by funds raised by the scouts themselves. In the foyer is a small exhibition about his life and the Scout movement.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +44 (0)207 590 6900
Address: 65-67 Queens Gate, SW7
Directions: Gloucester Road Tube.
Website: http://www.scouts.org.uk/nationalcentres/bpafacilities.html

for 30 quid we got an 8 bunk dorm to ourselves...I guess we were just lucky. it was clean and the security was excellent. There was a shower and loo in the dorm, and towels were also provided.

Unique Qualities: You have to eat breakfast with boy scouts. At least you don't have to cook it yourself over a camp fire whilst singing "Ging Gang Goolie". This is central London after all... there are regulations about these things!

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: Queens Gate SW7.
Directions: Gloucester Road Tube. Opposite Natural History Museum.
Website: http://www.scouts.org.uk/nationalcentres/bpafacilities.html

Great hotel right in the middle of London. Friendly helpful staff. The room was clean and had TV and telephone. The breakfast was waitress service and very filling.

£90 for a double room with private facilities.

Unique Qualities: The view from our window was of a lovely little square - a private residents garden - beautiful in the early morning winter sun.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 7636 4277
Address: 26 Bedford Place Bloomsbury
Directions: Russell Square Tube
Website: http://www.stmargaretshotel.co.uk/

Same as before - This is Central London - it's not cheap. (If you don't have private facilities (ie shower and loo) then the rooms are a bit cheaper). I stayed here for a couple of nights because it was convenient and close to where I needed to be. If I had been staying longer I would find somewhere cheaper!

Loads of places around to eat out in the evening (Holborn area) and just a short walk from the West End.

Unique Qualities: Very comfortable. Lovely breakfast room and lounge.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Address: 26, Bedford Place, WC1B 5JL
Directions: Russell Sq tube.
Website: http://www.stmargaretshotel.co.uk/