[MSC]

I are thinking of taking the kids to London for a few days. Can anyone recommend either a hotel or good area (eg Bayswater, Kensignton, Kings Cross??) or areas to avoid? We are going to vist the usual touristy places, including the Natural History Museum and Harrods (well me and my daugher will go to harrods, not sure about dh and my son!) obviously London Eye, houses of parliament and hopefully the art gallery (my first choice but not sure how appreciative the kids will be ). Dh has requested I find somewhere with parking or near parking that doesn't cost the earth!

I've been looking on various webistes with reviews and ratings but the main problem is geography-or my lack of it, so I'd really like some pointers on recommended locations and ones to avoid.

Thank you!

[Indizine]

we stayed in the Thistle hotel next to tower bridge and it was quite cheap and central ish

[Andy Trish]

I stayed at the the thistle hotel in Hyde Park, expensive, uncomfortable, and parking was extra at £24 a day plus congestion charges. saying that the thistle range are normally good.

parking in central london is not cheap to say the least, no matter where you go.

You are better off staying centrally in my opinion but get day tickets on the tube rather than drive anywhere, much cheaper and less strain on the heart

[MSC]

Thank you Indi I'll have a look.
I'd much rather not use the car if possible because last time I was in London it was a nightmare. We could see our hotel but couldn't get to it for ages because of all the one way streets!

[Inzvestor]

A much cheaper option for parking is to park at the end of a line and catch the tube into town (eg Stanmore (Jubilee), Edgware (Northern Line) if coming from the M1 (leave at J4), or research other options if coming from M4 or the South Coast

Parking is c.£3 per day - much cheaper than central London. and at most a 40 minute trip in to town + you can use your tube passes for the entire day

[boxby]

Thistle Kensington get some good rates, as do the other THistle's down the Basyswater road, and it puts you in a good central location.

If you want out of town, then the Comfort/quality at Heathrow is very affordale, on the picadily tube to get you into the centre and also does Leogland packages etc. Also, its a very family orientated hotel.

Travellodges are doing some really good rates too if you book now. Some £29 rooms out there, and lots of £59 rooms.

[pvcprinting]

best websites to try are

www.laterooms.co.uk
www.londonnights.com

We have always had wicked deals from 4 or 5 Star hotels at very good rates

[boxby]

We got the Grovsenor (the real one!) for £69pn.
A bit of leg work will always get good rates for 4* & 5* in London.

Re parking - don't know where you live, but why don't you consider airport parking at Stanstead, or Gatwick or Heathrow, as all have direct rail links into the centre from the airports, and rates are always competitive.

[pvcprinting]

Yeah,

We stayed at the piccadilley something or other for £70 as opposed to £275 a night!

Another vote for leave the car outside and use public transport in

If you near to mainline rail why not make a trip of it and use the train...if you tie yourself to certain trains it is much cheaper......we are only 52 mins from kings Cross here in Grantham

[SBP]

Best to try late rooms

Thistle @ Tower Bridge is East London and you want to be in West London.

A good cheap hotel next to a tube line and a 5 min cab ride to harrods/ museums is the holiday inn kensington. It's modern, clean and the biggest hotel in London !

www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/LONHI