Help in London

Right.. so as I've mentioned before.. I'm taking my mom and niece to both London and Paris the first week in May.  I've asked for any recommendations on Paris.. and now will do the same with where to stay in London.  I've spent only a week in the city before, and it was just Sean and I then.  This time it will be 3 adults and 1 child.

Last time, we stayed in a small privately owned hotel in Westminster.  It was just a short walk from Victoria Station on Belgrave road.  I liked the area.. but not sure it would be best for a family stay.  I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions in either the Westminster/Belgravia area.. or anywhere else nearby that is a safe location at a reasonable price.  I'm hoping to keep it around either £70/night for a room (we'd need 2 doubles in that case) or £130/night for a larger suite that we can all share.  Any ideas would be very much appreciated.  I'm hoping to book it within the next week or so.  

Let me ammend that a bit... I'd actually be interested in any decent location in the west end.  Perhaps one of you knows of a cozy place hidden away somewhere.  Primarily it needs to be in a fairly safe location, reasonably priced, and not too far from the main tourist sites.  Thanks again.

My suggestion is to try lastminute.co.uk

We've had numerous stays in the west end that were excellent and you can find good deals there.  

As far as recommendations go, we stayed at the brand new Holiday Inn in Camden Town (just across from Wagamama's...woo!)  and it was very nice.  I think we spent about £80 for a weekend night over Valentine's weekend so maybe you can get a better deal now.  It was a *lovely* hotel tho....overlooking the canal and almost inches away from the markets.  And only about a 4-5 minute walk from the tube station.  It's about a 10-15 minute ride on the Northern Line to central London/West End from there.  

Hope you have a great visit!

When my family came over lat year for our wedding they all stayed at the London Guard Hotel, Kensington Garden is *right* outside the window and it's right near... um... Lancaster Gate on the tube. They loved it there. I totally forget how much it cost, but we booked it off a discount website of some sort (loads of help, I know) - - - my brother got their "Family Room" which had 2 great big beds and a cot for bebe, plus a little kitchenette thingie. They loved the location because even if they didn't feel like taking the tub they could walk through the park and see things like Royal Albert Hall if it was a good and proper walk. I've stayed in several hotels in London and have had really bad experiences with them, but this one seemed to be just fine.  Not exactly the area you were looking for, but they seemed to think it was fantastic.

They both sound very nice.  And in the general area I was interested in as well.  I had the Kensington/Knightsbridge Area in mind.  I'd looked online at a few there and have bookmarked them.  It seems like a nice area.  Are there enough shops and cafes that we won't need to travel elsewhere to eat or have a browse through a few stores?    I also see it's near Harrod's    Only thing is though, I read somewhere that Harrod's doesn't allow children in, is this true???  

Wish, I'll have to reference a map for your suggestion as my knowledge of London geography isn't THAT good    

I tend to like Holiday Inns, but I was hoping to go for a non-chain hotel this time so they got more of a 'real' feel of the city and life there.  My mom is more interested in a nice comfy familiar hotel with all of the American amentities, so she may have her way afterall

Harrods is bang in the middle of Knightsbridge - and they definitely do let children in, there is lots in there for kids - toy dept, pet dept. krispy kreme (or is that for the grown ups? hmmmmm...) .. as for eating places in Knightsbridge and Kensington - there is quite a bit on offer but most of it isn't particularly cheap. There are plenty of shops for browsing but they are mainly Dept stores/clothes so your menfolk might get a bit bored but it isn't far to museums and things if you wnat a change from shops.

 

Harrods is bang in the middle of Knightsbridge

 Yes Harrods is good for me too  ;bad on G's wallet  

You might like to cast your mince pies  (eyes)  over the sites below.
they are geared for americans

I'm a native londoner, so if you got any specific questions, you can drop me a PM


http://www.a-london-guide.co.uk/

http://www.britannia.com/travel/london/

http://www.astraltravels.co.uk/astral_new/travel_tour_directory_add_link/london_tourism_web_sites.htm

Ok..I think I've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 choices.  One of which is right by Marble Arch, and the other near Kensington High Street.  How is the Marble Arch area?  Are markets and restaurants plentiful or will we be going elsewhere for a meal and a stroll??  They're both very near Hyde Park which is nice, as I'd like to take my niece on a picnic.  Any suggestions between these two locations? Thanks

Marble Arch is just on the west side of Oxford Street, so you're really at the edge of the very heart of restraunts and shops there.  There are plenty of restraunts and shops right there at Marble Arch too.

Kensington is a bit classier as far as shops go, but to be honest, they are both about equal and are close to each other so if you don't like one, it's practically a hop and a skip to the other.