London & English Countryside Hotels

[WeirdEyes]

My family and I are traveling to London and the English countryside next summer. I'm trying to start planning the trip and need hotel suggestions. I want a hotel in London that is centrally located and isn't too expensive. We'll be there the first of June.

Also, if you have any suggestions for hotels/B&B's in the English countryside, I would be grateful. Is it possible to stay in London and then take day trips to the Cotswolds, etc.? Or is it best to just stay elsewhere?

We're traveling to Scotland also, but have some wonderful friends there that are being our tour guides. We are very excited about this trip and want to make the most of it. We plan on staying in England for one week. Thanks so much!!

 

[gilld]

Will you be hiring a car as without one, trips to the Cotswolds will be less than easy? You will be able to take a train from London, but then travelling around the villages won't be easy.

 

[WeirdEyes]

We'll most likely be hiring a car if my DH can drive on the other side of the road...LOL!

 

[BCT]

Do you really mean the 1st June Sheila?
Berwyn

 

[WeirdEyes]

Do you really mean the 1st June Sheila?
Berwyn

Please excuse my U.S. English...LOL! What I meant was the first part of June, 2006....either the first or second week of June. Thanks!

 

[BCT]

My mistake too Sheila,
I didn't realise you were talking about nex year!
The weather's been so coolhere till this week, It doesn't feel like this summer has arrived yet.
It's felt like February in the mornings and October in the afternoons.

Berwyn

 

[WeirdEyes]

Berwyn, my friends from Scotland told me to not bring any summer clothes when we visit next year because the weather is so unpredictable.

 

[BCT]

Sheila
If you're away from the coast it's warmer.
I know what they mean though, We live at the seaside and in the sun it's lovely and warm (T-shirt weather) but arund the corner where the streets lead to the sea there is a sharp cool breeze off the sea and you need something light to cover up.
If you get to the Cotswolds try and visit Bourton-on -the- Water, it's a beautiful village.

Berwyn

 

[WeirdEyes]

Thanks for the tips Berwyn! I do appreciate it.

 

[gilld]

There is a very nice hotel called The Lygan Arms at Broadway in the Cotswolds. It's not cheap, but has a superb restaurant.

 

[disneyholic family]

there are many hotels in London, and all far more expensive than what you would pay for anything similar anywhere in the US (including New York).

London is an extraordinarily expensive city so you should be aware and plan accordingly if budget is an issue for you.

When I was there in February, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Mayfair, which was reasonable (for London) and very well located. The first stop of the double decker bus tour was a half block away. It's a 10 minute walk to Trafalgar Square (the starting point of several great walking tours), etc.

It included a nice buffet breakfast in the rate.

But there are many other hotels, also well located. Check www.tripadvisor.com for reviews and recommendations (they also map the hotels for you).

By the way, the Big Bus, double decker bus tour, includes 4 free walking tours. I took two of them and they were excellent. The evening "Ghost and Pubs" tour and the morning "Changing of the Guard" tour. Both highly recommended (Both times the guide was Ricky, who is amazing. Such a wealth of knowledge).

Also, there is a walking tour company (whose name escapes me) that is very good. They have some really interesting walking tours.

 

[WeirdEyes]

Beth and others ~ Thanks so much for the info. We've decided just to stay in London the whole time and do a few day trips here and there on tours. I'll check out the Mayfair. Again, thanks!

 

[carolfoy]

Theres a lovely little pub called the sanctuary in st james area thats really not expensive, great location and just above the pub, across the road from green park

 

[disneyholic family]

I was there on my own for business in February (4 days in Reading, about a half hour out of London and the equivalent in atmosphere of Trenton New Jersey). Then on Wednesday i had to move to London for more meetings at the Paddington Hilton (where i stayed for 2 nights before moving to the Holiday Inn Mayfair). The Paddington Hilton, while a nice hotel, was quite expensive and not in what I considered to be a very nice part of London (though it was very easy to catch a taxi, since it's right at Paddington Station).

Once I was over at the Holiday Inn Mayfair, my touring began and it was lots of fun, even though I was on my own. So much fun in fact, I'm taking the whole family there at the beginning of August.

 

[BCT]

Definitely bring the warm clothes Sheila.
It's a week from midsummer's day and it's thick low cloua, strong cold wind.
I've just been up the promenade with the dog and am frozen.
Global Warming!! its more like Global Cooling LOL.
It was lovely and hot when we were over your side of the water in Orlando in 2000, I'd have stayed if they'd let me..

Berwyn

 

[WeirdEyes]

Beth ~ I checked out the Holiday Inn Mayfair and it seems reasonable. It is on my list of definites! Thanks so much!!

Berwyn ~ Our friends from Scotland were over here two weeks ago and they didn't want to go back to the weather. I've heard it is quite lovely in Wales. I wish we had time to visit there also. We'll have to come back some day to do everything. Thanks for your help! Good luck with the freezing weather.

 

[disneyholic family]

definitely take a look at www.tripadvisor.com
I found it very useful when i was planning my trip...
that's how i found the holiday inn mayfair (the other hotels were reserved for me by my company travel department, but i didn't want to stay in the area of paddington station once my meetings were over)..

at the trip advisor site, they rank the hotels by best reviews received from readers.....and they describe the varioius hotels and map them....it's the most useful site i've found when you're searching for a hotel......

 

[WeirdEyes]

Thanks Beth! I've been looking at tripadvisor today.

 

[Scottwdw]

I thank you to Beth! I'm planning a trip to visit my DD this fall (she's doing a semester abroad) and tripadvisor.com is wonderful. Finally finding hotels in my budget that I can trust because of the great reviews.

 

[alisonbestford]

Try www.laterooms.com
DH often has to travel to London for business and, if you can leave the hotel booking until around about 3 months or so before you go, you can get some great hotels at VERY reduced prices on this site
I usually go to 'Laterooms' first, find a hotel and then check it out on 'TripAdvisor' or something before booking.
We just made a business trip to Derby and booked a £120 hotel for £55, including breakfast