Expert: David Stewart White - 9/23/2006

Question
I am planning a trip for myself and my 15 year old daughter to England next year.We would like to stay in or near London(could stay out and take the train), and need a safe and affordable place to stay. What do you suggest?  

Answer
Hi

If your purpose is to see London, I advise against staying outside the city and commuting.  Adding daily commutes reduces the amount of time you have to see London, adds expense, and limits your flexibilty.

It is difficult to answer where you should stay without some idea of your accomodations budget.  London has thousands of hotels and b&bs, but it is one of the more expensive cities in which to stay.  

 For example, Premier Travel Inn, which is a budget hotel chain, has a hotel at County Hall (right next to the London Eye). This Travel Inn is modern, although not airconditioned, and in a super location. The cost is 92 Pounds per night--that's about $173.  The Holiday Inn Mayfair, as another example, is in a very good location near Green Park--I've seen  pre-paid rates as low as 115 Pounds.  The hotel is  modern (with a/c) and in an upscale, central location.

London does have a profusion of tourist-class hotels and b&bs, many older and located in less-central areas.  If you go this route, it pays to check opinions of other travelers.  For that, I recommend a search on TripAdvisor.com.   In general, "star" ratings or descriptions of hotels in London are a bit inflated--a "3 star" in London is more like a "2 star" in New York.

I hope this information is helpful as you start planning your trip.

Dave White
dw@KidsToLondon.com
www.KidsToLondon.com