London Travel Guide and Hotel Reviews

London is home to a large range of hotels, serviced apartments, hostels and numerous other forms of accommodation. From glitzy glamour to family-friendly luxury, it has it all, and at prices to suit every pocket.

Many of London’s city centre hotels are the epitome of luxury; with historical hotels right in the middle of the action standing side-by-side contemporary builds. They can get expensive, though early booking and deals can bring prices down a little.

If visiting during the summer months on a budget, be sure to check out the university halls, which are clean, comfortable and very affordable, as well as being centrally located close to tourist attractions and local public transport.

London’s host of bed and breakfast establishments offer comfort, convenience and personalised service at lower prices. They can also be more family-friendly than some of the city’s larger hotels, and the friendly hosts are usually passionate about the city, offering insider advice and tips from a local’s perspective.

London hotels can be very family friendly, offering special services for children and parents, including the likes of games, the hiring of bikes and babysitting services to allow harried parents some quiet time.

Sometimes, the best place to stay can be in a serviced apartment, where a full kitchen or kitchenette takes the hassle out of meal times. These fully serviced complexes often offer specialised family-friendly activities and babysitting services as well as a more comfortable and private place to relax after a busy day sightseeing.

For a more luxurious stay for all the family, check out the Ritz hotel. Children are more than welcome here, and if guests call ahead with the details of their party, staff will make sure to have their favourite film waiting, as well as child-sized bathrobes and slippers and milk and cookies at turndown.

A London holiday can be a very exciting and rewarding experience.  The art, culture, history, and nightlife are unparalleled.  To make the most of a trip to London, it is important to find an affordable, convenient, and nice place to stay.

One great choice for lodging in the city is the area called St. Pancras.  Within the borough of Camden, St. Pancras is a convenient and centrally located spot for finding a hotel or bed and breakfast in London.  The tube and railway station here make it an easy place from which to travel elsewhere.  It offers trains to take visitors around the city, to points around the country, as well as the train through the Channel Tunnel to Europe.

St Pancras hotels are not only convenient for travelling.  They are also a great place from which to explore the history of the city.  The St. Pancras Old Church is thought to be the oldest Christian site in the UK.  The area is also famous for its historic cemeteries. 

Visiting London can be a delight.  It is one of the busiest, most exciting cities in the world.  The museums, restaurants, shopping, and theatre are among the best in the world.  For those visiting, however, it can all be a little bit overwhelming.  By choosing to stay at a bed and breakfast London, visitors can experience the city with the helping hand of a friendly landlord or landlady.

A bed and breakfast is also a good way to budget an otherwise pricey holiday.  London is not the cheapest city in the world, but travelling there is doable when a room is booked at a bed and breakfast.  They are often much less expensive than a traditional hotel and the homely atmosphere is very welcoming.

To choose the best bed and breakfast for particular needs, research is essential.  A traveller should be aware of the layout of the city and what sites are most important to see.  They can then choose a bed and breakfast that is close to everything they want to do.

Central London is an excellent choice for a place to stay at a bed and breakfast.  Many of the most important tourist spots are near the centre of the city, such as Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the Tower and Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and several important museums.

It may be especially helpful to seek out a bed and breakfast near a tube station.  The underground is the best way to get around the city and there are plenty of places to stay that are within a few minutes’ walk of a tube stop.  This can make travelling around to different sites much easier.

The Mayflower Hotel is a relatively small but homely hotel, located in the Earl’s Court area of London.

The townhouse style hotel, while not as expensive and luxurious as more notable hotels such as the Ritz, nevertheless offers its guests great accommodation coupled with friendliness.  Room rates are variable depending on the time of the year booked and availability.

Accommodation   

All 48 rooms are individually decorated to the highest standards with each one having hand carved wooden beds.  Egyptian cotton linens and merino wool blankets cover the beds for added comfort.

There are a number of different sized bedrooms to choose from depending on whether you require a single, double or family sized room.  The latter sleeps a maximum of four.

Dining and Bars

There is no evening dining facility at the Mayflower Hotel.  However it does offers guests a breakfast service.

Other Facilities

For a fairly small hotel, the company believes in going that extra mile for guests.  As such, the hotel offers a number of facilities usually associated with more luxurious 5-star London hotels.  Some services may incur additional charges.  For instance, the Concierge Service can help you with anything from recommending a restaurant to locating the local attractions.

Each room also has a direct telephone line; there are also fax, photocopying and secretarial services available.  If staying at the hotel on business, guests may make use of the hotel’s business services including conference and meeting halls.

Finally, if you are heavy sleeper, there is a wakeup call service.

The Royal Trafalgar is a genuinely peaceful hotel, situated at Trafalgar Square one of London’s most famous landmarks. 

Out and About in Trafalgar Square

Just across the square from the hotel you can see the unique spectacle that is Nelson’s column.  This huge column commemorating Britain’s seafaring legend is opposite the London National Gallery that holds some of the fine artistic creations to be found in London.

Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square both offer an extensive array of shops and restaurants right at the heart of London’s theatre land.  A short walk away is the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey among many other favourite tourist attractions.

A Classic yet Modern Hotel
 
The Royal Trafalgar Hotel provides 116 rooms and has recently been refurbished to reflect a more contemporary and up to date look and actively welcomes groups and families.

Bold colours are used to enhance a range of furnishings in the guest rooms to help create a more spacious and relaxed ambiance.  The Gravity Bar specialises in a wide selection of wines while Square’s offers a range of European and British dishes prepared and presented to a high standard.

One of the benefits of staying at the Royal Trafalgar is the exclusive access for adult guests to the local health and fitness club, which includes swimming pool facilities. Unusually for London the hotel is also situated near three car parks just a short walk away.  Additionally, guests can enjoy a 24-hour room service and wireless internet access throughout the hotel.

The Grange Rochester hotel is located in Vincent’s Square, a small quadrant green hidden from the jostle and noise of hectic London streets.  The guest rooms face the nearby green to provide a pleasant alternative to looking at the busy streets.

As a result of the hotel’s excellent location the Palace of Westminster, Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace are all within a short walking distance.  Many other major tourist attractions are also within easy reach.

Pleasant, Cosy Atmosphere

The hotel has 80 en suite guest rooms.  There is also a high ceilinged, air-conditioned and marble effect dining room creating a cosy and inviting ambiance on a more intimate scale compared to some of the larger London hotels.  Big windows in guest rooms create a feeling of light and space with wood effect furnishings adding an extra tone of warmth.

The Grange Rochester has a contemporary bar with wooden tables and chairs and a wall mounted TV to keep guests informed with up to the minute coverage on news and current affairs. Alternatively, the lounge area with its plush traditional armchairs and sofas gives guests the opportunity to socialise and unwind in style.  

Guests may take advantage of a 24-hour reception and room service, concierge and high-speed internet access is available in the rooms.  Children are welcome at the hotel and parents are also offered a babysitting service as well as children’s menus and baby’s cots.

The Caesar’s impressive white pillared exterior is well complemented with a sleek modern interior with 140 expensively equipped en-suite bedrooms.  Noted for being a designer hotel in a quiet, yet central location and close to local transport links; double rooms start at £179 per night.  All the rooms have individually adjustable heating and air conditioning controls.

Traditional Features and Modern Design

High ceilings, high quality furnishings and original exposed brick walls add another dimension to the character of this hotel, which combines just the right amount of contemporary fashion with a number of the hotel’s original features.  The deep brown and refreshing beige tone decor creates a relaxing feeling making guests feel quite at home.  The atmosphere allows guests to fully unwind while at the same time enjoying all the modern features of the hotel.

Top International Cuisine

The restaurant is international in every sense with a comprehensive wine list for the most discerning pallets and the hotel bar is a uniquely inviting space in an intimate yet relaxed setting with its exposed brick walls.

Location

The Caesar Hotel is located close to Hyde Park, one of the largest open spaces in Central London.  Paddington station is only a few minutes’ walk away ensuring that guests arriving by train do not have too far to travel to the hotel.  Being close to the local underground stations getting around London is no problem at all.

The Montague is one of the finest most family orientated hotels in London. It has really been thought about and the first and only intention is to please the guests. The Montague is in both a secluded but vibrant environment.

The hotel is located in Bloomsbury which is also known as London’s Literacy Set. The hotel is approximately o.8 miles from the center of London. The hotel is situated near many transport links, which is handy if you’re travelling with children or with pets. (Which, yes, I am pleased to say are allowed at the Montague!) The main attraction to the hotel is the British Museum which is located just a matter of yards from the hotels entrance, perfect for questioning minds. However, there are also other attractions nearby and to the south are the famous streets of Soho and Covent Garden’s. With The West End close by too.

The rooms available are both spacious and grand. There are 88 deluxe guest rooms, 11 suites and 1 apartment. When choosing a room, you have a choice of 4 rooms and 2 variations of suites.  There is however only one apartment and that is The Guv’nors Suite. It is a beautifully decorated, spacious room, with all the facilities and amenities you need. The room is available for around £240 a night (for one adult) which I believe to be a bargain for the quality that is being given. Definitely one of the more favored hotels in London! Why not have a look?

The Milestone Hotel is located in Kensington approximately 2.5 miles from the center of London. The hotel has a beautiful location, to the right, you have the shopping central which is Knightsbridge , to your left, Kensington. Kensington Gardens is directly opposite the hotel.

The area around milestone area there are many local attractions certain to keep you entertained. There area is perfect for tourists, shopping and art galleries. Not to mention music, history and science. I can guarantee there is something for everyone! Famous attractions nearby include: the Royal Albert Hall, the Albert memorial, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum.

Each and every one of the guest rooms is individually designed. To keep your room clean and enjoyable, the Milestone maid comes and visits twice a day, and each time she does she will leave a special gift for you! Whether this is freshly baked cookies or strawberry bonbons, you are sure to be pleased. The room maybe of a classical style and seem like you’re in ‘a world of your own’ but there are still some subtle technology hidden in there to keep you in touch, such as wireless internet and a interactive TV with on-demand movies.

The hotel also promotes its variety of money saving packages such as the ‘Get More from Your Stay Package’ and ‘20% Off When Staying 7 Nights Or More.’ The hotel is useful to both business and leisure travelers; although I would say it is more suited to family holidays or romantic weekends away.