Weekend break in London(help needed)

Dov_2

susancs wrote: »

For accomodation, I agree with a previous poster that you will spend so much time out in London that you will only really need somewhere to sleep in London and that has good transport links. I would save your money for meals out and extra like theatre shows etc, rather than pay for 4 star facilities you won't have the time to use.
www.premierinn.com if you click on Henry you can get a double room for 2 nights Fri 9/4 to Sun 10/4 for £138 with breakfast extra in total at Kensington(walking distance to museums and near Earls Court tube). Good reviews on tripadvisor.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d286746-r52844357-Premier_Inn_London_Kensington_Earls_Court-London_England.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

On the 2 for 1 Holiday inn link currently the 4 star St James Crowne Plaza is £68 per double room for 9/4 to 10/4 £67 per night, but you will pay a lot more for breakfast at a Crowne Plaza.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/925/en/c/1/content/dec/teaser/6c/1/en/lp/emea/twofor.html?rateCode=IDEX1
Reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d265539-r53036199-Crowne_Plaza_London_St_James-London_England.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

Thanks for your help susancs. I apreciate what you are saying, however i went on to both of these sites---Premier inn was £138 room only, and then when you add breakfast it comes to £169.80.
The other one says room is £67 per night and states "exclusive 2for1 room deal, book 1 night get one free! Then when i selected the room--it went to £134.00, and beside it says per room per night and excludes VAT and Breakfast! Very confusing.
Anyway bearing in mind these prices, compared to the deal i mentioned earlier and pointed out to me by doozergirl--I can get a Double room in the Hilton London Metropole 9th + 10th apr for £186.33, including Breakfast both days and a late check out on the sunday. Thats in a 4 star hotel in a good location aswel. To me that seems better value.
What does everyone think, im looking to book very soon?

thanks
dov

Doozergirl

Dov wrote: »

Thanks for your help susancs. I apreciate what you are saying, however i went on to both of these sites---Premier inn was £138 room only, and then when you add breakfast it comes to £169.80.
The other one says room is £67 per night and states "exclusive 2for1 room deal, book 1 night get one free! Then when i selected the room--it went to £134.00, and beside it says per room per night and excludes VAT and Breakfast! Very confusing.
Anyway bearing in mind these prices, compared to the deal i mentioned earlier and pointed out to me by doozergirl--I can get a Double room in the Hilton London Metropole 9th + 10th apr for £186.33, including Breakfast both days and a late check out on the sunday. Thats in a 4 star hotel in a good location aswel. To me that seems better value.
What does everyone think, im looking to book very soon?

thanks
dov

The Holiday Inn etc 2for1 does split the cost of one night over 2 nights iyswim so yes it doubles. Considering the prices coming up for pretty bog standard hotels like the Premier Inn without breakfast, I'd still choose the Hilton. The idea of a pool and breakfast in bed on at least one morning sounds like a lovely birthday to me And even if you skimp on the meal there are still plenty of lovely but cheap restaurants in London - you'd at least have to go for a glass of something fizzy up on the top floor at the Metropole though! The view is lovely - we went there for my bday one year.

I found the Holiday Inn Express in Southwark which is a newish one so nice and clean, with breakfast for £109 for the two nights (seems to be inclusvie of VAT as well) which I think is really as cheap as you will find in London unless you catch one of the bargain sale rooms which I have admittedly benefitted from in the past. It's a bit of a walk from the tube but you're right by the South Bank there so on one day you could just wander around, maybe catch a Thames Clipper off to somewhere else, catch the view of the city from the River. That would be a half decent place to put your head down.

Little_Vics

one brilliant thing in London are London walks - google it, but use the original company. They are FAB - there's a hidden pubs walk that ended up in a pub with a quiz when we did it. Other off-the-beat things to do - take the tube to Kentish Town and walk up Parliament Hill for good views (better than Primrose Hill in my view), boat from Westminster to Greenwich, Portabello Road markets, curry on Brick Lane... there's loads to do!

Dov_2

Doozergirl, Where did you find that price? I went on to their site and best available rate was advance purchase £99 prpn inc breakfast and vat. It looks to be close to alot of the sights and looks fine.
Im going to try to draw up a shortlist of hotels in next few days and will have a mixture of budget and mid range, then make our decision!

Dov

Doozergirl

Dov wrote: »

Doozergirl, Where did you find that price? I went on to their site and best available rate was advance purchase £99 prpn inc breakfast and vat. It looks to be close to alot of the sights and looks fine.
Im going to try to draw up a shortlist of hotels in next few days and will have a mixture of budget and mid range, then make our decision!

Dov

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/925/en/c/1/content/dec/teaser/6c/1/en/lp/emea/twofor.html?rateCode=IDEX1

miss_independent

Stayed at the Hilton Metropole for my 21st and although we weren't in it much it was nice and I thought the location was good for getting around, tube station very near by. My Dad had tried to get the Hilton Park Lane for my 21st but there was a mix up and so they managed to arrange for me to have dinner at the Park Lane instead and the chef made me a cake. Five years later, I am going back to the Hilton Metropole in February for my Birthday thanks to the Hilton Special Offer and we are going to see Les Miserables and Legally Blonde - I've seen nearly every musical and if that was something you might be interested in for your wife I would HIGHLY recommend Sister Act - saw it in November and it was one of the best things I have ever seen.

I lived in London for a short time and can tell you, even living there you don't get to see everything! It takes a lot of time so, given you only have a weekend, I would definitely try and figure out what you would want to do as a priority. In terms of shopping, when we first used to visit London we used to go to Knightsbridge and the big stores like Selfridges and the Oxford Rd/Regent St area which I suppose is all part of the experience but it took ALOT of time (and money!). Since Westfield (new shopping centre) opened at White City we tend to spend a few hours there before leaving for home (we drive) so as to not waste time hopping on and off tubes and traipzing (sp?) up and down the streets of London. You lose a bit of the Ambience but in our opinion it is worth it. My favourite place in London for atmosphere is Covent Garden, its great even to just go there for coffee or lunch and a stroll around the market, watching the street performers. Hampstead Heath is also a nice place to relax (if you can relax/want to relax in London!) but more so in the summer. A stroll along the Embankment is also nice for feeling like you are in London, but you might want to spend your days visiting places like the Tower of London or one of the palaces, museums. Trip Advisor's London Forum is useful for information. I don't think I am allowed to link to it on MSE? Hope you enjoy your trip!

Dov_2

Just a quick update on this.
I have decided to just bite the bullet and i booked the Hilton London Metropole as recommended by Doozergirl. I got Fri 9th and sat 10th April for £186.33 including breafast both days and complimentary Late Checkout on the sunday of 6pm!! I thought it was a fab deal and too good to turn down.
I booked our train down to london yesterday--Advanced purchase on east coast trains was £24.90 each and is direct from Edinburgh. Just need to wait til next week to book our return tickets, which should be around the same price. YEY! :j

Once again many thanks to everyone who helped me out and made suggestions. I will be on again nearer the time to get some more advice on things to do when were there.

Dov

Doozergirl

6pm checkout! Go you

I hope you have a lovely time!

Reverbe

Please dont pay attention to the poster who said buses are quicker than tubes.. in the 10 years plus I have lived in London this has never been the case.. as borne out by when tubes are replaced by buses and bus replacement adds at least 45 mins to 1 hr on the journey..

EDIT I see from the post below me that this can be done when going to tourist areas - which I freely admit I have never visited/nor had any inclination to visit.I thought the poster was talking about travelling some distance.

Debt_Free_Dreamer

Walk, most places are quite near to each other. Get yourself a map, an idea of what you want to see and plan your route.

You can even google walking round London routes, which make sure you get to see what you want.

We were there a few weeks ago and walked on the first day from our Travelodge in Covent Garden to the London Eye and back. Managed to take in Trafalager Square, Covent Garden, Downing Street, Horse Guards Parade,