London: travel to, parking, hotels, things to do

LondonDiva

beefster wrote:

Brick lane (Very near where I work.... worse luck!) is awash with curry houses and a good bagel shop but hardly for young kids! Prostitutes / muggings / filthy etc. Go during the day if you must - would not take my kids there though! Plus they have dug the whole road up for a new gas main..... 6 months after they laid the new cobble stones! Dont ya just love em!

I've been eating at Brick Lane for going on 9 years and have yet to see a 'lady of the night' actually at work. I think if they were plying their trade, they'd find a better location than the heart of Bangla town don't you? I've yet to see behaviour I would call unacceptable for kids there...

Nor have I been mugged or seen anyone mugged. Given the number of restuarant touts plying their trade, it would be difficult for anyone to be in distress and not be helped. The touts are one of the reasons I recommended it for the kids... It's great fun watching kids bargain with them and trying to hit them up for the best bargain & discounts. You can never get them started down the MSE path too early!

While I agree that if you want to avoid p*ssed students and stag nights, you're best off in the day, it's about on parr with Soho for dirt and I definately feel quite a bit safer there than 'oop west, as a female wandering around.

Have a good time, whatever you do.

Diva

Nobby_Nomates

The best thing you can do in London is head north up the M1 towards Manchester......

Just taking my whippet out, back later, now where’s my flat cap.................. :rolleyes:

SallyD

There is a YHA hostel in Oxford Street,St.Pauls and Kings Cross. The Oxford Street one is within a five minute walk to Regents Street. Safe,clean and cheap. You may be able to book a single room. Check out Hihostels.com.

jazzyjustlaw

Thanks everyone. I have now discovered that I am to attend the University of Westminster for my law revision and it is at the top end of Regents Street near langham place so if anyone knows of any accomodation as close to here as possible will be grateful.

Justine

cooksie_2

we are thinking of taking our girls to London at easter, youngest wants to go on the eye,oldest wants to go to Hamleys, which Travelodge are you staying in as we didnt know which to book Thanks

Spikey_2

Staying in the Islington one which I think is very close to tube and centre.

Thank you for all your help so far guys ...keep it coming.

Spikey

MylesBetter

WWW.RATHBONEHOTEL.COM this is a 5 minute walk from Langham Place and nearly all the rooms now have jaccuzi baths in them (ask for one when booking). The weekend rate is good for it's facilities and location.

If looking for a cheaper one Best Western Hotel on Bryanston Street is also only 5 minutes walk from Langham Place.

JanetG

Have you looked into stopping in a Youth Hostel rather than a hotel? (https://www.yha.org.uk). They're open to all ages, and family rooms are available at many of them.

You pay £28 for a years family membership for a 2 parent family, plus the nightly cost of the room. Rooms and facilities vary at each hostel. However, a lot of them do have rooms that will easily accommodate a family of 5.

There are 8 hostels in the London area, 2 of which are very central and have family rooms.

We joined a few weeks ago, and are looking forward to a family weekend in the Lake District in a few weeks.

Hope this helps.

cooksie_2

thanks for that i'll have a look at that one

tobyjug

My parents took my 2 (age 5 and 7) on the London Eye and then walked down to London Bridge, went up into the bridge to have a look at the workings etc, my mother had checked via the bridges/ thames river website to find out if a boat was going through and at what time so that they got to see the bridge opening.

It was a brilliant day for them and they now think they have "done" London!!