What is the best area to stay in London to do what I want to do...

PaulOMahony

Have to add my 2 cents and say groupon do unbelievably good deals, check them out.

lisa76

p00hsticks wrote: »

For something a bit different on either the Wednesday or Thursday night , if it appeals, look at applying for free tickets for the 'Ceremony of the Keys' where they lock up the Tower for the night (following which it's a straight forward Circle tube journey back from Tower Hill to South Ken).

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/theceremonyofthekeys

I have got tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys :T I am so excited - that was such a quick response, and for it to be a positive response is just unbelievable!!!!

p00hsticks

lisa76 wrote: »

I have got tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys :T I am so excited - that was such a quick response, and for it to be a positive response is just unbelievable!!!!

good - I hope you enjoy it - It's a very interesting experience, (especially for free!).

Just don't be late by the gate or they won't let you in....

Have you got accomodation sorted yet ?

bylromarha

Can I suggest you book a lunch at a VERY nice restaurant. Lunches are far cheaper than dinner - michelin starred food at reasonable prices.

FWIW -I went to lunch on my 35th in Galvin @ Windows. You may have seen it on the Apprentice recently - it's high up in Park Lane Hilton and they have a panoramic view across the city. We ate looking into the Queen's back garden!

£29 per person for 3 courses. And to finish the meal I had a plate of hand made choc truffles and someone had written in chocolate "Happy 35th Birthday" around the edge of the plate.

Amazing experience!

http://www.galvinrestaurants.com/section.php/40/1/sample_set_lunch_menu

hornetgirl

If you want a nice, good value lunch, Bumbles on Buckingham Palace Road does 3 courses for £10 and the food is lovely. Worth booking, as it can get very busy. Last time I was there coincided with a garden party at the Palace, so great people watching to be had while we were eating.

lisa76

p00hsticks wrote: »

Have you got accomodation sorted yet ?

Not yet, I like the look of the Maraton and Henley but I know if I book something there will be an offer somewhere that I'll wish I'd have booked! Typical moneysaver trying to get the best deal but will probably end up with nothing lol!!! I must stop looking and just take the plunge

lovesabargain123

We stayed at the holiday inn at Watford junction, for Bogof nights and paid £62 each night. You can google the link.
We found it great, 20 mins train into Euston.
The rate included breakfast for 4 and was literally a 2 min walk from Watford station

p00hsticks

lisa76 wrote: »

Not yet, I like the look of the Maraton and Henley but I know if I book something there will be an offer somewhere that I'll wish I'd have booked! Typical moneysaver trying to get the best deal but will probably end up with nothing lol!!! I must stop looking and just take the plunge

The Tower Bridge Travelodge is really handy for the Tower (it's where we were staying when we went to the Keys ceremony) and for the Thames Clipper river boats, but not so much for the Science Museum (although, as I said in an earlier post, it's a straght circle line journey between South Kensington and Tower Hill). but I still think that, given you are arriving at Paddington and are only going to be there a few days, a South Ken hotel that will let you leave your luggage is probably your best bet.

susancs

On the Holiday Inn 2for 1 link Holiday Inn Regents park is £77.50 per night for the 2 nights you want. It is a good location as only 20 minutes walk from there to Buckingham Palace if you want to see the changing of the Guard (check dates nearer the time as sometimes every second morning). 10 min tube journey from Paddington tube station to Great Portland street which is couple minutes walk to the hotel. The Science Museum would be an approx 25 minute tube journey. You can get the 15 red route master bus to the Tower from Regents Street to the Tower and this is a nice trip as it goes past a lot of London landmarks (it also is a night bus) and it is about 15 minutes walk from the hotel. The hotel is a 10 walk to Oxford Street and a mile and a half from Covent Garden Market and West End theatre near there if you book a show (or you could get the tube). You are very close to Oxford street where shops are open late if you fancy visiting shopping until 8 or 9pm. Regents park has an open air theatre which might be nice if the weather is good and also has some lovely gardens, a nice boating lake where you can hire boats and the zoo is there. You can get 2for 1 zoo entry if you show your return train tickets in conjunction with the 2for 1 train offers voucher. Primrose Hill has some fantastic views over London too. You can also get a canal narrowboat waterbus from the Zoo to Camden Town lock.
http://www.holidayinngreenroom.co.uk/disney241

http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park

http://www.londonwaterbus.com/

The Science museum closes at 6pm from memory so if you are arriving at 12.30pm and want to go there on your first day, you would need to go to direct to the Museum and it is about a five minute transfer time to Paddington underground station from the train station and then the circle tube line to South Kensington and then few minutes walk to the Museum so you should arrive for 1pm (ish). They have a cloakroom which stores small bags for £2 and suitcases for £4 an item.

My tips would be to buy an offpeak Travelcard after 9.30am for zones 1-2 for £7 each and this will give you unlimited daily travel on all London tubes and buses. I would go on www.tfl.gov.uk and use the journey planner to plan your days in advance to pack in as much as you can. Also look on googlemaps to plan any walking to places. You could use a daily travelcard to do a London Tour http://www.londonforfree.net/outdoors/bustour/bustour.shtml

I would check out tripadvisor for reviews of any hotels you are considering as often there are good tips on there as to best places to eat near the hotel and it also gives you other peoples experinces of the hotel, area, tranpsort etc.

Jamie_Carter

lisa76 wrote: »

That sounds great pOOhsticks. I was wondering what to do and when, and I think your suggestions of doing the science museum the afternoon we arrive is a good one, especially if we stay in that area. I'll have a look at the Ceremony of the Keys as that would be of interest to both of us.
I think one of the hotels suggested by jemcart are looking more and more appealing especially if they'll hang on to our luggage for a bit longer.
Thanks x

Did you know that the Natural History Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum are right next door to the Science Museum?

If as pOOhsticks suggested, you visit the museums on the first day. Then could take a short walk down the road to Harrods (it's worth visiting even if you aren't buying).

Then on the Friday you could walk through Hyde Park, then down Constitution Hill to the front of Buckingham Palace. Then walk up The Mall to Trafalgar Square. Next head down Whithall, past Downing Street, to Parliament Square, wher you will find Westminster Abbey, and obviously the Houses of Parliament. Then walk over Westminster Bridge to the London Eye. You can catch a river cruise from here to the Tower of London.

Then on Friday, it all depends on what time you are leaving. But you could get a one day Tube rail card (can't remember what they call them these days), and visit any other attractions that you fancy visiting.