London 2012 Guidebook
Best and worst accommodations:
Best: St. Paul's Youth Hostel
Why: Location. It was close to the tube, Thames, Millinium Bridge, green spaces. Public rooms were small and intimate. Facilities and bathrooms overdue for updating.
Worst: London Central Youth Hostel
Why: large, noisy public rm/reception with constant "disco" music. Had to retreat to kitchen or room. No green spaces near by. Four bed with bath rooms were great.
Nancy McCoy in Lopez Island, WA USA 02/05/2012
Best: Coach House Inn
Why: Cozy, warm with charming hosts...Meena and Harley
Chris in Woodland, CA USA 01/09/2012
Worst: Blades Hotel
Why: This hotel is not recommended by Rick and for good reason. There are much better options in the hotels that are mentioned in Rick's Guidebooks.
Greg in Georgetown, KY USA 10/24/2011
Best: Marlborough House, Bath, UK & Luna Simone Hotel, London
Why: Marlborough House was an old bed and breakfast updated to meet current needs. Breakfast was awesome and Peter Moore, Owner, was delightful. Luna Simone Hotel provided a small, but very clean comfortable room, excellent service and a nice breakfast. The warmth of the team was lovely. Both were well described in the book.
Sheryl Jorgensen in Houston, TX USA 09/23/2011
Best: Coach House Rentals
Why: At last we have found the solution to finding spacious, clean accommodation in a gracious London location. Several previous experiences with rental properties and hotel accommodation were less than satisfactory, but thanks to Coach House Rentals we had a very pleasant 10 day stay in London at what we regard as reasonable prices for quality London accommodation.
Patrick Power in Melbourne, V Australia 08/29/2011
Best: A Place LIke Home
Why: Renting an apartment through this agency was easy and quick.
Granville in Durham, NC USA 08/06/2011
Best: BLADES HOTEL
Why: On our fourth trip to London so we have got a rough idea of what to expect and large AC rooms is one of them. This city has been built over the centuries so expect to find rooms and roads not as wide as back home. At the Blades hotel our room was perfectly adequate for our use, thankfully we are reasonable fit so lack of elevator no problem. Room very clean and the breakfast room was bright, fresh and offered a moderate buffet selection.The Blades Hotel is in a great location - we walked to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral and Abbey, art galleries and great museums (all free by the way!). Local bus and undergound service is awesome - waiting 3 or 4 minutes is a long time! Finally a 'thank you' to the kind staff, especially Claudia who was so very helpful to our tiresome questions!
John and Kate Dagmar in San Jose, CA USA 06/10/2011
Best: BLADES HOTEL
Why: On our fourth trip to London so we have got a rough idea of what to expect and large AC rooms is one of them. This city has been built over the centuries so expect to find rooms and roads not as wide as back home. At the Blades hotel our room was perfectly adequate for our use, thankfully we are reasonable fit so lack of elevator no problem. Room very clean and the breakfast room was bright, fresh and offered a moderate buffet selection.The Blades Hotel is in a great location - we walked to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral and Abbey, art galleries and great museums (all free by the way!). Local bus and undergound service is awesome - waiting 3 or 4 minutes is a long time! Finally a 'thank you' to the kind staff, especially Claudia who was so very helpful to our tiresome questions!
John and Kate Dagmar in San Jose, CA USA 06/10/2011
Best: VBRO.com
Why: With hotel prices through the roof and traveling with 4 people and quads hard to come by in small hotels and B&B's, I found VBRO.com apartments to be much more economical and most were in excellent locations.
Amy in Nashville, IN USA 03/26/2011
Best: Coach House Rental
Why: I had a very wonderful stay with Coach House. The apartment SGS was spacious and lovely (exactly as described in website)and the location was superb - safe, quiet and just a short walk to the tube. We had everything we needed in the apartment and it is so much more convenient compared to a hotel, especially when you are travelling with young kids! I would also like to thank Harley and the Coach House staff who helped to keep and return a jacket we left behind in the apartment. I would certainly book a Coach House apartment for my future stays in London, for the convenience and reliability.
Rachel in Singapore, SIngapore 02/06/2011
Best: Luna Simone. Victoria. London.
Why: Relatives recommended this truly family run hotel - great location with walking distance of Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. Start the day with a great English breakfast. Awesome local transport system. This was a wonderful experience with very kind staff. Highly recommended. We booked directly with the hotel on www.lunasimonehotel.com
June and Peter in Tampa, FL USA 02/01/2011
Best: Lime Tree Hotel
Why: I agree wholeheartedly with the prior posts recommending the Lime Tree Hotel in the Victoria Station neighborhood. If you want a warm, charming, conveniently located hotel with a friendly staff and a great breakfast, look no further! Charlotte and Matt make you feel like old friends in no time.
Sandy Chudler in Lake Forest Park, WA USA 12/10/2010
Best: Cartref House
Why: We recently stayed at Cartref House for 8 nights while seeing the sights in London. We found Derek and Sharon James to be very cordial and personable hosts. We especially enjoyed exchanging ideas on London activities (and other opinions) with Derek and the other guests every morning while Derek served everyone a “proper English breakfast” of eggs, bacon, toast, juice, coffee, etc. Cartref House is simply, but nicely, appointed. Rooms have flat-screen TV, tea cups and pot, and ensuite, which includes a shower. The location is unbeatable: 2 short blocks from the Victoria Coach Station (direct buses to Heathrow) and the #11 bus (to everywhere), 3 blocks from Victoria Station (tube, trains, and stores), and a short walk from Buckingham Palace. We also learned that this is a very nice area; just around the corner is Elizabeth Street with cute shops, including the only Poilane’s Bakery outside of Paris! Just beyond is Chester Square, London home to many international celebrities. All in all, this is a great base from which to enjoy London. Just be advised that there is no lift; so, you must be able to climb one or more flights of stairs.
Jim Mansfield in Costa Mesa, CA USA 11/08/2010
Best: Blades Hotel
Why: Though I have semi retired, I still keep my eye on hotels I managed in the past in London - including until recently Blades Hotel. I am saddend by the recent negative report on Blades Hotel. I know the staff and they do their best to achieve high standards, I can only hope and suggest the recent complaint was a 'blip' on the friendly establishment I have not long ago left. Best wishes, Kevin.
Kevin in London, UK 10/05/2010
Best: friendly, cosy, clean and nice
Why: Very warm and friendly host with high level of personal touch. 1. High quality of accommondation, quiet, clean and cosy. 2. Indenepndent entrance. 3. Beautiful garden 4. very nice breakfast
Josie Yu in Taipei, Taiwan 10/04/2010
Best: Premier Inn London - County Hall
Why: Clean and comfortable with a hot and filling breakfast every morning for an additional charge. Strategically located next to the London Eye and across the Thames River from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
Thomas Elliot in Harlingen, Tx USA 09/26/2010
Worst: Blades Hotel - London 07/10
Why: Why: A few steps? It was 84 steps to our room and no one to help us with our luggage. We were on our way to Uganda, (including some camping), so had more than our usual one piece each. I actually tore the meniscus in my knee and am having surgery on Thursday. The feedback I read all raved about the manager, Kevin. We only saw a surly woman. We stayed, went to Uganda, then returned. When we left the first time, I requested a lower room on our return. Lo and behold, she had us booked into the same room on the top floor. I refused, so she moved us to the second floor. The room itself, besides no AC, was fine and clean. The breakfast was what I expected. Rick, you blew it this time. In ten trips to Europe, this is the first time I have disagreed with one of your recommendations!
[Editor's Note: We can't seem to find any record of Rick ever recommending the Blades Hotel in the last several editions of our London guidebook. Could it have been recommended by other readers somewhere else on this website? Regardless, we're sorry you had a bad experience.]
Liz in Palmer Lake, CO USA 09/14/2010
Best: Premier Inn - St Pancras
Why: Good value for London. Clean, good beds and quiet at night.
Bob in Philadelphia, PA USA 08/24/2010
Best: APARTMENT 21, CENTRAL LONDON
Why: As a family of 4 or 6 as regular visitors to London we have stayed in hotels but found them increasingly expensive and frankly not suitable for families - having to honor breakfast times, lack of family space etc. Recently friends recommended a very small apartment company and we have just returned from our best trip to London ever at half the cost! We were 6 in all, it offered a very modern space, two double bedrooms and a comfortable 'sofa bed' in the large lounge, great dining area and kitchen plus two modern bathrooms. The apartment is located very near the fashionable Barbican area on the edge of the old City of London and not too far from St. Pauls.
In the past we were paying our over one hundred pounds per night for a basic double room three hundred for us as a family of 6. Our recent stay for 4 nights cost all six of us just six hundred pounds - half a regular hotel bill! The apartment we stayed in was not in a tourist area but opposite a lovely small park and very close to London buses and underground. On recommendation we booked direct (mention Rick Steves) with the apartment owner, cheryl@whicharchitect.com. Best value and great for a family group. Check out seasonal prices which we understand vary.
RobRoss in New York, NY USA 08/23/2010
Best: Trading residences
Why: Traded with a family in Muswell Hill (North London). Tons of cute shops and restaurants/pubs without the tourist clientele or backlash. Cheap breakfasts at home and dinner there, too, if we felt like it.
Tom French in Hermosa Beach, CA USA 08/17/2010
Best: Blades Hotel
Why: It was our second stay in this hotel. It is in a great location. Obviously has been having some improvements but lacks elevator but this is expected in many London hotels. Nice friendly staff but we found that the much praised Kevin has left. Room rates had gone up - again a warning that London can be expensive.
Andy in Dallas, TX USA 08/04/2010
Best: The Coach House, London
Why: Great accommodations, breakfast and hosts. We would definitely come back when we return to London!
Ed Shore in Richmond, VA USA 07/27/2010
Worst: Henley House Hotel
Why: Worst hotel experience in all my years of traveling. Room was nothing like I was promised, and staff was incredibly rude.
John in Fort Worth, TX USA 07/18/2010
Best: The Coach House
Why: perfect mix of hospitality and independence (great hosts at breakfast and when requested, but no hovering about when not needed)
Worst: Simply Suites and rooms
Why: not working ventilation, so open window meant lots of street noise. not great options of food in area. difficult tube stop/use from this area (side "shoot" of disrict line that does not run as often; required many more line changes)
Anna in Richmond, VA USA 07/08/2010
Best: Luna Simone Hotel
Why: The location was great and the neighborhood comfortable and safe with bus stop just outside. The staff was very pleasant and helpful. Helped my 73 year old mother and me up ( and down) four flights of stairs with our heaviest bags. And refused a tip.
Dana Stone in Oklahoma City, OK USA 07/05/2010
Best: YHA St Pancras hostel
Why: Budget travelers catching an early morning Eurostar (cheap Advance rate, of course) can't ask for better than YHA St Pancras, across the street from the station. Very nice lounge, laundry, en-suite bathroom shared only with roommates, breakfast including egg/sausage on muffin for a few quid, and actually rather quiet considering the location. (As opposed to YHA Oxford Street, where you might as well try to sleep on the sidewalk.)
Kevin in Princeton, NJ USA 06/12/2010
Best: Cartref House London
Why: Very nice rooms,great breakfast and located 2 blocks from bus station and 3 blocks from Victoria Station. The best thing is the owner.Helpful and friendly.
John Theune in Sheboygan, wi USA 06/01/2010
Best: Lime Tree Hotel
Why: The hotel staff was wonderful & helpful. The location was great. It was clean, charming and reasonable. We got our exercise on the stairs (no lift)!
Jan in Rhodes, CA USA 06/01/2010
Best: Lynton House Hotel
Why: Cindy, so sorry that your stay at the Lynton was not as you expected. I looked back on this thread and saw that my last post was in June of 2007. I've stayed with Mark and Simon twice since then and am probably going back again next year, before the Olympic "rush". I would not stay anywhere else while in London.
Yes, the buildings are old, we find it part of the charm of Londontown.
As I stated in my former post, Mark and Simons Grandparents ran the house when I first stayed there in 1982. Just like at home we have to "update" and it's really not feasible to shut down while this is being done. I hope you will give them another try sometime, you will not want to stay elsewhere. They have worked hard to be included in Ricks book and I was very happy for them when I saw it listed.
Lauretta in Oakland, Ca USA 05/20/2010
Worst: Lynton Hotel B & B
Why: Promises to be just fine with Mark and Simon as gracious hosts and well located BUT now being renovated and not yet physically up to your standard. Horrible linens.
Cindy in Montville, NJ USA 05/17/2010
Best: London Vicarage Hotel
Why: Lovely small and cozy hotel. The staff was very helpful during the Volcano eruption with information. The hotel is in a great neighborhood--I felt like a "local"
Karen Kallas in Schaumburg, Il USA 05/16/2010
Best: Lime Tree Hotel
Why: Friendly and helpful owners and staff, comfortable rooms with nice bathrooms. Self service laundry nearby. Ebury Wine Bar next door. Good location near Victoria Station.
Pamela Kahn in Atlanta, GA USA 05/02/2010
Best: Morgan Hotel
Why: It is centrally located (between the Tottenham Court and Russel Square tube stops)- literally around the corner from the British Museum. In addition to being family-run(John Jr welcomes all guests, takes and serves breakfast orders; his mom helps with the cleaning of the rooms), it is in a great location- Bloomsbury neighborhood next to the British Museum, and the prices are very reasonable!! Please give it a look. Morgan Hotel, 24 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QJ. Phone: 020 7636 3735, Fax: 020 7636 3045, Email: info@morganhotel.co.uk, www.morganhotel.co.uk
Peter Francev in Ontario, CA USA 01/19/2010
Best: Villa Magdala Bath
Why: Pleasant and near center. However, I think that it may be over-priced for the quality of accomodations
Worst: Premier inn London County Hall
Why: There is no reception desk--just a guy and several computers. Essentially it's self-service, and if you have ever struggled to get a computer to do what you need done, you'll know how frustrating the check-in process was. Location is not as good as it looks on maps...you are on the far side of building, away from Thames, Parliament, bridges....
Roe Buchanan in Reston, VA USA 11/28/2009
Worst: Take off reccomended list - new ownership
Why: Outrageous Customer Service Do not stays at the Harcourt House, Tophams, or Parklane Mews, all owned by the same group.
I booked a room at the Harcourt House on Oct 15th, 2009 and received an email confirmation on Oct 16th for three nights at 90 GBP each night. Upon check in seven days later the reception proceeded to tell me the rate was recently changed for Sat night to 139 GBP. She told me that Harcourt was recently bought out in the last few weeks and the rate was changed. Even though I had a confirmation from just seven days earlier she refused to accept it. She basically stonewalled me with the following statements: well we are not changing the other two nights.... I don't have responsibility to revise the rate.... there is no manager on duty... I can't provide his phone number. So as it was ten o'clock at night, I requested to have a manger call me the next day - no call. This person had no customer service skills, compassion, nor did she attempt to apologize. Her tone and body language was take it or leave it.
I did email upon my return, had a back and forth. Their logic was even more outrageous.
Donald Smullen in Oreland, PA USA 11/10/2009
Best: Luna Simone Hotel
Why: At a 100 pounds a night with breakfast it was a great value for London, fully functional, safe, and well run place to stay.
Leon in Colorado Springs, USA 11/06/2009
Best: Brock's Guest House (Bath) and Aster House (So. Kensington)
Why: Brock's was quiet, clean and had spacious bedroom and bathroom, excellent breakfast to order. Aster House was a pleasant respite after a busy day of sightseeing. Close to So. Kensington tube station, which has Picadilly, Circle and District Lines. Room and bathroom were smaller, but very nicely appointed and a powerful shower. Breakfast was buffet style, but very good and served in the lovely Orangerie. Leonie Tan was very pleasant and helpful. I was able to use my laptop and Wi-Fi at no charge, although signal strength was best on ground level.
Janelle Sanda in Fargo, ND USA 11/01/2009
Best: Number 16 Hotel
Why: Wow! Great location and superb staff and service. Loved the salons and public spaces...really helped make our London visit memorable.
Lori Ecklebe in Omaha, NE USA 10/25/2009
Best: Lime Tree
Why: wonderful staff! We stayed for a week in Mar'09 ... got upgraded to a larger room. Lovely. Breakfast good too. location near Victoria (both train and coach) very convenient. I'd stay here again very happily.
edna in murphey, ky USA 09/15/2009
Best: Cartref House
Why: Friendly owners, close to Victoria Station, good place to stay if leaving or arriving by train or bus.
Laura Wilson in Fredericksburg, TX USA 09/05/2009
Best: Lime Tree Hotel
Why: We stayed here in late May, arriving exhausted after 24 hours of travel from rural Oregon, to a warm welcome! Clean, comfortable room, friendly staff, great breakfast, quiet neighborhood with good nearby pubs. Unqualified recommendation!
Laurie Power in Creswell, OR USA 07/28/2009
Best: Lime Tree Hotel
Why: Fantastic! Great breakfasts and helpfull staff.
Worst: Parade Park, Bath
Why: Impossible to sleep in this hotel: no A/C so window must remain open-there are very loud seagulls most hours of the day that you can still hear through earplugs. There is also a bar/pub in front of the hotel which can be loud late at night and I was harrassed by drunk men while trying to enter the hotel. Overpriced for what you get at the hotel.
Joy in Dayton, OH USA 07/23/2009
Best: The Westland hotel
Why: Not able to draw comparisons and we just dropped anchor at this hotel for 9 days. very clean, small hotel across the road from Kensington Gardens. about a two city block walk to a tube station. They put us in a back room (very quiet). The staff were very friendly and the breakfasts were great. Ian at the front desk was very helpful with directions and tips on good pubs and many other things. Oh Yes! We got a 10% discount on our bill for presenting the London 2009 Book when we checked in.
Eric Sykes in Vancouver, . Canada 07/20/2009
Best: Cartref House
Why: Sharon was amazing. Lots of information and helpful tips. Wonderful breakfasts. Very comfortable home. We loved being within easy walking of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
Carolyn in Smith, CA USA 07/14/2009
Best: Blades Hotel
Why: The location is great, really a charming area and as it boasts - it is walking distance of Buckingham Palace, Westminster and so many historic places. Ideal for shopping and the theatre (see Kevin about discount tickets). The hotel is run by this exccentric but caring guy - Kevin. He not only checks out daily the royal family's appearances around town but if in doubt he actually calls Buckingham Palace to check out times - really wild. On previous visits to London the breakfast time can be a strain with no atmosphere, at Blades its like a big family room of every nationality and all enjoying themselves. A great time to ask the host to help plan your day. Good value, great location, superb host. If a little older ask for a lower floor room - no elevator, bathrooms small but everything very clean. We booked direct and saved over 20 dollars a night: info@blades-hotel.co.uk
Susan and David Wilde in San Jose, CA USA 07/04/2009
Best: Cherry Court Hotel - London
Why: The Patels, the location, and the cost make Cherry Court a perpetual favorite for me. It had been six years since I spent three weeks at Cherry Court. Contrary to some other posts, I found the hotel to be even better than that first stay with some new rooms and definite "refreshing." More importantly, the Patels remain the epitome of graciousness. How could it not be like "coming home" when, as soon as you arrive, Mrs. Patel looks up and beams as she calls you by name. It was the first trip to London for my 14 year old niece and she too loved the quaint yet comfortable accomodations. Of course, the internet access, next door animal hospital, and great neighborhood pub were also pluses in her eyes. Fully hope that it will not be six years before I have the chance to call Cherry Court home again.
Candace J Head in Woodbury, GA USA 06/21/2009
Worst: Cherry Court Hotel, London
Why: To echo what a fellow poster previously wrote, the Patel family is great, but the room was incredibly dingy. I stayed at other recommended low cost accommodations in Paris and Amsterdam and they were far superior to the Cherry Court Hotel. I never felt clean there. As a Brooklynite, the size of the room didn't bother me, but the uncleanliness did. On the plus side, the location of the hotel was great and were thankful for use of the computer in the lobby. Wifi doesn't do us any good as we don't travel with laptops.
Jessica in Brooklyn, NY USA 06/02/2009
Best: Hotel Indigo - London Paddington
Why: Not a Rick recommendation, but should be. We found the hotel on Priceline.com. The room was modern, clean and pretty large, especially by London standards. The staff was friendly and helpful. The hotel is located only a few short blocks from Paddington rail and tube station with direct access to Heathrow. A great place to stay.
traveldorks in Okie, USA 04/22/2009
Best:
Why: We used priceline.com and stayed at the Copthorne Tara hotel off High Street Kensington. It was a great deal and great hotel.
Catherine Conger in Greenville, SC USA 04/19/2009
Best: Three Abbey Green
Why: The accomodations here were gorgeous and the host and hostess (and family) were wonderful and helpful. It was well worth it, especially the location - on doorstep of the Abbey!
Worst: Kensington Garden Hotel
Why: PLEASE advise readers that they do not offer full service and key is to be dropped off and picked up so people cannot easily come and go as they please. Also, rooms are not well maintained, it is falling into disrepair and reception is 8-6 only with issues of mold and stains.
Andrew Goldman in Crystal Lake, IL USA 03/29/2009
Best: The Elizabeth Hotel,Eccelston Square, London
Why: Comfortable, large rooms. We stayed in a Studio Apartment for two weeks (Feb.1--14, 2009)for a special winter discounted rate, which allowed us to prepare our own food part of the time--a large advantage in pricey London. The classy, free breakfasts are probably the best in London with an attractive breakfast room, efficient and friendly waitresses who cook to order--eggs anyway you want them, with mushrooms, tomato, ham and sausage. The housekeeping was good, with changed towels and bed making daily, and the reception staff was generally friendly, some more than others. The location is convenient: five minutes from Victoria Station and the tube, two minutes from the Central Bus Station, which gives access to and from Heathrow Airport for 4 pounds (2 pounds if over 60!) The area is quiet at night and the streets seemed generally safe.
Jack M. Potter in Olympia, WA USA 02/16/2009
Best: Blades Hotel (again)
Why: A lot has been said about this little hotel (16 rooms). Expect limitations on shower sizes and stairs as you get in most European bed and breakfast establishments but Blades Hotel is central, great staff and ver helpful. They discount direct bookings. We found the hotel uased by a number of nationalities and breakfast was a fun time with a good buffet and a great atmosphere.
Patrick Finlay in Toronto, Canada 02/14/2009
Worst: Hotel Section
Why: Might be helpful to have a section on hotels that cater to families, or that can at least fit them in!
Randy Lynch in Stuttgart, Germany 01/01/2009