h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We did check that one out Milla, and it looked quite good indeed, but unfortnately it was booked for the dates needed.

Maybe next time!

az

I'm with Fanny. There are reasonably cheap places, just not nice ones. Stayed here recently:

http://www.edenplazahotel.co.uk/

But I really, really wouldn't recommend it.

Strewth yes!
If you want to see foxes come to London as the urban fox is thriving.
In outer London parks there are deer, Gold Finches, etc and even Mandarin Ducks from south east asia.
You can see Kestrals hovering and hunting along side motorways and Sparrow Hawks catching birds in back gardens. I would imagine parks like Hyde Park must have quite a lot more wildlife than expected if people look closely.

OK, as a Londoner, I hardly ever stay in hotels in London. But I have been known to do so.

The vast majority of them are good, clean, impersonal chain hotels. If you want "charming" you're gonna have to pay for it, unless by "charming" you mean "19-century plumbing" in which case you can take your chances in some of the dodgier 2** establishments.

Any good hotels-r-us website will give you plenty of options in Central london for the price range you mention. If there's one you particularly like the look of I could stick my neck round the door and check the place out.

RF

There you go, there's helpful for you!
.
I expect that is the problem, if you want to really stay in a piece of history, one of the most famous hotels, then it will be ultra expensive. I expect if I ever won the lottery it would be nice to try one of the most famous hotels for one night just to see what it is like, however I expect it to be the height of luxury but not really that relaxing in the sense of it not being a home from home.
.
I would love to try a hotel in the countryside that was a converted old castle though, one with proper 6 feet thick walls and flag stone floors.

Here's one I have stayed in that seems to fit that description...

http://www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk/

And not *that* expensive, either!

RF

>>OK, as a Londoner, I hardly ever stay in hotels in London. But I have been known to do so<<

Are there interesting stories you'd like to share with us?

Interesting stories...yes!

Share with you? Ho no no no!

RF

Yikes, sounds like we are getting into the territory of that recent BBC1 series I think called "Hotel" with all its tales and stories.
The ex Eastenders actress with blond hair was the manager. She was Steve's boyfriend in 'Enders a few years ago.

<>

Thanks, RF.

az

Hey, no problemo...

I work in Central London (about 500 yards from the point that they measure distances from to say "x miles to Central London" - you can't get much closer than that*) and also go there on weekend for cultural pursuits, so I can easily poke my head round a hotel and check it out.

RF

* Yes, I know you could actually get 500 yards closer. But thank you for thinking your pedantic thought!

This one seems quite nice and it's offering some good discounts in November. Name sounds familiar - the Thistle Selfridge - I think guspemar may have stayed here before.

http://hotels.uk-bookings.com/hotel/gb/thistleselfridge.html?label=efgg_en_bh_220592-united-kingdom-london-the-selfridge&ef_id=1511:3:eac562b4f17abd2aa9cf9f559f500c6e_790607297:eEvD49B6B2YAACGdYT8AAAAJ:20071005103605

az

Novotel by the Tower of London is good. Excellent breakfast and bar food ok.

I live in London, but unlike some have never needed to stay in a hotel here ! If friends or family visit, they stay with me, so haven't had to recommend a hotel before.

Having said that, if you are looking for budget, I know that there is a Travelodge near Shakespeare's Globe that we suggest to people coming to our office (which is nearby) - it's pretty basic, but well situated for Tate Modern, Globe, Borough Market, riverside bars & restaurants etc.

It's worth trying that last minute dot com place for a last minute mystery hotel.
Sometimes one can get a room in a v posh hotel at very attractive discount.
My daughter has had some very good deals, using this site.

We very rarely stay in central London so I can't give any personal recommendations.

Not used a london hotel in a few years, but found London a lot cheaper just due to the range and number of hotels than other parts of the country; Birmingham is the most expensive hotels I've seen, the central ones were all* fantastically expensive, though the most expensive one I stayed in was in Harrogate I useually just go with what ever teh cheapest one In London was I could find, there used to be a couple round by Kings cross, which were alright if you don't mind being approached and propositioned by a prostitute every time you go in and out of the hotel and there are a couple of very decent cafes doing full breckys at good pices near there... Though I'd stay well clear of the MCsd near Kings X, the last time I was forced to go in there I got a burger with a roll about six weeks old and a little* stale But I guess that isn't* that* central anyhow by Kings X, tis just handy for the direction I come into London from The lunch at the savoy is fantastic if a bit* expensive, though I've yet to try it myself

Oops sorry, it's a Premier Inn, not a Travel Lodge!

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/hotels/premier_travel_inn_southwark.html

They seem to have several around London, probably not charming in themselves, but in good locations.

Living in any big city means that there should be a good public transport system, for this reason I suggest the Great Fosters near Windsor and not far from Heathrow Airport. A former residence of Henry VIII and a Grade One listed building. Trains to London from Egham - 15 minutes walk!

Very pricey but something very very special. Google Great Fosters

Thank you very much everybody. I know different hotels in central London but I'd like to find a special hotel, though I believe that this is difficult.

In the end I booked a room at Selfridge Thistle.I hope it is nice.