London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [120]
Pros: Hotel deals abound in Bayswater; gorgeous greenery in Hyde Park; great shopping districts.
Cons: Few budget lodging options; residential areas may be too quiet at night for some.
REGENT’S PARK AND HAMPSTEAD
Neighborhood Vibe: A mix of arty, fashionable districts with a village-like feel in other places.
Pros: Good access to central London; easy to fall in love with this part of town.
Cons: Surprisingly easy to stray into “edgier” neighborhoods.
LODGING ALTERNATIVES
BED-AND-BREAKFASTS
You can stay in small, homey B&Bs for an up-close-and-personal brush with city life (Arosfa Hotel), or find yourself in what is really a modern guesthouse, where you never meet the owners (B&B Belgravia). The main benefit of staying in a B&B is that the price is usually cheaper than a hotel room of comparable quality, and you receive more personal service. The limitations may be few in number, but can be off-putting for some: although you can sometimes arrange for daily maid service, there is no restaurant or bar, and no concierge should you have a question. If you book a room in a privately owned house through an agency, prices start as low as £70 a night, and go up for more central neighborhoods and larger and more luxurious homes. It’s a nice option, both for seasoned travelers and for those trying to travel well without busting their budgets. Search the Web and call around to find the place that’s right for you.
Contacts Host & Guest Service can find you a room in London as well as the rest of the United Kingdom. It’s a great way to find bargains, knowing that all have been vetted by the agency, but the Web site functionality is a bit creaky. | 103 Dawes Rd., Fulham | SW6 7DU | 020/7385–9922 | www.host-guest.co.uk | MC, V | Full payment in advance.
The long-established family-run agency London B&B has some truly spectacular—and some more modest—homes in central London. Most cost $130–$150 per night. You can check many of them online, but you still have to call to find out prices. | 437 J St., Suite 210, | San Diego,CA | 92101 | 800/872–2632 | www.londonbandb.com | 30% deposit required.
APARTMENT RENTALS
For a home base that’s roomy enough for a family and that comes with cooking facilities, consider renting furnished “flats” (the British word for apartments). These can save you money, especially if you’re traveling as a family or with a group. You also have the freedom to cook for yourselves if you want—surprisingly liberating after several days of restaurant food. If you’re interested in home exchange, but don’t feel like sharing, some home-exchange directories list rentals as well. If you want to deal directly with local agents, get a personal recommendation from someone who has used the company; there’s no accredited rating system for apartment-rental standards like the one for hotels.
International Agents Hideaways International (767 Islington St., | Portsmouth,NH | 03801 | 603/430–4433 or 800/843–4433 | www.hideaways.com) offers boutique hotels, tours, and cruises. Its offerings in London are extremely exclusive. Annual membership is $195.
Interhome (c/o ResortQuest, 2860 State Rd. 84,Suite 116 – PMB 214, | Fort Lauderdale,FL | 33162 | 800/882–6864 | www.interhome.us) has dozens of rather pricey, but luxurious, flats all over London starting at about £400 per week, rising to more than 10 times that for those with money to burn.
Villanet (1251 N.W. 116th St., | Seattle,WA | 98177 | 206/417–3444 or 877/250–4366 | www.rentavilla.com) has hundreds of flats in residential neighborhoods all over London, with prices starting at about £1,000 per week.
The Villas International (17 Fox La., | San Anselmo,CA | 94960 | 415/499–9490 or 800/221–2260 | www.villasintl.com) agency has exclusively priced flats all over London that start around £1,800 per week—some sleep up to 10 people.
Local Agents Acorn Apartments (Ground Fl.,19 Bedford Pl. | WC1B 5JA | 020/7636–8325 | www.acorn-apartments.co.uk) offers attractive small central apartments starting