London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [122]
Contacts Hostelling International—Canada (205 Catherine St., Suite 400, | Ottawa,Ontario | K2P 1C3 | 613/237–7884 or 800/663–5777 | www.hihostels.ca). Hostelling International—USA (8401 Colesville Rd., Suite 600, | Silver Spring,MD | 20910 | 301/495–1240 | www.hiusa.org). YHA England and Wales (Trevelyan House, Dimple Rd., | Matlock,Derbyshire | DE43YH,UK | 0162/959–2700 or 080/0019–1700 | www.yha.org.uk).
UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALLS
University student dorms (Halls of Residence) can be ideal for single travelers as well as those on a tight budget who want to come to London in summer when deals on other lodgings are scarce. Walter Sickert Hall has year-round lodging in its “executive rooms” (six single and three twin), and breakfast is even delivered to your room. Beds are usually available for a week around Easter, and from mid-June to mid-September in all the university accommodations around town. As you might expect, showers and toilets are shared.
Contacts City University Hall of Residence: Walter Sickert Hall (Graham St. | N1 8LA | 020/7040–8037 | www.city.ac.uk/ems) has rooms starting at £21 per person, per night. London School of Economics Vacations (020/7955–7575 | www.lsevacations.co.uk) costs around £50 for a double without a toilet to £72 for a double with a toilet. You can choose from a variety of rooms in their many halls of residence around London. The LSE also rent out self-catering apartments starting at around £90 per night. University College London (Residence Manager, Campbell House,5–10 Taviton St. | WC1H 0BX | 020/7679–2000 | www.ucl.ac.uk/residences) is open from mid-June to mid-September.
WHERE TO STAY PLANNER
LODGING STRATEGY
Where should you stay? With hundreds of London hotels, it may seem like a daunting question. But it doesn’t have to be. The 100-plus selections here represent the best this city has to offer—from the most-for-your-money budget motels to the sleekest designer hotels. Scan “Best Bets” on the following pages for top recommendations by price and experience. Or look through the reviews. To find one quickly, search by neighborhood, then alphabetically. Happy hunting!
TRIP ADVISOR
Fodor’s partnership with TripAdvisor helps to ensure that our hotel selections are timely and relevant, taking into account the latest customer feedback about each property. Our team of expert writers selects what we believe will be the top choices for lodging in a destination. Then, those choices are reinforced by TripAdvisor reviews, so only the best properties make the cut.
NEED A RESERVATION?
Yes. Hotel reservations are an absolute necessity when planning your trip to London, so book your room as far in advance as possible. The further in advance you can book, the better the deal you’re likely to get. On the other hand, it is possible to find some pretty amazing last-minute deals at mid- to high-range places, but this is a real gamble as you could just as easily end up paying full rate. Fierce competition means properties undergo frequent improvements. When booking inquire about any ongoing renovations.
CHECKING IN
Typical check-in and checkout times are 2 pm and noon, respectively. Many flights from North America arrive early in the morning, but having to wait six hours for a room after arriving jet-lagged at 8 am isn’t the ideal way to start a vacation. Alert the hotel of your early arrival; large hotels can often make special early check-in arrangements, but be prepared to drop off your bags and strike out to amuse yourself for a few hours.