Easy & Cheap London Hotels

Just across the river you can check out a spectacular arial view of the city from the British Airways London Eye, which is proving to be one of the most popular tourist attractions of the twenty first century.

If you are visiting Westminster, or wish to stay in close to that part of town, the Comfort Inn Vauxhall is an award-winning new hotel which is causing a stir in the world of mid-range accommodation.

If your budget is slightly higher, a wider range of options are open to you, such as the Mystery Hotel Hyde Park, which is one of the more salubrious addresses in the city. Also recently refurbished, the Mystery Hotel is gaining in popularity and is perfect both for business visitors and tourists. Its excellent location next to Hyde Park makes it a great base for exploring the West End and such delights as Shaftesbury Avenue and Soho.

Just around the corner you will find the Shaftesbury Hyde Park Paddington hotel, which competes for the same market as the Mystery Hotel.

If this is the kind of price range you are looking at, you could also consider the Danubius Hotel, which sits next to the beautiful Regent's Park. London is famous for having some of the largest and most beautiful inner city parks in the world and it's little wonder so many top hotels border them.

If you are visiting London, be sure to take out appropriate travel insurance and ensure that everything is booked in advance.

Even with tens of thousands of hotel beds in the city it can be difficult to find an available place during peak season and there is nothing worse than turning up in a place and having to spend the first few hours there searching for a room for the night.

And wherever you are traveling you always need to keep your eyes open for great clothing and designer shoe shopping.

London has some great designers like Stella MaCartney, among others. You can learn a bit more about designing for the stars here:

Designer Shoes & Clothes

Sunny in London
Ready to go. All accessories bought and organized. Weather for the week looks fantastic. Uncharacteristic of London it's going to be high 70's and sunny Monday-Wednesday. In fact, possibly no rain anywhere in the trip. Getting really excited now! (and wondering WHY am I bringing this umbrella....)

Doing a "One-Bag" style trip. BA allows 1 carryon plus "purse" . My carry-on is super light, wheeled, expandable (for souvenirs). My "purse" is a medium courier bag with several zippered compartments both under and on the flap. It's a light but strong cotton, nylon lined, with this really wide, mesh-covered shoulder strap that goes across your body. Tough to cut or grab. Hangs very flat empty, but expands like crazy!

It will be different haviing such a "purse" draped across me, but my raincoat can actually be folded up and stuffed in one of the pockets (along with umbrella, camera and water bottle). Who cares what it looks like? Got to be better than a "fanny-pack!" I've read people stand behind tourists and take things out of their back packs without them knowing it. So this is in front where I can see it.

Bought a cute quart zip-lock bag full of tiny plastic bottles and jars. Even has a sheet of clear press-on labels. Using about half of them to eliminate big bottles (shampoo, woolite, sunscreen, oil of olay...). Travel size toothpaste, etc. going in as is. Everything seems to fit. (Are mascara and lipstick "liquids"? I'm guessing they are and putting those in as well.) Big question...Will they confiscate my Mentos at security??? Never go anywhere without Mentos and water. Maybe Mentos are for sale on the other side?

Have printed out pages on the tube/bus routes, google maps of areas I'll be, some color maps of the sights from their web pages (Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, etc). No need for an entire guide book. I found Google Earth, especially it's ability to show all the coffee shops, groceries, ATM's etc., really helpful. I like how you can see whats across the street from your hotel. Or do a "Path" and get the exact walking distance from your hotel to someplace. I can play with Google Earth all day! :)

You can read more about it here: at Yahoo Travel

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to stay in - there's no getting around that fact, but there are many budget hotels that offer accommodation for a reasonable cost.

Please take careful note of the facilities described for each budget hotel; the very cheapest accommodation may offer good budget deals but a minimum of facilities.

The higher the price per room, generally the greater the number and quality of amenities you can expect for your money.

Historic London attractions

Apsley House
Hyde Park Corner, 149 Piccadilly, W1
The London residence of the Duke of Wellington sits opposite the entrance to Hyde Park Commonly known as No.1 London, it contains memorabilia associated with Wellington, paintings, silver, and porcelain collections. Apsley House in Depth >>
Hyde Park Corner

Banqueting House
Whitehall, SW1
Built by Inigo Jones for James I from 1619, it was the only major part of Whitehall palace to survive the fire of 1698. Contains a marvellous painted ceiling by Rubens. Banqueting House in Depth >>
Charing Cross, Embankment, Westminster

Chelsea Royal Hospital
Royal Hospital Road, SW3
The home of the famous scarlet-coated Chelsea Pensioners. The hospital was founded in 1682 by Charles II as a home for veteran soldiers. Free admission.
Sloane Square

Carlyle's House
24, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, London SW3 5HL, Tel. 020 7352 7087 (Custodian), Fax. 020 7352 5108, National Trust

This Queen Anne house was the home of Thomas Carlyle, the "Sage of Chelsea" for 47 years until his death in 1881. As a historian, social writer, thinker and public speaker, Thomas is honoured in the house, while his wife Jane's brilliant wit and gift for writing are recognised in the many existing letters. The Victorian period décor is still very much in place, where an evocative atmosphere allows visitors to experience Thomas and Jane's academic and domestic lives. website
Sloane Square

Dickens House
48 Doughty Street, WC1
Charles Dickens lived here for two years, and it was in this house that he wrote parts of Oliver Twist, Pickwick Papers, Barnaby Rudge, and Nicholas Nickleby. The house contains a collection of the author's letters, furniture, portraits, and personal effects.
Russell Square

Dr Johnson's House
Gough Square, EC4
Home of Samuel Johnson for 10 years from 1749-59 while he wrote his famous dictionary. A first edition of the dictionary is on display, with period pieces and collections.
Blackfriars

Guildhall
Gresham Street, EC2
14th century hall where the medieval guilds that controlled London government met. The Guildhall is still used for important civic functions in London (see London Events Calendar). Free admission.
Bank, Mansion House, St Paul's, Moorgate

Guildhall Library
Gresham Street, EC2
The most important library of the City of London, the Guildhall Library houses city records dating back to the early Middle Ages.
Bank, Mansion House, St Paul's, Moorgate

Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster, SW1
Victorian Gothic masterpiece designed by Sir Charles Barry and A.W. Pugin replacing the medieval parliament which burnt to the ground in 1834. Only Westminster Hall remains from that earlier parliament, but the Hall can only be visited by special arrangement made through a member of Parliament.

The House of Lords and House of Commons are open only when Parliament is in session (queue at St. Stephen's Entrance). The Clock Tower at the north end is popularly known as Big Ben, though the name properly refers to the bell within the tower.
Westminster

Jewel Tower
Westminster SW1
The only part of the Palace of Westminster still intact. Built 1365-66.
Westminster

Leighton House
12 Holland Park Road, W14
Victorian house built for artist Lord Leighton, contains examples of his work, the studio where he worked, and the exotic Arab Hall with fantastic tiled floors.
High Street Kensington

Monument
Monument Street, EC3
Sir Christopher Wren's column commemorating the Great Fire of London. The height of the tower is reputedly the exact distance from the Monument to the baker's house where the fire began.

For the fit, there are 311 steps to the top, and the reward of wonderful city views. Wren originally planned a statue of Charles II atop the column, but the king demured, fearing that the citizens of London would then link him to the disastrous fire. Wren opted for an urn of flames instead.
Monument

Old Bailey
Newgate Street, EC4
More properly called the Central Criminal Court. You can attend court sessions in the public gallery.
St. Paul's

Spencer House
27 St. James Place, SW1
The London home of the Spencer family. Terrific art collection, guided tours run frequently.
Green Park

see more here in a to z order:

And wherever you are traveling you always need to keep your eyes open for great clothing and designer shoe shopping.

London has some great designers like Stella MaCartney, among others. You can learn a bit more about designing for the stars here:

Designer Shoes & Clothes