ftao Lahndahners

[mik]

Any half-decent hotel recommendations for a couple of days in central london? Don't want to spend a fortuna, but also don't want to be in a hostel or a yukky bit.

Defo going to the National Portrait Gallery nr Trafalgar Square, so that could be a point of reference, but I guess anywhere that can be easily accessed via tube and has some decent pubs/restaurants not far from it?

EDIT: IGNORE - mrs mik has now booked somewhere.

[GG.]

Rough budget?

[mik]

Rough budget?

It's not a pampering visit - it's to see a few things and meet a couple of friends and family, so about £200 p/night I guess for central london?

[GG.]

Probably also need to know the dates - a lot of the ones I'd recommend, Hoxton Hotel, Sun Street Hotel, Zetter (there are a couple), Sea Containers all may be nearer or over £300 depending on whether its summer and the weekend or autumn and midweek.

Even Premier Inn look to be quoting >£200 for this weekend. All a bit ridiculous really.

[mik]

Mrs mik just texted me to advise she's just booked somewhere.

STAND DOWN LONDONERS!

Thanks for considering this @GG.

[Jobbo]

Bit late for a recommendation now but we stayed at the Hilton Bankside a couple of years ago and it was a decent hotel, good cocktail bar on the ground floor and surprisingly convenient. Just behind the Tate Modern so an easy walk over the wobbly bridge to St Pauls, not too far to walk over to Waterloo to cross the pedestrian bridge to Embankment/Trafalgar Square. Handy for Southwark tube station too,

[V8Granite]

We go in regularly and any hotel a short walk from the overground train is a good bet

Dave!

[Gavster]

What time of year an s area you staying in? Just in case we can give any local recommendations for food drink etc?

[mik]

What time of year an s area you staying in? Just in case we can give any local recommendations for food drink etc?

Nice one - end of July and in the Covent Garden area.

[V8Granite]

We very recently went to Camden for the first time and to wander about and snack on the live it was awesome. Equal to Singapores food market.

Dave!

[Explosive Newt]

Doesn't one just stay at one's club?

Really hard in central London as there are either only >£300/night places that are plush or <£150 where it's a bit stabbing and hookers.

I tend to use the Royal College of Physicians as the rooms there are £170/night, nice and right next to Regents Park. Not sure about the rates for non members but worth emailing them to ask as I seem to remember it's not a lot more - https://www.rcp.ac.uk/about-us/william- ... use-hotel/

[Gavster]

What time of year an s area you staying in? Just in case we can give any local recommendations for food drink etc?

Nice one - end of July and in the Covent Garden area.

If you hit town when the weather is hot then a late night stroll along the South Bank would be worth a look, it really comes alive on hot summer evenings and is simply a lovely place to be and people watch. On a good night you'll see skateboarders, fire breathers, salsa dancers and a lot more, plus there's bars etc along the way if you fancy a nightcap. Also for food there's a lot of great independent restaurants in the cobbled streets and archways behind Borough Market around Borough Yards and going down to the river. If you're staying in CG then a lovely evening would be to jump on the tube from Embankment to Monument, then walk across London Bridge (you'll get a stunning view of Tower Bridge), then dinner around Borough Market followed by a walk back to the hotel along the South Bank and then over Waterloo bridge to get to CG.

And remember, the stairs are quicker than the lift at Covent Garden tube station.

[Gavster]

If you wanted to go the other way, from the National Portrait Gallery, you could walk West (about 20 mins) via Piccadilly Circus (do some sightseeing there), then go to Shepherd Market in Mayfair. It's a quaint little backstreet with pubs and restaurants etc which is absolutely charming and for some reason is lesser know and a little haven in that area. It's also close to Bond Street in case Mrs Mik wants to do some shopping Or cut through Green Park, say hi to the King at Buckingham Palace and walk back along the Mall back to CG.

Also if you're doing art, the ICA is on the Mall

[mik]

Cheers Gav

[Jobbo]

And remember, the stairs are quicker than the lift at Covent Garden tube station.

Ooh, don't listen to Gav on this!

[IanF]

Mercato Mayfair is a fun stop.. good beer and wine, plus lots of small pop up restaurants over 3 levels (basement has great sushi) for a very reasonable price. Berkeley Sq has all the usual, expensive but not overly good places if you want to play tourist - hakkasan is the best there imho. Best recommendation for a special dinner is Kioku by Endo, which is a Japanese restaurant on top of the new Raffles in the Old War Office building.. you can see Downing Street from there.

[Gavster]

And remember, the stairs are quicker than the lift at Covent Garden tube station.

Ooh, don't listen to Gav on this!

[Gavster]

Following on from Ian’s comments about Japanese, there are several great Japanese restaurants on the back side of old County Hall building nr Waterloo. The building is Japanese owned and those restaurants are always overflowing with Japanese diners.

[duncs500]

I was out for beers in Exmouth Market last night and it was pumping. Some DJ in the street and everything (admittedly O/T as probably not interesting for a tourist):



Reminds me why I like living a relatively short train ride away.


You ought to hit the Bermondsey mile while you're down there though @mik!

[IanF]

Are they her friends or yours Mik? Could accidentally get lost enroute and meet the OV9 lot instead?