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LGBT Parenting
Two*True
member
If you've been to London...
Two*True
member
...what area did you stay in? K and I are thinking of expanding our European vacation to include London. K has been there before but I'm the one doing the research. What areas should I be looking at? I've just started my research so all advice is much appreciated. TIA!
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Re: If you've been to London...
I love, love, love London (lived there for a few months and have been there a few times since). For our most recent trips (including our honeymoon and most recently last September) we've stayed in Paddington which I love, but I would also recommend checking out the surrounding areas (Bayswater, Hyde Park) or perhaps even closer to the West End. You'll probably want to stay North of the Thames and near a tube stop (especially one with easy access to your airport--that's why we like Paddington Station).
Keep in mind proximity/commute to the sites you want to see, but it's very easy to get around and do quite a bit in a short amount of time. Hotel prices can be expensive in London and we've had some great hotels (Hilton Paddington Station) and some not so great ones. We've used local recommendations and hotels.com to book before, but I usually compare prices with a variety of UK-based hotel sites.
Favorite things that I've in done London have included the Eye, a boat curise on the Thames, The Tate and Tate Modern and The Globe Theatre. It's also just a great city to walk around--especially through the parks, along/across the Thames, see Big Ben, the Tower, the bridges, etc. There are tons of great restaurants, shows, museums, markets, etc. if you have time and interest. HTH and let me know if you have any other questions.
We stayed with a friend in Hyde Park which was very convenient, but I've got to ditto everything Joy said. London is a lovely city to travel to - as long as you're by a tube stop and read the local reviews, you really can't go wrong.
If you go, you also have to check out a market - so much fun!
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I also second most of what Joy said. I love love love London, and have spent a total of about a year living there (4 months studying abroad at University College of London, and 6 months working after I graduated from college). DW and I are spending 3 days there at the end of our Greece trip/honeymoon this summer and I couldn't be more excited!
I would agree that almost anywhere that is north of the Thames, near a tube stop, and in zone 1 or 2 would be convenient. Are you flying into Heathrow or Gatwick? If Heathrow I'd probably pick something in the Knightsbridge/Kensington area..but you really can't go wrong anywhere in Central London. London hotels are really expensive, so your budget will probably play a major role in deciding where you stay.
This is the food we pine after most: https://www.westcornwallpasty.co.uk/
My favorite museum in London is really very random, but it is the Imperial War Museum. I think it's one of the most unique museums London has to offer, and is really well done. I also really like the National Portrait Gallery, the Churchill war rooms, the London Eye, I could probably go on and on. If you have more specific questions about recommendations of things to do in certain categories I'd be happy to help.
Camden is the best market, although I heard there was a fire a while back so maybe it's not anymore...
Writing about it was making me jealous and then I remembered that I get to go too!!!
IVF Oct/Nov 2012
Beta #1 = 77, Beta #2 = 190, Beta #3 = 1044
Cautiously optimistic.
IUI #3 gave us the best 2nd anniv. gift ever: 2 babies! (born 03/09/10)
Peanut and Little Man are getting so big! 2 years old already!
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JB might be too little for this, but there is a very very awesome playground in Kensington Gardens:
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfm
IVF Oct/Nov 2012
Beta #1 = 77, Beta #2 = 190, Beta #3 = 1044
Cautiously optimistic.
You have already gotten some great advice. FWIW, I studied in London a decade ago and lived near Notting Hill toward Hyde Park--it was a really convenient area that was on several of the tube lines. I would recommend that area. The larger hotels are expensive, but if you check out lonely planet or some of the on-line sites you can often find great deals on smaller hotels (just make sure to read reviews because they vary greatly in quality).
If you are into art, I would check out the Courtauld Institute of Art. It is mostly impressionist paintings and is small enough (think mansion not museum) that you can easily get through it but established enough that the art is very very high quality/impressive. For kid friendly options, there is the victoria and albert museum of childhood and the kew gardens that are both free for kids and worth checking out.