[JoBravo]

Hi,

Quick question I hope our UK members would help me out (and sorry if this isn't the place for it).

Is there a section of London I should not get a hotel? I'm not familiar with your neighborhoods/sections and will be traveling with my 17 year-old sister and I don't want to unintentionally reserve a hotel in a bad neighborhood.

 

[Capstan]

Stay away from Buckingham Palace. VERY bad neighborhood! Any place else is okay.

BTW, I'm jealous!

 

[Envy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoBravo

Hi,

Quick question I hope our UK members would help me out (and sorry if this isn't the place for it).

Is there a section of London I should not get a hotel? I'm not familiar with your neighborhoods/sections and will be traveling with my 17 year-old sister and I don't want to unintentionally reserve a hotel in a bad neighborhood.

how can you have any fun then?

 

[JoBravo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envy

how can you have any fun then?

When she sleeps, I'll have fun on my own!

 

[AeryFairy]

You should be okay wherever, really... I've stayed in hotels and on couches all across london with no problems.

 

[muchluv]

An Exageration to see he'd be ok wherever, surely?

 

[vegan cyberpunk]

I wouldn't worry about the place you stay... the trip is much more dangerous ^^

Just be sure to have a look at the camden market, have a look at the best vegan and vegetarian places ( look on happycow ), there are some nice tattoo artists in london also ^^

 

[MaisieF]

Another vote for stay wherever - the tube is awesome for getting around London.

And I agree Camden Market is a must. Try the fresh pina coladas...yum.

Can I suggest staying somewhere around The University College of London? It's a short walk to Soho (amazing fun) and the city, and a nice walk to Camden.

 

[yally]

Let us know which hotels you're checking out, we'll be able to tell you the best areas. There aren't many hotels in the places you'd be best to avoid (and there aren't many of those places anyway really) but we might be able to give you a heads up as to which are most likely to be convenient

 

[AeryFairy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by muchluv

An Exageration to see he'd be ok wherever, surely?

Ok, yeah, don't stay in a crack den or on the streets

 

[Tangle]

Bad neighbourhoods? Sure there are neighbourhoods that are considered "**** holes" by the locals, but I doubt that you accidentally will manage to book a hotel room in such a place. And I doubt that such areas are as bad as what you'll encounter in American cities. I've got a white female friend who lived in Brixton without any problems at all.

+1 to what yally wrote.

 

[JoBravo]

I can't buy my tickets or reserve a room until my travel partner gets her passport but I'm thinking of getting a hotel in Soho.

 

[JoBravo]

Also, will there be a place to buy a pre-paid mobile SIM card for my GSM iPhone 3GS at the airport? Which service company is recommendable?

Would any of you have an idea about reasonable pricing for pre-paid mobile SIM cards?

 

[AeryFairy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoBravo

Also, will there be a place to buy a pre-paid mobile SIM card for my GSM iPhone 3GS at the airport? Which service company is recommendable?

Would any of you have an idea about reasonable pricing for pre-paid mobile SIM cards?

There will probably be somewhere at the airport. I dunno about prepaid... from what I understand, it's different here than in the states. You'll get the SIM for free and have to put money on it, or buy it with whatever you pay already put on usually. If you're calling home a lot it's good to go with something that offers good call rates on out-of-country things. Otherwise, with just the sim card, most providers are pretty much equal.

 

[JoBravo]

So, here are the hotels I'm considering:

Ascot Hyde Park Hotel in Paddington
Best Western, the Cromwell in South Kensington
Hotel 65 in Hammersmith
Belmont Astoria in Paddington
Hotel Olympia in Kensington/Chelsea
Pembridge Palace Hotel near Kensington Gardens

Those hotels that are in a posher, safer neighborhood are preferred as are those that are close to the city/tourist attractions and to SoHo.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or advice on the above would be appreciated.

 

[MaisieF]

Have you tried looking them all up on Trip Advisor? That will usually give you a good indication of what the rooms/location/service is like.

 

[JoBravo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaisieF

Have you tried looking them all up on Trip Advisor? That will usually give you a good indication of what the rooms/location/service is like.

Thanks! I don't do a whole lot of traveling or know those who do. I'll check it out.

 

[JoBravo]

Jeez. I'm glad I checked Trip Advisor. Only two of those hotels had a positive rating: Hotel 65 and Best Western.

 

[JoBravo]

I know I'm asking a lot of our Brit members but I'd also appreciate any recommendations for "musts" (must see, must do, must experience, etc) that wouldn't necessarily make it into the tourist books but locals are all about?

 

[beanstew]

A slap up dinner at Tibits.