Hotel/restaurant near KC

[Lemonorzo]

As no one else wants to go I am going to see the Bayeux Tapestry alone at the BM next year. It’s a long time since I stayed round there. I did stay in the Tavistock Square hotel once so was thinking of going there again, but wondered if there was a better option.
Needs to be suitable for a lone female traveller and has breakfast, and don’t want to spent a fortune as coming from Northumberland is enough!
And if there is a restaurant recc. Thanks.

There’s a Premier Inn very near KX station. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the museum from there. Only the main entrance of the BM is open at the moment.

The Kimpton on Russell square is very nice and The Imperial or The Bloomsbury. Depends on your budget.

By the way, the KX area around the canal and Coal Drops Yard is just great. Lots of restaurants and perfectly safe. The University of the Arts is there and some very interesting repurposed buildings - gas holders. You are also not far from the British library which has a great permanent exhibition if you haven’t seen it and a decent cafe at the back of the building.

We are seeing the tapestry in January so I hope you enjoy your visit. We’ve just been to the Korea exhibition at the BM and the whole building wasn’t too busy and the queue for security wasn’t that bad - it’s outside in the courtyard. The tapestry queue was not long either. So fingers crossed for 2027!

Oh that’s fabulous, I had seen something about the canal but I’ve not been down there at all, I’ve not been to London regularly for 20 years.
Im hoping to get early tickets for BM, then the BL in the afternoon and then home. But good to know I can eat in the BL as well.
im just waiting for new tickets to be released so want to be ready with a hotel.

There’s also a Premier Inn Hub as well as several ‘normal’ Premier Inns in the KX area - it’s a bit cheaper but in a safe and quiet area There’s a little museum near there called The Canal Museum which is interesting for a short visit - you can do a barge trip as part of the entrance ticket.

@Lemonorzo We are members and getting tickets was a shit show! Took hours and then it didn’t work. Just blank dates. The BM has sorted us out but the wait time was hours. I was 24,620 in the queue! I know a general public opportunity is coming up soon and I wish you all the luck in the world!

The cafe on the mezzanine at the BL isn’t as nice as the cafe with windows at the back of the building. Coal Drops Yard has some nice restaurants. I love London!

I am worried, I’ve read terrible things about tickets and visits. I’d love to go to France and see it but it’s not on the cards.

Id like to go to the canal museum and go on a canal too!

There’s a travellodge near King’s Cross that’s reasonable and there’s lots of independent small hotels near the museum, do check recent reviews though as I’ve found gems and duds over the years. Hub by premier inn is good for one but not sure if they offer breakfasts. I’d actually as a solo traveller be tempted to take the tube to South Kensington and stay there because there’s lots of slightly less touristy restaurant options in easy safe walking distance, I’m not that keen on King’s Cross at night

The canal museum is a step back in time. I liked the film taken from a boat in the 30s. For me, the BL permanent display is better!

To be honest though, based on the reviews of the exhibition I’d wait until it returns to France. I’ve seen it in France and our experience was really good, unlimited time, not crowded, fraction of the price too, in august

There's a bookshop on a barge near Coal Drops Yard. V cool!

There's Greggs, Pret and the like at KX if you need to grab breakfast without it being super pricey.

@bababamama What era are you talking about? Coal Drops Yard is a regenerated area and perfectly safe. It’s easy to get to and I cannot see any sensible reason to go out to South Kensington. It’s a hell of a way from KX on the Piccadilly line. It’s a pointless waste of time and money. Plus the bigger issue in London is using the underground at night!

The German Gymnasium is a lovely place to eat. It’s right by Kings Cross. Loads of places to eat round there.
https://germangymnasium.com/

I don’t plan to be out late and although I will be going somewhere on the underground the first day, I don’t want to on the second as I know it just sucks the time up.
That German place does Black Forest gateaux which is my favourite.

@bababamama I don’t fancy going to France on my own particularly and not really doable for me. I am surprised more people who live in the south don’t go there to see it.

@Lemonorzo We did see it in France - about 35 years ago! Hardly anyone there and not well displayed I seem to remember. I think the BM will have done a better job!