Recommendations for cheap but safe hotel in London

[harman]

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I think there is a Travel Inn at the County Hall which should be fairly cheap and is 5 mins walk from St Thomas's.

I was going to suggest that, too. It is literally across the road from St Thomas's - and I doubt you'd find anything else reputable as cheap!

Is it a Travel Inn or Travel lodge? I always mix them up. But it's called County hall Travel Inn (or lodge) anyway.

It is also in a brilliant place for other things to do, while you are not in the hospital. You can walk all the way along the river, there is a nice playground behind the Eye, the Aquarium (if you can afford it!!), there might be free activities / entertainment going on in the foyer of the newly re-opened RFH (and the fantastic fountains might still be outside! you dash in and out of water 'rooms'). The Anthony Gormley sculptures are dotted about on the top of buildings nearby, for 'spotting'.

Nothing to be nervous of - couldn't you arrange a MN-meet up in the park by the County Hall (behind the eye) or in one of the cafes under the RFH (Giraffe, Waggamamma, Strada) or there is a Pizza express behind the National Theatre (ish).

london south bank (from st thomases, toi the london eye and on to tate modern is a gorgeous pedestrianised bit - great for kids to let off steam, really nothing to worry about. I'm a big travelodge fan - but don't think there is one nearby. Avoid at all costs going for a hotel near victoria recomended by tourist office - they're fairly dire. Go for chain hotel a little away from the main hubs.

how old? do you want some ideas to fill your spare time pleasantly? London is so much fun with kids.

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Bad luck about County Hall being full.

What is making you feel so nervous, harman? Is it the appointments, or travelling, or london?

If you're good at walking, it is a fab Tahmes path walk (of no more than a mile, I think...) between Tower bridge and St Thomas's, and passes Borough market, the Golden Hinde, the Clink, The Globe, Tate Modern and 'wobbly bridge', Coin St with it's little shops and playground, and the South Bank.

There is a PremierTravelInn at Borough market / london bridge.

Try Laterooms.com?

Is it next week?

I am chokker next wek and then away, but I bet some London MN-ers would meet you at lunch or in the eveninhg or for tea if you put out a shout!

scroll down for St Thomas's recommended nearby hotels and discount codes

Nothing to be nervous about at all and, as Blu says, Southbank is lovely and child friendly. Loads to do and loads to see. Giraffe is a great kid friendly restaurant as well and is about 7m walk along the river from St Thomas'.

Check out the LSE (London School of Economics) accommodation website here www.lse.ac.uk/collections/vacations/default.htm. They have some twin rooms at Bankside (just behind Tate Modern) for 67GBP B&B.

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My big tips are:

the thames walk is very nice

For real 'wow' factor for 5 year old: south ken (nip up a few stops on the district (green) line from westminster underground station) has science museum and natural history museum. Fab and free - on a week day it'll be much less busy. Make sure to go the 'launchpad' hands on area in the basement of science museum. Then, if you keep going towards the park, and further on in, try to find the princess diana memorial playground. Big pirate ship, loads of imaginative play equipment.

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Try this www.imperial.ac.uk/conferences/pdfs/IC_B_and_B.pdf

www.imperial.ac.uk/conferences/index.asp?page_id=3

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Harman was that a typo? If they start in June you'll be alright

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If that is no good it might be worth trying one of the Citadines Aparthotels. They're not really cheap but very handy because you get a little kitchen and can sleep 4 or 5.

imperial ones are nice - go for beit quad as there are building works in prince's gardens.

Nice part of town - parks, museums and embassies - though you'd need to do a few stops on district line to make your appointment.