London hotel/ apartment, September 2021

[Shedbuilder]

Acquaintances from Canada asking for advice. Four adults (two separate rooms) looking for somewhere for a week, probably either British Museum/ theatreland area or Kensington for museums. Other areas considered but need to be within walking distance of places to visit. Happy to have an apartment but want two bathrooms/no sofa beds. 3-4* standard, as peaceful as you can get in central London.

Any recommendations gratefully received.

They should book hotel accommodation rather than an apartment/airbnb but I would not book anything until travel restrictions from Canada due to Covid have been lifted.

A nice example of a hotel near the British Museum is the Hilton Waldorf Astoria on Aldwych. Its very close to the theatres also.

I think they had somewhere rather more modest in mind, but thanks for your giving it some thought.

If they don’t have money to throw around they could do a lot worse than a Premier Inn.
If they’re staying for a whole week then not one of their “Hub” hotels, where the rooms are minuscule, but maybe a Premier Plus room in Holborn would fit the bill?
www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-holborn.html?ARRdd=05&ARRmm=09&ARRyyyy=2021&NIGHTS=2&ROOMS=2&ADULT1=2&CHILD1=0&COT1=0&INTTYP1=DB&ADULT2=2&CHILD2=0&COT2=0&INTTYP2=DB&BRAND=PI

They have a decent budget but they're not the sort of people who are looking for the kind of splendour of the Waldorf, I don't think. But I'll suggest it to them, certainly. I've checked their dates and t's not as expensive as I immediately assumed it would be, so perhaps they'll be tempted.

The Premier Plus would meet their needs but I suspect they'd prefer somewhere with a bit more character. They come to Europe for their history fix every few years. I guess I was hoping that someone on this forum might have a personal recommendation and say 'I know this really great little hotel down a back street in Fitzrovia/ within a stone's throw of the V&A.' I used to have a favourite hotel in a little road off Russell Square but when I stayed there about 18 months ago it was looking very careworn and things clearly weren't being repaired properly.

If they want historic and their budgets can run to it then Dukes looks lovely, though it’s in Mayfair not Bloomsbury.
www.dukeshotel.com/

Check on booking.com they have apartments and apart hotels and most are cancellable.

OP I would suggest that these days with internet research being readily available, it is almost impossible to still find bargains on smaller/interesting hotels in central London - this market niche has kind of been filled by Airbnb, as it's just more interesting and more affordable (if you need more than one bedroom anyway)

If I were looking for definitely central I would search air bnb for Marylebone /Fitzrovia apartments, maybe followed by Waterloo/Southwark. If nothing I would widen search to Notting Hill, Islington and Clapham Common near the tube stations.

I've heard the Mondrian at southbank is relatively cheap on weekends (as it's target market is midweek business stays) If that's affordable it's lovely

There may be good deals on city hotels and apartments since there is likely to be much less business travel than normal.

Club Quarters, Marlin apartments, etc have properties in and around the city. Lots and lots of history at the opposite end from south ken etc but good tube links or a pleasant longish walk into the west end.

We’ve just booked for Sept - there were loads of options on travelzoo and secret escapes for double rooms in central areas (like Kensington, Tower Bridge, or the West End) £89-119 per night for mostly 4* and up. Deals going quick, however.

Btw: a lot of them meant buying vouchers then booking with hotel, so if they have definite dates they need to get it may be too much of a risk.