Where to stay in London with 7yo

[flummingbird]

I'm looking for the holy grail... a not too expensive hotel to stay in with DD in summer holidays.

We're at the other end of the country so it's a long journey down, I'd like a nice area, easy enough to get to with luggage. I usually stay near Euston or Tower Hill, is there anywhere else cheaper/better suited that you can recommend please?

@flummingbird Sorry - missed your post. Whether you want Stratford Olympic park really depends on how much you want to travel to and fro and how much kitchens matter.

Buckingham Palace doesn’t look much by the way. For a 7 year old, the Tower of London is much better. A bit Horrible Histories of course but better for it! We like the river trip from Westminster to Tower Pier. Takes time but you see London from the Thames which has merit. My DDs liked St Paul’s, going over the “wibbly wobbly” Millennium bridge to The Globe and South Bank.

With your list I'd go for the South Bank/County Hall. As previously mentioned there are child friendly restaurants around, the Eye is there, Aquarium, Shrek Experience, street performers. It's just over the bridge to Big Ben, Buck House, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, St James Park. Easy access to Theatreland, Leicester Square, Covent Garden. A few stops on the tube from the Science Museum etc.
Really convenient for river trips down to the Tower/Cutty Sark/o2. Or upriver to Hampton Court.
Buses a plenty and the round London bus tours start there.

There was a great restaurant
In the south part of
Camden closer to
The Olympic stadium and that's exciting to see we travelled by train from Slough and you can park the car there long as you book the parking space ahead of the day you travel it takes around 2 hours 30
Mins by the Tube however the overground trains in London
Are faster .

You can also get a monthly pass for the Oyster card which can cover your travel
Experience for the week.

I used to stay there a lot when I went to London for work. The rooms are very small, but perfectly formed. Too small for a couple imo, but probably ok to share with a seven year if you don't mind not having much space. Great location though for walking to Big Ben, London Eye, St James Park (gorgeous in the summer -there's flamingos!), Sealife Centre, Shrek and the underground.

Brixton PI is my go to. You’re a v short bus ride or 15 min walk from the lovely Brockwell Park, with a huge playground. 10 mins from central London and KC/Euston on the Victoria line, or buses straight into central London. Lots of interesting places to eat very close.

I’d prefer to stay central so that you can walk as much as possible and avoid faff/cost of tube. I also like to stay somewhere relatively near my arrival station, so I can leave bags with them before check in/out and drop off/nip back to pick them up before train home.

The problem with that is that nowhere is walkable to lots of different things without exhausting yourself. And staying close to an arrival station won’t leave you within child happy walking distance to a lot of things you’d like to do (although I prefer to do that for the same reason as you). London is just too big. The cost of a day’s travel around the city is capped buses are cheaper still, and let you avoid the tube if you want to.

Thanks everyone. Was kinda hoping for a magic bullet but I guess there isn't one. I've reserved at PI Euston as it's easy with the bags on the first and last days, thanks for all your help 😊

@flummingbird Euston has pretty good links and definitely less hassle with bags. Buses can be slow in traffic. Beware road closures and roadworks! Underground is usually quicker.