Any recommendations for a London Hotel handy for Docklands Excel Centre?

[kaansmum]

We are planning to visit the Motor Show at the Excell Centre in London Docklands this coming July and were wondering if anyone can recommend a decent hotel to us? We're planning a 2 night stay during the week and would like a good clean hotel with a nice family room. Doesn't have to be dirt cheap but not boutique style either! We're looking for mid price range, with clean and comfy being the principal requirements.

I hope you won't think I'm being lazy not researchng myself but I have trawled the web at length and it is a minefield - I've decided I'd much prefer to go with a personal recommendation if I can possibly get one.

Any ideas from anyone who knows the area or has used good hotels in the vicinity would be very gratefuly received.

We stayed at the really new Travelodge next door. Big room and nice cot and family friendly restaurant. My work put us there and there was an arms fair on at the Excel centre so tons of cops and burly men in black!!!

It really feels that its in the middle of nowhere, so I would go for laundrylovers recommendation of one 'on-site'. think there is an Ibis too.

You can get the DLR to the Excel centre, I think, so you could go for anywhere on the DLR. I'm afraid I don't know much about hotels in London, though.

Yes Bluesky there's a little cluster of hotels in the wasteland! It is on the DLR but staying out there will be much cheaper. There are some funky allotments just by the station that the kids will like and also Newham City farm is really near and signposted from DLR station.

Just a quick hijack! We are going to London for a along weekend in Feb so any recs for a central hotel? At the moment looking at £251 for 4 nights 4 star on lastminute....
Usuually crash with friends but can't be bothered this time and need a base...

Thanks so much folks! The Travelodge next door sounds good and their prices are usually reasonable. Good to know that it's handy for the DLR too. Many thanks again for your helpful suggestions.

laundrylover, people really recommend the travelodge (or is it Travel Inn?) near the London Eye, big family rooms, great location, ideal as a crash pad.

Thanks will check it out but think we want one with a restaurant so that we can meet people for dinner whilst Tilly is in bed on a monitor....
Sounds like a great location though.

Hmm, LL, in my experience that's generally only possible in very small hotels. Otherwise there are too many walls between your room and the restaurant, iyswim.

laundrylover, it is almost in a wing of a big hotel, Marriott I think, so you can use their facilities.

As an alternative suggestion Ramada Docklands is right next to Excel and was good when DH, DD and I stayed there about 18mths ago just after it opened. They have mini suites which include a lounge and kitchenette area with a dining table which cuts down on food costs as you can make sandwiches and eat in if you prefer. The rates at the weekend are usually much more reaonsable than during the week.