Family hotel for Heathrow and London City

[Cheetak]

Family break in London. Flying to Heathrow and coming back from London City Airport.

Would like to go to museums, theatre, London Tower. Would like someplace with something for the children to do in the evening (Park?)

Where would you advise for us to stay? Any hotel suggestions?

It totally depends upon your budget. London hotels have become eye-wateringly expensive.

The attractions you're talking about are not near each other, so get a bus map, use the top deck, and enjoy sightseeing as you move around.

Hotels out by London City are much cheaper- but you need to get the tube/dlr into town.

It is a short journey from the city centre to London City- shorter than out to Heathrow most of the time.

I would travel in from Heathrow. Stay centrally and then get the tube/DLR out to London City when you are leaving (it is a tiny airport and very quick to transit through). The DLR is in the airport with no walking

If you want to be near Hyde Park, there's a Corus hotel Hyde Park which you can often get a good deal on. It's just across the road from the park and very centrally located with good bus routes. There are lots of things you can walk to depending on the age of the kids.

You could try a hotel close to London Excel Centre which is opposite London City Airport. Advantages - lots of hotels in that vicinity, the DLR is closeby (walking distance) and the Elizabeth Line is also closeby (at Custom House station on the DLR). Liz line might be able to take you from Heathrow to Custom House and then you can take DLR from there a few stops to the station closest to the hotel. Disadvantages - double check whether any events are happening at the Excel centre, this may make the hotels or the station closeby busy. It's great that it overlooks the airport but the planes might be noisy (they do stop flying on Saturday at some point and resume flying again on Sunday to give residents a break from the noise). To get to London City airport from the Excel area, you grab DLR but will need to switch to another arm of the DLR to reach the airport itself. Alternatively you could hail an Uber which will take you straight there, less faff.

I really wouldn't bother staying near Excel or anywhere in that area. There's bugger-all there except commerce. Very very boring and nothing for the kids at all.

Radisson blu at bond street. Its on the Elizabeth line and there is a lift from the platform right up to street level, then you literally cross the road and its there. Lots of restaurants and things to do close to the hotel. There is a train every 30 mins direct to Heathrow and more if you dont mind changing at Paddington.

Stay somewhere you can easily get to or connect to LCY, I'm not knowledgeable to know where exactly but it'll be a weight off your mind to know your return journey will be easier to start. Staying anywhere near Heathrow doesn't make sense.

There is plenty nearby. You only have to get on the cable car and you are at the 02 arena with Cinema,soft play, minigolf, bowling etc as well as all the restaurants and events there.