Summer vacation base: Bayswater vs. Marylebone vs. Clapham vs. Barnes

[shwang]

We are an American family with 4 girls ages 6 to 17. Due to husband's work (commute to Bracknell, ugh), we will be in London twice this summmer; first 10 days will be staying in Maida Vale and will have done many of the Central London sights during that stint. Second 10 days we will be more relaxed in our sightseeing and undecided as to where to stay; we appear to have short-let options in the above 4 locations, chosen for walking proximity to rail stations for husband's commute (we'll have no car). Each flat is roughly equivalent size but the Marylebone place costs twice as much as Barnes and Clapham !! Bayswater rate is in between but neighborhood seems very low on charm. Girls enjoy art, parks, animals, and oldest would love to walk to shops/cafes easily. Would appreciate your sage advice, mums.

Barnes is lovely - villagey atmosphere, lovely central green surrounded by shops and cafes, very easy access to central London and other suburbs (rail and bus, no tube). Lots of good restaurants and pubs. Fairly near (ie a drive or bus route) to Richmond Park, which is humungous and brilliant for children.

Clapham also has a good villagey atmosphere, and Clapham Common is big (althouh criss-crossed by roads so noisier than Richmond Park). Again, lots of cafes, shops, restaurants and pubs, and good transport connections. You're quite near Battersea Park, which has a zoo.

My aunt lived in Marylebone for a while on one of the squares and loved it and we loved visiting her. Hyde Park and Regents Park are within walking distance, you're right up from Oxford St and Marylebone High Street is great (perfect for you 17yo). It's easy to get to loads of museums as well.

Thank you so much, mums. Very helpful insights. The Bayswater flat is around 1 Queensway which seems to be a sea of tacky touristy shops. The Clapham flat is in "Old Town Clapham" which sounds charming but seems the wrong mix of isolated + gritty. Marylebone is a corporate flat part of the Leonard Hotel, generic and very pricey, but the neigbhorhood does sound lovely. The Barnes flat is on a street called "The Terrace" right on the river but also right next to Barnes Bridge rail station so I worry that the train noise will be deafening.

Leaning toward Barnes if we can walk to lots of shops, activities, buses. Actually ideal place would be Richmond right by the rail station, but still have not found such a short let...any leads for me, mums ?

I live 5 mins from Bayswater with 2 girls and there are loads of things to do around here that's a very short bus ride/walking distance.
Walking distance= Science museum - fantastic, free, loads of interactive stuff for kids, Hyde Park - Peter Pan playground, horse riding, pedalos on the lake
Natural History museum - as per science museum.
Queensway - yes, tacky shops but also ice skating, Porchester Centre = swimming
Oxford Street/Knightsbridge - shopping, of course!
Buckingham Place etc
and short bus ride to most other places, transport is very good and it's a safe area...although I am biased!