LONDON WEEKEND BREAKS - HOTELS
London has a wealth of hotels,
B and B's and boarding houses covering every possible budget and standard of accommodation, and that means that you can always find a hotel to suit your needs when taking a London weekend break.
Hotels in and close to London's main tourist attractions have the highest tariffs, but if you move away from these "honey trap" zones prices can be very reasonable indeed.
Travelling in and around London is best done by the Tube or London bus, so having a Tube station close to your London hotel will make getting around much easier.
Booking a London hotel for your weekend breaks
During the week most London hotels charge business rates, however from Friday night through the weekend, most hotels offer special weekend break rates aimed at attracting city break visitors.
These rates often see three nights for the price of two, or full board at the price of half board etc.
Booking your London hotel in advance and over the internet will also see benefits.
Firstly, the hassle of sourcing a hotel is made easier when searching online. Many large hotel booking companies allow you to search through dozens and sometimes hundreds of London hotels quickly and easily and they also offer secure booking. See the links on this site for booking companies that you can use.
Secondly, booking your hotel in advance gives you the best chance of getting a special deal. The later you leave your hotel booking, the more money you are likely to pay for your room. Book early and get the best rates and always check out several hotels, and even several hotel booking companies, before deciding which one offers the best rates and standards of accommodation.
London hotels - what can you choose from
Some of the larger online hotel reservation companies allow you to hunt through up to 1,000 different hotels
in and close to London. This is quite a selection and it also makes you realise that there is a lot of competition for your custom.
Do not book the first "possible" hotel option that you find. Instead find 3 or 4 possible hotels and check out their facilities and their "all important" locations around London.
Are they within walking distance of some of London's main tourist or theatre zones, or do they have convenient Tube or bus access.
Are they close to restaurants and bars and can you find any recommendations about them from past customers – many hotel reservation sites do include this information and it gives you a better insight into the kind of accommodation and surrounding area that you can expect.
Think about the duration of your London Weekend breaks and find out if the hotel has a safe storage area in which you can leave your baggage after you checkout on your final day. You do not want to be stuck with baggage or suitcases from 11.00am onwards if you intend to continue your weekend break until the late afternoon or evening of your final day.
Finally, if you are travelling to your London hotel by car, make sure that your hotel has suitable off-street parking and is easily reached without travelling through the parts of the city where a congestion charge is levied.