Where to go? Help me decide!

[HeatherFL]

Alright, I am a poor decision-maker. I have been to Paris and will be going back on business April 15th-20th. I will have some free time and plan to go around the area and tour again. After the conclusion of the meeting I was thinking I'd go to Luxembourg. BUT I forgot the Chunnel only takes 2 1/2 hours to London from Paris. I haven't been to London...

Then some of you all tempted me with tales of the Mosel River Valley in Germany.

I only plan on spending three extra days in Europe. I can extend that, though. I don't want to stay that long because I know I'll be itching to get back home to Todd. Still, London for three-four days doesn't seem like enough time. Would it be?

What do you all think? Opinions and feedback are appreciated. Keeping in mind I've been to Ireland, Amstedam, Spain and Belgium please let me know if you have other suggestions. I love them all, but want to go somewhere new. I also don't want to spend an entire day on the train...So let me know what you think!

Thanks so much,

~H.

[vikib]

I stayed in London from Friday to Sunday. I was running around everywhere, but I got to see the British Museum, the Eye, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London, the outside of St Paul's Cathedral (I think I did that on Sunday and it was closed), walked from St. Paul's across the millenium bridge to the Tate(saw a showing of Van Gogh), Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery there, took the tube everywhere, the queen was in residence so I didn't get to see Buckingham Palace. I stayed near Covent Garden so I walked around there some.

3 days is a short time, but I did it. I didn't get to see a whole lot or spent a lot of time in one place, but I did get to see a lot of what I wanted to.

Also, was mainly there for a wedding in the Cotswolds. If you ever get that way the Cotswolds is a beautiful area.

[tlew12778]

You can do London in 3-4 days. I don't know... to me it's a lot like NYC. It's not entirely the same, but you will find lots of Gaps, and Selfridge's is like Nordstrom IMO. Of all the EU countries, it is the least different and has less European-ness to it.

But, OTOH, it's a place that *should* be seen at least once.

[HeatherFL]

Thanks!

Viki WOW you did a lot!

Tiffany See, that's what would probably bug me. I'd want to go somewhere "different." I'm sure I'd be able to get to London the future and it's not anywhere I've ever *really* wanted go, but it could be nice...

Thanks again!

~H.

[bookworm]

I think the "different-ness" of London is the history--you can see the Roman wall and the tower in the old city, then head down to the "new" section where you have Westminster Abbey and the Cabinet War rooms practically next to each other.

But I'm biased, because it's my favorite city. I also love the variety of theatre--it feels very different from New York to me.

The other consideration may be that London is not a bad place to be alone--with museums, historical sites, theatre, etc., there are some good solo activities. Although your trip is short, so that may not be a consideration (I could be alone for several days in London, but would probably be lonely after a couple of days in a more "relaxed" location).

No other suggestions...I haven't been anywhere else near Paris that you haven't already tried. Oh, unless the TGV can get you to the Med coast reasonably quickly? I took the slow train, and it was miserable.

[HeatherFL]

London it is! All the flights on the days I wanted from Luxembourg were fully sold out-even in first class! So my decision was made for me. :)

bookworm, good point! I've traveled alone a lot and I like that there will be people to meet and chat with. That's what I usually do, just end up chatting with people. I went to France, Belgium and Amsterdam on my own and never felt alone LOL!

I really want to go to the Med coast, but I'm reserving that trip for Todd and me. :D

Thanks again!

~H.

[HeatherFL]

P.S. Okay, where's the best area to stay?

[tlew12778]

Hm well I tend to stay in Notting Hill or Earl's Court which is a lot cheaper but more or less the same area.

[HeatherFL]

A few I'm looking at:

The Landmark London, Royal Garden Hotel, Langham Hotel London, Athenaeum Hotel and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel. I have no idea what areas they're in, but now I'll search in those specific places. Thanks again!

~H.

[Rosebud]

I haven't been to London since I was a kid, but a friend of mine recently honeymooned there and they raved about their hotel: The Cranley (http://www.thecranley.com/)

It looks gorgeous and well located, so just passing along the recommendation. :)

ETA: I believe that my boss just stayed at The Athenaeum last summer. I'll ask her what she thought of it.

[HeatherFL]

That looks really nice! I was thinking of aiming for he $300 a night range because it's just me traveling, but I would go for $400 for the right place! Ahhh why does the British Pound have to be soooo freakin' strong right now??! :eek: It's $1.96 to £1!

~H.

[c'est la vie]

We stayed at the Montagu Place last August. We had a Fancy room which was enormous (at least by London hotel standards) and everything was brand new and immaculate. The neighborhood is very quiet, and not really near much, but the "tube" is five minutes away. Lovely Marylebone High Street is 10 minutes away with plenty of shops and restaurants.

From the web: Perfectly positioned in the heart of Marylebone, central London, close to all major shopping, theatre and sightseeing attractions. Situated in a quiet location close to Baker Street, the hotel is close to many fine restaurants and is just a short stroll from Marble Arch and the world famous shopping of Oxford Street.

http://www.montagu-place.co.uk/index.php

[Rosebud]

Just asked my boss about The Athenaeum and she raved for like 10 minutes. She says it's the only place she'll stay in London, she loves it so much. She says it's in a great location, right by Picadilly, and would be very convenient for someone traveling alone. She also says that if you stay there you must introduce yourself to Donald, the concierge. Evidently he's been there for like 30 years and knows everything about everything in London and always has great recommendations and stories.

:)

[Amuse Bouche]

I lurved the Cranley -- we stayed there on our honeymoon -- it's very very English feeling, which is one of the things I really liked about it.

For the hotels you listed, I think the Royal Garden has the best location -- in my favorite area of Kensington -- though it's not quite as close to a lot of the main tourist attractions, like Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the theater district. It's a slightly more residential area (though Kensington has a lot of shopping) and is close to some other fun areas, like Notting Hill and South Kensington (where the Victoria and Albert, the Natural History Museum, and some other museums are.) The tube is super easy to use, and it's totally easily accessible to all the touristy locations too.

The Athenaeum is good, too, and a bit more centrally located to some of the big tourist stuff, but it's in a less residential neighborhood.

Royal Jumeira is in a fun, if very touristy location (Knightsbridge, close to Harrod's and the other big department stores), but it looks from the website like it caters to a lot of middle eastern tourists (who do a LOT of shopping in that area -- Dodi Al Fayed's father owns Harrod's), and it won't feel as "English" as a result.

The other two you posted about are in OK areas - perfectly nice, easily accessible, etc. but not really my favorites.

[HeatherFL]

Ladies, what do you all think of B&Bs in London? Would it be too far out to get to the attractions and things I want to do? I really like the idea of what Amuse Bouche was writing-getting an English feel. Thanks again!