Family Hotel in London

Q: My family and I are visiting London from the 15th of April next year. We would like to stay in a reasonable, upmarket family hotel in central London (near the Eye, Buckingham Palace etc ) for 5 nights. Do you have any suggestions in this regard as I would like to book now to take advantage of the exchange rate. My children are 9 and 6 years old. - Richard Ward

A: There are literally hundreds of hotels that could satisfy your requirements. I will list a few of those I know about, but you could continue the search on discount hotel website using keywords such as "family-friendly hotels", "connecting rooms" and "child-friendly". One of the most convenient of the apartment-style accommodation on offer is the Citadines Trafalgar Square . It is in the heart of London 's West End within easy reach of theatres, restaurants and iconic sights. Nearby Covent Garden is a wonderful part of London for children. The two-bedroom apartments would be perfect for your family and you can save on dining costs by using the nearby supermarket. For further information, go the www.citadines.com. For great value, you could try the Premier Inn London County Hall. Two children stay for free in the family rooms, so you won't have to pay additional charges for your young ones. Geared to family life with pull-out beds and kids' menus, it has a superb location right beside the London Eye and London Aquarium, and a short walk from the BFI London IMAX cinema. You can also get some great 2-for-1 and kids go free offers at leading attractions with your booking. Check out www.premierinn.com. The Novotel chain offers family rooms at its London properties which are good value. The rooms are designed to accommodate two adults and two children. Accommodation and breakfast are free for under-16s (up to two staying in their parents' room.) The Cartoon Network is available in all rooms. There are a number of Novotels in London that would suit your family, including the well-located Hotel Novotel London Tower Bridge . To check all alternatives, go to www.novotel.com. Park Plaza County Hall Hotel is - as the name suggests - just behind County Hall. Near to the Thames , it’s also convenient for major attractions like the London Eye, Aquarium and, across the river, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The hotel also has its own restaurant, bar or lounge area and rooms come with their own fully-equipped with kitchenette making it ideal for family getaways. Go to www.parkplaza.com for further details. (24/10/10)