LONDON - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 185

tallest skyscraper, and the South Bank are all just seconds away, and efficient Tube
and train links put the rest of London within easy reach too. A former telephone
exchange building, this 1915 structure was successfully recycled into a bastion of
comfort and charm. Bedrooms are completely up to date and offer homelike com-
fort and plenty of amenities. Rooms in the front have double-glazed windows to
cut down on noise.
8-18 London Bridge St., London SE1 9SG. www.londonbridgehotel.com. & 020/7855-2200. Fax
020/7855-2233. 140 units. £125-£286 double. Children 11 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC,
MC, V. Tube: London Bridge. Amenities: 2 restaurants; bar; babysitting; access to nearby health club.
In room: A/C, TV/DVD, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi (free).
West London
PADDINGTON & BAYSWATER
Moderate
Mornington Hotel There's nothing flashy about the Mornington, but a 2010
refurbishment, easy access to London's parks, and staff who win plaudits from guests
over and over again make it the best bet in the area. Just north of Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens, the hotel has a Victorian exterior and Scandinavian-inspired
decor. The area isn't London's most fashionable, but it's close to Hyde Park and con-
venient to Marble Arch, Oxford Street shopping, and the ethnic restaurants of
Queensway. Renovated guest rooms are tasteful and comfortable.
12 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LG. www.morningtonhotel.co.uk. & 020/7262-7361 or 800/633-6548
in the U.S. Fax [phone] units. £89-£145 double. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Park-
ing £25. Tube: Lancaster Gate. Amenities: Bar. In room: TV, Wi-Fi (free).
Inexpensive
Garden Court Hotel We wish there were more hotels like this in London. Fam-
ily-run for more than 50 years, meticulously managed, and set on a tranquil Victorian
garden, it's a great bet for visitors to Hyde Park or Portobello. Most accommodations
are spacious, with good lighting, generous shelf and closet space, and comfortable
furnishings. If you're in a room without a bathroom, you'll generally have to share with
the occupants of only one other room. There are many homelike touches throughout
the hotel, including ancestral portraits and silk flowers. Rooms open onto the square
in front or the gardens at the rear.
30-31 Kensington Gardens Sq., London W2 4BG. www.gardencourthotel.co.uk. & 020/7229-2553.
Fax [phone] units, 24 with bathrooms. £79-£120 double. Rates include English breakfast.
MC, V. Tube: Bayswater. In room: TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (£2.50 per day or £5 for whole stay).
Norfolk Court & St. David's Hotel Another very reasonable garden square
B&B, run by hosts George and Foula Neokleous, in a friendly, if sometimes ram-
shackle, style. Only a 2-minute walk from Paddington Station, the hotel was built
when Norfolk Square knew a grander age. The bluebloods are long gone, but the area
is still safe and to be recommended. The refurbished bedrooms are well maintained
and furnished comfortably, and you can't beat the price. Make sure you try the cooked
breakfast—it always wins plaudits.
14-20 Norfolk Sq., London W2 1RS. www.stdavidshotels.com. & 020/7723-4963. Fax [phone].
75 units, 70 with bathrooms. £65 double without bathroom, £80 double with bathroom. Rates include
English breakfast. AE, MC, V. Tube: Paddington. In room: TV, Wi-Fi (free).
Tudor Court Hotel Originally built in the 1850s and much restored and altered,
this Victorian structure is now a small hotel of tranquility and comfort, lying only a

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