What type: At Elsie from England, we normally recommend Bed & Breakfast establishments because they provide a savings over hotels. The savings, of course, means having to do without many of the comforts and services provided by hotels such as private baths in some cases, elevators, porters, in-room telephones and TV, a restaurant/bar, room service, etc. In a city like London, the savings from using a Bed & Breakfast over a hotel is not significant, unless you opt for a very basic Bed and Breakfast with a shared bath down the hall. As such, if you’re staying for more than a couple of nights we strongly recommend that you select a hotel. We hasten to add that this recommendation is only for London. Once you leave the city, then we can recommend Bed & Breakfasts without reservations as a preferred accommodation. If you are staying in London for at least 5 nights, are traveling with family, and/or want to have the convenience of your own kitchen, you might consider an apartment or "flat."

How much: The rates depend on the type of hotel, starting with Tourist Class hotels which are the least expensive. They are also the most basic - essentially, a room with a private bath and other basic hotel services. The rooms will be small and plain . From there the categories go up in quality and price all the way to "Luxury". Regardless of category, we have found that most London hotel rooms tend to be smaller than most. Rates shown include breakfast daily and the 17.5% VAT.

KENSINGTON		High Street, Kensington
Sights: Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Albert Hall, Commonwealth Institute, Holland Park. South Kensington: Museums: Natural History, Geological, Science, Victoria and Albert, Brompton Oratory.
Shops: Richard Shops, Elliots, Ravels, Mothercare, Peter Lord, Antique Hypermarket, Saxone, Mates, Ratners, Jean Machine, Marks and Spencers, Kensington Market, Barkers, Scotch House and many fashion shops and boutiques. First class all around shopping area.
KNIGHTSBRIDGE		Knightsbridge
Sights: Hyde Park, Rotten Row, Serpentine, Beauchamp Place, Museums (Cromwell Road) Natural History, Science, Victoria and Albert Museum.
Shops: Knightsbridge, Brompton Road and Sloane Street, Scotch House, Harrods and many very high class fashion shops and boutiques.
KINGS ROAD		Sloane Square
Sights: Chelsea: fashionable, trendy area for shops, boutiques, restaurants and pubs. Belgravia Squares, Chelsea Barracks, Cheyne Walk and embankment.
Shops: Chelsea Antique market, Laura Ashley, Ravel, Russell and Bromley, John Lewis and very many boutiques for younger fashions.
VICTORIA		Victoria or St. James's
Sights: Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, St. James's Park, Mall through to Trafalgar Square, Queen's Gallery, Wellington Barracks, Scotland Yard, Westminster Cathedral.
Shops: Richard Shops, Etam, Saxone, Army & Navy Stores and some smaller shops.
BAKER STREET		Baker Street
Sights: Sherlock Holmes, Planetarium, Mme. Tussaud's, Regent's Park, Open Air Theatre, London Zoo, Mosque, Lord's Cricket.
Shops: Not really a shopping area.
OXFORD STREET		Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Shops: Every chain shop or store is represented. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, household, food. You name it - its on Oxford Street! Must be the world's largest non-stop shopping street. Visit Selfridges!
REGENT STREET		Oxford Circus or Piccadilly
Shops: Carnaby Street, Palladium, Piccadilly Circus, Goldsmiths, China Gift, Irvine Sellars, Bally, Lord John, Just Looking, Dickens and Jones, Libery, Jaeger, Hamleys, Waring and Gillow, Richard, Ciro, Krantz, Mappin and Webb, Hepworths, Wedgwood, Miss Selfridge, Lawleys', Burton, Garrard, Aquascutum, Scotch House, Saxone, Dunn, Dormevil, Athena, Burberrys. High class shopping.
BOND STREET		Bond Street
Shops: Good class shops and boutiques, plus Sotherby's. Chain shoe shops and high class fashion boutiques, antiques and jewellers. Rather expensive but very stylish shopping.
SOHO		Piccadilly, Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square
Sights: Colourful area of restaurants, theatres, cinemas and strip clubs. Berwick Street Market, video shops. (Not as naughty as reputed).
Shops: Few shops in Soho but all around area Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Ave, Charing Cross Road.
PICCADILLY		Piccadilly or Green Park
Sights: Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Burlington Arcade, Royal Academy, Piccadilly Circus, Airline offices.
Shops: Fashion boutiques, high class clothes and shoe shops, jewelry and antiques. Burlington Arcade, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Fortnum and Mason, Lilleywhites.
ST PAUL'S		St. Paul's
Sights: Cathedral, City of London including the Bank of England, Mansion House, Stock Exchange, Guildhall, City churches.
Shops: No shopping to speak of except for City gents outfitters.
TOWER OF LONDON		Tower Hill
Sights: Tower of London, Crown Jewels, Traitor's Gate, Beefeaters, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, St. Katherine's Dock, Marina (shops, pubs, ships). Boat departures to Greenwich and Westminster.
Shops: none
TRAFALGAR SQUARE		Charing Cross or Leicester Square
Sights: Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Mall, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Guards, Covent Garden.
Shops: None except back towards Piccadilly and Regent Street and some in Strand.
COVENT GARDEN		Covent Garden or Leicester Square
Sights: Tasteful tourist area on site of old market, London Transport Museum, Somerset House.
Shops: Boutique shopping in Covent Garden or more in the Strand. Nice area to eat after theatre or anytime during the day.
WESTMINSTER		Piccadilly, Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square
Sights: Parliament Square, Winston Churchill statue, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Downing Street, Westminster Bridge and baot departure to Hampton Court, Tower of London and Greenwich. Tate Gallery on Millbank, Royal Festival Hall on Southbank, Imperial War Museum in Lambeth.