NOVOTEL IN BLACKFRIARS
At the Novotel in Blackfriars , children under 16 stay free or, for more independence, you can book them a second room at half the price of your own. The hotel will appeal to tech-savvy youngsters with its self-check-in desks, digital art, interactive virtual concierge system, iMac corner in the lobby, iPod docks and a video depicting underwater scenes on a wall alongside the hotel swimming pool.
Price: From £145 per night.
Info: 020 7660 0834, novotel.com
TOWER BRIDGE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON
At Tower Bridge DoubleTree by Hilton, families of four can book two interconnecting rooms from £193.50 per night, while its West End sister hotel in Bloomsbury, around the corner from the British Museum, has one- or two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes (good for preparing the odd meal), from either £250 or £300 per night.
Price: From £193.50
Info: 0870 590 9090; doubletree.com
GRENVILLE HOTEL
A good value-for-money option within walking distance of many central attractions is the Grenville Hotel.
Price: Family rooms from £130 per night, including continental breakfast.
Info: grenvillehotel.co.uk
CHURCH STREET HOTEL
The Church Street Hotel in Camberwell Green is a unique, boutique B&B that could almost have been airlifted from Mexico. Older children will love its quirkiness, exotic decor and the Angels & Gypsies restaurant with its great tapas menu.
Price: From £125 per night.
Info: churchstreethotel.com
AIRBNB.CO.UK
Airbnb.co.uk has several privately owned properties all over London. Prices vary mainly according to location – for example, a two-bedroom apartment in Notting Hill costs around £200 per night; a two-bedroom, one-bathroom flat in an art deco block next to Grove Park station costs £92 per night.
Info: Airbnb.co.uk
CHISWICK MORAN HOTEL
You can save money by moving away from central London and still have access to central London and some of the city’s beautiful surroundings. At the Chiswick Moran Hotel, stay for two nights with breakfast and one family evening meal, plus entry to Kew Gardens (a 15-minute walk away).
Price: From £399 for a family of four.
Info: 020 8996 5200; chiswickmoranhotel.com
EDITION HOTEL
Treat the family to either a loft or a loft suite at the Edition Hotel in Fitzrovia (pictured) and enjoy a complimentary connecting room and ‘Big Kid, Little Kid’ treats, including a kid’s guide to London, movie night and a ‘London-inspired’ in-room tent (suitable for three- to eight-year-olds).
Price: From £515 per night.
Info: 020 7908 7900; edition-hotels.marriott.com
THE GORING
If you fancy pushing the boat out, stay at The Goring, the hotel where Kate spent the night before the Royal wedding. Close to Buckingham Palace, Knightsbridge and London’s many museums, it has a ‘VI(little) Ps exclusive’ offer that includes a pack with crayons, an activity book and a Goring passport so children can collect stamps from each area of the hotel. Children are also very welcome to don chef’s aprons in the kitchen and decorate freshly-baked cakes and cookies. And don’t miss the fabulous family afternoon tea (pictured below).
Price: Two interconnecting queen-bedded rooms cost from £720 per night, room-only.
Info: 0808 163 9094; prideofbritainhotels.com
THE GEORGIAN HOUSE HOTEL
Any wannabee wizards in the family? The Georgian House Hotel has two Wizard Chambers. The hotel also provides baby monitors, sterilisers, baby bath, high chairs and plastic cutlery and crockery. You can book a sitter through the website, as well as ordering nappies to arrive before you so you don’t have to bring them with you. There are toys and Lego available and cots are made up with a cuddly toy and bedtime story. There is a specially created children’s breakfast menu with organic ingredients.
The Wizard Chambers is modelled on a Hogwarts-like dormitory, with four-poster beds, faux castle detail such as stained glass windows, stonewalls, gothic arches and trunks, and beds hung with red and yellow velvet curtains. Wood-burning stoves, cauldrons in fireplaces and tapestries complete the look.
Packages can also include the Warner Brothers Studio and the Muggle Tours, which depart from nearby Victoria station.
Price: For a family of four in the Wizard Chambers, from £249 per night with breakfast.
Info: georgianhousehotel.co.uk