Ian

Hi all:

I will be a first-time visitor to London in early Feb, from Thursday
5th till Sunday the 8th. I'm actually doing two one-week business
trips in Brussels back-to-back, and I'm using the free weekend in
between to jump the Eurostar to London for an adventure.

I don't know a thing about London apart from what I've read in the
guidebook I picked up today, so I was hoping that some of the more
experienced members of the newsgroup could provide some advice.

I will be arriving on the Eurostar Thursday evening around 8:30 pm at
Waterloo station. I'm looking for a hotel, somewhere in the 100-150
pound per night range, that is centrally located to visit the typical
tourist sites during the day, but is also convenient (i.e.within
walking range) to some good nightlife in the evenings. I'm a bit old
for the 20-something clubbing scene, so I'm looking for something more
appropriate for someone in their late 30s. Someplace with a friendly
crowd and fun atmosphere, good beer, live music, dancing, that sort of
thing.

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ian

Scott Hamlin

I don't know about the night life aspect, but I liked the Mad Hatter, which
is a five minute cab ride from Waterloo station.

http://www.hotels-england.co.uk/hotels/112120.htm

"Ian" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > Hi all:
    > I will be a first-time visitor to London in early Feb, from Thursday
    > 5th till Sunday the 8th. I'm actually doing two one-week business
    > trips in Brussels back-to-back, and I'm using the free weekend in
    > between to jump the Eurostar to London for an adventure.
    > I don't know a thing about London apart from what I've read in the
    > guidebook I picked up today, so I was hoping that some of the more
    > experienced members of the newsgroup could provide some advice.
    > I will be arriving on the Eurostar Thursday evening around 8:30 pm at
    > Waterloo station. I'm looking for a hotel, somewhere in the 100-150
    > pound per night range, that is centrally located to visit the typical
    > tourist sites during the day, but is also convenient (i.e.within
    > walking range) to some good nightlife in the evenings. I'm a bit old
    > for the 20-something clubbing scene, so I'm looking for something more
    > appropriate for someone in their late 30s. Someplace with a friendly
    > crowd and fun atmosphere, good beer, live music, dancing, that sort of
    > thing.
    > Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.
    > Thanks,
    > Ian

Sam

Ian <> wrote in message news:<>...

    >
    > I will be arriving on the Eurostar Thursday evening around 8:30 pm at
    > Waterloo station. I'm looking for a hotel, somewhere in the 100-150
    > pound per night range, that is centrally located to visit the typical
    > tourist sites during the day, but is also convenient (i.e.within
    > walking range) to some good nightlife in the evenings. I'm a bit old
    > for the 20-something clubbing scene, so I'm looking for something more
    > appropriate for someone in their late 30s. Someplace with a friendly
    > crowd and fun atmosphere, good beer, live music, dancing, that sort of
    > thing.

As a late 20s (near) Londoner, I can suggest the following nightspots
that I think you'd appreciate. Very close to Waterloo station just by
the London Eye you have Motion Bar, behind Nike Town in Oxford Circus
you have Market Place (also great for food), in Covent Garden you have
Fuel Bar and near Picadilly you have The Warwick. There's also a new
bar called Wax but I can't honestly remember where it is. It was good
but slightly bare and clinical.

Of all of these, I think The Warwick would suit you best from what
you are after but they all have great atmospheres, serve good beer
with plenty of dancing if you want it.

I've had many a good night in all of these places and they attract
more locals and a lot less tourists than most London Bars/Clubs. Ages
range from early 20s to early 30s with an even mix of men and women so
you should be ok. They're not too pretentious or expensive and in all
of them you can wear pretty much anything as long as you're not too
scruffy.

You can look online at www.thisislondon.com or pick up a copy of Time
Out or the Metro section of The Evening Standard when you get to
London.

You should avoid pretty much anywhere around Leicester Square as in
most cases they're rip off joints. I had a few good nights in Zoo Bar
just off Leicester Square but recently it seems to have gone down hill
and is full of tourists.

As for hotels, I can't really help too much but £100-150 should get
you a fairly decent hotel. Don't be too worried about going a bit
further out to get a nicer hotel as the tube is easy to navigate. Be
aware though that it stops running at about 12:30am so you would need
to get a cab or night bus after that.

Leisure-Ideas.Com

lots of london hotels here for that kind of price:

http://www.leisure-ideas.com

it's already been said but it is worth repeating: anywhere around leicester
sqaure will easily meet your requirements concerning night life

"Ian" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > Hi all:
    > I will be a first-time visitor to London in early Feb, from Thursday
    > 5th till Sunday the 8th. I'm actually doing two one-week business
    > trips in Brussels back-to-back, and I'm using the free weekend in
    > between to jump the Eurostar to London for an adventure.
    > I don't know a thing about London apart from what I've read in the
    > guidebook I picked up today, so I was hoping that some of the more
    > experienced members of the newsgroup could provide some advice.
    > I will be arriving on the Eurostar Thursday evening around 8:30 pm at
    > Waterloo station. I'm looking for a hotel, somewhere in the 100-150
    > pound per night range, that is centrally located to visit the typical
    > tourist sites during the day, but is also convenient (i.e.within
    > walking range) to some good nightlife in the evenings. I'm a bit old
    > for the 20-something clubbing scene, so I'm looking for something more
    > appropriate for someone in their late 30s. Someplace with a friendly
    > crowd and fun atmosphere, good beer, live music, dancing, that sort of
    > thing.
    > Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.
    > Thanks,
    > Ian

Sam

"leisure-ideas.com" <> wrote in message news:<z1eLb.199$>...
    >
    > it's already been said but it is worth repeating: anywhere around leicester
    > sqaure will easily meet your requirements concerning night life.

Where has that been said? In my post I specifically said he should
avoid anywhere near Leicester Square. The Sound bar/club is ok but in
my experience just about everywhere else in the vicinity are rip of
joints charging £8 for a beer (Equinox, anyone??)

Not far from Leicester Square there are a few decent bars along
Wardour Street. That also puts you right next to Chinatown for a
decent, cheap late night eat and Soho for more bars, clubs and the odd
sex shop if that's your thing.

Enjoy your visit.