London • York • Nottingham

Hotels with a Family Room that Sleeps 5

London

Tower of London & London skyline

Elizabeth Hotel 
Moderate

Set in a nice, quiet area of town, amongst blocks of similarly white, columned buildings, it is a short walk to Victoria Station.  It has 40 rooms, 6 floors, a central staircase plus second staircase, and some halls that branch off confusingly.  It faces a fenced, private (guests can obtain key), landscaped, garden square across the street.  No internet during our stay in 2005. I had confirmed our reservation the week before our arrival, and yet, when we got there, exhausted after nearly 12 hours of travel time, we were told our room for 5 wasn’t available!  The hotel’s plan for us included splitting our family for our first 2 nights into a room for 3 and a room for 2, on the same floor, but a fire door and zigzag hallway apart.  With no other options, we had to accept.  Then, for our remaining 4 nights, we’d get a huge 2-bedroom apartment with kitchen and washing machine, for the same price that we had reserved.  An upgrade, but what a hassle to have to repack and move after the first two nights!  But the rooms were cheery yellow, and very clean though old.  The bathrooms were clean, with tub/showers, but had missing tiles, and rust stains.  The windows were huge and though they had no screens, not a single insect appeared through the open windows on the warm nights.  Fans were provided to move the air.  We slept great, with no traffic or neighboring room noise evident at all, though the place was full.  Breakfast was in the daylight basement with a dozen tables of various sizes and plentiful, polite waitstaff.  There was a 2 hour window for breakfast, and guests rarely had to wait more than a few minutes for a table.  Choose from a menu for a single grilled tomato, a sausage, an egg, tea, oatmeal or toast.  Help yourself at the breakfast bar including 3 juices, coffee, jams and honey, and small boxes of cereals (many were very kid friendly!).  Have any combination of all the food, and it’s all included in your room price.  We didn’t see anyone leave a tip, but we did twice – just a couple pounds.  The tv was described as satellite, but that apparently means just basic cable as we know it – a few channels, with good reception.  The front desk staff were stiff but nice. We were told to leave our luggage in a locked space near the lobby on the day we had to switch rooms, and that our luggage would be placed in our new room, but when we returned from a day of site seeing, we had to lug our luggage via the tiny lift ourselves. And on the 3rd day the lift broke and there was no help to get luggage 5 floors down on checkout day.

I would definitely stay there again – the accommodations were comfortable, the location was great, and the quiet was wonderful.  A good value for central London. Credit cards accepted, no extra fee.

Cherry Court Hotel 
Moderate

A 5 minute walk from Victoria Stn.  This is a non-smoking and air conditioned establishment, with 12 en suite rooms, and provides breakfast in a basket at your door.  There is a family room that sleeps 5 on the lower ground floor, which I assume is a basement.  Add 5% if paid with credit card.

Parkwood 
Budget - Moderate

The Parkwood, located by Hyde Park and the Marble Arch Tube station, is a simple establishment. They have one room that will accommodate a family of five. It is actually two rooms and a bathroom, the first bedroom containing a queen or full bed and the second room containing three (third is requested) single beds. The room is near the top level of the hotel, which makes for quite the haul with your luggage. The hotel sits on a quiet street, and the rooms are well-cared for, though tired looking.

The location is easy for subway travel – the Marble Arch station is just a short distance away. Hyde Park is also just across the main street from the hotel. If the kids need to relieve some energy they can run around in the park or play Frisbee or Badminton. We brought an inexpensive set with us but forgot the birdies. This gave us an excuse to buy something at Harrods that wouldn’t break the bank.

Children under two stay for Free. Also recommended by take the kids: England guide book. Full English breakfast included. The family room for 5 is two connected rooms, en suite, with two nightly prices, depending on length of stay.

Sister Hotel is the Edward Lear which has two family rooms one with a shower only the other with bath/WC (water closet.) It is the same basic price as the Parkwood.

London Guards Hotel 
Splurge

All rooms en suite and have refrigerator and air conditioning. Hotel overlooks Hyde Park, family room sleeps 6, en suite.

Oxford Hotel 
Budget

Located in Bayswater, 1 min. to Hyde Park.  Hotel has 21 rooms, all en suite, that include microwave. Family room sleeps 5, and has a refrigerator in the room. Continental breakfast is included.

Royal Court Apartments 
Moderate - Splurge

N of Hyde Park, 3 minutes to Lancaster Gate Stn. 85 en suite apartments, with kitchen, and linens changed daily by maid service. Breakfast available for extra charge. Includes use of Leisure Center, with spa bath, keep fit room and sauna. Room is 2 bedrooms, and sleeps 5. Probably requires 7 or more night stay.

Misc Private Apartments for Rent

The site listed options for apartments available by the night or week. The listings show the general neighborhood references. For example, a 2 bedroom apartment, with tv, in nice condition, pretty décor, with kitchen and refurbished bathroom was listed. Also listed a quiet, traditional B&B in Westminster that sleeps 5.

Europa House Hotel 

Non smoking rooms available. Described as cramped but well maintained. Hearty English breakfast included. Near Hyde Park, Paddington area. Family room sleeps 5.

Hart House Hotel 
Splurge

Located in Marleybone area. Family room sleeps 4. Indicates connecting rooms can be arranged, and foldaway beds available for some rooms. English or continental breakfast is included.

Dover Hotel 

3 minutes to Victoria Stn. All rooms are en suite and include continental breakfast. Family room sleeps 5.

Windermere Hotel 
Budget

Very close to Victoria Station.  Great reviews in travel websites; hotel's website lists awards earned. Most rooms en suite. Full English breakfast, with cooked items to order from menu, is included. Tiny but high-quality restaurant and bar in daylight basement serves dinner, too.

The night before our return to the US , we needed a hotel for just one night – hard to find for the 5 of us! We wanted to stay near Victoria Station to spend time with my dad, who was staying at a nearby (but more expensive, out of our budget) hotel. The Windermere family room sleeps 4, but through email inquiries, they allowed the 5 of us to stay in it, though it has just a double and 2 single beds. A rollaway is available for some rooms, but not the family room, apparently. Well, our two youngest were not quite 7 years old, and not quite 50 pounds each. I’m small myself, so the three of us shared the double bed! 10 year old and hubby each had a single bed.

It wasn’t so bad for just one night, but I wouldn’t want to stay longer with 5 in that room. The extra floor space was minimal, and the bedding and carpet were not in good condition, so I wouldn’t want to have one of us on the floor with extra bedding. The bathroom had a tub/shower, was clean, in good condition, and pretty with marble tile, yet didn’t have a fan and the window opened for ventilation, but then I felt like folks in the apartments across the street could see right in!  The front desk was staffed by a young couple (managers?) who were very nice. Here, they keep your key if you leave the building. The breakfast was tasty and the wait staff very friendly and accommodating to my late arrival for breakfast downstairs. Hubby was able to access the internet! (He was very happy!) No help with our luggage.

We had a good night’s sleep, the road outside was busy in the day and quiet at night, but I don’t think it was worth £145 (June 2005) we paid for one night. Credit card accepted, no extra fee.

Lord Jim

An inexpensive hotel, some rooms en suite, at this point the hotel is entirely non-smoking. An en suite room sleeps 5, breakfast included. It is on a quiet street in Earl’s Court neighborhood. A small link on the reservation page of their site asks that an email be sent inquiring about the number of children in a room.

Hotel Windsor House
Moderate

Located in Earl ’s Court area, the hotel has a room that sleeps 5. Prices are listed per person. Showers are new. Patio garden. Includes use of kitchen.

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York

Carlton House 
Budget

Family room has double, single and bunk beds. Outside city walls, 15-20 minute walk to city. En suite, non-smoking. Breakfast included.

Bishops Hotel 
Budget

15 min. walk to city. Includes place to park your car. Family suite is 2 bedroom, en suite, with private patio. Breakfast included.  

St. Raphael
Moderate - Splurge

5 min. walk to city centre, quiet area, parking permit included for on-street parking.  All rooms are non-smoking and en suite.  Our room came with a shower-only bathroom, king bed and 2 single beds and one comfortable rollaway with mattress. Children must be seven years and older to stay. Add 5% to use a credit card. The owners, a very friendly couple with young-adult children (ownership has since changed) greeted us and provided assistance with our luggage, issued a parking permit for our car, and advised us about family-friendly restaurants in the city. The room was on the upper floor, and in July, would have been too hot to spend time there in daylight hours.  Sleeping would have been more comfortable with a fan.  I have a feeling though, that had we asked for one, they would have gladly let us use one.  We searched the closets but didn’t find one in the room.  The bedding and towels were high-end quality (Ralph Lauren , for example) and prettily arranged, but not too floofy for my guys.  The furnishings, flooring and walls were pristine.  The bathroom was tiny (no tub), converted from a standard 3x6 wall closet, and everything worked perfectly, but the sliding door didn’t quite hide the person inside enough.  There was a 1-inch gap which felt awkward – I didn’t use the toilet if my son was facing that direction.  I wanted to spare him that embarrassment! Breakfast was delicious – a large grilled tomato, sausage, eggs and toast were available, along with a 'help-yourself' table of 2 juices, milk, and small cereal boxes.  We were instructed to indicate our menu choices each night before bed on a chart in the front hallway.  The location is quiet, on a side street near the Bootham city gate.  But one night we did hear music and voices from a low-key gathering outside as we were going to bed.  Wasn’t very bothersome.  My hubby was able to use the internet to check emails.  The sunny location (a lot of buildings seem to be shaded in York ) was lovely, but in hot months, might be better to actually choose a shaded hotel.

This place was beautiful, and the owners were lovely – a great bargain being so close to the city centre for just £105 (July 2005) per night, including a quality breakfast.  I would only add a fan or two to help move the air until the cooler night air relieved the heat of the day.

Bishopgarth Guest House 
Moderate

10 min. walk to city centre. Non-smoking. Owners have young kids. Includes full breakfast. Rates are per person with children 13 and under at half price. Large room has a double bed, single bed, and bunk beds.

Ascot Lodge 
Moderate

Looks like a castle. May need a bus to get to city centre, under a mile away. Non-smoking. Rates are per person with 14 year olds and under at half price. Room has a double bed and 3 singles, and is en suite.

Dairy Guesthouse   
Moderate

Family room is en suite, sleeps 4 and a cot can be added for a fee. This room opens directly to garden. 300 yards to walls of city. The family room has a DVD player. 

Blossoms Hotel 
Splurge

Located ½ mile to city centre. Breakfast is extra fee per person. En suite room that sleeps 6. Also an en suite room that sleeps 4. Private parking available. Internet available.

Nottingham

Talbot House Hotel 
Budget

1 mile to city of Nottingham. Free parking, breakfast included. Set above a bar/restaurant that has a kids’ menu. Family room is en suite, with a double bed and 3 single beds.

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