London was my first... solo travel destination. I went for a few days before joining a Europe tour. And sure coming from Canada and going to London I was in an English speaking country, so I didn't have to worry about translation mishaps. But I was also in a country and on a continent I'd never been to, and I was going alone.
So it was very important to me that I found good place to stay at. Somewhere safe, quiet, comfortable, easy to get to, close to public transit, and affordable. The Lynton Hotel fit the bill perfectly. I stayed in a room with a twin bed that had a sink and a shared shower and toilet. The room was simple, but nice and always clean. There was a free English breakfast provided, which was filling and delicious (seriously you won't need to eat again until midafternoon, there's so much food). The owners Simon and Mark, were friendly and always willing to help answer any questions I had about London.
The Lynton is in the very nice neighbourhood of Belgravia, but the stay in the hotel was quite affordable. I paid just over $100 Canadian/ per night for my stay. While I know a hostel dorm would be cheaper, I liked have the privacy of my own room, and I liked that neighbourhood and hotel were quiet. There isn't a reservation form on the website, but if you email them you'll get a response back within a few hours.
And finally the Lynton is only a few blocks from the Victoria tube station, which made getting around London so easy. I'm the person who always gets lost, and I was always able to find my way back to the Lynton, which was great. I didn't have any safety concerns with the hotel or the neighbourhood, and again I was travelling alone.
The only thing I should point out is that there are no elevators (or lifts as they're called in the UK) in the hotel. You may have to go up a few flights of stairs, so the lighter you can pack the better. Not to worry though, you can get help with your luggage if you need it. Also your bill will have to be settled in cash, but there are several banks and atms nearby if you need.
The Lynton was a great find, and I hope I'll be able to come back to London to stay there again. read more