London is pricey as you know. We are staying at Travel Inn, County Hall on the South Bank near Waterloo Station and Tate Modern and London Eye. This hotel is well recommended but definitely no charm - just a budget chain hotel with an interesting location. 83 pounds double (without breakfast). We are also staying at a hotel near Paddington that we have never heard of, no reviews, no one recommends! However there is a special (buy 2 nights, get a third free) which reduces the price to 53 pounds per night double (with breakfast). These two stays are bookended around our week to Malta. We will be jetlagged at Linden House, Hyde Park and how bad can it be? (no, don't tell me how bad...we'll just cope!)

We booked the hotel through the London tourist board website and their supplier Superbreak.com. http://www.visitlondonoffers.com/ Choose Special Offers. There is a link for Free Nights. http://www.londontouristboard.com

We have stayed at the Jenkins in Bloomsbury. Well recommended. We decided we wanted to try a different area this time. The Jenkins is at 45 Cartwright Gardens http://www.jenkinshotel.demon.co.uk/ It's three star, costs 85 pounds double including a very nice breakfast. The Jenkins Hotel has no lift and is totally non-smoking There are many budget small hotels on Cartwright Gardens.

Frances Toronto, Canada