Chances are that if you have booked a package vacation, you will be staying around here. This is hotel land. Within a quarter mile radius of Gloucester Road Tube station there all kinds of hotels - lots of them. Ranging from the large Marriott and Holiday Inn to little tiny places with 6 rooms. There is easy access to Central London and for every 10 people you see walking around 9 of them are probably visitors. This is not a tourist area in a way, just a "camp".

Pubs, cafes, etc., are all over the place in the Tube Station area.

Other than that there is hardly anything of note here. Yet for the London tourist industry, this is an important place. So why come here then? I think probably just because of that. Many of you will be based here for your stay in town. All around the station region are restaurants, cafes, pubs and the like. It is a great jumping off point and somewhere that you can meet people.

The place seemed okay, it was just, well, there. You know what I mean? Nothing special, nothing not. Besides the hotels, the area is also residential. If you are self catering there are two large supermarkets down Cromwell Road and a good private hospital (not NHS - so you're safe).

There seem to have been two ex residents of worthwhile fame. Alfred Hitchcock and (for two years) the composer Benjamin Britten. There was another one, a supposed musician, but I do not endorse mass murderers. The two blue discs on the houses are about the only things here that fit in with this blog.

Hitch's plaque is surrounded by vines and could get overgrown in summer Benjamin only lived here 2 years - not sure whether that really qualifies as a "resident", but they put a plaque here anyways You have to look for these yourself

People
I had several chats with people here. An Italian guy from Gandino (I think), we talked while he drank his beer by a pub. The Tourist Information on Cromwell Road is staffed by two girls from Budapest, who were a real help.

A Concierge in a big hotel and I talked for quite a while. He's from Camberwell, a place I'd like to visit as there really is something most unusual there. It was he who told me about Alfred Hitchcock and I set out to find the place.

I met an American guy and his wife who are here for two years as he works for a bank. Really nice couple, we had a good little chat. She was taking a photo of the Hitchcock Plaque (that's how I finally found the thing).

Before taking the tube back, I had a coffee and went online next to a Japanese fellow who sells medical equipment, primarily operating theater tables. We talked about various things, such as laptops etc.

There are plenty of Wifi spots around here. Best to look for BTOpen and go straight in.

Easy to get to and from
Start at the Eros statue, into the Tube and take the Piccadilly Line to Gloucester Road - it's only a few stops. If you're staying in the area, you already know that. It is also served by the District and Circle Lines.

Notes:
	This is where you sleep. Lots of places to eat and meet fellow travelers
	None really
	None
	With it being so close to the Central London it is a good launching point