In London’s Belgravia district

As a solo traveler, I enjoy the hospitality of a small hotel or guest house, and in central London the Lime Tree Hotel (135-137 Ebury St., Belgravia, London, England, SW1W 9QU, U.K.; phone +44 [0] 20 7730 8191) was excellent in this regard.

The Lime Tree has only 25 rooms. My single room, with facilities en suite, was small but cozy and spotlessly clean. The shower was very small, but the bed was fantastic and easy to fall asleep in. The windows were double-paned, so no noise from outside. I paid a rate of $150 per night, March 21-April 1, 2013, which included a substantial breakfast every morning.

Belgravia is an upscale neighborhood with little traffic. I was within walking distance of Victoria Tube Station, the Victoria Coach Station and Sloane Street Tube Station. It was easy to hail a cab from the hotel’s entrance or simply walk two blocks to a taxi rank.

Nearby are many restaurants, such as The Ebury Restaurant & Wine Bar (139 Ebury St., London; phone 020 7730 5447), where I dined on fillet of halibut, rhubarb crisp and a glass of wine for $51. 

Also nearby is pub and restaurant The Thomas Cubitt (44 Elizabeth St., London; phone +44 [0] 207730 6060), where I ordered beer-battered fish-and-chips, Bramley-apple-and-rhubarb crumble with ginger ice cream plus a glass of wine for $40. Of all the fish-and-chips meals I ate during my 22 days in Great Britain, this was the best but also the most expensive. 

Around the corner from the Lime Tree Hotel is a branch of the chain Baker & Spice (54-56 Elizabeth St., London; phone 0207 730 5524). Offering freshly made salads, main dishes and desserts, this is a fabulous little deli and bakery.

MARILYN MYERS

Lincoln, CA