I've stayed at this hotel http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/318/LondonCoventGarden before, it is good value for money and it's very central. Most hotels in London are very very expensive (unless you don't mind sharing with roaches) so it depends how important it is to you to be close to the centre. Safety tips are the same for pretty much every big city- beware of pickpockets, especially in crowded touristy areas, don't get into unlicensed taxis (stick to hackneys) and don't advertise the fact that you have money. Other than that, London is surprisingly safe for a capital city. London is a very expensive city. You can get food for a reasonable price because there are so many restaurants, but pubs and nightclubs are expensive. Some things not to miss- The Tower of London The London Eye Houses of Parliament/Big Ben (right across the river from the Eye) Trafalgar Square St Paul's Cathedral Some other less obvious things- The Globe theatre http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/navigation/frameset.htm it's only a fiver if you don't mind standing up the whole way through London Dungeon- a very gruesome history of London, great for kids age 8 upwards. Natural History/British museum- dinosaurs in one, mummies in the other. Boat trip on the Thames- a great lazy way to see the city.