London... it's a bit big... need help!

[sanguinary]

Hi, I've travelled throughout the country, but I've never spent any time in our capital. I've just booked tickets for my other half's 40th to watch Billy Elliot, in May next year. So... without spending an absolute fortune, where do we stay for two nights, where do we eat?

I can see a huge range of hotels around the area of Westminster, but am I better staying further a field and using the tube? Currently the tickets cost £180, I'll be needing a train from Newcastle (or Manchester), so that with the hotel I'm probably going to be spending at least £800. I certainly wouldn't like to be spending more than that for two days out. Is it possible?

What do I need to know?!

[vixen1700]

Good secret to know is Travelodge, Drury Lane.

Cheap, couldn't be in a better position, the breakfast is nice and it saves you your money for more important things like eating and buying stuff.

As for eating, the world truly is your oyster and is impossible to begin.

Enjoy yourself, London is great. I'm from London and really enjoy going back a few times a year 'as a tourist'.

[theaxe]

Trains are expensive, have you considered a flight to city airport? Depending on when you go it may be cheaper.

Also, around City airport there are a quite a few hotels (as it's near to the Excel centre) and if there isn't a conference on they can be quite reasonable.

That said it's probably 30 mins into/out of the city from out there.

[Truckosaurus]

theaxe said:

Trains are expensive

Although this far out the OP could book in advance and get a good deal.

[Amateurish]

Cheap train tickets aren't released until I think 12 weeks before travel date, so OP will have to wait until next year to get cheap tickets.

[TheAngryDog]

Whenever I've priced up flying into city airport it has always been expensive so I am certain the train will be cheaper!

[bigandclever]

Amateurish said:

Cheap train tickets aren't released until I think 12 weeks before travel date, so OP will have to wait until next year to get cheap tickets.

He will, and can sign up for an email alert here http://www.thetrainline.com/ticketalert/

We do KingsX / Newcastle a lot, and first class tickets can be had for £50 each person, each way. Normal class is, of course, cheaper and can be had for as little as £17 .... but typically you need to act quickly once they're released, hence the Alert email.

eg Right now ...
Fri 7 Nov 14
11:30 NCL 14:42 KGX
£16.85 (1st £50.00)
Sun 9 Nov 14
19:12 KGX 23:08 NCL
£38.00 (1st £63.00)

[HereBeMonsters]

Don't stay in Westminster. It's central during the day, but there's fk all to do at night. Better to be up near Covent Garden or somewhere.

[//j17]

If you're visiting over the weekend check out some of the hotels in the City of London (square mile). Many of these make thier money off of business travelers Mon-Fri and are half empty on the weekend. Sure there's won't be much open around the hotel but you're an easy tube/not too expensive taxi ride from the west end.

[audidoody]

Kingsway Hall Hotel Covent Garden

http://www.kingswayhall.co.uk/default-en.html


Smack in the middle of all the restaurant, theatre and pub action you can handle

[davepoth]

Talking of the world being your Oyster, order a pair of Oyster cards (the TfL smart card thing for buses and the tube). It might seem silly if this is your only time in London, but the reduction in faff is immense, especially when you have luggage with you. It's also cheaper than buying the tickets.

[Gareth1974]

You can get some pretty good discounts on London attractions if you travel there by train:

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

[theaxe]

davepoth said:

Talking of the world being your Oyster, order a pair of Oyster cards (the TfL smart card thing for buses and the tube). It might seem silly if this is your only time in London, but the reduction in faff is immense, especially when you have luggage with you. It's also cheaper than buying the tickets.

From the 16th I think you can just use any contactless card.

[anonymous-user]

theaxe said:

davepoth said:

Talking of the world being your Oyster, order a pair of Oyster cards (the TfL smart card thing for buses and the tube). It might seem silly if this is your only time in London, but the reduction in faff is immense, especially when you have luggage with you. It's also cheaper than buying the tickets.

From the 16th I think you can just use any contactless card.

...and the bus network is already cash-free anyway.

[themark1]

I think Taxi is best option than train.

[sanguinary]

vixen1700 said:

Good secret to know is Travelodge, Drury Lane.

That may well work out! Thanks.

Plenty of food for thought above, thanks for all the responses. Will sit down over the next few days and work out a plan of action. We'll be getting the train down from Manchester I reckon, so I'll look out for decent prices of the better seats.

To be fair, the other half isn't a fan of big nights out, so after the show a couple of drinks will suffice. I'll do some research into restaurants in the area so we can eat before the show.

Cheers!

[Cheib]

You could try staying here.....Best Western Swiss Cottage, it's good value for a hotel 10 mins from the West End.

http://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/swiss-cottage-...

It's right by Swiss Cottage station which will get you to Billy Elliott in 15 mins on the tube.

Depends what you want but you have Hampstead and Primrose Hill a 10 min walk away from that hotel which are much nicer places to be than Holborn.

[98elise]

The advice to stay near covent garden is spot on. For two nights food and entertainment you really cant go wrong. You have everything on your doorstep, including McD's if you really want to eat cheap . There are loads of Pubs, Clubs and Resturants in the area. You can eat as cheaply or as expensively was you want.

You are also in walking distance of Westminster, the Mall, Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Trafalgar Square etc.

[DJFish]

audidoody said:

Kingsway Hall Hotel Covent Garden

http://www.kingswayhall.co.uk/default-en.html

Stayed there once between night shifts as the trains home were snowbound. Explained that I didn't want to be disturbed, they woke me up halfway through the day to get me to move to an identical room as mine had been double booked.
I'll never stay there again.

The Grange are a nice chain and you can get good weekend discounts if you pay up front.

Travelodges etc also pretty good these days or further out (the round one who's name escapes me next to canary wharf for instance) do some cracking weekend deals.

Edited by DJFish on Wednesday 17th September 07:23

[HereBeMonsters]

98elise said:

The advice to stay near covent garden is spot on. For two nights food and entertainment you really cant go wrong. You have everything on your doorstep, including McD's if you really want to eat cheap . There are loads of Pubs, Clubs and Resturants in the area. You can eat as cheaply or as expensively was you want.

You are also in walking distance of Westminster, the Mall, Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Trafalgar Square etc.

But the Travelodge "Covent Garden" (about 10-15 mins walk away in reality) is pretty old and grotty. Lift breaks down all the time.