London on a budget - advice

[Wattsie]

Planning to head to London in January with a few mates, but such is the problem with being young, we can't be racking up bills for thousands of pounds.

My initial idea was to get a Premier Inn or similar near a station outside of the city to dump the cars at and train in for the Saturday and Sunday to shop, museum and drink so I need the advice of the PHers in know on how best to go about this.

Are there any particular places you know of that are best suited to the dumping the cars part of the plan? (Im thinking in terms of proximity to a station)

Also, are there any places to drink in the city that aren't ridiculously expensive?

Thanks for any input

[Steffan]

Wattsie said:

Planning to head to London in January with a few mates, but such is the problem with being young, we can't be racking up bills for thousands of pounds.

My initial idea was to get a Premier Inn or similar near a station outside of the city to dump the cars at and train in for the Saturday and Sunday to shop, museum and drink so I need the advice of the PHers in know on how best to go about this.

Are there any particular places you know of that are best suited to the dumping the cars part of the plan? (Im thinking in terms of proximity to a station)

Also, are there any places to drink in the city that aren't ridiculously expensive?

Thanks for any input

Depends where you come from. Swiss Cottage has a underflats service area with 24 hour secure parking and much cheaper than central rates. Just pull up by the station entrance the CP is 75 yards down the old AVE road which is also the A41. Good parking in Baker Street central London by St Pancras but not cheap. Where are you coming from.

[GWC]

There are a few Premier Inns around the City and Tower Hill area, they sometimes have weekend offers on. There are loads of great pubs all over London where you can have a few pints without breaking the bank.

[Wattsie]

We're coming from Wales, so going all the way there on the M4.

I've heard a suggestion of Watford as a good 'base' - does that sound reasonable?

[ChasW]

I commute in from the West. One option is the leave your car/s near the end of the Piccadilly Line. Hounslow West is just off the M4 Jct 3 and has a massive car park at £4.50 per day and may well be cheaper at weekends. Around Osterley you can street park in certain residential streets. I work in Russell Square and there are loads of tourist hotels so you should be able to get a twin with breakfast for £100 per night. In fact it may pay to drive all the way in because the same hotels have "cheap" car parks with decent 24 hour rates. If you arrive Friday evening you could avoid the congestion charge so long as you leave Sunday night.

As for cheap drinking London is no different from other cities - just go where the students drink. There is for example a Sam Smiths pub just off Tottenham Ct Road which has remarkably low prices. Always students in there when I walk past. Plus you have Wetherspoons dotted around.

[Nickyboy]

I went yesterday, we drove into Richmond, there is a car park 3 min walk from the Tube.

[davepoth]

Take the train. It's quicker, and probably cheaper too if you book in advance. You really don't need to take a car. As for drinking, the Chandos just off Trafalgar Square is surprisingly reasonable for a tourist spot. For cheaper beer, you need to aim for the proper back street boozers.

[Black can man]

Wattsie said:

Planning to head to London in January with a few mates, but such is the problem with being young, we can't be racking up bills for thousands of pounds.

My initial idea was to get a Premier Inn or similar near a station outside of the city to dump the cars at and train in for the Saturday and Sunday to shop, museum and drink so I need the advice of the PHers in know on how best to go about this.

Are there any particular places you know of that are best suited to the dumping the cars part of the plan? (Im thinking in terms of proximity to a station)

Also, are there any places to drink in the city that aren't ridiculously expensive?

Thanks for any input

Soho is great for a night out, just don't go into a club where a young lady beckons you into

Old compton street can be an eye opener, Plenty of places to drink reasonably, just use your common sense to avoid being ripped off

[bigandclever]

davepoth said:

Take the train. It's quicker, and probably cheaper too if you book in advance. You really don't need to take a car. As for drinking, the Chandos just off Trafalgar Square is surprisingly reasonable for a tourist spot. For cheaper beer, you need to aim for the proper back street boozers.

Heretical idea! But the exact right one - Cardiff return is 70quid for a SuperSaver. Few beers on the way to get you going, stay in some grotty £40 a night place near a mainline station (there are loads), get a TravelCard for the weekend, go mad. The Chandos is a Sam Smith's, that's why it's cheap. Was in there on Wednesday

[megaphone]

If you want good cheap accommodation then look at the YHA, there are a few in London and the ones I have visited for work all look really nice. Not sure if they would be happy with a group of lads though, but worth a look.

http://www.yha.org.uk/places-to-stay/london

[anonymous-user]

Don't drive, don't get the train, get the MegaBus!!! You can always pick it up in Bristol if one doesn't go from Cardiff. Properly cheap and will get in you as quickly as driving\parking\tube! but for half the px

Just had a quick look middle weekend in January, 6 of you can get a return from Cardiff to London for £48.50, that's just over £8 each!

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 10th December 08:40

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 10th December 08:41