Visiting London With Family From Brum - Hotels / Parking

[redgriff500]

Hi,

Planning an overnight trip with the family (5) to see the sights, no idea about congestion charge etc.

Is the easy option just drive in, pay the charge and dump the car at the hotel.

Or park the car outside and tube in (coming from Brum)?

Any suggestions on where to park / stay, just want something reasonable, travelodge ?

The one in Kings Cross looks easy to travel from but IIRC isn't that Hooker central.

Thanks

[NiceCupOfTea]

I'd be tempted to park at Edgware or Stanmore or somewhere and get the tube in.

[muckymotor]

If you do park at Stanmore check that the Jubilee line is running as it closes most weekends for engineering work.

[Chris_w666]

I did London from Milton Keynes a few weeks ago and found the train into Euston to be really easy, you may be surprised how cheap the virgin fares can be even from brum.

Don't know much about the travelodge near kings cross but I stayed in the Novotel nearby (St pancras) and couldn't fault it, the kids will love playing in the glass fronted lift too.

[Kuroblack350]

The train is a good idea, especially from your area

Then again, the car has more convenience and no 'stella-artois' factor to deal with...

The one time I did london by car I went for the Novotel Hammersmith. It's outside the C Charge Zone (or was?!?!) and it's an easy place to get to and from via the toob. The docklands are also ok and you can sometimes get good deals at the Crowne Plaza if there are no events on at the Excel. The only slight downside is the trek along the DLR everytime you want to see more than building sites and water

Oh, and the Novotel couldn't be easier to find either, it's literally at the end of the M4 (sort of) so you needn't be hassled with massive amounts of congestion, 3 Garmins and a Tom Tom.

Don't forget to add parking charges to your car v train budget, even at the reasonably cheap Novotel, they were £20 IIRC

[A2Z]

http://www.encorelondonwest.co.uk/

Right on the A40, so for you just hit the M40 and keep driving. Can't miss it. Own car park is £10/day and outside the Zone. North Acton on the Central Line is just opposite.

Edited by A2Z on Monday 31st August 17:04

[Markytop]

Despite being someone who drives everywhere, I would recommend the train when going into London. I commute in from Milton Keynes and am always amazed when they announce on the trains how long to get to Brum from Euston, about hour and 20min i think.

Also its ok staying in a hotel somewhere outside the centre and then getting the tube etc into the centre, but that might take you as long as coming down from Brum on the train. The tube aint as quick as you might think. My door to door commute from MK is quicker than most of my colleagues who live in London and come in from the outskirts on the tube.

Never thought I would be singing the praises of a train over the car..

[NiceCupOfTea]

Actually the Chiltern Line trains are quite nice, they go into Marylebone.

[redgriff500]

Thanks for the replies for the help of anyone who may search in the future I stayed here:

http://www.qualityhampstead.com/index.htm

Booked via a third party website and got a dbl for £70 a triple for £80.

It doesn't look as nice in reality as the pic but it was perfectly acceptable.

Best points were:

Easy to find off the Motorway
Outside the congestion charge zone
Close to the underground
Quiet area but walking distance to a shopping centre with bars etc
Free car parking (we only stayed one night but they let us park all the following day free too)
Good breakfast included
Clean rooms
Helpful staff

Recommended.