claire50

I just saw a great airfare from LA to London and want to grab it. I know hotel prices are high so I'm checking those before booking air. I'm wondering if anyone has stayed outside central London, in suburbs or areas that might offer less expensive lodging along with public transportation options. If so, where? Would love to find a clean, quiet double ensuite room in a safe area for US$150-200 or so. Would consider B/B. Oh, we want to go mid May. Yes, I know. We're a bit late but it's worth a try. Thanks to all in advance for any ideas.

janisj

Some people do stay in outer London - but IMHO you lose way to much in the way of convenience/transport costs etc to make it worthwhile. If you did stay outside of the city - you want to pay quite a bit less than $150-$200 to make sense. You'd be 30 to 45 mins or more from the major sites. It is impossible to get back to the hotel in the middle of the day to change or rest or drop packages. If you go to the theatre, you won't be getting back til after midnight. If budget is an issue - consider Priceline where it is common to get central 4 star hotels for less than $100.

Now, staying out in the countryside in order to tour around is different altogether. But for a base for seeing London - you really should stay in London.

cocofromdijon

Hi
I'm going to London mid April with my 2 boys and I found a great deal with Travelodge. They have a few hotels in London which all seem to have good reviews on Tripadvisor. I wanted the one in Covent Garden but there was no discount at that time. We'll be staying at the Docklands one for 26£ only per night (family room are the same price as singles or doubles).
The discounts can appear and disappear any day so check everyday if you can. Prices start from as low as 15£ to 46£. The rack rate seems to be around 90-95£.

https://www.travelodge.co.uk/index.php

good luck!
coco

claire50

Thanks janisj and coco. I'll keep my eye on Travelodge and force myself to delve into Priceline. Premier Travel Inn Kensington had room but "no guarantee" of our requirements (no smoking quiet double...I'm not sure which thing we wouldn't be getting.)

Kate_W

I've booked with Superbreak.co.uk and also CheapRooms (both sites allow you to see which hotel you're booking and what kind of room). Bookings are non-refundable, though.

Sometimes, the two Hiltons on the western edge of central London are relatively cheap (one's called Kensington and I think the other one's called Olympia). Mixed reviews on tripadvisor, though.

I've stayed at the Jury's Inn at Hatton Cross a few times, usually when I have an early morning flight out of Heathrow. It's on the Piccadilly Line, so getting into London is easy (but don't forget to factor in the cost of tube fare (2 of you, twice a day?) into the cost of staying outside the centre of the city.

Check Thistle Hotels and the Jury's Inn chain. There are also some Holiday Inns that likely are a good value. I stayed in a plain but very convenient one on Welbeck Street a few times and thought it was a good value. (The problem with Holiday Inns, though, is that the cheap rates are non-refundable.)

You should be able to find a clean double ensuite room for US$150-200. Unless you book on Priceline, though, you're unlikely to get a stylish or charming hotel - but you can get something basic at this price range. Grab the airfare and sort out hotels later.

PalenQ

The Docklands TravelLodge is still quite a time-consuming commute however. But for the price... and i for one would rather stay NOT in central London but in an ordinary part of town.

Mimar

Before you dive into Priceline, reading biddingfortravel.com.

Many people recommend the County Hall Travel Inn as reasonably-priced and well located.

I find a central location worth paying for. If one of us gets tired (like from jetlag) that person can go back to the hotel easily and we can meet later. Or we can split up, go our separate ways (I shop, he goes to some science museum), and meet back at the hotel. And, after a long day sightseeing, sometimes I don't feel like making another long trip into town. In town, lots of good restaurants are a short trip away, not to speak of the plays.

cocofromdijon

<The Docklands TravelLodge is still quite a time-consuming commute however.>
Pal the hotel is in Zone 2 and that is fine with me because it is quite close from Greenwich and the Cutty Sark where we also want to go. 5 years ago time we stayed in Barking which is much time consuming! And anyway I love taking the bus

PalenQ

It's closer than i thought - maybe i was mixing it up with the Formule I in Barking - a long commute.

Plus Axel and Leo will love taking the Docklands Railway - try to sit in the very front seats of the first car on these driverless trains and the kids will think they're driving!

I was in Greenwich recently and just love that place!

claire50

Thanks so much for all these tips. We don't mind basic accomodations at all, as long as they are clean. I feel guilty that I haven't checked books yet; this came up quickly. I do need to check areas.
Kate_W: what is Hatton's Cross area? Thanks!

cocofromdijon

In Barking we stayed at the Etap hotel, 45£ for 3, F1 was next door. I used to go shopping for breakfast at the Tesco supermarket behind the hotel. The almonds croissants and pains au chocolat were excellent!(and 2 for the price of one!).
3 weeks to go!!! \/

Kate_W

Hatton Cross is a tube stop very close to Heathrow. So, quite far out - but still convenient because it's on the Piccadilly Line. I've seen rates as low as 50 pounds. It's new and pleasant and comfortable (but not fancy - and pretty much in the middle of nowhere). You'd be looking at a 40-60 minute tube ride to central London.

The Holiday Inn on Welbeck Street (very central London, just north of New Oxford Street) and west of Oxford Circus, shows a rate of 110 pounds (about 212 US dollars) for a 14-day advance purchase (non-refundable) booking - 2 single beds. Includes tax but not breakfast.

PalenQ

Hatton's Cross tube stop is on the edge of Heathrow Airport where there is a gaggle of airport hotels. Not the most interesting area and a bit far out but very safe i would suspect (as any area in London i've seen seems to be)

now let's see a Frenchie (not perjorative i hope - some friends of Sylvain call him that in fun) goes to London and raves about the croissants and pains aux chocolate? Something doesn't compute here.

(why not aux instead of au - did you make a mistake that i corrected? Of course not, so why not aux)

cocofromdijon

Pal I worked in a French bakery in Clapham Junction and Barnes and I know when a croissant is good, that is why they deserved to be mentioned here!
Pains aux chocolats is not correct because it is pains with chocolate inside. Un pain au chocolat, des pains au chocolat. Maybe should I write almond croissants instead of almonds croissants, it's because we say croissants aux amandes (not one almond only)