London tube advice
 

We are thinking of staying in the Finchley Road area in London,which is convenient to the Underground (Jubilee Line). Is it feasible to think we can ride the tube during the rush hour? We are not afraid of crowds.

Why would it not be feasible?

"Is it feasible to think we can ride the tube during the rush hour? "

If millions of us do this every day without making a fuss, why would you have a problem?

I read a review that discouraged it, just wanted a different perspective. Thank you.

well it could be a bit uncomfortable, but you'll live...

Not recommended if you have luggage or if you don't want to get REALLY close to real London

I've been taking luggage on the tube at rush hour for the past 50 years. And still here to say it really isn't a tale worth telling.

Comfortable? Not really. But worth discouraging people from? Puhleez.

There are things worth worrying about in travel. Tens mins on a London (or NY or Tokyo) underground train - even in rush hour, even with bags - really aren't among them.

And any travel writer saying different has either got serious mobility problems or is short of whines to fill her space with.

I agree with flanner but why stay in Finchley when there are so many places nearer the center. It can't be cost because you can find closer places at fairly reasonable rates.

Agreed on both counts. Is there a particular reason other than budget you've chosen Finchley Road over a more central location? If not, if you share your budget and requirements (number of people, etc), people can recommend places to stay within your price range.

And regardless of where you stay, the Tube at rush hour is perfectly feasible, especially if you're adults with no mobility problems.

Note the Tube is not airconditioned. Even it doesn't get very hot in London, it gets humid. Summer evening rush hour in the Tube is one sweaty mass.

And do consider staying closer in. Priceline is supposed to be good for London.

London is a very large city - IMHO for tourists staying Central is worth staying in someplace slightly more modest- than trekking to and fro every day. (We prefer to be able to walk to at least some sights - rather than live on the tube - which will be packed at rush hour - not scary at all - just packed.)

In the past few weeks, I & another poster bought rooms on Priceline for a 3* London hotel that turned out to be the Holiday Inn at Earl's Court, which seems to be a fairly convenient location and was extremely reasonable. Would that location appeal to you? It's the West Kensington tube stop.

"<i>Would that location appeal to you? It's the West Kensington tube stop.</i>"

West Kensington tube station is 6 stops w/ a line change to Green park (sort of central, near Mayfair/Buckingham Palace/etc to give you a frame of reference). Finchely Rd is 5 stops w/o a change to Green Park. West Kensington is 7 stops w/o a transfer to Westminster. Finchley Rd is 6 stops to Westminster - w/o a change.

Neither location is really central - but neither is much better/worse than the other.

DadRob -- if you get a really good rate or its a really special property, staying near Finchley Rd would certainly be OK. But if it is just for budget reasons, there are good/budget properties in very close in neighborhoods.

I think that not doing the classic thing and staying as close to the centre as possible, is a nice way to go. Not everyone want to go to a city to knock off as many tourist cites as possible. Almost everyone who lives in London travels to where they want to go on buses and the underground every day...including to parties that are the other side of town and take over an hour on night buses to get home from; it's the way people live, and seeing that which is one reason that some people travel and take holidays. (I know not everyone, but everyone is different in what they want.)
Most of the central places that a lot of people here stay in are areas completely out of the reach of more than 95% of people living and working in London.

I agree patially with you alihutch. But this poster seems at least like a first time visitor. I personally stay at Imperial Wharf which is not that near the center but I know the transportation routes. Living in London and being a tourist for a few days differ greatly

if you don't want to get REALLY close to real London>>>

Finchley Rd IS real London - ie where real people live and work.

I wouldn't recommend it though, as it's a bit of a dormitory and there's not much there in terms of bars, restaurants (there are the usual chains in the O2 centre) etc - but there are good, useful, shops (there's a big supermarket) and a cinema (and I think a bowling alley.) There's a titty bar too. And the headquarters of Jews for Jesus (no idea what this is but I used to go past it on the way to my ex bird's who lives there).

ps The "West Kensington" Holiday Inn is in an equally dull area.

I'm trying the Hilton Kensington on Holland Park Road, Kensington. There are buses across the road that go into the centre of London and an underground station about 10 mins one side and another about 5 minutes the other way.
I'm a good walker, but it seems close enough to walk to Holland Park, the actual park,and Kensington Gardens.
a friend of mine stayed in one of the side streets nearby and said it is a lovely area and quite close to the city.
The tariff at the hotel seemed very cheap so I decided to book an 'executive' room, which is still cheap and comes with breakfast and access to the lounge which has nibbles and drinks in the afternoon. Look up their website for more details.

I'm trying the Hilton Kensington on Holland Park Road, Kensington.>>>

As I have stated we have realised that Yanks will buy anything with the word "Kensington" in it. This hotel isn't in Kensington (or Holland Park) it's in bloody Shepherds Bush.

Which is seriously cheeky.

Watch yourselves in the Bush. Really. It's bad. I worked there for a couple of years and by golly we were busy.

If you've booked don't panic. It's not Detroit, but it's a bit on the challenging side. Bring your gun.

Sightseeing isn't the same as working, where you make one trip in the morning and another home in the evening.

After a long day sightseeing, you go back to your hotel to rest. It's nice to have a choice of restaurants nearby without having to make another trip into town and then back out again.

Likewise, especially if you're traveling with children, it's nice to be able to drop back to your hotel (or flat) for a rest during the day.

All this is why a relatively central location is desireable for tourists. But it sounds like Finchley Road isn't too too far out.

See, I feel a little differently which doesn't make me right and anybody else wrong.

London is very large so that most likely you cannot stay in one locaton that fits all...you may be near say Parliament, the London Eye, the National Theatre but Convent Garden while not terribly terribly far and not particularly unwalkable is about what a 45 minute walk or something like that. That means you will be using public transxportation except for a few close in things. That being said, what real difference does it make once you get on the tube if you're on it for three stops, four stops or six stops or whatever. The only thing is that the hotel be close to a tube station and/or one of the major bus lines and you'll be fine. Oftentimes when I'm in London I might leave my hotel at 0900 not to return till after a show at 2230...tuber service is still reliable enough even at that time so what's the big deal.

But then again, that's me and I respect anybody who feels differently.