Greetings from a newcomer.

I will be in the UK for 5 weeks from mid-September. I will be spending the beginning of the trip in Oxford and the end of the trip in Rye, but the middle is largely unplanned. I want to spend some of it in London, especially for the British Museum and the V&A.

Some friends of mine were there recently and gave me the name of their hotel near King's Cross, which they found very acceptable. However, I've been told that since London is so expensive I could save money by staying somewhere outside of London and commuting in by train (though not at peak hours). So, two questions:

1) Is it true that I could save significantly on accommodation costs by staying near, but not in, London?

2) If yes, then where would be a good place to stay, preferably within, say, a half hour commute?

Many thanks.

Some observations to encourage others who might have solved this problem to think of something helpful.

A half-hour commute from central London is almost always still central London.

There are a few places - like Watford, St Albans, or Welwyn Garden City - with fast, 30 min, trains into London: and to the north (like these three towns)the train actually gets into one of the three mainline stations that abut the British Library. But there's no equivalent for the V+A, so you've got a 25 min journey to the V+A (or almost anywhere else) - plus however long it might take you to get from your St Albans hotel to the railway station.

These are not towns that have nice hotels over the station (though they have OK, not cheap, plastic chain places on their outskirts, close to the road system).

But a 30-mile train commute isn't cheap: £11 a day plus tube plus local fares before 0915 from Welwyn, £8++ after.

Wouldn't a flat be a cheaper way of solving the problem?. Rush hours, BTW (ie the period in which it's virtually impossible to get a seat), are inbound 0500-0930 or later and outbound from 1630 till 2000.

It's be almost as easy to stay in Oxford. And there's not that much in the BL that's not in the Bod.

I would not do this. I'd rather stay in a central London location and stay in a hostel.

However, on my recent trip we did have one night at the Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel, which I obtained for a Priceline bid of $40 US + taxes and fees. This was because we had an early flight out the next morning (after arriving at Heathrow the afternoon before). I still wanted to make best use of the afternoon and evening I had and visit central London. In fact, I found it quite convenient to get from that hotel into central London. At Heathrow Airport where I arrived, I went to buy a Zone 1-6 TravelCard in the tube area, which costs 5.10 pounds. I then took the city bus to the hotel (which is actually a free trip, but I knew I'd need the TravelCard for our trips later in the day). After settling in the hotel, we then took the city bus to the nearest tube station, which was Hounslow West. We then hopped on the Piccadilly line for the trip into central London, walked around Charing Cross and Soho, bought the theatre tickets, saw a musical, and returned to the hotel again, arriving just before midnight. This commute takes less than an hour, but it would still be a nuisance to do every day.

On the return part of my trip, I had two nights in London, which I spent in South Kensington at a hotel near the Piccadilly/Circle/District lines. I found it convenient to go to a play in Richmond, which is on the District line in Zone 4. I noted that Richmond seemed to be quite a nice little town and I wouldn't terribly mind staying there. The commute would not take that long. I don't know if they have any cheap lodging options, though.

Here are 2 nice B&Bs to consider (both only 15 mins tube ride to center):

http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/hotels/melrose.html

http://www.ossianguesthouse.co.uk/

Thanks one and all.

Indeed, the cost in both time and transport seemed the most likely trade-off for cheaper accommodation. It's not clear that I would be that much further ahead.

The B&B's both look promising. Have you stayed at either of them, FromAtlanta?

I agree - half an hour commute and you are still well within London. if it isn't a lot cheaper, I'd stay right in central London.

however, there is a really nice B&B on Hampstead Heath called Iolanthe, I have stayed there 3-4 times, it is lovely, and the last time I stayed a double room, en suite, was 35 pounds.

that B&B is a half an hour or so commute from the main bits of London you will want to see as a tourist. that doesn't include the mile or so walk through the Heath either (which is quite lovely)

Hampstead Heath is not outside of London it is a couple of miles from the centre - this area is very much London, having the NW3 postcode.

Staying far outside London i.e. when the address no longer contains London, can be a false economy, once you have paid for communting in everyday you may have only save a few GBP. Furthermore, what price can you put on not having to wake up early and cram into packed trains, and not missing the last train in the evening?

The B&B I stay at gives me a 45% savings over what I used to pay in Central London. It is a 20 min tube ride to Central London. I love coming back to total peace and quiet. I stayed in Central London on my first 5 visits there. Never again.

correct - Hampstead Heath is north London. However, it is still roughly half an hour to get into say, Charing Cross. thus you see that you are still within London for only half an hour's commute.

Driving you can be there in twenty minutes, La Gaffe (where the perma-white-suited MP Martin Bell dines) is a little B&B with an excellent restaurant below, however, I have no idea if it is particular cheap, always seems popular though!

sllo1,

A friend of mine stayed at the Melrose.(she stayed in room 2 and so will I) - I found out about Ossian from another message board. I will be staying at both of these when I go in May. (I wanted 2 - 1 North, 1 South) As far as the Ossian, I don't think you can get a better room (with a jacuzzi tub) for only 50GPB a night!!

Both of those properties are in areas that are not considered desirable from a residential (thus tourist) perspective. SE20 is in the middle of nowhere as far as the tourist is concerned, and Crouch End, N8 has nothing of any real interest.

These properties are suitable for the London veteran who can skilfully navigate the tube and bus networks. The tube only operates until around midnight - what do you do if you are out late - do you know what nightbuses to take if you aren't going to use a taxi (should you be lucky enough to get one to go south of the river)?

m_kingdom2

You are always the optimist.

For some reason, I always think of you as one of those old guys that sat in the balcony of The Muppet Show. (thank you for making me laugh ... I mean that sincerely. I enjoy your posts.)

Anyway, those 2 B&Bs are perfect for "me". (and maybe a few others because they have been recommended after all) I am a seasoned tube traveler by now, and I am sure I can ask what bus to take if need be.(I am after all, a big girl) I have spent hours looking at others - and I keep coming back to those 2.

That's just me though. - I know what I like and what I am looking for. ... If it isn't right for someone else, that is ok. (They aren't paying me a commission! ) That is the reason why there is a message board, so people can get a range of opinions. (I always try to let people know that it is just my opinion)

Differences are the spice of life.

For some reason, I always think of you as one of those old guys who sat in the balcony of the Muppet Show.

FromAtlanta - my favorite part of the Muppet Show! Those guys were great!

I would suggest using Priceline.com. I would not pay $40 per night for a dorm/hostel/or B&B. I would stay in a central location to save time.

I placed a bid in London for December 2004 for a four star hotel. I landed the Holiday Inn Forum for only $72 per night. I am sure you can land a 1, 2, or 3 star for much less. Check out wwww.biddingfortravel.com to view bidding strategies.

However, if you are not comfortable with Priceline.com, check out the Docklands. I was going to stay at a Holiday Inn there for only 35 GBP per night (included breakfast). It looks like you can get into London in less than 30 minutes.

The Rembrandt just X from V&A was great on 8 - 10 July, but a bit more expensive. It's very quiet and near the SK tube.
M

As so often happens, there's a hint of a solution by listening to MK2's advice, then doing the opposite.

Crouch End (actually, we'd call it Finsbury Park, though I can understand why the Ossian doesn't) and SE20 are not residentially "desirable" only in the sense that gullible idiots don't say "what an impressive address". Millions of people live lives that appear to be just as content as the population of Mayfair or Chelsea in this enormous band of suburbia round central London.

These areas are safe,leafy and sometimes handy for the tube (though the Ossian really isn't as handy either for the tube or for the restaurants of Crouch End as it implies on its website).

We wouldn't call necessarily them 'outside London'(the Ossian was a perfectly doable walk from the centre in the days before night buses if you couldn't afford what even a couple of decades ago were extortionate cab fares late at night). You might get a better selection of Ossian-like places by posting another question using a phrase like "B+B in London suburbs"

flanneruk,
So you have stayed at the Ossian? (or know all about it) ... That is great!

I have never stayed there, so I am by know means an expert - I have just been doing a lot of research on B&Bs and wanted to share.

I was looking specifically for a B&B that is in a residential area (I am an "old sole" at heart and don't require a lot of glamour) Crouch End sounded perfect... and an email to the host and comments from other message boards made me think it was a good choice.

BUT now you have me a little worried. Just how far of a walk to the tube are we talking? (I was under the impression it was less than 5 mins walk) Are the restaurants pretty far too?

I have plenty of time! - This is exactly why I like to start planning early. - I'm weird because I always like to stay somewhere new every time I go.(It just seems more exciting and adventurous)- The downside of that is having to spend a lot of time researching B&Bs each and every time I travel.

It is a shame though if I have to replace the Ossian. It looks drop dead gorgeous for the price, and my aching body already has its heart set on the jacuzzi tub LOL!

I stay in hotels in London only under very odd circumstances. Mrs F not quite seeing things my way. Conferences where everyone else is staying, post-dinner schmoozing goes on till 3am, and I'm presenting at 8.30. That sort of thing.

But the Ossian is round the corner from where I first lived in London, a century or so ago. I'd say it was at least three-quarters of a mile to FP tube, and 1000 yards (partly uphill) to Crouch End Broadway, which is where most restaurants are concentrated. Pleasant enough walks - nice and leafy - but a nuisance if it's raining. Maybe I was just more feckless in those days.

Go to www.multimap.com (NOT the address on the site) and input N4 4EA. Zoom about to judge for yourself.

Not all restaurants are a schlep away. Chez Liline, a lot closer on Stroud Green Road, used in fairly recent memory to be about the best fish restaurant in London. Mauritian, and worth travelling to from miles away.

Leafy, green, lovely places to stay would include
Richmond
Chiswick (both by the river)
Ealing
You can get into town quickly + see how 'real people' live . . . . after living/working in London for 12 years, I don't know anyone who lives in W1 (way too expensive). Great B&Bs and some small hotels out west, too.

When my parents came to stay, it was down to Richmond . . . they loved it. If it's good enough for Mick Jagger, well . . .

Please don't stay in Kings X unless you want a miserable, Dickensian gritty London 'experience.'
HTH!!!