london cheapo break

[crisgal]

is it possible to take a break in london without it costing the earth? We have 3 kids and are on a tight budget but we really would like to go if possible. Someone said to stay in a hotel on the outskirts and get the tube in daily, but I don't know which areas are on the outskirts!

We would like to go just after easter and stay for 2 or 3 nights and we're travelling from lancashire.

[dot.hawkes]

stay in University Halls during Spring Break

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

Dot's suggestion of university accommodation could be useful. I hope, however, that by 'spring break' she doesn't mean the half-term holidays because universities don't have holidays at this time!

Also, many university halls are only available during the summer. A couple of exceptions are Kings College (Tel: [phone] email: [email protected]) and the London School of Economics (Tel: [phone] email: [email protected]). Either of these might be able to provide you with accommodation during the second week of the Easter school holidays).

Need-a-hotel.com is also good for cheap accommodation but their own website isn't very user friendly. The best way to access their system is through Ryanair's site. (You don't have to be travelling with Ryanair):
http://www.ryanairhotels.com/
I've just put in some sample data. Booking into the London House hotel in Bayswater, for 3 nights, on Tuesday 18 April, with one twin room and one triple room would cost a total of �306 for bed and breakfast. (i.e. �20.40 per person, per night).

It's unlikely that there would be any rail special offers for those dates and flying (Blackpool to Stansted) would cost �245.70 (+ fares into London) for the 5 of you. So it looks as if you'll have to drive or take the coach for real economy.

[Buenchico]

If the children are all under 11, the best travel bargain within London would be for the 2 adults to each buy an Oystercard. This will cost �3 (initial fee) + 4x �4.40 daily fees each. (i.e. �41.20 in total). Under-11's travel free with an adult using an Oystercard (from 2nd April) so they won't have to pay anything. This will give unlimited off-peak travel throughout Zones 1 & 2 (which cover all the main tourist attractions) on both tube and buses for the 4 days of your visit.

I'll cease my ramblings for now but, if you decide to travel, just post again (stating the ages of your children) and I'll give you lots of suggestions for free and cheap things to do in London.

Chris

[dot.hawkes]

I meant reading week, but at the end of May the halls for the London University in Canterbury Gardens should be free and up for rent at about 25-30 per night.

[Buenchico]

Me again!
I've just remembered the Family Railcard! If one adult purchased a railcard, both adults would get 34% of the adult saver fare and each of the children would get 81% off the child saver fare (or travel free if they're under 5). The saver fare from Preston to London is, I think, around the �60 mark so, even including the cost of the Railcard (which gives further discounts for a whole year) the total cost of travel might only be around �120. Even so, of course, it would still be cheaper to drive, if that's possible.

Chris

[crisgal]

WOW BUENCHICO! Thanks for your amazing response! I feel like I've got my own personal travel agent! How come you know so much? Are you in the travel business?

You've certainly given us lots to think about. We would like to travel by train, i think, and the children are 2, 5 and 12. x

[spudqueen]

The university accommodation is a good idea - there's some well situated halls in Cartwright Gardens, only 5 or 10 minutes walk from Euston (useful if you're travelling by train from Lancashire) or you could try the Royal National Hotel which is in Russell Square, about 15 minutes walk from Euston, they do family rooms which may accommodate you all and aren't too badly priced. Make sure though that you specify that you want a full english breakfast or you end up with the continental.

[vehelpfulguy]

Try Holiday Inn Express. There are plenty in and around London and they are fairly cheap.

They also do family rooms and we have stayed in the same room as our 2 children. Not sure if they do a room that takes 2 parents and 3 kids though.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/925/en/home

[stoo_pid]

(2 parts)

Hi Crisgal

If you're quick you might be able to grab a bargain at Travelodge. They currently have rooms available at some of their London hotels for just �26 per night for the period you were thinking of going. Click here to search

They also have some rooms at �46 in some of the more central hotels. Click here to search.

You'll have to be quick tho!

It's also worth checking out Holiday Inn Express. Whilst they aren't normally all that cheap they very often have bargains (we've never paid more than �50 per night per room & you get all-you-can-eat breakfast included). Click here to search.

Once you're there you can do quite a lot without spending too much or even any money. Most, if not all, museums are free (although you might have to pay for special exhibitions). The Science Museum & Natural History Museum alone could keep you & your kids occupied for a couple of days. Click here for a bigger list.

/cont...

[stoo_pid]

...cont/

If you want to wear them out, most of the major attractions are within walking distance of each other. Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square & Covent Garden are all right next to each other. Victoria Embankment, St Pauls, the Millennium Bridge, the Tate Modern, the Oxo Tower, the South Bank, the London Eye & the Houses of Parliament / Big Ben are all along the river (although these are further spread out and with a 5-year old & a toddler you wouldn't want to tackle them all at once).

If you fancy taking in a few more sights use the London buses for a free sight-seeing tour (after all you'll already have your travel card). Click here for a map

Keeping everyone fed & watered needn't break the bank either. You can pick up a huge range of bargain-priced (but fresh, tasty & filling) sandwiches, salads, rolls etc from the numerous Benjys outlets around the centre. Click here for a map

Enjoy your trip!

[stoo_pid]

Sorry crisgal, looks like a couple of those searches have time limits. If those links don't work try this:

• For the Travelodge �26 offer click here


• leave the options as they are & click the 'Find a Saver Room' button


• enter London in the search box & click the 'Find a Saver Room' button


• Click on the 'City of London, Gtr London' option

• For Holiday Inn Express click here,


• enter London in the City/Town box on the left hand menu & click the 'Find Hotels' button.


• When the next screen comes up, narrow your search down by unticking everything in the left-hand menu except for 'Holiday Inn Express' & click the 'Modify Results' button

Also this link has some useful tips for free stuff to do in London http://www.londontourist.org/free.html

[dot.hawkes]

It was Cartwright Gardens I meant spudqueen! i have stayed there twice and they are realy secure, though basic. But they are central and handy for Euston as u say. I paid �25 for B&B there. i think I mix the name up with Canterbury Hall in Preston.

[puzzled54]

Try a family room at a youth hostel. They are good value and usually in good positions. We used one last year, can't remember which one, but I could look it up for you if you're interested.

[Buenchico]

(Multi-part post):

Hi Crisgal,
Thanks for your kind comments. No, I'm not a travel agent but I've taken loads of kids to London (both school trips and personal visits). I've also worked in the rail industry, helping customers with their travel plans for London. (I'm actually wondering whether Stoo_pid works for the London Tourist Board!).

First, the bad news. My suggestion that the Saver fare from Preston is around �60 was based upon looking in an old edition of the rail industry's National Fares Manual. 15 months ago, when my manual was valid, the fare was �56.80. I based my guess of a current fare upon this, making a reasonable allowance for inflation. I've just consulted the National Rail website, however, and the Saver fare quoted there is a massive �102.50 !! I suggest that you, if you live close to the West Coast Main Line, you should contact Virgin Trains to see what special offers they've got available. Their telesales number is 08457 222 333. If your nearest station is not actually on the West Coast Main Line, you might also try Northen Rail to see if they've got any offers available. Their telesales number is 0845 700 0125.

[Buenchico]

Moving on to some of the best things to do in London with kids:
Stoo_pid has, quite rightly, put the wonderful Science Museum near to the top of his list. Admission to the main museum is free and there are loads of interactive things to do, with buttons to be pushed, wheels tobe turned, etc. The Launch Pad is the main area for these activities but there are several others. See here:
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/education/families/hands on.asp

The IMAX cinema, at the Science Museum, isn't particularly cheap (typical prices are �7.50 for adults and �6 for kids for a 45 minute film) but the 3D films are really spectacular and kids always love them. If you're interested, it's best to book in advance. Full details of the films being shown, together with booking details are here:
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/imax/index.asp

The Natural History Museum is just around the corner from the Science Museum. It doesn't hold quite the same attraction for youngsters that the Science Museum does but it's still worth at least a brief visit. (Admission is free). The star attraction has to be the moving dinosaurs. (Just find the dinosaur gallery and head to the far end, bypassing some of the displays which your younger children will probably find boring).

[Buenchico]

Both the Science Museum and Natural History Museum are served by South Kensington underground station.

If the weather's good, a great place to go with the kids is Covent Garden Piazza to watch the street entertainers. (Be ready to push your youngsters forward when volunteers are called for!). It's free entertainment but it's only fair to contribute something when they pass the hat round at the end! (The nearest tube station is Covent Garden but it's also just a short walk from Charing Cross, Embankment and Leicester Square). Trafalgar Square is only a few minutes walk away. From there it's another short walk to Victoria Embankment from where you'll see the London Eye on the opposite side of the river (fun but expensive) and you'll have sights like Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament off to your right.

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace isn't a wildly exciting thing for many youngsters but most people would include it in a list of 'must-do' free activities when visiting London. Details are here:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/OutPut/Page378.asp
(The following tube stations are all about equidistant from Buckingham Palace: Victoria, St James' Park, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner).

[Buenchico]

Another free, fine weather activity for youngsters is the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground. It's in Kensington Gardens and close to both Bayswater and Queensway tube stations.

While it occurs to me, I'll mention a few things which you should get hold of as soon as you arrive in London. Any tube station can provide you with an underground map and most of them can also provide you with a central bus map. (Get the bus map even if you don't plan on using any buses. It's an excellent map of central London which shows the location of all the main tourist attractions. Armed with this, you won't need to buy any other map). Also, buy a copy of the best London weekly listings guide, Time Out. This gives information about most of the main tourist attractions, together with suggested children's activities.

Something which does cost money but all youngsters love is a river trip. To avoid the boredom which might set in on a long trip, I suggest the short trip from Tower Pier to Westminster Pier (or, of course, the other way round). You get to see lots of the main sights with a commentary. The timetable is here:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river/timetables.shtml#*********** *
(The river services have always given a discount of one third for London Travelcard holders. Now that these tickets are largely being replaced by Oyster cards I don't know if you can get the same discount but it would be worth asking when you buy your tickets).
The relevant tube stations, for either end of the journey, are Tower Hill and Westminster.

[Buenchico]

Just one last thought for now. (Another one for when the weather's good). If your travels take you near to Somerset House, it might just be worth walking through the Courtyard with the youngsters. If the fountains are turned on, it's great fun for children (and many adults) to try to run between the jets of water, that spurt upwards from the floor, without getting soaked! (Nearest tube station = Temple but it's not far to walk from the Covent Garden area).

Hoping that something here is of use to you. If you've got any further queries just post again.

Chris

[Buenchico]

Er . . . sorry about the duff link. The web address included a word ending in 't', followed by the word 'waterloo'. AB's editing system put them together and spotted a rude 4-letter word!

For the river service timetables, go here and click on 'Westminster � Waterloo � Tower - Greenwich'
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river/timetables.shtml

Chris

[crisgal]

wel, i can't thank you all enough for your help!!

We can travel on the virgin westcoast line - very quickly! - for �108 return, that's for all of us! Not bad eh?

Also, I've found quite a few options for cheap hotels, thanks to the various links you've all given me.

The free maps idea is a great tip too.

I appreciate the ideas for things to see and do -The science museum is one of the main reasons why we want to go to London!

I'm feeling much more confident now, that a budget break is possible in London, and that we're not going to end up in the caravan in Clitheroe again!!!