London New Years Eve 2009

skybluearmyontour

I have a bunch of friends studying in Europe (from the States) and they're all going to London for New Years and it's fallen on me to organise it!

I have hardly any knowledge of London apart from I always want to go home when I'm there and it's expensive.

I have my train tickets down there (linked from MSE e-mail). £14 return from Coventry to London. Not bad at all.

What's transport like on New Years Eve? Does the tube still run? Am I better off getting an Oyster Card?

Does anyone know of any cheap but clean places to stay? Premier Inn have some at £39 but they are a bit far away (Edgware/Middlesex...is that far away?)

Has anyone been down there for New Years before? We'll be watching the fireworks on the eye at midnight obviously but from watching on TV they usually have singers and such. Are they all pretty much in the same area?

Any advice is greatly appreciated as I want them to have an awesome time.

Thanks.

susancs

Transport in London on tubes and night buses is usually free from about 11.45pm to 4.30am in previous years. A lot of the tubes run all night and there are a lot of night buses (even extra routes put on).

Oyster is the cheapest way of travel in London £3 refundable deposit and charges less for single fares, pluys caps at less than the daily off peak travelcard.

The New Years day parade is good usually in London and may be worth a visit.
http://www.londonparade.co.uk/

You may struggle to get reasonable cheap accomodation for New Years Eve, as a lot gets booked up well in advance. I did notice the Premier Inn at Hampsted was only £29 for New Years Eve, a couple of months ago. If still available this would be ideal as there is a hill nearby (One of the high points of London) where a lot of people go to view the fireworks. Also has transport via bus or tube to the Centre.

skybluearmyontour

Problem I seem to be having with the accommodation my friends are staying in is the minimum 3 night stay.

Thanks for the info about transport and the link to the parade. I've never even heard of that before!

I hope we get good weather!

Generali

Use the Aldgate East Travelodge. It's very central (near to Liverpool Street Station on the edge of The City) and still seems to have a room for £39 for the night of NYE.

If you fancy something a bit swisher, the Guoman next to Tower Bridge usually has rooms for about £100.

Edgeware is out in the middle of nowhere - it'll take forever to get back to on trains packed with drunks.

skybluearmyontour

£100 a night? Not unless I've pulled :-)

I'll check out TL in more detail. I've been looking at them as well as Premier Inn but it comes up with a whole bunch of places I've never heard of.

I've also e-mailed the place a couple of my friends are staying to see whether they could waive the 3 night stay policy. If you don't ask.....

v5076

I am also off to London for NYE. I managed to get 2 nights for the price of one at the Holiday Inn near St James Park which I (hope!) is quite central.

If you get an account with Walkers Crisps (think there is a post on this site for free extra points) then you can also get half price weekends with Holiday Inn.

Hope this helps!

V

cardiffforthefacup

There are currently rooms available at Devere venues for £29 a night for 1st,2nd, not sure of new years day. They have a wicked hotel at Greenwich for this rate if you are quick, there are also a couple of other hotels nearby; theobalds park and others which are in reach by train/underground.

skybluearmyontour

De Vere is £159 for NYE!

v5076...I actually looked at the Walkers Great Days Out thing as I have around 20 points with them (having previously spent some). I need the FA Cup draw to hurry up because if Coventry are in London on the 2nd then I may well be taking up the 2 for 1 offer!

Got an e-mail back from my friends hostel saying their minimum stay cannot be removed. Ah well. It was worth a try.

I'm currently favouring a hostel (do you know there are no 5* hotel rooms in London for £50...thanks priceline :-D) and I think I've found a decent chain. Got some good reviews... YHA Hostels. They have one actually in Holland Park and they have some more around Earls Court & St Pauls Cathedral. Nice looking buildings too. £26 a night. Haven't checked that Aldgate link yet though so will be looking at that for sure.

Thanks for your help guys.