Weekend break in London(help needed)

rosy

We have done a few cheap short breaks in London now from Fife. I would always go by train ( don't know where you are in Fife but you can get on in Kirkcaldy or Inverkeithing and straight through to central London to Kings Cross - get an advance ticket as soon as they are available (usually about 3 months before -check the FirstScotrail website http://www.scotrail.co.uk/ , they are showing advance prices for beginning of April now - less than £20 single) . I have never managed to find any really cheap flights from Edinburgh, and in any case if you add on the cost and time of getting to and from the airport at both ends it's actually easier IMO by train. Also you could look at the bargain berths on the Caledonian sleeper but these seem to be fewer and further between than before ( used to get £19 fares from Kirkcaldy but now mostly £39 or £49 also you rarely get the chance to buy 4 tickets at one go).
If you go by train as well there are offers for 2 for 1 into various attractions http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/attraction-types/2for1london.aspx ( we did London Bridge and an art exhibition for half price like that last time we went).

Dov_2

Doozergirl i have to say many thanks--thats given me so much info, im very happy....and excited!
Sounds excellent, i am currently looking at Hilton website now and getting prices together--not that easy to navigate, dont think i clicked JAN SALE because it was over £120 pppn first time!! Im actually useless!!!

With regards to the flight--thats a fair price, although i think the others are happier to get the train down from Edinburgh now. So i wil try and find some prices somewhere on this interwebby thingy!! :rotfl:

Many thanks again and keep the advice and tips coming!

Dov

Dov_2

rosy wrote: »

We have done a few cheap short breaks in London now from Fife. I would always go by train ( don't know where you are in Fife but you can get on in Kirkcaldy or Inverkeithing and straight through to central London to Kings Cross - get an advance ticket as soon as they are available (usually about 3 months before -check the FirstScotrail website http://www.scotrail.co.uk/ , they are showing advance prices for beginning of April now - less than £20 single) . I have never managed to find any really cheap flights from Edinburgh, and in any case if you add on the cost and time of getting to and from the airport at both ends it's actually easier IMO by train. Also you could look at the bargain berths on the Caledonian sleeper but these seem to be fewer and further between than before ( used to get £19 fares from Kirkcaldy but now mostly £39 or £49 also you rarely get the chance to buy 4 tickets at one go).
If you go by train as well there are offers for 2 for 1 into various attractions http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/attraction-types/2for1london.aspx ( we did London Bridge and an art exhibition for half price like that last time we went).

Thanks Rosy--Im actually in Glenrothes, so thats cool, I will definately look at those tickets--may need some help to find them but i will try, but that sounds ace!! Preferrably as little stops as possible!

Many thanks
Dov

Doozergirl

Dov wrote: »

Doozergirl i have to say many thanks--thats given me so much info, im very happy....and excited!
Sounds excellent, i am currently looking at Hilton website now and getting prices together--not that easy to navigate, dont think i clicked JAN SALE because it was over £120 pppn first time!! Im actually useless!!!

If it doesn't show you the January sale price underneath the ordinary price then there is a little tab just above the list of prices which says something like 'offers and promotions' or similar. If you click that tab it will bring up the January Sale price.

Oldernotwiser

Dov wrote: »

Thanks 4 the reply--i dont think i will go for a travelodge--its my wifes birthday and its our 1st trip to london and would like a nice hotel, and basically something to remember.

Yeah got loads of time, just trying to gather ideas from people who actually have a clue--unlike myself!!

Thanks
Dov

Whilst I appreciate what you're saying, for city breaks you really don't spend much time in the hotel so location is the most important thing. I'd tend to spend less money on the hotel and more on dinner on her birthday, then you could afford to take her somewhere really memorable.

Dov_2

Doozergirl wrote: »

If it doesn't show you the January sale price underneath the ordinary price then there is a little tab just above the list of prices which says something like 'offers and promotions' or similar. If you click that tab it will bring up the January Sale price.

Just got prices for Metropole £79.50 prpn + £27.83 tax = £186.66
And the Green park was £92 prpn + tax

Going to consult our friends tonight and have a look for train prices--then decide what to do.

Many thanks again.
Dov

bylromarha

We're going to London in a fortnight for the weekend. Wanted somewhere nice ( and cheap!) and happy to be central as possible for the best price possible.

Decided to chance Priceline and got 4* Novotel St Pancras. Whilst the sights aren't all on the doorstep, it'll be easy to navigate around using the Tube. 2 nights, 2 adults total cost inc tax is £133 inc breakfast. As it's a special occasion for us too, I emailed asking for a room with a view, to which the reponse was that the request had been put on the reservation and that they will do everything they can to make it an enjoyable stay.

There's a good priceline guide on the main site if you fancy going this route. I figured that if I put minimum requirement as 4*, the hotel would probably be okay quality wise!

We're also planning 1 dinner at nice restaurant, so if anyone can recommend anything up to £40 ph we'd love to hear it. Toptable seems to have so many choices!

Dov_2

Thanks to everyone for their help, keep it coming if possible!

Ive just been on trying to get best prices for trains.
The best i could find for reasonable times were as follows.

EDI waverley - London Kings cross NO CHANGES
Fri 2nd Apr dep EDI- 6:00am----arr KC -10:40am £24.05 pp
Sun 4th dep KC- 10:25am ---arr EDI-15:03pm £32.95 pp

I actually want the following weekend but prices not available yet.

Is this a good deal and am i doing the eveything right to get the best deal without travelling all over the country and it taking 10hrs???

dov

chesky369

Dov - just remember one thing - London is a BIG BIG city. Don't try to do too much and get the most central location you can; you really don't want to waste too much time on the tube - it takes longer than you think. Go places by bus rather than tube whenever you can, as you see more. Tube is a bit quicker (not that much) but depressing. Pick half a dozen things you really really want to see or do and plot everything else around them.

susancs

For accomodation, I agree with a previous poster that you will spend so much time out in London that you will only really need somewhere to sleep in London and that has good transport links. I would save your money for meals out and extra like theatre shows etc, rather than pay for 4 star facilities you won't have the time to use.
www.premierinn.com if you click on Henry you can get a double room for 2 nights Fri 9/4 to Sun 10/4 for £138 with breakfast extra in total at Kensington(walking distance to museums and near Earls Court tube). Good reviews on tripadvisor.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d286746-r52844357-Premier_Inn_London_Kensington_Earls_Court-London_England.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

On the 2 for 1 Holiday inn link currently the 4 star St James Crowne Plaza is £68 per double room for 9/4 to 10/4 £67 per night, but you will pay a lot more for breakfast at a Crowne Plaza.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/925/en/c/1/content/dec/teaser/6c/1/en/lp/emea/twofor.html?rateCode=IDEX1
Reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d265539-r53036199-Crowne_Plaza_London_St_James-London_England.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT