which London airport, hotel suggestions please?

wattywattwatt

Thinking of booking a short city break later in the year and don't know what is the most convenient airport for getting to the city centre, hopefully some of you regular travellers will be able to advise. Not sure yet where we will stay, but hopefully pretty central. We had a great break in London last year (Omega travel) which had rail travel from Glasgow included, unfortunately the same break does not seem to be available this year for September/October so it looks as though we'll have to arrange it ourselves. I would prefer to go by train (no ridiculous luggage restrictions) but the fares are outrageous in comparison to budget airlines or, even better, using up some of my airmiles stash! If anyone has any hotel suggestions I would be grateful for those too, looking for somewere central and not too expensive but not cheap and nasty either, maybe around £100 per night for a double room. Thanks in advance!

dzug1

You are too early for cheap rail fares - they are only released 12 weeks (and often less) before the travel date.

Mark_Hewitt

wattywattwatt wrote: »

Thinking of booking a short city break later in the year and don't know what is the most convenient airport for getting to the city centre, hopefully some of you regular travellers will be able to advise. Not sure yet where we will stay, but hopefully pretty central. We had a great break in London last year (Omega travel) which had rail travel from Glasgow included, unfortunately the same break does not seem to be available this year for September/October so it looks as though we'll have to arrange it ourselves. I would prefer to go by train (no ridiculous luggage restrictions) but the fares are outrageous in comparison to budget airlines or, even better, using up some of my airmiles stash! If anyone has any hotel suggestions I would be grateful for those too, looking for somewere central and not too expensive but not cheap and nasty either, maybe around £100 per night for a double room. Thanks in advance!

We stayed in Soutwark Travelodge and it was £55 per night. Basic, as you'd expect a travelodge to be, but modern and clean. 10 mins walk from Waterloo station.

minerva_windsong

If you go to the Trainline website they have a function where you can request to be emailed in advance of the cheap tickets coming out (12 weeks before) - go to Gadgets and Tools in the top right hand corner of the homepage. Sadly Glasgow to London doesn't seem to be on there, but if you go for something on that route such as Preston to London it should give you the same answer.

wattywattwatt

In reply to dzug1, I tried putting in dates at the end of August, beginning of September (the latest dates the website would accept) on a couple of the train tickets websites and the lowest fares I could get were around the £100 per person mark. I can get Easyjet flights for the same dates for just over £50 return, have to add on for luggage but still considerably cheaper than the train. Thanks anyway!
Thanks Minerva_windsong, will try that tip and see if anything better comes up, failing that it's airmiles or easyjet! I do prefer the train, though, just not enough to warrant paying a lot extra for it.
Thanks also to Mark, will have a look at the travelodge.

KeithP

wattywattwatt wrote: »

I tried putting in dates at the end of August, beginning of September (the latest dates the website would accept) on a couple of the train tickets websites and the lowest fares I could get were around the £100 per person mark.

Virgin cheap tickets have not been released beyond 26 august yet.

See this National Rail webpage for fuller details.

Try using some sample dates in mid august to get an idea of what may become available.

wattywattwatt

Thanks KeithP, tried with earlier dates on Virgin, cheapest I could get was about £90 per person return which seems a bit more reasonable. Last time we went we were in first class and I noticed a few people just came in and paid to upgrade and it seemed to be a bit cheaper than paying upfront for first class so might try this.

minerva_windsong

First Class upgrade is only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and costs £15 per person per way. I personally used to be a bit unsure about it because I thought for what you got it was a bit of a rip-off, but then got bumped up to a First Class seat (no free brews though and didn't check out the wi-fi) when my train was overcrowded one day and decided it was worth it.

Oh, and it sounds obvious, but don't book your tickets through The Trainline or Raileasy unless you want to get whacked with a booking fee. Better to go direct through the train company's website.

wattywattwatt

minerva_windsong wrote: »

First Class upgrade is only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and costs £15 per person per way. I personally used to be a bit unsure about it because I thought for what you got it was a bit of a rip-off, but then got bumped up to a First Class seat (no free brews though and didn't check out the wi-fi) when my train was overcrowded one day and decided it was worth it.

Oh, and it sounds obvious, but don't book your tickets through The Trainline or Raileasy unless you want to get whacked with a booking fee. Better to go direct through the train company's website.

Thanks for the advice, didn't know the upgrades only worked at weekends but I think that's when we'll be travelling so it will suit us just fine. To be honest the first class tickets we had last time were a bit of a let down, thought we might even have got a sandwich but were only offered tea, coffee, water or a mini tin of virgin cola and crisps and biscuits. Still felt it was worth it for the bigger seats and the wi-fi though, but it still didn't stop the drunks invading the carriage on the way back at Preston, thankfully they got off at Carlisle!