Advice please

judy2357

cinderfella wrote: »

Forget the hassle of London driving.
Just looked at National Express coaches.
Come up to London from Plymouth for £10.50 each say 25th. Stay at Travelodge
Go back on 26th. Lookat the cheap fares section

Google it (my connection is slow tonite)

Can you please recommend a Travel Lodge or Premier Inn near to Barts. The Farringdon one seems to be booked up, but dont really know which other hotels are situated between Victoria Station and Barts. TIA

Mk14:37

The Travelodge website has a map of the Travelodges in the area - London City Road is the closest and has availability at £52.95 and £69.90.
Covent Garden is also close enough at £69.90 - they have availability but not very much.

Mk14:37

Premier Inn in central London comes up at £250 for the two rooms.

judy2357

Am going to sleep on it and discuss tomorrow, many thanks for advice everyone, cant believe how helpful people are on here, goodnight

MzFitz

Closest accommodation that I'm aware of is Citadines Barbican. St Barts is a short walk from Barbican and Farringdon, both of which are on the Metropolitan / District and Circle line direct from Kings Cross (one stop from Kings Cross to Farringdon).

I think the best thing would be to talk through what travel option works best for you - train, coach or car. I get horribly travel sick on coaches (journey from Liverpool to London I won't forget ever - neither will the unlucky lady next to me). You say your father is elderly - I don't know if he is having treatment that might rule out coach travel ....

Driving up, staying on the outskirts overnight and travelling in on public transport would be the most relaxing, in my opinion. No worries about driving through London, finding somewhere to park - and keeping the meter topped up/having to move your car if appointments run over, the long journey to London and back again in a day (which I really wouldn't recommend).

Coach travel to Victoria - staying somewhere Central and getting to the appointment from there - would be my next suggestion for ease. There are lots of places you could consider staying.

As said previously, driving up and back in a day - unless all four of you are taking turns in driving - could be really stressful.

susancs

If you are driving from Cornwall via the M4 you could park at Hounslow West tube for £4.50 a day and as it has a large car park you should get a space (unlike some smaller tube car parks). Then it is an easy journey on the tube tube from there direct to Kings Cross and then change there onto the metropolitan or district line for the 2 stops to The Barbican (travel time about 1 hour) and St Barts is 5 mins walk from there .

The easiest way to use the tube would be to purchase a zones 1-5 off peak Travel card (purchase after 9.30am from the ticket office to get off peak rates) for £8 per adult to use the tube. An oyster card would give cheaper fares as it would cost £5.40 return to The Barbican but then you have to pay £5 deposit for the card and claim that and any credit back so a bit of a hassle.

On the way back after collecting your car, you could look at breaking up your long journey home by staying at Wokefield Park Hotel in Reading which is off the M4 (40 minutes drive from the tube station) on Friday as the hotel has rooms that sleep 2 adults for £29 per room. This would save travelling during the bank holiday Friday night traffic on the motorway. If you drove into London on Friday morning you would have the traffic jams, congestion charge and parking fees to contend with so in my opinion it is easier to park up and use the tube.
Hotel link
http://booking.devere.co.uk/booking/search/grid/23/8/2011

Tube car park link postcode TW3 3DH
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/tubestationcarparks/default.aspx

paddyrg

Trains start as low as £21.50 each way if you book advance singles - firstgreatwestern.co.uk

judy2357

Hi everyone, would really like to thank you all for your replies. We are going to take your advice and drive up to Wembley the day before. Have booked into the Premier Inn there (2 rooms costing £98 although we have booked dinner and breakfast too for £22 each), which looks very nice. My father wishes to get a taxi to Barts as he feels he cant really manage the tube, he isnt too good at walking and going up and down steps etc as he suffers from macular degeneration.

Depending on the outcome of the consultation we may need to return to London in the future so if this doesnt work out too well, we will try the train or National Express next time. Many thanks once again - Judy

susancs

judy2357 wrote: »

Hi everyone, would really like to thank you all for your replies. We are going to take your advice and drive up to Wembley the day before. Have booked into the Premier Inn there (2 rooms costing £98 although we have booked dinner and breakfast too for £22 each), which looks very nice. My father wishes to get a taxi to Barts as he feels he cant really manage the tube, he isnt too good at walking and going up and down steps etc as he suffers from macular degeneration.

Depending on the outcome of the consultation we may need to return to London in the future so if this doesnt work out too well, we will try the train or National Express next time. Many thanks once again - Judy

I wish your father all the best for his hospital appointment.

Wembley is on the outskirts of London and some 10 miles/1 hours drive from St Barts and would cost you about £36.80 each way in a taxi according to taxi meter so you may want to consider driving to there from Wembley as even with parking and congestion charges you would not pay this.
http://www.worldtaximeter.com/ ha98hq to ec1a7be

judy2357

susancs wrote: »

I wish your father all the best for his hospital appointment.

Wembley is on the outskirts of London and some 10 miles/1 hours drive from St Barts and would cost you about £36.80 each way in a taxi according to taxi meter so you may want to consider driving to there from Wembley as even with parking and congestion charges you would not pay this.
http://www.worldtaximeter.com/ ha98hq to ec1a7be

Thanks susancs. When we get there we will make some enquiries, maybe ask at reception about the tube or may even take a drive in further, Dad would be prepared to pay the taxi but if I can save him a bit without too much hassle I will. Thanks a lot Judy