Family of 6 - cheap London accommodation?

p00hsticks

Cripes wrote: »

The other option is to stay well outside London on a good rail link - any suggestions?

What is the exact breakdown of ages of your children ? Some may count as adults for rail travel. My feeling is that the daily cost for six people to travel in to Central London daily will be pretty high and probably negate any accomodation saving, even if you restrict your travel to off-peak times.

Cripes

Thanks again for the suggestions.

We've boys 10 and 12, and girls 14 and 16.

flea72

p00hsticks wrote: »

Have you also ruled out McKneffs suggestions of Travelodges ? the London Central Waterloo one is currently showing at £37 a night for the period 14/07 to 23/08 - so if you could manage with two family rooms that would nearly be within your budget, (2 x £37 X 7 = £514)

And it's central - within a mile of most tourist sites - so transport costs shoudl be minimal once you're there.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/421/London-Central-Waterloo-hotel[/


To get family rooms at Waterloo in school hols, you needed to book a year in advance, but Liverpool street does hsve them still available and s showing at £38pn for 27/07-03/08. Ok that puts accommodation just over your budget without food or travel. There also isn't any parking so you would have to factor that cost in too.

However as I have said before, and based on OPs kids ages, eating out every day soon mounts up. Meal/drink is £5 at wetherspoons, so a reasonably cheap sit down meal, breakfast at TL would be £14 and a few snacks should do for lunch, so that's min £50 day on food. However if accommodation budget is £500 I doubt food budget would stretch to £350/wk, and although London is fairly compact, a travelcard does make it less tiring so that another £150 before 'fun' spending money

The dorm at crystal palace looks the best option for what the OP wants, as its the most functional for the money

susancs

Cripes wrote: »

Thanks again for the suggestions.

We've boys 10 and 12, and girls 14 and 16.

An off peak (purchase after 9.30am weekdays) zone1-2 travelcard to use on all buses, tubes and overground within the central area is £7 per adult, £3.40 for each of the children over ten years of age (or £2 per day if you have a family and friends railcard) so your fares will be £24.20 per day. Bus fares are £2.40 cash fare or £1.40 with the top up as you go oyster card (but you have to pay a deposit for the card) and the cap on oyster per day on buses is £4.40 . Children aged 11-15 (and 16-18 if in full time education) can travel free on buses with a child's photo zip card but it is a £10 fee for the card and this needs to be ordered online in advance. If staying in Crystal palace you will pay slightly more at £7.70 per day for a zone1-4 travelcard.

susancs

Just checked and for dates e.g. 21st July to 26th July two family rooms at the Southwark TL works out at £390. It is 2 mins from the tube station and a 10 minute walk to the embankment or Waterloo station for the London Eye, House of Parliament, Big Ben etc all by there. If you book breakfast on top it is £69.50 for the 5 mornings (so works out £2.31 each). Breakfast is good as it consists of scrambled eggs, beans, bacon, sausages, fruit, yoghurts, muffins, toast and spreads, tea, coffee and juice. There is a Sainsburys Express store near Waterloo (or a convenience store under the hotel) where you could pick up picnic items for lunch. If you have tesco vouchers you could convert these to restuarant deals for your evening meal.

flea72

susancs wrote: »

An off peak (purchase after 9.30am weekdays) zone1-2 travelcard to use on all buses, tubes and overground within the central area is £7 per adult, £3.40 for each of the children over ten years of age (or £2 per day if you have a family and friends railcard) so your fares will be £24.20 per day. Bus fares are £2.40 cash fare or £1.40 with the top up as you go oyster card (but you have to pay a deposit for the card) and the cap on oyster per day on buses is £4.40 . Children aged 11-15 (and 16-18 if in full time education) can travel free on buses with a child's photo zip card but it is a £10 fee for the card and this needs to be ordered online in advance. If staying in Crystal palace you will pay slightly more at £7.70 per day for a zone1-4 travelcard.

A 7 day, 2 zone tube ticket is £30 an adult, or £43 for 4 zone (if bought online you negate the need for oyster card) so works out cheaper than buying a daily.

You can get a weekly bus ticket for £19 but you need an oyster card to load this onto.

Over 15s only get free transport if they live in London. Live outside and kids need a zip card to pay half adult fare. Still works out cheaper than paying full fare, but does need planning in advance

Alye16

We did once stayed at TL Walton on thames, its five minutes walk from the station(approx 30 mins into Waterloo) and has free parking.We used our family rail card to get into London also we were able to get day travel card with a discount.Also close to Thorpe Park for a day out (look out for 2 4 1 vouchers.For cheap meals in London, lots of picnics in the parks (using Tesco,Sainsburys metros) For a cheaper meal in the restaurants look at pre theatre set meals.It keeps the price down and also allows you to budget.

joolsybools

House swap?