London - what should we go to see and do?

Jo4

googler wrote: »

Try a TripAdvisor search for 'hotels with free parking' in London. I just did, and the cheapest are way out of the centre, and seem to be lacking good reviews ....

If we were 2 or 3 miles out of London how long would it take to get into London. What times do the buses stop at night?

googler

Night buses run on many routes

https://www.tfl.gov.uk for info on all forms of transport around the city, incl timetables, maps, etc

browneyedbazzi

Jo4 wrote: »

If we were 2 or 3 miles out of London how long would it take to get into London. What times do the buses stop at night?

Distance is largely irrelevant in london - the thing to consider is the access to a good, direct link into the city. I live at the edge of zone 6 (quite far out) and can get a direct train into the city that takes 25 minutes....15 minutes quicker than it used to take from a previous place in zone 3!

Jo4

Would there be any point in staying some where like Dartford and travelling in and out every day? Hotel would be cheaper, no problem with congestion charges or having to know where we are going?!?

browneyedbazzi

I don't know dartford but when I go abroad I often stay outside the city centres and use public transport to get in and out. It often works out much cheaper and so long as the transport links are good it doesn't really impact on my enjoyment of the trip.

If you really need to have a vehicle with you then staying further out and getting the train/tube in is probably a good option because you won't find a reasonably priced hotel with parking that's walking distance to main attractions anyway.

good_advice

Hiya, I get a travel card into London. Train and underground pass combined. I live about an hours train ride away.

My house guests often want to see the sights.
I start with Buckingham Palace for changing of the guard at 11am. Then picnic lunch by the Themes. Point out big Ben and the houses of parliament and then on to tower bridge and tower of London.
Sometimes do Hamleys.
The big wheel is about £20 each.

Have also had a London day pass card and do other attractions like the sealife centre.
A thames river boat is also nice.
British museum.
Covent Garden
Trafalgar square.

Lots to see. Bring plenty of water to drink and walking shoes.
I use my safe bag with lock as there are also plenty of pick pockets.

Have a great time, you will find it tiring due to plenty of walking.

Jo4

good_advice wrote: »

Hiya, I get a travel card into London. Train and underground pass combined. I live about an hours train ride away.

My house guests often want to see the sights.
I start with Buckingham Palace for changing of the guard at 11am. Then picnic lunch by the Themes. Point out big Ben and the houses of parliament and then on to tower bridge and tower of London.
Sometimes do Hamleys.
The big wheel is about £20 each.

Have also had a London day pass card and do other attractions like the sealife centre.
A thames river boat is also nice.
British museum.
Covent Garden
Trafalgar square.

Lots to see. Bring plenty of water to drink and walking shoes.
I use my safe bag with lock as there are also plenty of pick pockets.

Have a great time, you will find it tiring due to plenty of walking.

That is great, thanks! We love walks and now that I am on my pump I can click a button and reduce my bolus. :j

begley

I've just googled - the Excel Travelodge is 49 quid a night for those dates. We always stay there when we go to London. Big free car park and a 2 minute walk to the DLR - you can be in central London in about half an hour. Nice, new and clean Travelodge, and you can have breakfast for an extra 7 quid each a night.

Jo4

begley wrote: »

I've just googled - the Excel Travelodge is 49 quid a night for those dates. We always stay there when we go to London. Big free car park and a 2 minute walk to the DLR - you can be in central London in about half an hour. Nice, new and clean Travelodge, and you can have breakfast for an extra 7 quid each a night.

Thanks! I looked the Travelodge website and seen the hotel you referred to. I noticed that although it states there is a car park it did not state how many parking spaces it had. Do you remember if it was a big car park, if the car park was always full or if drivers had difficulty getting parked?

I was trying to work out if we get of the showboat cruise at Westminister Pier - Victoria Embankment, by Westminister Bridge at 23:30 how we would get back to the Travelodge because apparently the trains stop at 00:30.

I was also trying to work out how much it would cost if we were to travel in and out from the Travelodge from Monday 2nd September to the early hours of Thursday 5th September. I think it would cost £10.60 daily for the peak price cap on an Oyster pay as you go card for zones 1 - 3. Which means £10.60 * 4 days (after midnight on Wednesday) = £42.40 x 2 (one card each) = £84.80 for the both of us. Am I correct?

Jo4

I have just read "7 day travel card costs £35.60" should we be getting two of these, total cost £71.20? What is the difference in a travel card and an Oyster card as they seem similar to me - of to do some more research?