London - what should we go to see and do?

Jo4

Jo4 wrote: »

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?

I am just after reading this "With pay as you go credit, you can travel as many times as you like in a day (from 0430 and before 0430 the next day) and you’ll never pay more than the cost of an equivalent Day Travelcard*."

Jo4

Jo4 wrote: »

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?

Apparently with an Oyster card you can add Travel cards if they are for longer than a day according to here.

Jo4

This is where I was getting the prices for travel from.

Jo4

begley wrote: »

Nice, new and clean Travelodge, and you can have breakfast for an extra 7 quid each a night.

I wonder how new this hotel is because I noticed the following on their website

"Important information

This hotel will be undergoing a makeover from 26th July 2013 to 28th August 2013. During the makeover we will keep any disruption and inconvenience to a minimum.".

At least if we were to stay here the makeover would be complete!! :j

debtbustingdeb

comfort inn harrow is very reasonable with free parking if you don't mind the tube ride in. Stayed there when i wanted somewhere close to wembley but dosen't take too long to get to central london.
booking.com is where i usually look
hope this helps
driving to london soon for a day out but plan on parking at west hounslow (£4.50/day) and then getting the tube in.

Jo4

With pick pockets in mind would a cross body bag be best? Anyone seen any nice ones recently?

susancs

Jo4 wrote: »

With pick pockets in mind would a cross body bag be best? Anyone seen any nice ones recently?

You don't need to get a special bag, just keep your zip if you have one on a bag to the front of you rather than behind and keep your bag close to the front of you if on packed tubes or buses.

Jo4

susancs wrote: »

You don't need to get a special bag, just keep your zip if you have one on a bag to the front of you rather than behind and keep your bag close to the front of you if on packed tubes or buses.

Most of my bags are quite big too so I thought a smaller one might be better as I am one of those people who tries to carry the kitchen sink with me where ever I go. :eek:

susancs

If you want a cheap and basic London outskirts hotel them the Travelodge at Cricklewood (London NW2) £41 for 2/9, £62 for 3/9, £52 4/9 and £38 5/4 for a double room. Add the nights to your basket one at a time and then checkout because if you block book it charges the most expensive rate for all nights on the TL system. It seems to have chargeable parking and is outside the congestion zone. Cricklewood train station which is a few minutes walk away takes about 10 minutes into St Pancras. You have Kilburn tube station which is about a 20 minute walk away or a 5 minute bus journey. The jubillee train from there goes to Westminster direct and takes 15 minutes. There is the N16 night bus that runs to a stop across the road from the TL. You could get the 148 night bus from Parliament square near Westminster to Marble Arch to pick up the N16. You can use Oyster or a Travelcard on the night buses. The daytime no 16 bus runs from in front of the hotel to Marble Arch/Oxford Street.
http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/N016.htm

I would go on www.tfl.gov.uk journey planner to plan your trips for each of your days so you are not going backwards and forwards across London. Cricklwood is in zone 3 so if you got an Oyster card each (£5 deposit and top up as required) the Oyster would cap off peak (travel aft 9.30am) at £7.70 per day per person or if you want to use a Travelcard (purchse aft 9.30am from the Cricklewood rail station as it will have the British Rail logo on it that will make it eligible for the 2for 1 entry london offers, Kilburn tube will only have the London underground logo on it) for unlimited daily travel in zones 1-3 it would be £8 . Oyster card cannot be used for the 2for 1 offers.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

It seems as if your river trip is at night and if so you could drive and park up as the congestion charge ceases at 6pm at night and does not start until 7am. It is about a 7-8 mile trip To Westminster from Cricklewood which outside of the rush hour at night is not a bad journey but you are probably lookin at £5 an hour parking charges in the Qpark at Westminster but would be cheaper than the approx taxi fare of £35. Parking at St Thomas Hospital which is about 5 mins walk away from Westminster Pier at night would be cheaper if you could get a space as it is £1.50 an hour.

susancs

Jo4 wrote: »

Most of my bags are quite big too so I thought a smaller one might be better as I am one of those people who tries to carry the kitchen sink with me where ever I go. :eek:

Lol, I am like that and find it handy and no problems using it everyday in London. I like it for my bottle of water as it gets so hot this weather on the tubes.