Places to stay on the outskirts of London

Morninglight

Thanks all for the really helpful advice and suggestions. I'll look into the various options mentioned.

Greenface, there are a few of us and as it's last minute the trains aren't cheap which is one reason we are driving and as Susancs says, the hotels seem more expensive in the centre. Hopefully with the suggestions given we'll be able to get something suitable that we can travel in from.

Thanks everyone!

susancs

greenface wrote: »

Susan brilliant advice . needing your help soon . treating my DD and friend to a 2 night London break . I think central London as they get lost between the dining room and the kitchen with their plates . aged 18 & 17 . looking at train line / mega bus deals either train or bus .. For the first weekend in April from Liverpool area .

Greenface, honestly the tube system is really good and I have a 17 year old who is similar, but can get around all parts of London with her small tube map in her pocket.

We have family in Liverpool and it is so cheap to use megabus. Keep an eye on the site as cheap £1 fares go quickly when put on the site. It is slower than the train, but they will just put their ear phones on and as long as they have plenty of snacks the time will go quickly. I would book the hotel ASAP as that is usually the most expensive part. Just had a quick look and Travelodge seems to offer better rates than Premier Inn. Southwark is £76 for Sat 4 April £61 for the Sunday. It is literally a 2 min walk from the tube station, cross at traffic lights in front of station and straight on (you can go on googlemaps and show them the walk). also get them to download the google maps app to their phones and that will direct them anywhere if lost.

The Southwark TL is a fairly new one with a store next door to get snacks in. It also has a cafe so you could could book the buffet breakfast so they get a good start to the day. It is a 10 minute walk or one stop on the tube to Waterloo from there to the Thames River Embankment, where the London Eye, London Dungeons, Aquarium, Houses Of Parlimament, Big Ben and river boat that go to the Tower etc all are there . Waterloo has a Sainsburys metro that they could get a meal deal lunch from of a sandwich, drink and snack for about £3.

If arriving at Victoria on mega bus, they have a 5 min walk to the tube station and 10 minute tube journey to Southwark involving one change at westminster. All platforms are signposted and easy to follow. 5 mins of a direct tube journey from Southwark to Green Park to get to Buckingham Palace or change there onto the piccadilly line and it would under a minute tube journey from there to South Kensington for the Science, Natural History and Victoria and Albert Museums. Short walk from there to Kensington Gardens. Also a 5 minute journey from Green Park to Covent Garden if they want to see the street entertainers there and have a wander around theatreland or visit the M&M World at Leceister Square (teens love taking photos by the gaint M&M characters) and China Town or see a show. Camden Lock Market on a Sunday morning is very popular with that age and if they walk to Waterloo or get the train one stop from Southwark to Waterloo they can get the Northern line tube to Camden Town and the market is 5 mins walk from there...easy to find as lot of people heading that way. You can get a barge from the lock to London zoo or 10 minute walk.

As there is so much to see and do and I have just given some ideas, they should make a list of what they would like to do and use www.tfl.gov.uk to plan their journeys and times. Although not that cheap, I would probably use a tour bus first to see as much as possible and then decide on attractions they want to hop off and see in more detail.

If they have contacless bank cards they can use these for travel or if not just get an oyster card on arrival at the tube station (£5 deposit) and top up as required at the tube station. Also they can get a small tube maps to go in their pockets.

dacouch

There's a Sainsbury Metro opposite the Southwark Travel Lodge and Tesco now.

Incidently if you get off at Southwark Tube station and follow the street lights with the orange painted posts they will take you straight to the Travel Lodge

p00hsticks

greenface wrote: »

looking at train line / mega bus deals either train or bus .. For the first weekend in April from Liverpool area .

You do realise this is Easter weekend ? Note that you may find that there are engineering works / replacement bus services that weekend, and any cheap train tickets could be issued much later than the usual twelve weeks in advance while plans are finalised