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Our Greater London Megathread

12467…58

Comments

  • #152
    overthebridge
    Registered Users Posts: 532 ✭✭✭overthebridge


    overthebridge wrote: »
    I'm going to london in mid october and am going to go on the london eye.
    I looked up the website and it gave me an option of buying a normal ticket or a fast track ticket - which avoids the queue. normal ticket is 17.50 and fast track is 24.50
    Has anyone any experience of this, is it worth my while paying for fast track or are the queues manageable ?


    Hi,

    Anyone got advice on the above ?


  • #153
    claralara
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,663 ✭✭✭claralara


    Is it relatively common and or easy to take a day trip to Thorpe Park when in London? Going for 4 full days and want to have an action packed itinerary. Have never been before and want to do all the touristy things but also want to cater for the thrill seeker part of us that's going!


  • #154
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    there is a shuttle bus from Staines Station to Thorpe park and there are about 5 trains per hour to staines from Waterloo (journey is about 35 minutes) so it can be easily done.


  • #155
    Elphaba
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 273 ✭✭Elphaba


    Hi all,
    Myself and my mam and aunty are heading to London for a weekend in Dec. We'll be arriving in Stanstead at 9.25 on a Friday morning. I was just wondering what the best way is to get to the city centre? We're staying near enough to Liverpool St. I know there are loads of different options, just wondering if anyone here could recommend the best one?
    Thanks in advance


  • #156
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Elphaba wrote: »
    Hi all,
    Myself and my mam and aunty are heading to London for a weekend in Dec. We'll be arriving in Stanstead at 9.25 on a Friday morning. I was just wondering what the best way is to get to the city centre? We're staying near enough to Liverpool St. I know there are loads of different options, just wondering if anyone here could recommend the best one?
    Thanks in advance

    the stansted express is the easiest and quickest, but you can get a bus with easybus and a few others as well for 1/3 of the price but they take twice as long (off the top of my head, you are looking at 50 minutes for the train, 90 minutes for the bus.

    If you book online, the stansted express is £26.80 open return, i would go for that myself


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  • #157
    metrovelvet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,376 ✭✭✭metrovelvet


    Which is easier to get to Surrey, stanstead or luton?


  • #158
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    metrovelvet wrote: »
    Which is easier to get to Surrey, stanstead or luton?

    by train, about the same tbh, you will need to go into London and back out with both airports. If you are driving luton would be better, but Gatwick or Heathrow would be better still.


  • #159
    JuJuBean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 54 ✭✭JuJuBean


    Hi there
    Hope someone can help and that I've posted in the correct place.
    Going to London next month, and will be then flying on to Madrid. Can only fly to Madrid at a reasonable cost from Luton or Gatwick. Gatwick has better options in terms of not having to get up at ungodly hours.
    Can stay in Twickenham or Hammersmith. Can anyone advise which would be the most convenient place to stay and then fly from taking public transport into account?
    Like, should we stay in Hammersmith and fly from Luton? Or would either be better for Gatwick?
    Thanks in advance!


  • #160
    BuffyBot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,924 ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    Neither is ideal - but at Hammersmith you can get the District line to Victoria, and change there for trains to Gatwick.

    You could also get the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross/St Pancras and change for trains to Luton Airport Parkway.

    Neither is particularily ideal, and timewise Luton may be just a little longer, but there won't be much difference in overall journey time really.


  • #161
    JuJuBean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 54 ✭✭JuJuBean


    BuffyBot wrote: »
    Neither is ideal - but at Hammersmith you can get the District line to Victoria, and change there for trains to Gatwick.

    You could also get the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross/St Pancras and change for trains to Luton Airport Parkway.

    Neither is particularily ideal, and timewise Luton may be just a little longer, but there won't be much difference in overall journey time really.

    Thank you Buffybot
    I actually looked up the National rail site, and it said that it would take approx an hour to get from Twickenham to Gatwick including one change at Clapham Junction, so we'll go for that.


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  • #162
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    JuJuBean wrote: »
    Thank you Buffybot
    I actually looked up the National rail site, and it said that it would take approx an hour to get from Twickenham to Gatwick including one change at Clapham Junction, so we'll go for that.

    That's what I would do personally. One hour is quite generous and would be a nice easy journey. There are a lot of platforms at Clapham but it is quite an easy station to find your wat around.


  • #163
    Miskatonic
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37 ✭Miskatonic


    overthebridge wrote: »
    Hi,

    Anyone got advice on the above ?

    I would recommend paying extra for the fast track tickets. We went on it recently when we had vistors and had no complaints at all. Got there at the allocated time and were shown straight on.

    We went in the evening though so the queue wasn't too bad anyway, but any time I've been around there in the day there are hundreds of people in line.


  • #164
    metrovelvet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,376 ✭✭✭metrovelvet


    Is 40 minutes enough time to change for a connecting flight at Gatwick. Same airline.


  • #165
    McNuggy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭McNuggy


    Hi guys... heading over t london to do a bit of shopping on the 13th October.. getting the first flight over with ryanair that day so will get a full day of shopping, bitta sight seeing too in and staying in a hotel that night.
    Problem is that im not flying back to Dublin till the last flight back that night of the 14th at 10 o clock..
    so considering il hav a suitcase and hav a full day in london im just wondering does anyone know of any hotels that offer rooms to rent for a few hours during the day for after i check out of my hotel? iv heard of it before i just cannot rememebr for the life of me where i read it.. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions about what to do or even if anyone knows if yu pay a bit extra could there be a chance your hotel would let you stay on a few extra hours??

    thanks in advance


  • #166
    overthebridge
    Registered Users Posts: 532 ✭✭✭overthebridge


    Miskatonic wrote: »
    I would recommend paying extra for the fast track tickets. We went on it recently when we had vistors and had no complaints at all. Got there at the allocated time and were shown straight on.

    We went in the evening though so the queue wasn't too bad anyway, but any time I've been around there in the day there are hundreds of people in line.

    cheers for that - we decided to book a package with madame tussauds after all. We got entry to both (london eye + wax museum) for 35 sterling each. Which isn't so bad !


  • #167
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    McNuggy wrote: »
    Hi guys... heading over t london to do a bit of shopping on the 13th October.. getting the first flight over with ryanair that day so will get a full day of shopping, bitta sight seeing too in and staying in a hotel that night.
    Problem is that im not flying back to Dublin till the last flight back that night of the 14th at 10 o clock..
    so considering il hav a suitcase and hav a full day in london im just wondering does anyone know of any hotels that offer rooms to rent for a few hours during the day for after i check out of my hotel? iv heard of it before i just cannot rememebr for the life of me where i read it.. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions about what to do or even if anyone knows if yu pay a bit extra could there be a chance your hotel would let you stay on a few extra hours??

    thanks in advance

    The major stations in London all have a very secure left luggage facility so you could dump your suitcase at Liverpool Street or Victoria or which ever station you will be heading back through.

    most hotels will do a late check out service, but this usually gives you until about 2pm, if you want a room until 7pm or so you will probably have to book another night. However, the hotel itself might have a left luggage facility.


  • #168
    finbarrk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,478 ✭✭✭finbarrk


    McNuggy wrote: »
    Hi guys... heading over t london to do a bit of shopping on the 13th October.. getting the first flight over with ryanair that day so will get a full day of shopping, bitta sight seeing too in and staying in a hotel that night.
    Problem is that im not flying back to Dublin till the last flight back that night of the 14th at 10 o clock..
    so considering il hav a suitcase and hav a full day in london im just wondering does anyone know of any hotels that offer rooms to rent for a few hours during the day for after i check out of my hotel? iv heard of it before i just cannot rememebr for the life of me where i read it.. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions about what to do or even if anyone knows if yu pay a bit extra could there be a chance your hotel would let you stay on a few extra hours??

    thanks in advance
    Some of the airport hotels would do that all right. Not sure about the others though.


  • #169
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    There are probably hotels around Kings Cross that rent rooms by the hour, but you really really don't want to go there :D


  • #170
    ncmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    My family are looking to book 4 nights in London for my parents for my mum's 70th birthday. I have been to London before, but normally stay in bargain bucket places, so want something a bit nicer for my folks. Our budget is €100-€150 per night for midweek, probably some time in February. I'd like it to be in a nice area, close to a tube. My mum is a light sleeper, so it has to be quiet hotel. They aren't going to be out raving so it doesn't have to be bang in the heart of the action. Other than that, as long as it's clean and comfy, they should be happy enough. One other thing, a good brekkie and tea making facilities in the room would be a plus. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


  • #171
    cson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,477 ✭✭✭✭cson


    Check the London megathread stickied above.


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  • #172
    cson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,477 ✭✭✭✭cson


    For someone who's familiar with London;

    Which would be a better base: Jurys Inn Chelsea or Devonport House Greenwich?


  • #173
    OPENROAD
    Registered Users Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    cson wrote: »
    For someone who's familiar with London;

    Which would be a better base: Jurys Inn Chelsea or Devonport House Greenwich?


    I would go with Chelsea, though think you are about 10-15 mins from a tube station, depending on your budget, I would try and get something closer to South Kensington/Earls Court, if you have a tube station virtually on your doorstep it is a big plus imo. If you want to post your budget per night I can reccomend a couple of places.


  • #174
    cson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,477 ✭✭✭✭cson


    Staying 3 nights so I'm hoping to do it for €300 or less. Basically €100 a night, now I wouldn't mind stretching to £100 a night as it'll only be €30ish more with the exchange rate (£300 = €330). Jurys Chelsea is £250 for 3 nights including breakfast which isn't too bad plus its pretty highly rated on tripadvisor.

    Cheers for the help/advice too OPENROAD, you can always trust a fellow gooner :D


  • #175
    ZOLTAN28
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 515 ✭✭✭ZOLTAN28


    Jurys South kensington is lovely and a short walk to the tube.


  • #176
    peustace
    Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭peustace


    I'm flying back from London to Galway in October. There is a train from the the St. Pancras to Luton right? Does anyone know what operator is it? Dont know London at all... is it difficult to get to St Pancras station? Thanks!


  • #177
    BuffyBot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,924 ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    Train from St. Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway where you get on a shuttle bus to the door of the aiport.

    First Capital Connect run the trains, and St. Pancras is easy to get to from pretty much anywhere in London by bus or Tube (Kings Cross St. Pancras is the stop you need).


  • #178
    bamboozler
    Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭bamboozler


    Hi, going over to London for 2 nights (Fri & Sat) and an Arsenal match soon and looking for good reasonably priced hotel in Central London near nightlife. Stayed in citadines trafalgar square for 60euro a night with 3 in a quad apartment last year, would of stayed again but it is booked out.

    Any advice on hotels, best website to book with and nightlife would be appreciated?

    oh yeah and after reading through the megathread i am wondering if anyone took a gamble on the lastminute.com secret hotels and how accurate their descriptions are for these


  • #179
    OPENROAD
    Registered Users Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    bamboozler wrote: »
    Hi, going over to London for 2 nights (Fri & Sat) and an Arsenal match soon and looking for good reasonably priced hotel in Central London near nightlife. Stayed in citadines trafalgar square for 60euro a night with 3 in a quad apartment last year, would of stayed again but it is booked out.

    Any advice on hotels, best website to book with and nightlife would be appreciated?

    oh yeah and after reading through the megathread i am wondering if anyone took a gamble on the lastminute.com secret hotels and how accurate their descriptions are for these


    I would check out the prices on the hotel below that I mentioned earlier, very handy for Arsenal, direct tube to the ground takes less than 20 mins, you are also close to the likes of Leicester Sqaure and Coven Garden for night life, again direct tube link approx 14 mins to Leicester tube station. Alterantively you can take a 10 or 15 min walk to the Fulham road, some good pubs there, their are also several really nice pubs in the area, and the hotel bar is excellent imo.

    As for where to stay, as I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread I would go for the Kensington area, I have mentioned a hotel already which I feel offers excellent value in a very nice area. You can get a room which fits 2 comfortably for £80-£100 including full English Breakfast. The hotel which mentioned tube station is Gloucester Road(Zone 1) served by the Piccadilly line and also the Circle and District lines is two stops from Knightsbridge and is direct to Heathrow airport 40 mins. The area as said is excellent and has plenty of restaurants/coffe shops a Waitrose/Tesco and huge Sainsbury and Boots.


    Hotel Website:

    http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/lonhi

    You can get better rates for this hotel on website below but is bit more difficult to navigate, click on bed and breakfast logo on this site which should bring up all Holiday Inns, if anyone needs more info please pm and I can guide you through if you can't find them.

    http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/925/en/home


  • #180
    bamboozler
    Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭bamboozler


    Thanks for all the info OPENROAD i think you've pretty much listed all that i require in my stay so it ticks all the boxes. Cheers icon14.gif + biggrin.gif


    Update: Just had look at there website. For my dates, the special internet rate at £90/night for 2 people was cheapest (next cheapest £100), but it was advanced purchase, didnt include tax, they want a deposit for the entire stay and also said on the internet rate booking they could not guarantee the bedding arrangements. Also most rooms non-smoking and some of my party smokers, all these factored together have kind of ruled it out anyway. I did also look at a later weekend and the cheapest room was £100.

    Thanks anyway

    PS: I gave up looking cos didnt get match tickets in the end so i'm waiting until after christmas.


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  • #181
    jane86
    Closed Accounts Posts: 182 ✭✭jane86


    Hey,

    I'm looking to stay in London (Easy access by tube to SoHo area) for a week and I was wondering if anyone knows of any affordable hotels or accomodation that offers a week stay at a low price?

    Thanks!


  • #182
    ncmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    I'm looking to stay in London (Easy access by tube to SoHo area) for a week and I was wondering if anyone knows of any affordable hotels or accomodation that offers a week stay at a low price?

    I recently stayed in the Travelodge Tower Hill (that isn't near Soho, but the hotel is right beside a tube station, so you could be in the West End in 10-15 mins). We paid £39 per night. The hotel has recently been done up and was really fresh and clean. It obviously doesn't have a lot of fancy extras, but it was more than adequate for our needs. The bed was really comfortable and the room and bathroom were spotless. www.travelodge.co.uk there are other locations in London, but they can vary quite a bit in price. They are doing a £9 sale at the moment, so you could really luck out, depending on when you're going!


  • #183
    Nappy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 329 ✭✭Nappy


    Hey Im flying into stanstead soon and have to make my way to Hammersmith, Ive done it before by train but found it quite expensive, It was £28 return. Is there any bus service that can get me there for cheaper or is train and tube my best route??

    Thanks

    Nappy


  • #184
    penexpers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭penexpers


    You could look at Easybus

    http://www.easybus.co.uk/

    Can be quite cheap (4 pounds return) if you book far enough in advance. Drops you to Victoria.


  • #185
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    penexpers wrote: »
    You could look at Easybus

    http://www.easybus.co.uk/

    Can be quite cheap (4 pounds return) if you book far enough in advance. Drops you to Victoria.

    Terravision also go to Victoria www.terravision.eu


  • #186
    RandolphEsq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,296 ✭✭✭RandolphEsq


    Hi anyone,
    I was wondering if there were any Irish bars around the King's Cross area of London (plus people's reccommendations on any of them). I ask because for the France v Ireland match in Paris, we stay Tue night in London in King's Cross! So excited!
    Cheers


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  • #187
    ShoulderChip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,875 ✭✭✭ShoulderChip


    Are there any good hostel/hotel offers for a private room for 2 people?

    looking for a saturday and sunday night in november, really just need a place to sleep.
    thanks.


  • #188
    Nappy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 329 ✭✭Nappy


    Hey im going over to london for halloween and need somewhere to stay, going with girlfriend so cant stay in hostel really. Need somewhere nice and also eay on the wallet. Also its west london near hammersmith, anywhere near there would be perfect. Any recommendations or suggestions would be much appreciated!!

    Cheers

    Nappy


  • #189
    Qprmeath
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 957 ✭✭✭Qprmeath


    Adria hotel, just beside Hammersmith Main Station station. Stayed there loads of times. Nothing fancy, centrally located, very clean and reasonably priced. Tell Marko who runs the place Qprmeath sent you and he will look after you.

    http://www.adria-hotel.co.uk/


  • #190
    OPENROAD
    Registered Users Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    You might have a look at the mega thread at the top of the page, maybe mods can merge this one.


    OP, if you have a look at my post in the mega thread, excxellent hotel only three tube stops from Hammersmith on the Picadilly line. Feel free to ask any other questions.

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055517217&page=7


  • #191
    technocrat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 767 ✭✭✭technocrat


    I am heading accross the pond in late November and was wondering which of the 3 airports Ryanair serve is most conveinant to central London.

    I have looked at Gatwick and Stansted and they both operate rail services to central London for about 28 STG which happens to be more than the airfare :(
    Luton doesn't appear to have a direct link!

    Does anyone know what Ryanair charge's for these rail tickets ?
    I have seen previously from there blurb where they sell them at 'hugely discounted' rates :)


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  • #192
    dereko1969
    Closed Accounts Posts: 842 ✭✭✭dereko1969


    If the flights to Gatwick and Stansted are the same, I'd go for Gatwick as you can also get Southern or First Capital Connect services from Gatwick to Victoria or London Bridge for a lot cheaper than the Express service and you're usually only a few minutes longer.

    Check your times here
    www.tfl.gov.uk
    and prices here
    www.nationalrail.co.uk


  • #193
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    Luton have a shuttle to the train station and then the train into St. Pancres.


  • #194
    In_tuition
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,242 ✭✭✭In_tuition


    adrieanne__x wrote: »
    Luton have a shuttle to the train station and then the train into St. Pancres.

    This is the best option.


  • #195
    Colm R
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 997 ✭✭✭Colm R


    You can buy the Stanstead express and probably other tickets in Dublin Airport at the Ryanair desk as you walk towards pier A and D.

    Generally cheaper and payable in Euro.


  • #196
    gavney
    Closed Accounts Posts: 167 ✭✭gavney


    there's a bus available from Stansted also afair. it's pretty cheap. takes a bit longer though


  • #197
    wile1000
    Registered Users Posts: 73 ✭✭wile1000


    It can also depend on which side of London you want to get to. IMHO Gatwick is the most connected and the train station is right under the airport. There are regular trains serving London Bridge (35 mins) and London Victoria (about the same I think) and one way tix are about £11-12. The London Bridge train is served by First Capital Connect and goes through London out to Luton Airport (although you have to get a bus from Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway train station). Gatwick Express also available to Victoria but just take a Southern train if going there as it's cheaper and only a few mins longer.

    Stansted Express (train station also under the airport) is about 45 mins and goes to Liverpool St and a bit pricier than the regular trains from Luton/Gatwick. If you're going to west London you'd be best to take the bus from Stansted to London Victoria (about an hour).


  • #198
    zagmund
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭zagmund


    As outlined previously, there are other mainline connection options from Gatwick that are cheaper and better (particularly if going to the North or East of London) than the routes into Victoria.

    First Capital Connect have trains that run through to Bedford every 15m, calling at East Croydon, London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras (Kings Cross). Single any-time fare is £8.90.

    z


  • #199
    Atreyu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21 ✭Atreyu


    Heading to London for a few days over Christmas it's been 10 yrs since last visit. Looking for somewhere Central as no doubt the missus will be shopping till she drops.

    Any recommendations would be most welcome

    Tks


  • #200
    Qprmeath
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 957 ✭✭✭Qprmeath


    http://www.london.hotelsoffer.com/index.php

    Ive used this website before. It generally has good offers. Ive booked the Express by Holiday Inn in Hammersmith on it which is a decent hotel fairly close to everything and it wont break the bank.


  • #201
    Jenna
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 68 ✭✭Jenna


    Dirt cheap flights to London in January as usual. If I go does anyone know a really good reasonably priced hotel? Like maybe 4 star but more likely 3 star? Also, any recommendations for restaurants?


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