Search Q&A
cheapest accommodation in London
Intend to go to London (for the first time) through Eurostar by Early Jan for two to three days. Trip is with the family, along with three children.. Mostly for sight seeing and perhaps for some shopping.
(1) Early Jan - Good time to travel via Eurostar to London with children?
(2) I see eurostar prices for 64 euro in Jan. Has anybody seen these kind of low prices during summer months?
(3) Which isn the best station to get down from Eurostar? London St Pancras, Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International? (Looks like not all trains stop in Ashford or Ebbsfleet)
(3) Any recommendations for a cheap accommodation, conveniently reachable by tube or public transport, easier to commute to London?
(4) Found a (Accorhotels) formulae one in West Thurrock, citing 15 minutes drive from Ebbsfleet International, seems convenient for shopping at lakeside or blue water. Would this be a convenient spot for the night's stay, reachable by public transport to London , these shopping centres as well as Ebbsfleet station ?( Will call the hotel anyway).
(5) Not sure if travel is on weekend or weekdays yet. What is the best ticketing system for a family of five (3 children, 5, 11 & 13 years)? Top up Oyster card or or any 1 or two days travel cards? Where to buy?
(6) For the return, what kind of travel times should I avoid, not to be stuck in the station overnight due to any cancelled trains/adverse weather conditions?
Public transport in London is not cheap. With a family of five it probably makes sense to take accommodation nearer the centre which might be more expensive but will save both time and costs of travel into the centre.
I don't travel with children, but if you're focused on seeing the main sights, my advice would be to stay on the tube system, search booking.com for your price preference and tick family room under "facility", Maybe search tripadvisor for best deals with kids. travel Eurostar outside of rush hour if possible (throughout your entire journey), Jan pricing should be good, but book as soon as possible for the best rates.
Best I have found hands down is Arosfa
Walking distance to St Pancras and then numerous tube stations and walking distance to tourist sites. B and B like and great rates....
They also can make deals if you call say for like their 2 bdroom apartment . Loves Tess and her crew.
I've never seen such a good Eurostar offer, in any season.
There are often deals in summer as the commission folks are not travelling so much.
For hotels, try www.hotwire.com for chain hotels with large reductions. The catch is you don't know what hotel exactly it is until you pay, and it's non-refundable. With a little research, you can get a very good idea of what hotel you'll get.
www.airbnb.com: a well-done site of people renting out rooms or their flats. You can search for 5 people.
It might be interesting price-wise to stay outside the very center of London, as long as you have easy access to the tube. (My) Kids love train rides anyway.
I would definitely look at www.airbnb.com for accommodation ... they really do great deals in interesting places.
My advice is to do a 24 hour hop on/ hop off bus .... if you start midday one day you can do a huge amount in the afternoon evening ... and then do another part of London the next morning .... you get deals that include a river trip as well which is a great way to go down to the tower of London .
YOu can also buy very good - on line combined tickets for London eye and other attractions...
You will need to have sterling ... get some in the bank before you go and then use your card.
It's been awhile since I've traveled with the kiddies in London. There used to be a family travel card that more or less allowed our small children to ride for free. Not sure at all if that still exists.
The most effective way of paying for travel within central London for a two day trip is to purchase One-day Travelcards for each of the two days. The two adults and the two children who have turned 11 will each need one, the youngest child travels free when accompanying a Travelcard holder. You will need to purchase the cards from a tube station on each day.
There are separate prices for cards valid just in central London (zone 1) and for those valid over most of the London area (zones 1-4) and the adult all-day fares are £8.80 pppd or £11.00 pppd, with the child fares half that. If you buy the cards after 10.00 they will be a little cheaper. If you were intending to stay in central London one day and to travel a little further out the other (to Greenwich, say) you could buy £8.80 cards one day and £11.00 cards the other. You don't need Oyster or photo cards with these Travelcards. It is possible to order special Oyster Cards (at £10.00 each) for the older children which would allow them to travel free with you but for a two-day trip there are no advantages and several disadvantages.
The most effective way of paying for travel within central London for a two day trip is to purchase One-day Travelcards for each of the two days. The two adults and the two children who have turned 11 will each need one, the youngest child travels free when accompanying a Travelcard holder. You will need to purchase the cards from a tube station on each day.
There are separate prices for cards valid just in central London (zone 1) and for those valid over most of the London area (zones 1-4) and the adult all-day fares are £8.80 pppd or £11.00 pppd, with the child fares half that. If you buy the cards after 10.00 they will be a little cheaper. If you were intending to stay in central London one day and to travel a little further out the other (to Greenwich, say) you could buy £8.80 cards one day and £11.00 cards the other. You don't need Oyster or photo cards with these Travelcards. It is possible to order special Oyster Cards (at £10.00 each) for the older children which would allow them to travel free with you but for a two-day trip there are no advantages and several disadvantages.
