Cambridge Theatre to see Matilda with DS2 - please help plan our trip. I am clueless

[PacificDogwood]

I can still get tickets for the 21. June.

We need to travel from Scotland.
If train, is East or West Coast route better?
Which train station in London would be best to be arriving at?

Any reasonably priced places to stay nearby? Premier Inn type standard?

I am totally clueless as far as The Big Smoke goes. I am staring at Google maps to get an idea where things are and am slightly overwhelmed.
There was a time I considered myself a seasoned traveller, but clearly not any more .

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

And if anybody knows where I could get tickets for that weekend for less than 82 pounds per person...

[AgentProvocateur]

Pacific, I've just booked tickets to London for around the same period. I live in Glasgow, but it was MUCH cheaper to go Edi to King's X, and that included my glw-edi ticket. I got singles each way. Also, look on Trainline, Virgin etc, but also on the Scotrail booking page. Sometimes the prices differ.

[PacificDogwood]

Thanks, Agent, we live between Gla and Edi, so I am not too bothered where we start off from.
Bloody hell, London is so frigging large!!

I am panicking slightly because I don't want to book us miles away from the theatre or have to spend loadsacash just to get from trainstation to venue etc etc.
There are too many possiblities!

Now looking at tickets on ebay - some have hotel attached to ticket. Hmm..

[PacificDogwood]

Anybody else?
Pretty please??

[KatoPotato]

My friend is the stage manager on Matilda, what do you want to know most? Close accommodation?

[orangepudding]

Tickets on lastminute.com are 72 pp for the 21st.

[orangepudding]

How about getting a four person room here - www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/YHA-London-Central/London/23598?datefrom=21+Jun+2013&dateTo=22+Jun+2013&dateFrom=21+Jun+2013#availability

[tiredaftertwo]

Public transport within London is cheap (get oyster cards before you go, and it will be very cheap indeed or free for your dc - forms at post offices I think). There are premier inn type places dotted around the centre of town - try a search on late rooms? The theatre is right in the middle of London - rough rule of thumb, you could be there in under an hour from anywhere in zone 2.

Maybe if you look on laterooms or similar, pick a few, and then come back here people can advise? Or use the tube map to work it out.

You'll have a great time.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh thank you, all .

KatoPotato, yes, accommodation nearby would be good. British museum is close too, isn't it?
I've looked at the Coventry Garden travellodge - is that ok to stay at? Standards are not high

Oyster card - good tip, thank!

[orangepudding]

Covent Garden would be an ideal location, you can walk to the theatre and will have many shops and restaurants near by.

[KatoPotato]

My friend suggests the travel lodge convent garden! But they are very central!

[simplesusan]

Be careful of buying tickets on ebay. My friend bought concert tickets and got ripped off. It was from a private buyer though.
I always go through the theatre's website direct. It might not be the cheapest but is genuine and you know exactly where you are sitting.
Also have a look at theatremonkey, they will tell you if there are any decent offers on and the prices.

[PacificDogwood]

Thank you, all, again.

Train times look tricky, may need to leave v early Saturday rather than Friday.
Aaargh, too many variables! But I am getting there

[TheYamiOfYawn]

Have you considered flying rather than going by train? from Scotland it can sometimes be cheaper.

[MrsPoglesWood]

I stayed at the Covent Garden Travelodge a month ago. It was fine, nice room, clean etc. Would happily stay there again. It has 2 sites though and I would recommend the Drury Lane building rather than the High Holborn one. They're only a minutes walk apart though.

Both the theatre & British Museum are in easy walking distance.

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, I am looking at flying as well, but don't want to land at Standsted and have to travel in

Thanks for the Travellodge-2-sites tip.

I have not told DS2 about it yet and I am all excited!

[PacificDogwood]

Ok, I'v got tickets for the show for the 22nd - no more seats next to each other but we'll improvise or sit apart.

And I've booked the train down, I just could not be bothered with waiting around in airport. There has been too much airtravel in my life and it bores me to tears. Or maybe not enough 1st class airtravel... .

Anyhoo, accomodation: I've found a guest house that looks quite good, but the comments are shocking. It's in the midst of Covent Garden, so location would be perfect. I am not precious, simple no frills is fine. Does anybody happen to know this place?
300 pounds for 2 nights in a Travelodge just seems...

[issynoho]

Just wanted to that DD and I are travelling down to see Matilda on the same day, although not from as far away as you, and only for the day.

Trying to work out if we will have time to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben AND Hamleys before the show.

Have you got your accommodation sorted?

[PacificDogwood]

X-post

Yes, we did.

Will you be wearing a MN scarf so I can spot you in the audience ??

Our plans sounds v similar to yours, so far... I am worried that a visit to Hamley's might turn out to be quite dear

[issynoho]

Ha ha, gonna be checking out all the mums for telltale MN signs With the price of our tickets I can barely afford any nice ham for our sandwiches.

The galling thing is that I grew up in London, Mum only recently moved away and now we are skint with 3 DC we could really do with their nice house to stay in for trips down there.

Hope you have a lovely time and don't have to sell your soul in Hamleys Build A Bear.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh no, there is a Build-a-Bear ??
I am so dooooomed!

DS was talking about the bear with skateboard he'd get 'next time we went' - I had not been planning to go near the place ever again...

[superlambanana]

Have you looked at youth hostels? A lot of them have double / twin rooms now. Much cheaper!

Matilda is fab!!!!

[Geordieminx]

Pacific, I've just done 3 trips to London with ds

It was uber scary at first, but I had a tube map, and used TFL website as a bible and you know what it was totally fine!

Pm me the details and I will help you.. i owe you! we stayed at a London city premier inn which was nice, it's not really close to Covent garden but isn't far on the tube.

The one thing I had to accept was that travelling us tiring, and taking the tube does take time but its manageable. A travel card is about £8 and that will get you anywhere in zones 1-4 or something, and the kids are free. There were a few occasions where we just jumped taxis out if convenience.. And to save little legs!

[Geordieminx]

Sorry it was old street premier inn

If you get time have a walk along the Southbank, it's fab for kids, loads if street performers and such like.

Ps will no doubt see you tomorrow

[PacificDogwood]

Oh, I think you might, Geordieminx .

I am just looking at getting an Oyster card - did you find a Travel card was better ?? The website offers a 'visitor's Oyster card'.

I don't cope well with too many options!

I hope you and you DS had fun and made loads of dosh

[Picturesinthefirelight]

We saw Matilda last year

We always stay in Zpremier Inn. Stayed in Euston, Kinfs Cross & South Kensington ones.