Page 2 | AIBU to think I can get accommodation & parking in London for £500?

piefacedClique · 2025-02-08T12:08:21+00:00

We’re planning a family trip to London from *23rd-26th Feb* – me, my husband, and our 10-year-old daughter. We want to visit: - *Natural History Museum* - *London Zoo* - *London Eye* - *Sephora at Westfield* Ideally, we’d like to find *accommodation with parking* for *£500 max*, but am I being completely unrealistic? Would we be better off parking somewhere like *Heathrow and getting the Elizabeth Line* in to make it more affordable? Any recommendations for places to stay or general tips would be really appreciated! Thanks!

Flavourful · 09/02/2025 18:53

We stayed in a travel lodge when we went to London and parked just down the road in a pcp car park and left the car there for the duration of our stay, travelling on the underground so charges were only going in and coming out.
you can alternatively get the train from Crewe and leave the car there until you’re back. You can do it from nearer north wales but train charges are cheaper from Crewe.

Arlanymor · 09/02/2025 18:53

Take the train to Paddington, why would you drive and contend with the M25? Let alone the congestion charge. I’m in Wales too and would never drive to London.

Shelleybelly · 09/02/2025 18:51

Have you tried a Z hotel? They're cheap (ish) and central and do a really cute family room with double bunk beds. My then 10 year old thought it was the coolest room ever.

AndanotherThingggg · 09/02/2025 18:39

Premier Inn Ealing, has parking at £10 a day and a family room for those dates from £196-284. Near to M4 plus elizabeth line into central london.
www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-ealing.html?ARRdd=23&ARRmm=02&ARRyyyy=2025&NIGHTS=3&ROOMS=1&ADULT1=2&CHILD1=1&COT1=0&INTTYP1=FAM

whatkatydid2014 · 09/02/2025 18:26

@piefacedClique hope you have an awesome trip. I always think London is a fantastic place to visit with the kids. It’s made me tempted to take my two back in the summer

KatieB55 · 09/02/2025 18:19

We've had some really reasonable parking using the Just Park app.

Havinganamechange · 09/02/2025 18:16

Could you park up at stanmore and leave the car there for a few days? Looks like 3 days would be £30 and that would leave you more to spend on accommodation.

www.sabaparking.co.uk/car-park/stanmore-station-car-park-tfl

Socksey · 09/02/2025 18:10

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 12:14

We are driving up from Wales. Don’t plan to use the car at all when we are there

I came up from Wales with my son on tge bus and stayed in a cheap hotel overnight for £65 close to central London and all the places you mentioned.... within walking distance of the central bus station as I didn't want to deal with busses and trains there. Trip to Covent Garden too....
It's doable

Purpl · 09/02/2025 17:55

I’d stay in south London Abbey Wood isn’t the nicest place but Elizabeth line is so quick.
or stay near ebbsfleet Kent 16 mins in train to Pancras. You will avoid congestion charge when travelling in. I’m not sure of west London suburbs to be honest but guess that’s woukd be better than south London from wales but worth a look of west London too expensive

CremeDeSudo · 09/02/2025 17:47

We came from S Wales to London last year and stayed in a Premier Inn just off the M4, near a tube stop. Can't remember which one sorry but there are lots of options! Definitely don't take the car into central London, concentrate on finding somewhere convenient to drive to, and reasonably near to a tube station

Original poster

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 21:03

@ToffeeSheep that’s the one… thats brilliant to know. Thank you x

OP posts:

ToffeeSheep · 08/02/2025 21:01

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 19:31

Some brilliant suggestions. Thank you. We are so used to driving everywhere that I hadn’t really considered the train! I’ve just used my Tesco points to get a family railcard and will book the train up. Far more relaxing than driving! By the time we factored parking and at least two electric charges plus any charges for congestion zone etc it was working out a similar price! Plus hopefully we can take advantage of the 2-4-1 offers with a rail ticket!

I’ve booked a travelodge now in Southwark…. My daughter is desperate to go on the eye and that stretch has all the iconic views she’s after! Plus it’s very close to Borough Market where my husband is keen to go back to. Got some cash back on that purchase too so had that for under £300 for three nights.

Thanks again for the brilliant suggestions. I lived there after uni for a year in 2002 but that was so long ago I was a bit overwhelmed with all the options! So hoping the cakes and coffee at Konditor and Cook are still just as good as I remember! Thanks again x

Thanks again x

If it's the Travelodge in Union Street I often stay there as it is near my London office and close to Southwark tube station. Ask for a room away from the bar as it can be noisy! There is also is a handy little convenience store next door and loads of things to see and do nearby. Have a great trip! :)

Original poster

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 20:59

I used to really enjoy driving in central London…. Although it’s probably 15 years at least since I did it! Fingers crossed we will get there in time for a quick bite at Borough before it closes on Sunday 🙏🙏🙏🙏

OP posts:

Elsvieta · 08/02/2025 20:26

Try looking at Imperial Hotels in Bloomsbury - at least one of them has an underground car park iirc and they're cheap for the location. Assuming you're not scared to drive in central London (I wouldn't do it). Don't forget to pay congestion charge or ULEZ or whatever the hell it is now (it's been a while).

Talipesmum · 08/02/2025 20:04

Brilliant OP have a great weekend! The Golden Hinde is right by Southwark and a great thing to look round as well. Note borough market closes at 4pm on Sundays and realistically is packing up a good hour before that in my (limited) experience, and closed Mondays too. Not like you’ll be short on tasty places to eat though!

lateatwork · 08/02/2025 20:03

Also... Use the bus to travel around. Cheaper than the tube. And you get a view.

Download citymapper on your phone. Use this to plan your journeys.

Original poster

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 19:31

Some brilliant suggestions. Thank you. We are so used to driving everywhere that I hadn’t really considered the train! I’ve just used my Tesco points to get a family railcard and will book the train up. Far more relaxing than driving! By the time we factored parking and at least two electric charges plus any charges for congestion zone etc it was working out a similar price! Plus hopefully we can take advantage of the 2-4-1 offers with a rail ticket!

I’ve booked a travelodge now in Southwark…. My daughter is desperate to go on the eye and that stretch has all the iconic views she’s after! Plus it’s very close to Borough Market where my husband is keen to go back to. Got some cash back on that purchase too so had that for under £300 for three nights.

Thanks again for the brilliant suggestions. I lived there after uni for a year in 2002 but that was so long ago I was a bit overwhelmed with all the options! So hoping the cakes and coffee at Konditor and Cook are still just as good as I remember! Thanks again x

Thanks again x

OP posts:

Createausername1970 · 08/02/2025 17:58

Haven't read the whole thread. Some years ago I stayed in an Easy hotel. Very basic rooms - bed and wet room and a peg on the door to hang stuff. But it was clean and cheap.

Thunderpunt · 08/02/2025 17:33

Try Arlington House apartments, right by Green Park. We stayed there just after Covid and it was a great location, think they have underground parking. It's more like a posh apartment block with a concierge than a hotel, but useful to have a kitchen sometimes especially if you're coming by car - thinking breakfasts etc

JADS · 08/02/2025 17:31

Can I suggest the Savera hotel in South Ruislip? You are right on the Central line. We live near there and all those places are easily accessible by Tube. There is a pub, McDonald's and a Nandos very close as well as an ASDA.

You really need to be on the West side of London if you are coming from Wales.

Hosum · 08/02/2025 17:17

Something like the Marriott at Waltham abbey would work - easy on M25 for you driving in - then 10 mins to Loughton/buckhurst hill for the central line swooping to district for the museums/embankment for the eye. Stratford Westfield is 15 mins on the central or a 20 min drive - the zoo is more difficult as you'll have to go in and then out on the ones but use Waltham cross to go to Tottenham Hale and then not that bad.

Blueuggboots · 08/02/2025 16:59

www.airbnb.com/l/BrWcNuki another one - Islington, less than £400....

Blueuggboots · 08/02/2025 16:56

www.airbnb.com/l/MTLzbXaM

www.airbnb.com/l/xmZNaq4A

www.airbnb.com/l/4wPgVsNI

3 places on Airbnb with parking for less than £500 for your dates....

Neurodiversitydoctor · 08/02/2025 16:40

LittleRedRidingHoody · 08/02/2025 12:23

Shepherds Bush? Right there for Westfield, easy to get to Central (multiple buses/tube options) and easy access from the M40.

I wouldn't recommend Heathrow. It's extortionate both for parking and for then getting in/out of central (unless you take the long winding routes)

Heathrow is on the piccadily line, piece of cake to South Ken.

YorkshireLass1 · 08/02/2025 16:35

If you really want to drive, Premier Inn Hanger Lane, tube 2 mins away and on the central line, straight into Oxford.Circus.