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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

165 replies

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 12:08

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!

OP posts:

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SENlife · 08/02/2025 13:30

Premier Inn Chiswick - £240 for the 3 nights. Easy access to the underground at Turnham Green to go into London. Great hotel and great location. If you don't move your car from the car park then only 2x ULEZ too

CissOff · 08/02/2025 13:29

CissOff · 08/02/2025 13:23

Also from Wales - we driver to Hanger Lane and use the Premier Inn there. There’s a Just Park literally around the corner, and a tube station right outside which is on the central line. Plus you’re the right side of London to get back on the M4.

It’s coming up as £161 for the 3 nights on your dates. They do have parking on site as the offsite cheaper parking is fully booked.

Mynewnameis · 08/02/2025 13:28

I usually park at hounslow and tube in

SillySeal · 08/02/2025 13:26

Have you looked a little further out around Walthamstow or Islington and get the victoria line directly into the city centre very quickly. Or Leytonstone and get the circle line.

We recently stayed for £130 a night but without parking

lightsandtunnels · 08/02/2025 13:24

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-beckton.html?ARRdd=23&ARRmm=02&ARRyyyy=2025&NIGHTS=3&ROOMS=1&ADULT1=2&CHILD1=1&COT1=0&INTTYP1=FAM
You can get a family room at the Premier Inn in Beckton for £300 for the dates you need. Costs £14 a day to park there. Really close to public transport; Beckton DLR, bus links and the O2 cable car.

Beckton Hotels | Book Hotels In London Beckton | Premier Inn

Ideal for your stopover in East London. Our Beckton Hotel is ideally located for London City Airport, 02 Arena, Excel Exhibition Centre and Tower of London.

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-beckton.html?ADULT1=2&ARRdd=23&ARRmm=02&ARRyyyy=2025&CHILD1=1&COT1=0&INTTYP1=FAM&NIGHTS=3&ROOMS=1

sanityisamyth · 08/02/2025 13:24

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

Then get the train and use the tube.

2025ohdear · 08/02/2025 13:24

I just used Booking.com and loads of options

Such as this crowne plaza www.booking.com/Share-93gqCC7

ohthejoysoftoddler · 08/02/2025 13:24

Try the travel lodge Snaresbrook. It's a nice area, lots of bars and restaurants and it's on the central line. 20 mins into central London.

PurpleFlower1983 · 08/02/2025 13:24

Angel has a nice Premier Inn, the one at Kings Cross is good too, as is Holborn.

Moirarosesgarden · 08/02/2025 13:23

Loads of affordable premier inn options… either centrally or somewhere like Wimbledon and tube in to central London

CissOff · 08/02/2025 13:23

heyhopotato · 08/02/2025 13:21

Airbnb is the cheapest option for sure, you'll be able to stay somewhere that's easily connected on the underground for that.

YourPunnyCat · 08/02/2025 13:20

Bromley? Parking there at premier inn, 20 min fast train into Victoria. And Bromley itself is lovely too!

Starseeking · 08/02/2025 13:19

3 nights stay for 3 people in London for £500

Maybe an Air BnB would work, though you'd be better off staying in zone 3 or 4 and getting the train in.

Ealing or Richmond are good options as they are very well connected by train (Lizzie/Central/District for Ealing, Overground/District/SW Trains for Richmond).

I'd go for Richmond out of the two if the budget works as you have the added bonus of the river and Richmond Park, which are both lovely for walks.

OchoNaFanyaNini · 08/02/2025 13:18

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

If you must drive, leave the car at Westfield car park at Shepherds Bush!

mynameiscalypso · 08/02/2025 13:18

I would 100% get the train and stay near Paddington. I think it would be so much easier and probably cheaper once you factor in all the travel. I'd want to maximise my time in London to do fun things personally.

BirdsCanFly · 08/02/2025 13:18

Get the train. If you can, buy a family rail discount card for cheaper rail fare coming up from Wales - you could probably use tesco clubcard vouchers to get that.

Arran2024 · 08/02/2025 13:18

cestlavielife · 08/02/2025 12:49

Factor travel costs to central London time and money if you stay outside
Look for zone 2 premier inn like archway etc

They are presumably going to be using public transport to get around while they are in London, and so it won't be that much more expensive to have an extra journey each day from zone 5 or 6. But important to stay in zone 6 and not veer out into Herts or Surret etc as this means tfl prices won't cover it.

mitogoshigg · 08/02/2025 13:17

If you have any Tesco club card vouchers you can buy a railcard with them.

P00hsticks · 08/02/2025 13:16

piefacedClique · 08/02/2025 12:22

I hadn’t even considered the train but it’s actually cheaper than I thought… have seen parking at Heathrow for £100ish plus by the time we factor in at least two electric charges away from home it will probably cost the same

Show quote history

If you do decide to go by train look into whether you could save money by getting a Family Railcard ...

anniegun · 08/02/2025 13:15

Go by train and stay somewhere slightly out of the centre on a tube line

beAsensible1 · 08/02/2025 13:14

Stay at a travel lodge near a station and get the tube in. Angel/Islington/highbury area is nice for walkable bits and cafes plus good tubes into congestion areas.

parking will cost though

Dogaredabomb · 08/02/2025 13:13

I don't know if they have zipcar in Wales? Something that you could drive and leave. And the same back.

EmmaStone · 08/02/2025 13:12

You could get the train (there are discounts for booking 3 or more tickets together).

We've got international family staying with us at the moment (SW UK), and they have driven to Reading station, parked there, getting the Lizzie line and staying at a Premier Inn at Paddington. I just looked for your dates, and a family room at P'ton is GBP309 non-refundable. The Kensington P Inn suggested is also a good option.

We've also done the drive to Westfield in White City and parked there while staying in Shepherd's Bush.

LentilDoll · 08/02/2025 13:10

I think you'd get a room for that in the Imperial chain of hotels (v central). Some have parking too, but obviously extra £. Agree with others though that I'd try v hard to avoid driving if you possibly can.

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