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

[piefacedClique]

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!

Why do you want parking? Driving into central London is rarely a good idea. I'd definitely take the train in.

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

You’ll be paying congestion charges if you want to stay anywhere central.

Personally, I would stay at a Travelodge or similar somewhere off the M4 near a train/underground station and travel in and out each day
Or travel to London from Wales by train!

There are plenty of options on the Premier Inn website. You can filter by free parking.

3 nights for 3 people for £500 in London? You may be better looking at an air b and b further out and using public transport

Do you know if your car is Ulez compliant?

In the past I have stayed at premier inn Slough and got the train into London.

I wouldn’t be driving any more centrally after doing it last year!

Premier Inn London Kensington (Earl's Court) hotel, walking distance to the NHM.

Yes, I’d park outside the congestion zone area and get the train in, or tube. Then stay in premier inn or travelodge v central. Parking apps where you rent a space on a driveway might be a good bet? I don’t have any good suggestions but would def look at the “park outside and train in” option. There are likely plenty of towns where if you park about 20 mins from the station it’s free street parking, but not sure where to suggest and if you’re happy to walk that.

Definitely get the train. Driving up is pointless. But £500 for accommodation is still very optimistic.

We have an electric vehicle… VW Buzz. Didn’t think about ULEZ

3 nights for 3 people for £500 is ambitious at the best of times.

Although to be fair, the Kensington hotel mentioned above is £265 for those nights, if you book the cheapest non-refundable rate. Breakfast is extra, but your child would eat free with a paying adult. Car parking is off site and appears to be around £40 a night, so you’d be looking at £425 not including any food or travel costs.

Premier Inn is your only
realistic option as you need a family room, and even that is unlikely in half term for £500 for 3 nights. You won’t get parking included, and it’s around £50 per 24h, plus congestion charge, plus additional charge if not Ulez compliant in central London.

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

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)

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

£169 for 3 nights

Yes this is a good location. Family room for the 3 of you on the nights you’re looking for OP is £265-£344 depending on your flex options. So plenty left for paying for parking and train a bit further out.

Not Heathrow, there's a huge premium for parking near the airport. But use JustPark to find a parking space near an Elizabeth Line stop and use vrbo.com to find accommodation - plenty of nice flats available for around £390 for your dates.

We've been during school holidays and stayed at Covent garden and Victoria travel lodges cheaply enough. I think it may be quieter during the holidays becayse fewer business's people staying away.

Driving isn't a good idea, the ulez and congestion charges are expensive for most cars.

Actually it looks very doable for accommodation. Probably helps that it’s the last Sunday of half term and then a few days into school time (at least, my kids schools in Surrey are on holiday 17-23 Feb)

eta I posted a screenshot of premier inn search for your dates in London with prices etc on a map - guessing all images are being checked before publication at the moment.

Look in the Kew area, I found a hotel for around £100 a few months back and parking (at hotel) was £15 per day. Make sure it's not too far from the tube

I got a premier inn Paddington for £110 a night. Park at a tube station with parking £18 a day charge. Tube in. Totally doable

Yes I think you can do it but you're better off staying on the outskirts and getting the train in.
Have a look at Watford - we stayed at the holiday in express near the station when we went to HP studios and then got the train in to Euston the day after, very easy. We didn't have a car with us so don't know about parking.
It was about £70 for a night without parking.

Somewhere like Slough/St Albans/Windsor could work too, or Heathrow like you say.

We park at Westfield shopping centre (not sure about over 24 hour parking) or for free a short walk from Hanger Lane.