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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

I just used Booking.com and loads of options

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

Then get the train and use the tube.

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.

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

I usually park at hounslow and tube in

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.

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

If you’re not planning to use the car while you’re in London, why not just travel from Wales by train? Much faster and less stress. Use Booking.com to check accommodation options. Premier Inns are much nicer than Travelodge which are VERY basic, but both of those chains can be expensive compared to a B&B.

Your cheapest bet will be a family room and for 3 nights, that is definitely doable on £500. So search for that on Booking.com. Also look on Premier Inn website and find ones that are in the suburbs which will be cheaper, and just check whether there is a tube station nearby. If you’re near a tube station, getting around the attractions will be simple enough.

Park at Westfield White City - its Shepards bush. It’s only £20 per 24hrs.

Then premier inn or motel one central somewhere . The Kensington one is probably ideal for museums.

Look at the YHAs. We stayed at one in Rotherithe last year. We had a 4 bed ensuite for 2 nights for a few hundred pounds. There are some more central ones too. We have also stayed at one in Goring, which was handy for the train to London.

£196 Premier Inn Plus, parking £10 per 24 hours (or £14 if no space in hotel) in Ealing and then Elizabeth line in.

We do this regularly - yes a bit of a journey on the train but it works for us.

Slough is a good option just outside. There are several Premier Inns. In terms of someone saying it's 'grim' you'll literally just be travelling in, and the hotels are fine. You could tag on a Legoland trip if inclined 😀

I'd suggest looking at somewhere on the Elizabeth Line. Ealing Broadway has relatively inexpensive parking and good links into town.

we always drive to central London, there’s plenty of places to park. Westfield is a cheap parking option.

This is a good idea OP. Ealing is easy too as long as the district line isn’t down.

Get a family railcard and it’s even cheaper. I take DD regularly - we’re in South Wales and wouldn’t dream of driving.

Driving in central london is a fools game when there are so many other options