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!

I think premiere inn in Chiswick has parking. And good rates.

Stay somewhere like Stratford which is next ti westfields in a premier inn or similar ! Easy to take the tube into town then for the other activities

take the train the whole way! I wouldn’t bother with a car at all- working costs even at Heathrow are insane

You would be better off getting the train into central London and finding somewhere there. Travelling in and out is tedious and even more so after a day of sightseeing.

We used to drive to premier inn Southgate - a few miles off the M25 and right by the tube station. Has relatively cheap parking.
now we usually go to the premier inn in Paddington basin - train then just a few minutes walk along the canal if you leave by the Grand Union Canal entrance. Can sometimes get rooms under 100 a night.

no need to drive into central london just find somewhere on outskirts-dont forget to factor in tube fares

Drive to somewhere in greater London where hotel prices are much cheaper, and take the tube in. I normally get a premier in in Wembley/harrow/Watford and take the tube inn. Works out so much cheaper

Surely parking at Heathrow would be the most expensive parking option? You could park for free in lots of places in suburban London (on the street) but maybe pay for a driveway for convenience? I know areas such as Claygate, Carshalton, Chipstead where parking is easy and then trains are frequent. Then take a commuter train to a hotel in central London so you don’t have to spend your holiday commuting in and out of the suburbs?

Try the Premier Inn at Ealing and use the Elizabeth Line into London

You won't need the car when you are there so just train there and back.

Richmond travelodge is a good option. Richmond is lovely to walk around. Good walks by the Thames. Good tube access to South Ken for museums. Westfield close. I'd recommend Hampton Court which is an easy drive from Richmond.

Look at Hanger Lane Premier Inn. We’re staying 4 nights in February, 2 adults and 10 yr old DD £290 and that’s with breakfast. Parking is £12 per night that you pay at the end of the stay. It’s right by Hanger Lane tube station (central line) or a short walk to Park Royal (Piccadilly line). We’ve stayed before, it’s about 25-30 mins on the tube to central London depending where you want to go.

Looking at some of the daily parking rates, I'm not sure why Heathrow is getting a bad response for parking.

You'll get cheaper, competitive hotels at Heathrow with plenty of hotels to choose from. Majority of hotels provide parking for £15-16 for 24 hours.

Buses every 5-10 minutes from Nene Road or Bath Road to go into the Heathrow bus terminal. 1.50 each. And regular tubes on the Picadilly Line.

Staybridge Suites on Bath Road are a decent price and if you get it on a deal, you'll get complimentary breakfast buffet

This wasn't what the OP was asking about but it's also incorrect.

Up to 4 children under the age of 11 can travel with one fare paying adult on tube, buses, trains. You will need to pay for her if you use the clipper service or the cable cars.

There’s also a Premier Inn at Putney Bridge, right next to the tube. District line into South Ken for museums or Westminster for London Eye. Change at West Brompton for Mildmay Line to
Westfield Shepherds Bush.

This sounds sensible. Find a Travelodge or Premier Inn, near the M4 and close to a station and travel in to central London each day. Also check if your car is ULEZ compliant if the hotel is within the zone.

@piefacedClique if you park at cockfosters tube car park then you can get the tube in and stay at the Premier Inn.

Get the train to paddington and stay near there. Staying at something like a travelodge or premier inn near Heathrow or wembley doesn't sound much fun

If you book Premier Inn by midnight tomorrow they
throw in free breakfast too! Save you £60 odd pounds over the 3 days.

Either Google it or follow this link

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/home.html?promoCode=PREBF

So we’ve driven down before, booked parking at Watford (outside emissions zone) near the station and travelled in from there. Travelodge or premier inn near King’s Cross will be in that budget for 3 nights even with the tickets in on train and parking. I don’t think £500 is that ambitious 3 nights in London. We have done 3 nights for that price including trains from Newcastle and staying bed and breakfast fairly recently.

We usually stay in the Ruislip area and get the tube in. Free parking at the hotel.

OP, the train idea is fantastic (I write as a former 10 year old). There are loads of cheap hotels in and around Paddington, and Kensington Gardens are a 5 minute walk away. Have a fabulous time in a wonderful city!

Stay in Slough. Park for free and get the Elizabeth line.

London Euston premier inn with the free breakfast offer is £328 for those dates. Parking near Watford Junction station noon on Sunday to evening Wednesday is from £26. Off peak day ticket including travel out to Watford junction is £15.60 per adult and will include any travel in central london on those days. That’s under £400. It’s not the most amazing location but it’s easy to get everywhere you want to go.

If you are on a budget then sky gardens and the other tower blocks with viewing platforms
are a possible (free) alternative to the London Eye. They have tickets at the moment for the 25th & 26th - https://skygarden.london. I would book tickets for the museum in advance too