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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go on holiday in London?

65 replies

RessicaJabbit · 14/10/2025 22:54

We live near Stevenage, and DD is 6 and loves visiting London, but it's a long old day.

We're thinking of going on holiday there like Mon-Fri or something. Is this mad??

Would do things like the museums, cable cars etc but not have to spend hours on the train getting there and back again in one day.

OP posts:
Thelondonone · 14/10/2025 22:55

I sometimes stay in London as a treat and I live here x

Nomorecoconutboosts · 14/10/2025 22:56

Why would it be mad? It’s like a little city break.
I’m an hour from London and love to have 2 days (one night) there a couple of times a year.
It’s a great idea

TiredofLDN · 14/10/2025 22:59

Not mad. I’m NE at the moment, on an extended break from London…. I still take DS to London once a year for a week in the summer. We stay with friends and do all the tourist stuff.

SilkAndSparklesForParties · 14/10/2025 23:00

But you are only half an hour on the train to King's Cross.

youalright · 14/10/2025 23:01

We've done long weekends in London and gone to a show, museums, shopping etc had a great time.

tipsyraven · 14/10/2025 23:02

SilkAndSparklesForParties · 14/10/2025 23:00

But you are only half an hour on the train to King's Cross.

So? I think it is a lovely idea, OP.

teees · 14/10/2025 23:04

I live north of Edinburgh and I spend hours on the train to get to London, Stevenage isn’t that far so not sure what makes it take hours. That said if you want to stay in London for a few days just do it. Hotels are expensive though so for being so close I would probably travel home at night tbh.

Shr3dding · 14/10/2025 23:04

Millions of people from all over the world holiday in London, is it the place or the nearness that you think might be odd?

Original poster
RessicaJabbit · 15/10/2025 07:20

teees · 14/10/2025 23:04

I live north of Edinburgh and I spend hours on the train to get to London, Stevenage isn’t that far so not sure what makes it take hours. That said if you want to stay in London for a few days just do it. Hotels are expensive though so for being so close I would probably travel home at night tbh.

Edited

We have to walk 20 minutes to train station. Train takes anywhere from 25-45 minutes or so to get to kings cross then getting in underground to where ever takes more time. It always feel like we're spending 3 hours or more travelling there and back again.

So would like to stay in London and not travel back and forth

OP posts:
Runssometimes · 15/10/2025 07:25

I live in London and have stayed in a hotel in a different part several times. Once over Christmas - an empty Regent Street at dusk on Christmas Day is magical. And other times too. Nice not to have to commute, get to museums when they open. Depending on where you stay you could have an evening walk along the south bank or Hyde Park. It’s lovely. And more exploring a neighbourhood rather than using all your energy travelling as it were. I’d recommend it as it very much feels like a holiday even though I know the city quite well after 30 years here there’s still something I didn’t know or haven’t seen.

JohnWickAteMyHamster · 15/10/2025 07:26

I used to live 20 mins on a train from London Bridge and one of my fave weekend breaks with DH early in our relationship was in London!
I think it's a great idea OP

Original poster
RessicaJabbit · 15/10/2025 07:26

SilkAndSparklesForParties · 14/10/2025 23:00

But you are only half an hour on the train to King's Cross.

But I'm not. I have to get to the train station (20 minutes away) and then travel on from KCX to wherever we're going.

We went on the cable cars, took for bloody ever had to get across London and onto the DLR.

Want to go to the museum if the home in Hoxton and that takes the time to get to station, 45-60 mins on the train. So we're easily spending 2.5hrs+ travelling there and back again. It's just long and it's okay every so often, but would be nice just to maybe stay and be closer so we have more time to explore,or chill or something. :)

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 15/10/2025 07:27

It’s lovely being a tourist in your “own” city
i say do it. It’s a different experience as well

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 15/10/2025 07:27

I live in West London and can travel to Windsor in under an hour. When my DC were young I took them on a weekend break to Windsor. They loved staying in a hotel and doing a boat trip and visiting the castle. It was one of the most low stress breaks we’ve ever done and still felt like a proper holiday.

I’m sure your London trip will be the same.

Lennonjingles · 15/10/2025 07:36

We go to London and stay 3 nights, we live in Surrey, so easy to get in and out, but it’s nice to stay and be able to take your time going to places, my DS also goes to London with gf and they stay long weekends, there are a lot of AirB&B. Staying over is very different to going in for the day, there’s so much to see and it’s better taking your time.

mamagogo1 · 15/10/2025 07:41

We do it once a year, just 1 or 2 nights though. Stayed at an amazing place by natural history museum this time

gannett · 15/10/2025 07:42

You'll have a nicer time, won't be as rushed and won't be short of things to do. Depends whether you think those benefits outweigh the cost of overnight accommodation or not.

MellowPinkDeer · 15/10/2025 07:44

It’s 35 minutes to central London from here and we often have London weekenders! I love staying in a fancy hotel and walking about! Go for it Op!

Original poster
RessicaJabbit · 15/10/2025 07:53

Just need to find somewhere that isn't going to be more than my mortgage 😂😂😂

OP posts:
chillichoclove · 15/10/2025 08:01

In reality getting anywhere in London takes time so going to cable cars is exhausting regardless? Unless you stay far east. Then getting to the museums takes time. But a short break in London is lovely and do what makes you happy!

LaurieFairyCake · 15/10/2025 08:13

Do it ! I live in London and stayed at a posh hotel for my anniversary last year just for a change. Was wonderful

Cynic17 · 15/10/2025 08:13

It's a fantastic idea - there is do much to do. I "go on holiday" to London a couple of times a year.

Randomchat · 15/10/2025 08:16

Hotel breakfast!

Staying over is so different to going home. You can wander around and see everything lit up. Definitely stay.

Swiftie1878 · 15/10/2025 08:22

RessicaJabbit · 15/10/2025 07:53

Just need to find somewhere that isn't going to be more than my mortgage 😂😂😂

We stay at the Novotel (Blackfriars).
Great access to the South Bank, and it even has a pool!

squashyhat · 15/10/2025 08:55

I commuted in or to London all my working life - latterly an hour's train journey each way. During retirement I have continued to go for theatre, exhibitions etc but decided I would never again be running for a train home after an event, especially late at night. So I always book an overnight stay in a Premier Inn. It turns the trip into a mini holiday. I have two coming up which I'm really looking forward to.

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