Trip to London from Kent

[CauntDracula]

Could anyone help with the following please? I'm not really familiar with London and Google isn't really helping so far.

Planning a 1 night stay in London and hoping to go to the Science Museum and Tower of London. We are in South East Kent and would prefer to drive in but would take the train if it's a lot cheaper.

Is there a location that's easy to get to and close to both of those attractions that won't cost a fortune to get to?

Would it be better to drive to the outskirts of London somewhere, stay there and get the Tube into the centre?

Grateful for any advice.

Don’t drive. Traffic is awful and parking insanely expensive.
Are you near the high speed? It’s expensive but so much faster and easier than the normal lines. You can get discounts with family railcard

Science museum and Tower of London are probably day trips by themselves but both on the district line so you can get from one to the other. Packed lunches recommended as museums are expensive. There are lots of chain restaurants near the tower.
Go for a travelodge. There’s one near the Tower of London.

I drive through London a lot from Kent for work but the problem is that parking is very difficult once you get past the North Circular/South Circular some of the Premier Inn’s etc have parking and nearby tube/ rail stations if you can find the right one, I would ring them up.
We used to stay in the Tower Hotel, St Catherine’s Dock near Tower Bridge as kids by rail/ tube and do all the museums, it depends on your budget.

We regularly drive to North Greenwich, park in the tube station car park (next to the O2) then catch the jubilee line into town. I think it's about £12 to park all day.
The museums are a nightmare for driving and parking I would def recommend getting public transport in.

Sorry just realised you're staying as well. I would say a hotel on the outskirts so you can travel in and not worry about congestion charges and all the other low emission zones!

We used to stay here when the DC were little:

www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lonnddi-doubletree-london-docklands-riverside/

It's the right side of town for Kent and has plenty of parking. It has great views over the river to Canary Wharf and lovely water gardens.

You can take the river bus to Tower Bridge. It's not the quickest form of public transport but it is the loveliest! The Science Museum is 20 mins on the tube from Tower Bridge.

Alternatively, the National Theatre car park is cheap (for London), allows overnight parking, multiple exits and entries during your booking, and can be booked in advance. You could stay nearby in Southwark/Bankside/Southbank eg

www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-southwark-bankside.html?cid=GLBC_SOUANC

www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/locations/show/20496224

Otherwise, I would pick somewhere on the District & Circle line between the 2 places you want to visit.

We are on the High Speed line but my grumpy DH prefers to drive and at least in the car I can tune out the whingeing DC rather than having to pay attention to them on public transport! In fact I've just remembered that one DC hates trains and one hates boats!
Maybe this is why we've never had a trip to London before, but I will have a look at all the links. Thank you for all the advice.

Doesn't like or hates? If you really want to drive everywhere, on street parking is free in RBKC (near the science museum) after 1.30pm on Saturdays until Monday morning. You could drive in and pay to park near the Tower of London then stay near the museums in South Ken.

www.rbkc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/Single_Yellow_Line_CPZ_April_2020.pdf

Tower Bridge is at the edge of the CC zone. If you take the A roads to South Ken, you skirt the edge of CC zone.

tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/congestion-charge-zone

Yes they dislike them more than hate them maybe.
I like the look of the Hilton, and not much more expensive than the Bankside Premier Inn by the looks of it.
So you think boat to Tower Bridge then tube to Science Museum?
Are taxis a waste of money? This will be weekdays in October half term.

Totally agree with @PedrosPony drive to the O2 , park there and then you can either get the tube or the Thames clipper into London . For the Tower the clipper would be best as it has a stop there IIRC . We live in Kent and I always drive when I’m going into London , for day trips I use the O2 , for gigs / theatre I drive in and park , it’s much more convenient and cheaper than the train .

So you think boat to Tower Bridge then tube to Science Museum?

If you are going to do it in one day. It would be better to do it over 2 days. The Tower of London by boat on the first day, then take the tube from Canary Wharf (there is a free shuttle ferry across the river from the hotel) or Canada Water to the Science Museum the next day. Unless you want to take the river boat again to further down the river to take in the sights (Tower Bridge/Tower of London, HMS Belfast, St Pauls, Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern, Houses of Parliament, London Eye).

You would have to check with the hotel about parking for 2 full days if you only stay 1 night though.

@Floralnomad

Totally agree with *@PedrosPony* drive to the O2 , park there and then you can either get the tube or the Thames clipper into London . For the Tower the clipper would be best as it has a stop there IIRC . We live in Kent and I always drive when I’m going into London , for day trips I use the O2 , for gigs / theatre I drive in and park , it’s much more convenient and cheaper than the train .

We're planning to stay so would you go further in than the O2?

@chesirecat99

So you think boat to Tower Bridge then tube to Science Museum?

If you are going to do it in one day. It would be better to do it over 2 days. The Tower of London by boat on the first day, then take the tube from Canary Wharf (there is a free shuttle ferry across the river from the hotel) or Canada Water to the Science Museum the next day. Unless you want to take the river boat again to further down the river to take in the sights (Tower Bridge/Tower of London, HMS Belfast, St Pauls, Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern, Houses of Parliament, London Eye).

You would have to check with the hotel about parking for 2 full days if you only stay 1 night though.

I've just called and they said only 24 hours parking.

I'm beginning to think train into St Pancras, then tube to a hotel near Tower Bridge is best.

Fully agree with your last op. I live in central London. The train is so quick and with congestion charge and parking (if you could sort it out it would be exorbitant to bring a car in when you really don’t need to). Just use the tube and Thames clipper (river bus) to get around.

Sorry I’d missed the bit about staying .

OK thanks everyone. I think I'm sold on the High Speed.

One last question. Is there somewhere to stay near the Tower of London that would be one direct tube journey from King's Cross/St Pancras, and one direct tube journey to the Science Museum?

I can see you've changed tack but I was going to say there's a Holiday Inn Express near the O2, as in walking distance from the tube station. You can park there for £20 a day I think and then you could do four stops on the Jubilee line to London Bridge and walk down to Tower Bridge and across it to the Tower of London. That depends on how good the DCs are at walking, but crossing the bridge on foot is an experience.

If you were driving you need to check the ULEZ charge limits as they'll extend on 25th October and catch North Greenwich. That's if it applies to your vehicle.

There is a travel lodge in Woolwich zone 4 which offers parking. Can then take river taxi to embankment or DLR to access underground. Woolwich is not the loveliest place but will be much cheaper than other options.

How old are your DC? What do you want to do in the evening?

I wouldn't stay near Tower Bridge, there are some nice restaurants but there isn't that much to do in the evening with DC. I would stay near St Pancras so you can leave your bags at the hotel. South Ken or mid way on the river like the Bankside hotel could also work depending on your DC's ages/evening plans. Across the park from the museums near Queensway/Bayswater could be good too - you have the Princess of Wales memorial park for little ones or evening bowling/skating/burgers or the cinema for older DC, late night shopping and restaurants on Oxford St etc.

I live in southwest London and wouldn't dream of driving in normally. The fast line to St Pancras is excellent usually (my daughter lives in Canterbury) although the slower line via Victoria may be cheaper. I second staying near St Pancras - Picadilly line to South Ken for the Science Museum.

We live in the SE and sometimes drive in. Try just park and it shows you options. We paid less than £30 for 5 days parking.
Remember you have to add the congestion charge too.
Pay it earlier and it's cheaper!

Is there somewhere to stay near the Tower of London that would be one direct tube journey from King's Cross/St Pancras, and one direct tube journey to the Science Museum?

They are all on the Circle line. You need to check the destination boards on the platform/train to make sure you get on the correct train though as the Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan lines and all the District line routes "merge" with the Circle line for parts of the route then split off.

Catch a train from Maidstone to Victoria, then a tube for two stops to South Kensington.

Tavistock hotel near Russell Square is fairly reasonable and fairly central. Also consider Youth hostels - they decent i;London.

Thanks everyone. DC are 8 and 10 so not too young to walk far but old enough to whinge about it!
I'm slowly getting my head around the map of London and the Tube map using your advice. Have just realised the Science Museum is closed on the days we're there so that simplifies things anyway.
I'll update when I've booked something.

I had another thought OP if your rail provider is South Eastern

Family & Friends Railcard
Eligible for one or two adults named as cardholders. While they don’t have to travel together, they do need to be travelling with the card and at least one child rate passenger gets the discount. In total, up to 4 adults and 4 children can travel on the Railcard – and you don’t need to be related.
Cost: £30 for one year. £70 for three years.
Benefits: 1/3 off rail fares for up to 4 adults and 60% off for up to 4 children between 5 and 15

Buy online here

Network Railcard
Eligible for anyone over 16 in the Network Railcard area. Up to three adults travelling with the cardholder will also receive a discount off their fare. You can take up to four children (aged 5 to 15) with you at a reduced rate.
Cost: £30 for one year
Benefits: 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off child fares in London and the South East

Check though as there are time restrictions and you can't use at peak commuter time.

Are you sure the Science Museum is closed, @CauntDracula? It is open 7 days a week during the school holidays, including half terms (last week of October/first week of November). The post-COVID reduced hours are term time only.