Hotel/travel advice for single female attending Metallica concert (London stadium) solo?

[OneTrackMindToday]

Hi lovely mumsnetters

Hoping for some advice from either London Stratford locals or people who have done similar before.

I've booked a solo ticket to see Metallica next July 3rd (nobody to go with so being brave and going alone rather than miss out!). Due to distance I'll be making a 2 day trip to London (train there Friday morning, back Saturday afternoon).

I'm looking for somewhere to stay that won't totally break the bank - while minimising late night solo travel.

I've seen Snoozebox but it's not currently taking bookings for 2026 - don't know why - so that's on the backburner for now.

To slightly complicate things, there's a small chance I may be heavily pregnant by then so if that's the case I would have to cancel my trip - but haven't got DH on board with DC2 yet so I'm proceeding with life as normal rather than put everything on hold in case.

The cheapest hotel with free cancellation I've found in close proximity to the stadium is Travelodge London Stratford but I'd need to pay the ~£320 now. Without free cancellation is ~£250 but obviously wouldn't get that back if I'm unable to travel. Should I just bite the bullet and pay up now?

How safe would you say travelling back to somewhere more central (e.g. Kings Cross area) to a cheaper hotel would be late at night on my own? I know there'll obviously be lots of people leaving the stadium but I'm still apprehensive.

Appreciate any advice you can give, I'm familiar with the tubes but not a London regular.

(Before DH gets a bashing, he did offer to come but I'd honestly rather go solo than with someone who won't enjoy it, and it also means he can stay home with DD).

Thanks!

I’ve done 2 stadium concerts this summer and getting home has been a nightmare both times so I would stay as close as you can, within walking distance if possible.

You’ll be safe wherever because it’ll be heaving so I wouldn’t base your decision on that.

The tube will be busy and unpleasant but very safe.

Hmm good to know I should be safe either way. I am definitely leaning towards staying close to the stadium but need to weigh the higher cost up against the inconvenience of getting the tube..

Thanks for your advice!

have you tried Ibis Stratford? or book something a bit further out on the tube like travelodge snarnsbrook

Thanks for the suggestions @lambinapram I've just looked them up. Ibis is fully booked and the Snaresbrook one is the wrong direction unfortunately

my thought was going few stops in the wrong direction will save you a lot of time. everyone else will be catching the west bound the trains whereas there won't be many going further east. depends on what day of the week it is and what time it finishes. weekend has 24 hour central line.

Sorry to be thick, but where is the gig? In the West Ham stadium?

fantastic you’re going alone. I went to a gig alone last year and don’t regret it for a minute.

It's a good half hour walk from Stratford station, I'd look at somewhere on the dlr line, maybe canary wharf ibis. We stayed in Holborn and got the bus back from the bus ststion which is right next to the train station,

This is a good point.

Yes it's london stadium Stratford July 3rd

How safe would you say travelling back to somewhere more central (e.g. Kings Cross area) to a cheaper hotel would be late at night on my own? I know there'll obviously be lots of people leaving the stadium but I'm still apprehensive.

It will be absolutely fine. I’d rather do that than walk from the stadium to Travelodge Stratford.

We stay at Finchley Travelodge... literally a 2 mi walk in the twon centre from tube to hotel, it's the northern.line.

I've always felt ok returning late at night to.the hotel, plus if driving it has parking too

We stay at Finchley Travelodge... literally a 2 mi walk in the twon centre from tube to hotel, it's the northern.line.

I've always felt ok returning late at night to.the hotel, plus if driving it has parking too

Without free cancellation is ~£250 but obviously wouldn't get that back if I'm unable to travel.

Will the Travelodge allow you to reschedule if you need to cancel, rather than lose the money? Check their ts&cs. You may be able to rebook perhaps a weekend for you and dh.

Try Travelodge Bethnal Green, it’s cheaper, and only two stops on the tube or a bus journey. Failing that, try Airbnb. I can see the stadium from my home - a lot of my neighbours Airbnb their flats 😊

Travelling before/after the concert will be safe, but it’ll be very busy!

All accommodation directly around the stadium is more expensive and gets booked up when concerts are on.

You’ll be safe either which way.

If would be nice to be able to walk and to avoid public transport, but if you decide to go further afield, it’ll take a while to get there and it’ll be busy but will be safe.

Remember Stratford is on the DLR, and also on the London Overground line so you’re not confined to destinations on the Tube.

@lambinapram thats a good point actually, I’ll take a better look at overall travel times and see if that’s practical

@MissMoneyFairy thanks, I’ll look into that too, I haven’t looked there yet

@FleaDog thank you, I’ll look into that

@HonoriaBulstrode yes that rate would allow me to reschedule, but being out of the city centre it’s not really a location I’m likely to revisit. That said, it is an option, you’re right.

@NightPuffins thanks , I hadn’t thought of Airbnb, I’ll look into that too

Some great options here, thank you all! I definitely need to try and map out public transport options and then look into accommodation on those routes. Really appreciate all your ideas 😊

Something else I’ve just remembered.
Are you travelling into Kings Cross? You mentioned it above.
There is a direct train from St Pancras to Stratford International station - it’s one stop and takes 7 minutes. Most people don’t realise because no one seems to know about Stratford International station! I forgot until this morning. I just checked and the last train is 23.47.
So you could look at staying Kings Cross/St Pancras and have a short journey to the stadium and back again. If you missed the last train for any reason you could still go by tube.

Inconvenience after a stadium concert could mean it taking up to an hour to get on a tube train even if it’s close by.

You could leave the gig early to beat some of the crowds, and trains going south back into town will be much busier.

Dd and her friend went to iron maiden at Stratford. Had a nightmare trying to actually get on the tube as it was so busy. if you can afford it staying there will probably be easier than the station chaos. Safety wise absolutely fine, just thousands of people all trying to get to the same place.
They got the central line out and I picked them up later than expected but all ok.

whatever you choose to do you’ll have the best time! Metal fans are truly the friendliest to each other.