Can a Londoner do me a favor?

[99.vikram]

I'll be in London with my family for a couple of days this June. Can someone recommend a dirt cheap place to stay there? An inn/motel/anything will do, as long as roaches don't outnumber people in the neighborhood.

Also, please suggest some uber cheap eateries, and the best way to get around. Thanks!

 

[PJ]

What sort of areas are you going to? You gonna try and see as much as you can?

If you're looking for really cheap accommodation, Holiday Inn Expresses are usually pretty good, from experience. If you're looking for something different, or want to find one in a particular area:

http://www.visitlondon.com/accommodation/


Also, if you're gonna come to England, at least spell 'favour' properly

 

[Acepilotf14]

Why would you go to England? All they do is misspell words and drink tea.

 

[Holy Toaster]

Why would you go to England? All they do is misspell words and drink tea.

Hey! I do not drinc tee!

 

[Shift]

Why would you go to England? All they do is misspell words and drink tea.

And those americans, with their pronouncing of tomatoes in a retarded manner and their huge, fat bodies!

I like this game

 

[99.vikram]

The plan is to stay in London for a couple of days and visit as many landmarks as we can.
Then we embark on a whirlwind tour that takes us to a bunch of European cities in 10 days.

 

[PJ]

Wow, sounds interesting.

If you like science and that cool shizz, go to the Science Museum; it's free entry.

If you have the budget, see a play, or at least visit the West End - there are some amazing restaurants.

 

[Shakermaker]

Then we embark on a whirlwind tour that takes us to a bunch of European cities in 10 days.

Amsterdam ftw!

 

[repiV]

I'll be in London with my family for a couple of days this June. Can someone recommend a dirt cheap place to stay there? An inn/motel/anything will do, as long as roaches don't outnumber people in the neighborhood.

Also, please suggest some uber cheap eateries, and the best way to get around. Thanks!

Travelodge often do super cheap deals if you book in advance. My relatives from Australia stayed in Covent Garden for a week for £9 a night last summer. It's probably a bit late to jump on that bandwagon now but check it out anyway, you might be lucky with £29 rooms.

Travelodge deals aside, I doubt you'll find anything "dirt cheap" though. Unless you're talking backpackers hostels. Even for the cheapest B+Bs in the most remote parts of Scotland you're talking £20 a night each sharing a room. No chance of those prices in London.

The tube is the best way to get around (unless you bring a motorbike ). Make sure you get an Oyster card because you'll get utterly ripped off paying cash. Having said that, central London is a surprisingly small place and you should be able to have a lot of fun just walking around and seeing the sights.

Uber cheap eateries? Dunno, but avoid the whole financial district (EC postcodes) cos you won't find anywhere cheap or even reasonable there.

 

[Laivasse]

London's not a good place for cheap anything, but the recommendation for Holiday Inns and Travelodges is a good one. They are your best bet for staying affordable and within easy reach of the Tube or rail. A few years back my uncle stayed in Travelodge Ilford, which is currently offering Family Rooms at £40 per room, per night, before any deals or discounts. From there you would have to get the train from Ilford station into Zone 1 each day, which would be about a 35-45 minute commute, plus you'd have to deal with the fact that you were staying in Ilford which is a shithole. You could possibly find somewhere more central.

I know that in Forest Gate, near where I used to live and near to the new complex for the Olympics in Stratford, there used to be a a plethora of small B&Bs along the Romford road which would probably be cheap as well as being a short walk/bus ride from a decent rail connection. Precisely how much they cost, or whether they have any internet presence, or whether they are swarming with cockroaches, or whether they even still exist, are all things I don't know.

Cheap food, good luck... Presumably you'll be looking to chow down in between various sightseeing escapades, so you'll be looking to eat some place central. 'Cheap' in this case will be entirely relative, but I do recall that many of the smaller cafes/restaurants in Chinatown (in the smaller street behind the cinemas, not the main street) were very reasonable even without taking advantage of the buffet deals they often offer. Many of the Korean-run Jap-hybrid eateries, like Nara restaurant off Berwick street, are reasonably priced for the quality you get. If you're checking out the British Museum one day, you should be able to eat affordably in one of the many cafes around that area and in Bloomsbury. The Wasabi chain does the cheapest sushi in my experience, but if you're going to eat there do me a favour and phone or mail them with an official complaint about their crappy fish, since the complaints go directly through to someone who broke my heart. Wherever you go, just keep an eye out and compare the prices to other London prices, not prices wherever you're travelling from, or else it will feel like your money is on fire and burning its way out of your pocket.

As has been mentioned, get an Oyster card and travel by Tube, that's the best way to get around. It is indeed possible to walk between most sightseeing spots in central London in the course of a day, as I used to do often, but you need a good sense of direction and resilient legs, or good skills with your AtoZ, or indeed you need to have enough time so that you don't mind getting enjoyably lost.

I miss London...

 

[repiV]

I miss London...

Blergh, I'm glad I now live far away from the place and its insiduous effect on everywhere within a 50 mile radius of it. Don't get me wrong, whenever I get to spend some time in Central London I enjoy it. It's a good place to visit. And I miss the climate, which is much better than that in rainy, cloudy Devon where it never gets particularly hot and the air always feels wet.

I could reel off a list of benefits, but mainly, I like how people are generally happy and not suicidal - and wouldn't sell their granny for a fiver, I can get to some of the most stunning countryside in the world in half an hour despite living in the city centre, people have more interesting things to talk about than how much money they have and their careers, and I don't feel like a foreigner in my own town. London is like a zoo for humans.

Still, I digress. You'll enjoy your visit. I also recommend walking along the Thames from the Houses of Parliament eastwards until you get to Canary Wharf. It's an awesome way to kill a few hours on a sunny day.

 

[Laivasse]

I could reel off a list of benefits, but mainly, I like how people are generally happy and not suicidal - and wouldn't sell their granny for a fiver, I can get to some of the most stunning countryside in the world in half an hour despite living in the city centre, people have more interesting things to talk about than how much money they have and their careers, and I don't feel like a foreigner in my own town. London is like a zoo for humans.

Didn't say I missed Londoners

Still, I digress. You'll enjoy your visit. I also recommend walking along the Thames from the Houses of Parliament eastwards until you get to Canary Wharf. It's an awesome way to kill a few hours on a sunny day.

A jaunt alongside the Thames is always a good inclusion in the itinerary for any on-foot bumbling around London.

A typical walking route for me would be to start by taking the train into Tottenham Court Road and get out to do some shopping around there or Oxford Street. Halfway down Oxford Street hang a left into Berwick Street to check if any of the indie music stores like Selectadisc (I've forgotten what it's called now) had any good deals. Carry on through Soho and you can end up in Piccadilly or Leicester Square via Chinatown. From either of those places you can easily toddle over to st. James' Park (via Trafalgar Square if you went to Leicester Sq.), from which you can either head down to Buckingham Palace or head straight down Birdcage Walk/gt. George Street into Westminster to gawp at Big Ben. Cool thing about Parliament Square which may have changed in the past 3 years: although there are flowers, benches and places to sit on the square, there are no actual marked or signposted crossings to get across the busy roads there, so it's almost always fairly quiet and a nice place to sit and contemplate (if you can cross without dying). Anyways, from Westminster you can take that lovely walk along the Thames eastwards, either on the south bank past County Hall, the London Eye, the festival hall, etc. or along Embankment, past Temple gardens and Cleopatra's Needle or whatever - why not even mix and match by using the bridges! You can go as far as St. Paul's, the Tate Modern, Tower Bridge/Tower of London, or indeed Canary Wharf like you say (although that would be a mammoth excursion after already having walked this far). Great day on foot.

 

[repiV]

Didn't say I missed Londoners

Touché.

I've actually noticed I find the place stressful nowadays whenever I go there - I never used to. After a few days it starts to irritate me and I just have to get out. It's just so... unnatural. Unfortunately it gets worse before it gets better as you have to go through Hayes, Hounslow, Heathrow and all those lovely places before you can escape onto the M4.

My dad's side of the family is all from Hayes. It's such a shithole, just being there makes me feel depressed.

 

[Eejit]

LONDON MAKES YOUR BOOGERS GRAY

 

[kupocake]

And those americans, with their pronouncing of tomatoes in a retarded manner and their huge, fat bodies!

Hey, call it off. The whole thing.

 

[99.vikram]

If you like science and that cool shizz, go to the Science Museum; it's free entry.

If you have the budget, see a play, or at least visit the West End - there are some amazing restaurants.

We will definitely check out the science museum! I personally am not very "cultured" but my parents might be interested in plays.

Amsterdam ftw!

Sadly, my mom isn't cool enough to appreciate Amsterdam. Maybe on another trip with friends - I'll be earning soon anyway.
repiV and Laivasse, advice duly taken on Travelodges and Holiday Inns and getting the Oyster card for the Tube. The sightseeing pointers will also come in handy. Thread bookmarked!

but if you're going to eat there do me a favour and phone or mail them with an official complaint about their crappy fish, since the complaints go directly through to someone who broke my heart.

Sounds like some unresolved business..

 

[knut]

the generator hostel is right smack in walking distance of most places, near russel square or thereabouts. stayed there with my illustration class, was quite fun but we only went there for the convenience and because it wasn't really pricey to stay for a week.

 

[repiV]

Planning is the key. Even budget hotels can be really expensive if you book last minute. Cost us £75 for a twin room in Newquay last summer at the Premier Inn, and I recall seeing prices around the £89 mark for a Travelodge room in Glasgow. So we stayed in the one in Dumbarton 20 miles away for under half the price, as we were just passing through anyway...

Whatever you book, book it early!

 

[Hectic Glenn]

London doesn't do cheap anything. You're going to the wrong place if you want a budget city break. I absolutely adore living here though, it's fantastic...I wouldn't want to move away from it so it's a great place to visit.

Like mentioned above, get about on the tube with an oyster card. It will take you everywhere you need to go. Tube map here - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf

On that map, almost everything of interest is in the middle. The Science Museum was mentioned before, which sits pretty much next to the Natural History Museum at South Kensington (circle line - yellow, bottom left). Head down to Waterloo for the London aquarium & London Eye, it is also only a short walk to Embankment where you'll find the Houses of Parliament & Big Ben. All your shopping needs at Oxford Circus.

Restaurants are everywhere but Leicester Square & Covent Garden are packed with them, food is not cheap in London. If you miss Indian food, go to Aldgate East, 10 minute walk to 'Brick Lane' and you'll find lots. A walk down to Piccadilly Circus would be a good sight to visit too. Green Park and Hyde Park Corner is lovely to visit Hyde park...very nicely kept, and only a few minutes from Buckingham Palace.

You'll have a great time, just don't be surprised when coffee costs £2.40, it's London!

*favour

 

[knut]

the best burgers in the world are also in brick lane, near rough trade records. little outside stall that does the henchest potato wedges and biggest burgers i've seen in a long time. do recommend.

****ing love brick lane

 

[Havoc]

I'd recommend Camden town and market for lots of different shopping and food varieties. The covered market will be busy but its certainly worth a browse, and there are lots of food stalls mixed in offering pretty much anything you could think of.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Camden is great, the market and the loch are great places to hang around in the summer, not sure if it would be ideal for mums though. It's hard to find a spot in Camden which doesn't smell like weed.

 

[99.vikram]

Restaurants are everywhere but Leicester Square & Covent Garden are packed with them, food is not cheap in London. If you miss Indian food...

Who travels across an ocean for familiar food? I want ostrich stuffed with alligator meat, doused in absinthe and then set on fire. And subsequently peed on by a London hobo, just so it tastes authentic.

Seriously though, I want to try some regular English fare. I also want to have some decent sushi while I'm there.

You'll have a great time, just don't be surprised when coffee costs £2.40, it's London!

If that's for good coffee, that's about 2.5x the price here which isn't as expensive as I expected.

 

[Laivasse]

I want ostrich stuffed with alligator meat, doused in absinthe and then set on fire. And subsequently peed on by a London hobo, just so it tastes authentic.

I suppose you were joking, but you'll probably be able to find alligator and ostrich meat just fine in Borough Market, close to London Bridge station (which in turn is within 5 minutes walk of The Globe theatre and the Tate Modern) ;D

Oh, for the absinthe try some of the specialist liqueur shops in Soho like Gerry's, then for the piss, go to Russell Square (near British Museum) and offer some absinthe to one of the tramps or students (same difference).

BTW regular English fare nowadays is pretty much... Indian.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

If that's for good coffee, that's about 2.5x the price here which isn't as expensive as I expected.

It isn't good coffee, that's standard stuff from costa / starbucks.

I suppose you were joking, but you'll probably be able to find alligator and ostrich meat just fine in Borough Market, close to London Bridge station (which in turn is within 5 minutes walk of The Globe theatre and the Tate Modern) ;D

I adore Borough market, really great fresh food market with amazing variety. Got some great fish there and wild boar sausages recently. Definitely worth a visit.

There is another great market over at Liverpool Street called Spittalfields. It's quite a nice part of London with a few pubs and shops nearby too.

Yo Sushi is a reasonable priced chain of sushi restaurants, there are many in London. There is a particularly nice one across the road from St Pauls Cathedral (St Pauls - Central line).

Hey Laiv you should come back. Someone broke a huge water main in Stratford recently at the Olympic park knocking out the water from E1 to E14. That was an interesting day you missed out on

 

[Iron Kat]

I found the Thameside Youth Hostel in Southwark a very nice and affordable place to stay. You don't have be a member of the Youth Hostel Association to stay there but that does mean you have to pay a small supplement. It's right on the main road (Salter Road) and so it's easy to access and easily recognisable by the large, green triangle on the side of the building. It's easily reachable by bus from Waterloo station (if you were to get the bus, that is) and there is a stop almost directly outside the grounds.
See the link for more info: http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/london/hostels/london-thameside/index.aspx

 

[99.vikram]

^Thank you, Iron Kat! Exactly what I was looking for.

EDIT: Hmm, on second thought a travelodge might be more comfy. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Solaris]

Yeah Londons a real joke.

Last meal I had there was a smoked salmon sandwich. Cost £7, was just two pieces of bread out of a loaf of supermarket bread, then some smoked salmon that was no better than you could get from Tesco's for a 5er for a load of it.

Shocked me really that they get away with that.

Oh a pimms and lemonade cost me £9 too. Was shocking.