Transit place near London

[delanvital]

The good doctor and I are driving to the LAN. To save costs, I have a couple of friends who we will give a ride to London and also pick up on the way back Sunday.

We will come via the tunnel. We need to find a good middle spot, not to close to city (i.e. too far away from the highway), but near some kind of cheap, public transport they can take down town. Say a good train stop, not too far away.

Also, we can pick up a couple of dMw'ers and transport them from London to the LAN in March, Cambridgeshire Friday morning, should someone be interested, and back to same spot Sunday noon-afternoon-ish. Times are being sorted atm. So:

• what is a good transit area to aim for near London? (and what is the right way around London, on our way to March?)
• Are there two LAN attendees in need of a ride to the LAN?

[BigFatCat]

Coming through the tunnel, up the A2/M2 or M20 and then M25 anti-clockwise toward the M11 at a guess.

Dartford, near the Thames crossing has Bluewater and Lakeside close by, which should be manageable by public transport.

Lakeside is by a station, but not as well connected as Bluewater, which looks better placed to catch a stupidly expensive British train for any tourists.

[Penfold]

Bluewater would be better (and far more aesthetic) and easy from London mainline stations.

Train and short bus trip (included in price).

http://www.bluewater.co.uk/guest-information/how-to-get-here/by-train

I suggest you get them to wait in the John Lewis Cafe which overlooks the road and means they'll be able to see you and come down to save you having to find somewhere to park.

It's the easiest of all the car parks imho.

Only thing about Bluewater is that it shuts at 4pm on Sundays so am not sure what time you're planning to meet.

PEN

[delanvital]

With departure from March at around Sunday noon, we should be there at around 2 pm, so 4 pm deadline should be no biggie.

Cheers for the excellent feedback both of you.

[suicidal_monkey]

if you decide to come in closer to the centre ... near Kings Cross say I'll fill the space in the car! :flirty:



...but it is some way off the motorways :sideways:

[delanvital]

We will go with the bluewater stop. My two friends travelling with us asked if I knew of a good, cheap hotel in London. I reckon there are tons? Any recommendations perhaps? Or good sites for that?

[Penfold]

good, cheap and London don't really go hand-in-hand.

FWIW I tend to stay at Express by Holiday Inn.

It's relatively cheap and clean. It's quite business-ey and you'll pay about £100 per night per room.

Someone may have a better suggestion:

http://tinyurl.com/3azudd

Go for anywhere in the city (numbers 15-20). Although the more central you are the more they will pay.

Not sure what they are planning to do but ensure they buy daily travel cards so it'sfree travel on the buses, trains and tubes else they'll pay a fortune.

hth

PEN

[suicidal_monkey]

the hoxton hotel near old street tube often has good deals on rooms. pretty nice rooms and 5 min or so walk to the tube, and there's lots very close by
http://www.hoxtonhotels.com/

[GhostMjr]

I actually live just round the corner from Bluewater grew up in Bexley about 10-15 minutes away from Bluewater. I am unfortunately travelling directly from Bournemouth to Cambridge as i am at uni otherwise i would go in convoy  .The shopping centre at Bluewater usually closes late but being a Sunday it could close at 4pm as shopping centres in the UK usually do, but that doesn't stop from meeting in the car parks and doing donuts . Pen is perfectly right about holiday inn express a very high standard of hotel for not alot of money. If you have a special discount voucher you can easily pick up a room at a discount but this needs to be done in advance, which i can get hold of if you like and then send it to you. Theres a vanilla holiday inn in bexley with a nice pub known as the black prince, my home town actually but lots to do. There is also a hotel on the Lakeside exit of the m25 but you need to be in the correct lane to get to it. If you want any directions just ask =).

[delanvital]

I actually live just round the corner from Bluewater grew up in Bexley about 10-15 minutes away from Bluewater. I am unfortunately travelling directly from Bournemouth to Cambridge as i am at uni otherwise i would go in convoy  .The shopping centre at Bluewater usually closes late but being a Sunday it could close at 4pm as shopping centres in the UK usually do, but that doesn't stop from meeting in the car parks and doing donuts . Pen is perfectly right about holiday inn express a very high standard of hotel for not alot of money. If you have a special discount voucher you can easily pick up a room at a discount but this needs to be done in advance, which i can get hold of if you like and then send it to you. Theres a vanilla holiday inn in bexley with a nice pub known as the black prince, my home town actually but lots to do. There is also a hotel on the Lakeside exit of the m25 but you need to be in the correct lane to get to it. If you want any directions just ask =).

Cheers for feedback GM I have advanced the details to the two tourists