Advice for weekend in London

sibeen99

Hi Guys,

I'm travelling to London in May for a weekend with my friend. We are flying into Stanstead and will then get a transfer to Liverpool Street Station. So, what I'm wondering is where would be the best place to look for accomodation? Are we better off staying close to Liverpool St Stn for ease of returning to airport on the morning of departure or should we stay closer to the city. It's mainly a weekend of sightseeing and nights out so we are flexible with regard to area.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

83ste

What time does your flight back to Ireland depart at?

enda1

As has been mentioned on here a tonne of times, the Tune Hotel near Liverpool Street Station is ideal for a quick jaunt to London - especially if travelling to Stansted.

sibeen99

Its approx 6.30am flight.

enda1

sibeen99 wrote: »

Its approx 6.30am flight.

Oh my sweet holy Jesus! :eek:

sibeen99

enda1 wrote: »

As has been mentioned on here a tonne of times, the Tune Hotel near Liverpool Street Station is ideal for a quick jaunt to London - especially if travelling to Stansted.

Thanks enda1,

I should have searched more thoroughly

sibeen99

enda1 wrote: »

Oh my sweet holy Jesus! :eek:

I know, we really only need a place for a bag drop for that night

83ste

sibeen99 wrote: »

Its approx 6.30am flight.

Then I'd highly recommend you stay in a Stansted airport hotel the night before. The first train from Liverpool St to Stansted in the morning leaves at 4:40am, which gets you into Stansted at 5:50am - that's pretty much the absolute bare minimum you'd need to make a 6:30am flight, and if there's any delay whatsoever with the train or going through security, you're screwed.

sibeen99

83ste wrote: »

Then I'd highly recommend you stay in a Stansted airport hotel the night before. The first train from Liverpool St to Stansted in the morning leaves at 4:40am, which gets you into Stansted at 5:50am - that's pretty much the absolute bare minimum you'd need to make a 6:30am flight, and if there's any delay whatsoever with the train or going through security, you're screwed.

Thanks a mil for that, I hadn't even checked the train timetable so glad to know that before I booked a hotel!

afatbollix

Ya with a flight at that time stay at the airport. No way of getting to the airport that early.

enda1

afatbollix wrote: »

Ya with a flight at that time stay at the airport. No way of getting to the airport that early.

Well that's not true now, there's always a taxi/minicab which could certainly be a descent option especially as there are a few of you OP I gather!?

dd972

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Green

1) Get large placard and pay homage to Stanley Green

2) Have a few in the Portherhouse

3) Buy a large cake

5) Go back to Stansted and get on plane back.

afatbollix

enda1 wrote: »

Well that's not true now, there's always a taxi/minicab which could certainly be a descent option especially as there are a few of you OP I gather!?

Still going to be about £85 to £100 for a mini cab. Why not book the hotel out at the airport then instead of having to get up at 3am then can sleep in and get up later?

Reekwind

afatbollix wrote: »

Still going to be about £85 to £100 for a mini cab

That'd be very steep. A cab (for two people) from central London to Stansted shouldn't cost more than £50; at least not with the companies that I use

exiledelbows

Aren't there National Express/Terravision buses that run from Liverpool St to Stansted all night? They're only about a tenner each way and very reliable

sibeen99

Thanks guys,
certainly some food for thought for there! There are two of us travelling so will have to discuss whether to stay at airport or get a cab. £50 is reasonable enough for a cab. I guess it will all fall into place but its nice to be organised too.

sibeen99

dd972 wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Green

1) Get large placard and pay homage to Stanley Green

2) Have a few in the Portherhouse

3) Buy a large cake

5) Go back to Stansted and get on plane back.

Who wants less passion and lust??!!
Im all for the cake though

maggiep2010

exiledelbows wrote: »

Aren't there National Express/Terravision buses that run from Liverpool St to Stansted all night? They're only about a tenner each way and very reliable

There are buses that run every half hour, all night long…going to stay in the airport the night before would be a waste of a night in London. Some good hostels in Shoreditch (which is few mins walk to Liverpool st), wouldn't cost too much, and one of best areas in London for going out!!

maggiep2010

my friend stayed here recently, brilliant location, new and clean…

http://www.thedictionaryhostel.com

sibeen99

maggiep2010 wrote: »

my friend stayed here recently, brilliant location, new and clean…

http://www.thedictionaryhostel.com

Thanks magpie2010, Ill check it out

Banjoxed

sibeen99 wrote: »

Who wants less passion and lust??!!
Im all for the cake though

Poor old Stanley was a street character when I was there in the late 80s - paying tribute meant eating a large rare steak

sibeen99

Banjoxed wrote: »

Poor old Stanley was a street character when I was there in the late 80s - paying tribute meant eating a large rare steak

Lol well if that's the case then I might add it to my itinerary

djpbarry

sibeen99 wrote: »

So, what I'm wondering is where would be the best place to look for accomodation? Are we better off staying close to Liverpool St Stn for ease of returning to airport on the morning of departure or should we stay closer to the city. It's mainly a weekend of sightseeing and nights out so we are flexible with regard to area.

It really depends on what you mean by "The City". I think Liverpool St is a reasonably good base, bearing in mind that you need to get back to Stansted. That part of London ("The City" or "Square Mile" - the financial heart of London), is eerily deserted at the weekends, but, it's actually really nice to walk around - there are some very impressive buildings. I think of it as a mini Vienna within London.

And while the immediate area is very quiet, you'd be very close to Shoreditch, if it's trendy, wanky, nights out that you're after. You'd also be pretty close to Angel/Islington.

And as for sights, well, as I say, The City is nice for a wander, but, by virtue of Liverpool St being fairly central and on the Central Line, you'll be able to get to pretty anywhere you're likely to want to see within about 15-25 minutes: Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Green Park (Buckingham Palace), St Paul's, Westminster, South Kensington (for the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, V&A Museum). You could actually walk from Liverpool St Station to, say, Covent Garden in about 45 minutes.

Have a look at www.tfl.gov.uk for tube maps and journey times.

sibeen99 wrote: »

Its approx 6.30am flight.

Jaysus - why do people do that to themselves?!?

Santa Cruz

djpbarry wrote: »

It really depends on what you mean by "The City". I think Liverpool St is a reasonably good base, bearing in mind that you need to get back to Stansted. That part of London ("The City" or "Square Mile" - the financial heart of London), is eerily deserted at the weekends, but, it's actually really nice to walk around - there are some very impressive buildings. I think of it as a mini Vienna within London.

And while the immediate area is very quiet, you'd be very close to Shoreditch, if it's trendy, wanky, nights out that you're after. You'd also be pretty close to Angel/Islington.

And as for sights, well, as I say, The City is nice for a wander, but, by virtue of Liverpool St being fairly central and on the Central Line, you'll be able to get to pretty anywhere you're likely to want to see within about 15-25 minutes: Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Green Park (Buckingham Palace), St Paul's, Westminster, South Kensington (for the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, V&A Museum). You could actually walk from Liverpool St Station to, say, Covent Garden in about 45 minutes.

Have a look at www.tfl.gov.uk for tube maps and journey times.
Jaysus - why do people do that to themselves?!?

Cheap flight can be the only reason. You are either going to get up around 4.30 or not go to bed.