“Commute” town by train to London for a weeks stay

With that budget I’d play around on the Premier Inn site using map view and see what options pop up.

If you try to go to Ireland you will end up spending more money by the time you factor in flights and transport that you’ll have pay for rather than using your rail pass.

It's definitely possible, both within London and just outside. Premier Inn has a number of hotels on or around your budget. Central London is of course outside your price range, but there are some not too far away. The Beckton hotel has rooms at £85pn for your dates. It's not a beautiful area but it's close to London City Airport and direct access to Central London via a DLR station close by.

Perhaps better is the Premier Inn in St Albans, an ancient and attractive town to the north of the city with easy train access and going for £98pn.

There will be other options too.

We stayed in Lewes south of London for a couple of nights and loved it. We stayed at a Premiere Inn but I don't recall if it was at your budget. The King Alfred in Winchester was less than that and it's another worthwhile town.

Thanks all, these give me starting places. I will work on this more this evening in Chester. Right now, I am sitting on the train platform in Bangor.

I like the ideas of Lewes, Winchester and St Alban’s. This evening, I will search other threads for additional suggestions; as I recall recently, there was a thread about a lovely three night stay about one hour south southwest of London

The more I consider this, being able to commute regularly into London is not a requirement (thoughI will eventually need to get to a London airport). Perhaps village-hopping through the south and southeast ….

The need to regroup and replan is about 12 hours old. Apologies for my questions being so scattered.

Regarding possibly going over to Ireland, my only incremental travel cost should be the ferry from Wales, which would be discounted with my Eurail pass. Of course, just as here, I would have local buses to pay for. What else am I overlooking on the transport side?

Thanks again

St Albans is an excellent suggestion - a beautiful city, what with the Abbey, the Roman ruins of Verulamium and fairly near to Hatfield House. It's a historic place with a nice market, and only 20 mins by train to St Pancras.

Just bear in mind that these are commuter towns (well, certainly St Albans and to some extent Winchester) so trains will be really busy in and out of London at peak times.

"so trains will be really busy in and out of London at peak times"

True, but as a tourist you can avoid the peak (off peak tickets are cheaper as well). That's what I've done when I've stayed in St Albans. If you want an alternative to big city, but still within easy reach, it's a good option.

True, but as a tourist you can avoid the peak (off peak tickets are cheaper as well)

Yes, I know that - hence my warning. I wasn’t criticising the idea of St Albans - I think it’s a great one. I was just suggesting that it might be busy on the trains at peak times. I figured therefore that the idea of travelling at off-peak times was implied in my post, but perhaps I should have been explicit.

Arundel and Chichester is the thread you are thinking of- by @cwsocial and Texas Travel Mom

I also like the idea of staying in St Albany. We stayed in a house in this interesting small city for 3 weeks a few years ago. We really enjoyed the history, shops, restaurants and plentiful trains into London at off peak times.

Thanks again,all. When I can tear myself away from this bench beside a lovely fountain in the courtyard of Chester Cathedral, I will start planning and my “surprise” week.

I checked hotels in Arundel and they must have a very busy weekend planned, perhaps at the castle. I believe Norfolk Arms, right in the center of town, had a room for 14-17 June, but not for your entire week. And the pricing may have been out of your range.

it seems you are heading in a different direction now, and further from the commute to London, just to say that the Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn at Watford Junction (15 minutes plus or minus to London Euston umpty ump times an hour) both have rates in your bracket fairly often. Watford Junction is close to St Albans, and has a dedicated train connecting the two.

I suggest also looking at Travelodge. It’s North but Watford Junction to Euston in 20 minutes.

I got a Sunday night for £43 next week.

St Albans was recommended to me for an “out of town stay” by a UK citizen who had lived both there and in London. I have never done this myself, but thought I’d throw in the support for previous posts if it fits your interests.

Watford, and the area around Watford junction, are not particularly attractive places. St Albans is much more attractive in its own right-particularly the Roman remains. If you can afford it, that’s where I’d stay.

Thanks, all. St Albans fits the ticket but alas not the budget.

My thought now for this “bonus week” between my time in Yorkshire and my planned/budgeted return to London proper (Notting Hill, 5 nights) is to explore Nottingham and environs, or the Peak District. And send annoyingly wonderful photos to the friend who cancelled her week in this trip, this blowing my plans/budget out of the water. ;-) .