Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Going to the O2: Stay in lively Kensington or move eastward??

Posted by on

I will be in London Sep 21-27 for the Laver Cup Tennis tournament at the O2 / Millennium Dome (Roger Federer's last tournament! :)). I am booked at a hotel in Kensington (Gloucester Road Tube), where I've stayed three times and loved the location for its many restaurants & proximity to other London sights. But I am realizing that it's a 30-min tube ride to the O2--and we are going for all three days of the tournament (Fri/Sat/Sun).

Should we stay put because Kensington is so vibrant and just make the schlep every morning and night, or is there another area you'd recommend we consider that is lively but also a bit closer to the O2? (To be clear, while there are certainly hotels right next to the O2, we do not want to stay there because we'd be so far away from so much else).

Thank you!

Posted by
16413 posts

The question I have is what time does the tournament start each day? Are you going to be fighting rush hour travel on the tube? If yes, stay closer.

And it will take you longer than 30 minutes to travel between Gloucester Road and the O2.

Posted by
2600 posts

I'd stay in Kensington if you're happy with the area and hotel. It's a fairly straightforward journey on the Jubilee and Circle/District lines.

Posted by
5866 posts

I’ve had a 30 minute to 60 minute commute to work most of my adult life, so this seems reasonable to me. I think it will take more than 30 minutes to get to the O2. I’d plan a minimum of 45 minutes. However, you may feel differently. Only you can decide if the trade off of staying in a familiar place that you know you enjoy is worth the inconvenience of a longer commute for 3 days of your stay.

If you want to be closer, you could choose somewhere along the Jubilee line so that it is a direct trip to the O2. I’d probably pick a location on the South Bank (near Waterloo station).

Posted by
7207 posts

Just an opinion, but if I was going to be at the O2 all day, each of the days, I’d probably look for a hotel closer to it. Hotels right near the O2 will probably be more expensive because of the event, so maybe there’s a compromise location, closer than Gloucester tube station, but less expensive than right by the O2. I can’t suggest a location since we too stay near the Gloucester tube stop when we visit London.

Posted by
4088 posts

Since you know the neighbourhood you can easily find the Hereford Arms, with a good selection of 'Fuller's draught beers and a huge Sunday roast menu. Reserve, uh, book, ahead.

Posted by
16413 posts

And if the Hereford Arms is busy, there are three more Fuller pubs near Earls Court station.

Posted by
2693 posts

I have twice stayed near Paddington and twice at Baileys in Kensington, just across from the Gloucester Rd tube station and it’s now my preferred hotel and neighborhood…definitely make your choice depending on location as a 30 minute tube ride isn’t at all long.

Posted by
12 posts

Thank you everyone!! Greatly appreciate the help. I think I'll stay put and try the bonus pub recommendations below while I'm at it. :) Cheers.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.