Transportation Options in London

I will be going to London for the first time in October but from what I have been told, traffic is a nightmare in London. I imagine parking might be also and I expect that it would be expensive

Can you find an apartment that is more central and closer to the attractions you want to go to?

I like booking.com to do research.

I hope persons who know London might respond to your post

Victoria Park is bounded by Hackney, Bow, and Bethnal Green.

Don't know which edge you will be on.

Hackney has just announced a ban on driving on something like 80 percent of the streets without a good reason, supported by high fines, to cut congestion. That's tough because it is one of the areas of the city with the worst public transport. No tubes, few buses and a couple of train stations.

Bethnal Green at least has the tube and more buses, and is closer to Brick Lane.

I can't speak to Bow because I have no personal experience there. Those born within the sound of Bow bells are Cockneys.

Interesting that you are posting about an area, Bethnal Green, for which I was just about to post elsewhere that one of their more niche museums is being forced to close - the Vagina Museum - which has its last day tomorrow.

This is why most posters would recommend finding a place to stay closer into the city, preferably near or inside the "orbit" of the Circle Line. Indeed it is crazy (your word) to rent a car and drive it around London. I don't know whether the traffic or the parking would be the bigger nightmare. You might want a car for sightseeing outside London (or other big cities), but then you should be staying farther from the city and closer to your sightseeing goal(s).

An apartment or hotel closer to central London will cost more and/or be smaller than the one you're considering, but the time and energy you'll save can offset those costs. Keep in mind that your limited time is worth paying something for on an overseas trip like this. How much of that time do you want to spend riding back and forth every day? What's it worth to have lodging close enough that you can go back there easily in the middle of the day if you want?

Booking.com is a good search tool, with useful maps and filters, and authentic reviews. But do any actual booking with the hotel or apartment provider if possible.

You will not be able to drive into central London and park with any efficiency. You’ll have to pay a daily congestion charge and any car parking available will be extremely expensive. It would be cheaper to just take the Ubers.

You could find somewhere a similar distance from the centre but with better transport links. The new Elizabeth line is very fast so anywhere on the line will make transportation easier.

the Central London Congestion Charge is £15 per day, every day of the year except the week between Christmas and New Year inclusive.

The ULEZ - Ultra Low Emission Zone - is £12.50 per day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Parking in Central London will cost up to £50 per day, if you can find it.

Much of London now has a 20 mph speed limit, and lots of sleeping policemen.

It can be done but it will cost.

It sounds like you haven’t made your reservations yet. Listen to all the good advice above and see if you can either move closer in or on a more convenient public transport route. Don’t rent a car for London. The City Mapper App is a great tool to use for getting around London. I’d encourage you to download it in advance.

Okay, you've convinced us that a car is a terrible idea! I'm going to look around some more for a place with better access to public transportation. Not having been to London before, though, I'm finding myself overwhelmed by its sheer vastness, and by all the options. If anyone wants to share some ideas for neighborhoods that are close to transport without being insanely expensive, I'd be grateful. (I know we have to expect to pay an arm and a leg for lodging in London, but I'm trying to avoid paying two arms and a leg!)

It will help if you tell us a bit more about your requirements. How many people, bedrooms? What budget would you like to shoot for? What are your exact dates?

The more info, the better answers you will receive. Don’t forget to look at VRBO as a resource.

just rent a car. But is this crazy?

1) It is utterly insane.

2) highly unlikely a car is going to be quicker that the Tube

3) everywhere you are likely to go is close to transport. Get the tube map at TfL.gov.uk and begin your accommodation search inside the Circle (yellow) line plus the area around Waterloo and the South Bank.

We're going to be in London from May 13th through May 24th. There will be three of us, myself and my partner, and my sister. So we're looking for a place with 2 beds -- 1 single and 1 king/queen. We're hoping to keep it under $200 a night.

We're hoping to keep it under $200 a night.

We don’t know where you are from or what kind of dollars you mean. What is that in GBP?

The answer is likely to be “Premier Inn”.

I've been to London 6 times and I can't imagine that Uber would be faster than the Tube.

Sorry. $200 USD, so around £250.

You have your conversion factor wrong for dollars to pounds. £250 actually equals $308 USD

Do you need separate bedrooms?

Hi, yes, please consider your vacation minutes as valuable time and stay as central as possible. My husband & I are planning a trip there this year. I like to pick small boutique hotels, so we have several of those on the trip, but for London I selected the Hub by Premier Inn at Westminster Abbey. The rooms are tiny, but we aren’t going to London for the hotel. It’s very close to the St. James metro stop and others, so good for The Tube but also great for walking to several places we want to see.

$200 is only £162. Wow that's low.

Our hotel is £712 for four nights. We have “the bigger room” but that’s relative in size - LOL!

I think you need to reconsider your budget. You are extremely unlikely to find accommodation you would want to stay at for that price anywhere near central London.

You will either be spending more money and gaining time or keeping your budget and losing time in transport.

Close to your budget and near the tube
VRBO. Property ID. 736884
And property ID. 1020806ha

Ack, yes, I'm sorry! I did the calculation backwards. I was looking at hotels in £ last night, so that conversion was stuck in my mind.

I am a fan of booking.com.

You can do research on booking and then go to the hotel or apartment site and book directly or you can book though booking.

However and whatever you book, be certain to get free cancellation.

"Ack, yes, I'm sorry! I did the calculation backwards. I was looking at hotels in £ last night, so that conversion was stuck in my mind."

I am sorry but I just laughed out loud! We've all been there! I realized I double booked a hotel in Harrogate the other day...I was so sure I had not booked it that I didn't check my itinerary before I did it. Well, now extra work to cancel one of the reservations. Yeesh. And yes, I'd added the first booking to my itinerary complete with the confirmation number.

Look at the following Premier Inns and book 2 rooms.

County Hall
Aldgate
Victoria
Tower Bridge
Kensington
Euston

Book ASAP as the King’s Coronation is the 6th.

Try Vancouver Studios. They have some triples that may have kitchenettes too. Great transport links and location.

Pam, are you doing the historic baths in Harrogate? They are simmering on my bucket list when I get to that area of earth. I’m dying to hear some first hand experiences!

Premier Inn is probably going to be your best option in your price range. We have a room for 4, in June, this year for 640 pounds total for 4 nights at Premier Inn County Hall.

If you stay that far out and use ubers, you'd be better off spending that money on a hotel closer to the city and increasing your hotel budget.