We will have a car while in London. Does anyone know a less expensive place to stay with available parking or with cheap parking near by. We can stay out of town, if there is easy tube access. We have my husband and I and my college age son and daughter.
The Quality Hotel Hampstead has free onsite parking and is quite close to Fincley Road Underground
Dont forget the daily Congestion Charge of £8 for driving in central London.
That's right about the congestion charge!!!
Jennifer, make sure that your car rental company points out that the London congestion charge is on the rental... otherwise you'll be surprised to see a BIG fine when you get back to the states.
Under search you'll find a bunch of stories about rental horror stories (with brand names companies like Hertz and Avis!).
You're better off dropping the car in London, and rent it again when you need to get out of the city. Pick up/ drop off the car outside the city.
The city is very strict about the congestion charge during the week!!!
Is it possible to get a place to stay (5 of us) outside the congestion charge zone, but within walking distance to a tube station? We are renting the car from Stansted and I guess we could return it there, but i'm remembering it is 20 BP(x5) or something to ride into London( on the Standstill express). It just seems like it would be easier to park it for a couple days. After London, we are going down to Eastbourne and flying out of Gatwick. I think there is no congestion fee on the weekend and the evening? Is your car charged the fee if it does not move? My husband is one of the strangest, he gets a real thrill drving in London and we did get hit with the congestion charge last time whilst trying to avoid it. I already rented a car from Alamo $40 day pick up in Stanstead drop off at Gatwick. I don't know how the congestion charge ring matches with the zone 1+2 tube. Is it the same?
Have a look at the link I posted, it should answer most of your questions. If you park and leave the car on a public road you will have to pay the daily charge.
The maps, when compared with the tube map, should help you identify areas outside the zone where you would be able to stay. But you are getting into the suburbs not all of which would be suitable/desirable for visitors to stay. Furthermore, accomodation in the nicer suburbs can often be as expensive as moderate priced hotels in central London and you have to add the daily cost of the commute.
Greenwich would be a decent suburb as long as you stay in the right part ie near the river/park. Unfortunately there do not seem to be many hotels there but the Novotel London Greenwich gets decent reviews on Tripadvisor and is situated next to good transport links and has secure parking. You are the right side of the river for your trip to Eastbourne. Also it is not far from the World Heritage Site in Greenwich Park and of course the Observatory with the Meridian Line.
Don't know your budget but it might be worth looking at and maybe get a deal but don't forget to factor in your daily transport costs.
The Melrose Guest House has a room for 5~~~
Melrose House
89 Lennard Rd, London SE20 7LY
Telephone: 020 8776 8884 or 020 8659 0384