Accomodation for theatre mini-breaks

My mum had to give a urine sample to a visiting medic last week and as it wasn’t planned they were a bit stuck for equipment suitable for an elderly lady to “collect” it. So she grabbed this fancy, decorative teapot off her kitchen shelf and went to the loo. When she came out the nurse said (jokingly) “I hope you’re not going to make anybody a brew in that now!”. To which Mum replied “I’ll tell them it’s PG tips” 😆😆

I have travelled to London for almost 15 years, every month or two. Never counted but I think I've stayed at approx. 50 hotels, hostels, B&Bs, serviced apartments - including some horribly dodgy places in Acton and near King's Cross when I was a poor student. I actually packed my stuff quickly and left a place once because I felt genuinely unsafe. But then, that's another story and another thread...

I'm team Premier Inn as well although I love last minute offers at Double Tree by Hilton or Radisson Blu in November or February (normally I can't afford them since I live on the continent, so I'm always chuffed to bits when I find a nice room for half price, and low season is actually a great time for theatregoing). I did use Airbnb a couple of times but it's not really my thing - the hosts were lovely but I just didn't feel comfortable. I'm getting older and I like my air conditioning, fresh linen, shower and the afore mentioned kettle.
Strand Palace is also nice - ok, the rooms are small but the location!

Having stayed at the Stratford Premier Inn this weekend I can vouch for that one. Easy transport links (Central and Jubilee and overground) about 30 mins door to door for central London stuff.

It’s a bit tricky to find the entrance - it’s at the rear of the Westfield shopping centre-but can’t fault it for nearby amenities as a result. Also I enjoyed my first trip to Stratford-nice area to stay in, even had a Potter about the Olympic Park. (Before the West Ham fans invaded)

Premier Inn for me as well, especially when I've got a London trip booked.

I'm very much a 'value for money' person and they have everything, food, comfort, quiet (nearly always). The air conditioning was a godsend during the awful heat in July and the breakfast is far too tempting and served at a humane hour.

One thing that keeps costs down is being willing to travel outside of Central London and further afield. Woking is usually very cost effective for example. I was just looking at a week for later next year and it's £100-£110 for three nights (without breakfast). Yes, you have to get train tickets but the travelcard will also pay for any tube travel. Less than 30 minutes from Waterloo with frequent trains.

Occasionally I've used London Travelodges, the one in Finchley was good when I stayed there.

In Stratford I tend to go very much out of season and have had a B&B all to myself!

I have difficulties with Edinburgh though as the prices are whacked up and VFM is difficult to find. I don't like traffic noise and B&Bs tend to stick solo travellers in rooms that are usually at the front and Edinburgh is full of main roads. If I've miscalculated I have an app on my ipad which creates white noise and so blocks out the noise. It's a constant sound so I get a good nights sleep! If anyone knows of the same on quiet roads with low costs then I'd love to know.

Ive stayed in 3 different hostels in London (Smart Russell Sq, Clink78 & Generator)

You couldn't pay me to stay in Smart Russell Sq or Clink78 again. I really hated them.

Generator is alright. If I was super tight for budget id probably stay there again.

Yes many times, usually the YHA ones ( some of the private hostels have an upper age limit and are more concerned with partying than sleeping)
Although sometimes the price for a single room is not much cheaper than a b & b or smaller hotel.


London St Pauls YHA- clean & quite except for the bells. Handy to buses and tube, and convenient for the Globe.

Edinburgh Central YHA- about a 10 minute walk downhill from Waverley Station ( but remember you have to go back up!) and about the same from the bus station. Clean rooms, singles with en-suite. Rooms overlooking the street can be noisey due to traffic but not excessive. *Single rooms here can cost more than the Premier Inn Hub in Rose Street, so shop around.

Bristol YHA - lovely old building on the waterfront near the Arnolfini. Good cafe. Clean rooms. Short walk to Theatre Royal.

Manchester YHA - on the canal at Potato Wharf. Purpose built hostel so good layout. Can be noisey with school groups but otherwise clean & good cafe in foyer. Short walk to G-Mex transport or buses around the corner.

Lots of others but they're not really relevant to theatre breaks.

I've said this on a previous thread, but I offer it again if you're interested.

I always book the County Hotel on Upper Woburn Place. It's about a 5 min walk from Euston Station, and one of the cheapest but safest places I know. I have managed to get 3 nights B&B for £113.50 booking it through Superbreak for a November weekend theatre break. I always try Superbreak first, but if their allocation of rooms has gone, I book direct through Imperial London Hotels, although the same no. of nights will cost about £156.

The rooms are basic, but clean, and you won't get one in the basement! Bathrooms are shared (4 to each floor) and well maintained. English breakfast is self-serve in the basement dining room, and your booking will enable you to a visit to one of the posher hotels in the group for fancier meals if you wish. All the group hotels are along that road, running past Tavistock Square up to Russell Square.


www.imperialhotels.co.uk/en/

Stayed in hostels twice now, once in a shared room, the other I got a private ensuite. I will stay on a hostel again but only if there's a private room. Sharing a room with strangers, for me at least, was awful. There were only 6 of us all together, but the issue was 5 of them were all part of the same group, and I was this Billy No Mates who'd just invaded their space. I felt so alone, and it was rather embarrassing. I had little to no privacy.

I always pay extra for my own space now.

I agree on the soap dispensers!

Also if anyone is curious the whole 'good night guarantee' thing in Premier Inn isn't a lie! we once raised an issue of a noisy heater/air conditioner unit with reception, just so they could get it fixed because I don't know I'm that person. And immediately they offered the free night thing. Clearly some people might take the piss but it's nice to know it's actually real.

OH & I once had to claim this but we'd have preferred - wouldn't anyone - a decent night's sleep. No difficulty with the refund as the staff had asked the offenders to be quiet, but in vain. Taught me a painful lesson though: now I always ring ahead with a room request; quite general so easy to meet but it ensures a quieter room location.

I used the MegaBus Gold from Glasgow to London several times for abou 3/4 years until it got discontinued last January. I'm now a user of the Caledonian Sleeper and the usual Virgin west coast trains.

If I stay over, I stay at the EasyHotel in Victoria. The most basic of hotel rooms and probably the smallest room in the whole of London but I've managed to get it for as little as £25 a night if you book at the right time and off peak. I've also stayed at a few Travelodges such as Kings Cross and Covent Garden.