Alternative Places to Stay for the Olympics
It’s 100 days to go until the Olympics so if you’re coming to the capital to see an event or two or just to join in the celebrations it’s time to PANIC that you’ve not got your accommodation sorted! Ok, maybe not panic, but perhaps sorting it out soon will be better on your bank balance?
You might think that London is the only place you can stay if you’re Olympics-bound, but you would be wrong. The fantastic transport links that allow millions of commuters to flow into and out of London every day mean that you can easily stay a little further out.
And with hotel prices skyrocketing at an unbelievable rate – we’ve seen nightly rates from about £500 for average hotels in average locations – it could be time to look elsewhere! If you’ve not managed to snag yourself a room yet here are some ideas to get you started.
Brighton
This arty and cool beach resort is unbelievably just an hour’s train journey away from London Victoria so you could combine your Olympics with some seriously fun nights out – there are more quirky live music venues than you can shake a stick at here! Plus you get to explore the pier, look round the Royal Pavilion and dip your toes in the English Channel.
Watford
Connected to Central London by the Metropolitan line tube as well as trains to Euston in 18 minutes, this is a popular spot with commuters. The attractions here are modest but the surrounding Hertfordshire countryside is beautiful – there are plenty of opportunities to go walking, cycling and even play golf if watching all those Olympic sports gets you in the mood to try your hand at something!
Southend
Popular for day trips out of East London, there’s no reason why you can’t do the same in reverse. Trains arrive into Fenchurch Street Station in the city in around an hour and it’s a reasonable walk or a short onward journey from there to get to the Olympic Park. As you would expect from a seaside town there are plenty of things to keep the kids happy – like Kids Kingdom – as well as miles of sand and a pier.
Cambridge
This beautiful university town is a little further away with journey times from 49 minutes up to an hour and a half but just think of all that unused student accommodation! Bargain prices plus the fact that you’ll arrive into Kings Cross, from where the Javelin train can whisk you to the Olympic Park, means this is well worth thinking about. Plus, you can stroll the beautiful colleges, walk along the river and enjoy the vibrant music scene.
High Wycombe
Located along the Chiltern Line from London Marylebone, this is one of the top commuter areas in the Home Counties. Trains take just over half an hour to arrive in London. It’s easy to visit Oxford, Marlow and Henley from High Wycombe for some lovely days out and the Eden shopping centre provides boutique and high street trends. You can also visit Hughenden Manor, a National Trust property with acres of stunning grounds.
Wherever you decide to stay try our hotels search for the best deals!
