Non Sightseeing Motel Choice in London

We'll be landing at 10:45pm on Friday March 25, 2012, for a Princess cruise that leaves the next day. Since it appears we won't really have time for sightseeing in London, would you recommend staying in a hotel close to the airport (Heathrow), or close to the Southampton pier?

We'll be landing at 10:45pm on Friday March 25, 2012, for a Princess cruise that leaves the next day. Since it appears we won't really have time for sightseeing in London, would you recommend staying in a hotel close to the airport (Heathrow), or close to the Southampton pier?

Suggest you ask this question on the British Isles port board. There is a lot of information there and I believe this question has been asked before.

Note: Just seen that John Bull has already answered your other query and he answers a lot on the Bristish Isles port board. Maybe he will answer your second query here. If you are arriving that late would suggest you stay near airport and start off early next morning. You could catch cruiseline coach from airport maybe for less hassle.

We'll be landing at 10:45pm on Friday March 25, 2012, for a Princess cruise that leaves the next day. Since it appears we won't really have time for sightseeing in London, would you recommend staying in a hotel close to the airport (Heathrow), or close to the Southampton pier?

I must admit I have an aversion to airport hotels, I find them soul-less & isolated.

Heathrow hotels are cheap enough (about the same as Southampton), but tend to charge heavily for meals, drinks, etc, knowing they've got a captive audience -oops, that sounds a bit like cruise ships ;)

If you head straight to Southampton, a journey of 90 min to 2 hrs, you'll be there by 2pm. You'll then have the afternoon, evening & the next morning to get over any jet-lag, find a nice restaurant or pub, do a bit of shopping, & check out Southampton's admittedly-few historic sights & museums, etc.

Princess normally sail from Mayflower or Ocean terminals - with luggage neither is really walkable from any city centre hotel, it's a short £5 to £7 taxi ride from any of these hotels - some hotels offer a free transfer.

These city centre hotels are all within walking distance of the sights & amenities, some are walkable with luggage from rail or coach stations.

Listed in vaguely price order, $ to $$$$ :

Etap (european chain hotel, normally cheapest in town)

Ibis (european budget chain hotel

Novotel (european chain hotel)

Premier Inn New Road (British chain hotel)

Premier Inn West Quay (opened last year, excellent reviews)

Jury's Inn (small British chain)

Mercure Dolphin Hotel (historic coaching inn, recently refurb'ed, great reviews)

Southampton Park Hotel - (traditional British 3-star hotel)

Holiday Inn, Herbert Walker Ave. (don't confuse with H I Express, they're on the city outskirts)

De Vere Grand Harbour (5-star, recenly down-graded to 4-star)

Ennio's (boutique)

White Star (boutique)

Some useful websites:

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/PDF_Downloads/Up%20to%20date%20port%20plan.pdf

http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_map.htm

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_southampton.htm

JB :)

I must admit I have an aversion to airport hotels, I find them soul-less & isolated.

Heathrow hotels are cheap enough (about the same as Southampton), but tend to charge heavily for meals, drinks, etc, knowing they've got a captive audience -oops, that sounds a bit like cruise ships ;)

 

If you head straight to Southampton, a journey of 90 min to 2 hrs, you'll be there by 2pm. You'll then have the afternoon, evening & the next morning to get over any jet-lag, find a nice restaurant or pub, do a bit of shopping, & check out Southampton's admittedly-few historic sights & museums, etc.

 

Princess normally sail from Mayflower or Ocean terminals - with luggage neither is really walkable from any city centre hotel, it's a short £5 to £7 taxi ride from any of these hotels - some hotels offer a free transfer.

 

These city centre hotels are all within walking distance of the sights & amenities, some are walkable with luggage from rail or coach stations.

Listed in vaguely price order, $ to $$$$ :

 

Etap (european chain hotel, normally cheapest in town)

Ibis (european budget chain hotel

Novotel (european chain hotel)

Premier Inn New Road (British chain hotel)

Premier Inn West Quay (opened last year, excellent reviews)

Jury's Inn (small British chain)

Mercure Dolphin Hotel (historic coaching inn, recently refurb'ed, great reviews)

Southampton Park Hotel - (traditional British 3-star hotel)

Holiday Inn, Herbert Walker Ave. (don't confuse with H I Express, they're on the city outskirts)

De Vere Grand Harbour (5-star, recenly down-graded to 4-star)

Ennio's (boutique)

White Star (boutique)

 

Some useful websites:

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

 

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/PDF_Downloads/Up%20to%20date%20port%20plan.pdf

 

http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/

 

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_map.htm

 

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_southampton.htm

 

JB :)

Thanks for you help, John Bull, we are actually not arriving until 10:45pm Friday (not am), that's why I was saying we really wouldn't have time for sightseeing.

We'll be landing at 10:45pm on Friday March 25, 2012, for a Princess cruise that leaves the next day. Since it appears we won't really have time for sightseeing in London, would you recommend staying in a hotel close to the airport (Heathrow), or close to the Southampton pier?

Okay, okay, I got it wrong by 12 hours. :o

But you got it wrong by 12 months :D

Try again. lad:

You'll be clear of the airport formalities about 11.45pm, which would get you to Southampton around 1.45am even if there's transport that time of night. Choose the wrong hotel & you'd be sleeping on the doorstep too :D

So soul-less airport hotel-land makes sense, its just a bed for the night.

Can't suggest a hotel, only ever stayed at one near Heathrow & wouldn't recommend that one.

But that time of night do make sure it's one that's close by & has its own transfers or is on the Hotel Hoppa route.

Next morning you'll have a choice of transport - private transport about £90 the car, or Nat Express coach about £18 pp plus £5 taxi at Southampton, or ship's transfer coach. With either of those coach options you'll have to go back to the airport for the pick-up.

Or the new cruisetour coach, which picks up at selected Heathrow hotels & visits Stonehenge en-route http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_from_london_shared_bus.html

JB :)

We stayed at the Dolphin Mercure hotel. Good price, nice place. Really enjoyed it. Very central, nice Indian across the road. It's only a short walk to the front, but you would need a taxi with bags, only 5 mins though.