Port of London Lodging Suggestions

[Ecnarps]

We're booked on an "Into the Midnight Sun" cruise next year (London to Bergen) and plan to travel to London a few days early.  Would greatly appreciate any Hotel or B&B suggestions that might be convenient for sightseeing as well as our embarkation location.  Thanks!

[Heidi13]

When selecting a hotel in London, suggest finding one that is close to a Tube Station for ease of playing tourist.

 

In 2017, we selected the Travelodge Waterloo, as it was a short walk to both the Tube Station and Mainline Station. Prior to joining a cruise in Tilbury, we then stayed at the Travelodge Tower Hill, which was also a short walk to a Tube Station and an easy drive by limo to the port.

 

After our World Cruise, which ends in Greenwich, we will stay at the Travelodge Kings X, as we will be taking an East Coast train from Kings X up to Scotland.

 

We are very comfortable with Travelodge, who have reasonable rates for fairly basic, but comfortable rooms and most of them include breakfast in the morning.

 

If your cruise departs from Greenwich, they have a Tube Station (DLR Line) which is a short walk, but depending on location you might need to make a few changes. Personally, when boarding/disembarking in London, we opt for a limo. We use Addison Lee and are very happy with their prices & services. I recall Jim uses a different company, but can't remember the name.

[photopro2]

You might look at The Ibis London Greenwich hotel. Ibis are a major European "value" brand and, though we have not stayed here, we have had good experiences at other Ibis properties.

The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from Greenwich pier were the Viking tenders dock so it would be perfect for your embarkation.

You can also get one of the frequent river buses to/from central London from that pier too. The trip only takes about 30 minutes and, though a little more expensive, I think is a much nicer journey than "down the tube" See https://www.thamesclippers.com/route-time-table/book-now

There are also other easy transport options within a few minutes walk using the Docklands Light Railway or the "main line" rail system from Greenwich train station.

Our first home was in Greenwich and there is a lot to explore in that area as well as in central London - enjoy 😀 

[cruzzzinma]

We loved the Rubens at the Palace. It is a half block from Victoria Station and we were able to walk everywhere.

[Jim Avery]

Ecnarps you don't mention where you are sailing from, Greenwich or Tilbury.  Either way where you sail from and all the major sites of London have some distance between them.  If Greenwich, we are big fans of Greenwich.  Lovely "Villagey" feel with some good pubs Thames side, the historical venues, restaurants all in a relatively small area.  My favorite way to get to Tower Bridge or Westminster areas are the convenient river boats from Greenwich.  Lodging is literally all over the place.  Hundreds and hundreds of options so that is a personal choice.  If from Tilbury I am of no help.  For a good car service we have often used Smith's for Airports.  Addison Lee is also very good.  You can get online quotes before you go.  The only way to go, imho, when schlepping luggage.  Heidi 13 is a fount of knowledge on this.

[Heidi13]

Thanks Jim - forgot the luggage shipping. When we are going to/from LHR, rather than carting luggage to or from the airport, we get it shipped by Airportr. Arriving LHR they meet you right outside arrivals, take your cases and ship them to the hotel in about 5 hrs.

 

We then take the Tube to the hotel. Shipping 4 cases cost about UKP 50, but when you travel on the Tube rather than Heathrow Express + cabs/limo, the additional cost of shipping the bags was negligible.

 

When departing from LHR, we have Airportr pick up our cases at the hotel/cruise terminal and they are handed over to BA at LHR. We then take a leisurely trip by Tube out to the airport. Back in 2017, they only operated with British Airways flights, but planned to add AA to their service.

 

For travelling on the Tube, suggest getting an Oyster Card on arrival in London, no need to pre-order and have one shipped to your home.

[Jammy Bun]

11 hours ago, photopro2 said:

You might look at The Ibis London Greenwich hotel. Ibis are a major European "value" brand and, though we have not stayed here, we have had good experiences at other Ibis properties.

The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from Greenwich pier were the Viking tenders dock so it would be perfect for your embarkation.

You can also get one of the frequent river buses to/from central London from that pier too. The trip only takes about 30 minutes and, though a little more expensive, I think is a much nicer journey than "down the tube" See https://www.thamesclippers.com/route-time-table/book-now

There are also other easy transport options within a few minutes walk using the Docklands Light Railway or the "main line" rail system from Greenwich train station.

Our first home was in Greenwich and there is a lot to explore in that area as well as in central London - enjoy 😀 

we stayed at the Greenwich ibis last summer for a few days prior to our Midnight Sun trip.  On the morning of our embarkation, we walked with our luggage to the Viking tent (adjacent to the Cutty Sark), checked in and left our bags with the staff there, then went to do some more exploring of the area before boarding the ship at lunchtime.

Totally agree with all that photopro2 has said about transport.  As Brits who fairly regularly visit London, we avoid the tube wherever possible.  The river buses and London buses are what we prefer, as you see so much more of the city whilst getting from A to B.  

 

[Clay Clayton]

In addition to the Oyster Card, if your credit card has RF capability you can use it by just tapping at the turnstile just like you do the Oyster card.  

 

[CCWineLover]

On 4/26/2019 at 3:20 AM, photopro2 said:

You might look at The Ibis London Greenwich hotel. Ibis are a major European "value" brand and, though we have not stayed here, we have had good experiences at other Ibis properties.

The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from Greenwich pier were the Viking tenders dock so it would be perfect for your embarkation.

You can also get one of the frequent river buses to/from central London from that pier too. The trip only takes about 30 minutes and, though a little more expensive, I think is a much nicer journey than "down the tube" See https://www.thamesclippers.com/route-time-table/book-now

There are also other easy transport options within a few minutes walk using the Docklands Light Railway or the "main line" rail system from Greenwich train station.

Our first home was in Greenwich and there is a lot to explore in that area as well as in central London - enjoy 😀 

 

THank you Photopro2 - we are also doing the Midnight Sun next June 27th 2020 on the Viking Sun from London (Greenwich) to Bergen.  We've been to London many times before but are thinking it might be nice to stay closer to where Viking leaves from.  We will likely fly into Heathrow from California many days early and tour around South and Southeast England (the areas we have not been) before heading back up to Greenwich.   I am quite familiar with Ibis and this sounds like a great option - especially given your comments that it is just a 5 minute walk to the Viking peer.

[deec]

...we will also be on the sailing next June 27th too!!!  We have not spent much time in London so will go in early and spend a few days.  We are doing the post extension to Oslo.  We ended another VO cruise in Greenwich and enjoyed the village very much.

[CCWineLover]

12 hours ago, deec said:

...we will also be on the sailing next June 27th too!!!  We have not spent much time in London so will go in early and spend a few days.  We are doing the post extension to Oslo.  We ended another VO cruise in Greenwich and enjoyed the village very much.

Great to have you on the cruise we will be on as well, deec.   We also will be in early to England and plan to do some touring ahead of the cruise.  We've been to both London and Greenwich before recently, but enjoyed both.  Like the idea of staying in Greenwich, though, the night before boarding!  Makes it easy!

[crompton21]

Hi,

 

If you fancy something a bit more special than a travellodge (even if only for one night) you might like this, the suite rooms are the ones that are special.  Train links to Greenwich are also very good.

 

St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London