# London Visitor Oyster Card questions and London Hotels **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [April 27, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578 "2025-04-27T22:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/61 "2025-05-02T00:34:14Z")
Last time we were there we stayed at The Clermont London at Charring Cross. Really nice place a few steps from Trafalagar Square and literally right on top of a major transit station. Lots of great nearby places for all varieties of sit down eats or take out. And pubs. The best part though was every day they restocked the **complimentary** mini bar with two big cans of Becks, single serve bottles of red and white wine, a mini bottle of Scotch, same of Bombay Saffire, can of Coke, Diet Coke, 3 bottles of water, juice, three packs of cookies, small bag of popcorn, same of chips, and various items of sweets. So nice to have when you’ve been out all day sightseeing and come back to the room for a little downtime before going out for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/62 "2025-05-02T00:46:45Z")
Nevermind. The prices went waaay up. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/63 "2025-05-02T01:03:34Z")
I stayed in South Kensington and it was nice and close to some local pubs and easy access to the Tube and the main parts of the city. Just another option you might want to consider. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/64 "2025-05-02T16:16:51Z")
I finally decided on and booked: **Radisson Blu Hotel, London Tottenham Court Road** It is across the street from the **British Museum** , so not quite the area I was looking for, but better rates and amenities than what I could find in Soho. Only 1100’ from the Elizabeth Line, The Central Line and the Northern Line, so excellent train access. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/65 "2025-05-03T02:43:11Z")
A little off-topic, as you won’t really need an oyster card to get there, a brisk walk would do from Tottenham Court Road… Try to fit in some time in Neals Yard, a small, eclectic and charming area in Covent Garden. Definitely go to the cheese shop. Definitely. They hand out samples so you can try before you buy, and although a tiny, tiny shop, the variety of traditional English cheeses is immense. > **[Neal's Yard | Covent Garden](https://www.coventgarden.london/visit/neal-s-yard/)** > > Explore Neal's Yard in Covent Garden, a vibrant spot full of eclectic restaurants, cafes, and shops. Discover one of London’s most colourful corners. Defimitely one of London’s gems. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/66 "2025-05-03T10:26:32Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Definitely go to the cheese shop. Is there a bouzouki player? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Hz1JWzyvv8A/hqdefault.jpg "Monty Python- Cheese Shop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz1JWzyvv8A) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/67 "2025-05-03T22:03:40Z")
Hotel prices in Central London are not for the faint hearted. Our favourite hotel is The Cavendish in Piccadilly and handy for theatreland. A quick look today show a basic room for two people at £321 ($426) per night for bed and breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/68 "2025-05-04T00:05:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I finally decided on and booked: > **Radisson Blu Hotel, London Tottenham Court Road** > It is across the street from the **British Museum** , so not quite the area I was looking for, but better rates and amenities than what I could find in Soho That’s still quite a fine area and you’re easily able to access any of the usual tourist sites via multiple tube lines. Great location I usually stay just a bit south of there by about a 10-20 minute walk down Tottenham Court Road or towards Charing Cross Road. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/69 "2025-05-05T20:34:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I finally decided on and booked: > **Radisson Blu Hotel, London Tottenham Court Road** > It is across the street from the **British Museum** , so not quite the area I was looking for, but better rates and amenities than what I could find in Soho. > > Only 1100’ from the Elizabeth Line, The Central Line and the Northern Line, so excellent train access. I’ve been following this thread closely because I’ll be in London for four nights in August. I had looked at the Radisson Blu Tottenham Court Road, but am leaning toward the Radisson Blu Mercer Street, which is less than a half mile away. Two reasons mainly - Mercer Street is a bit closer to Covent Garden, where a couple of the top things on my list are; and I’m an Arsenal fan. The previously mentioned Clermont is also on my list. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/70 "2025-06-01T14:51:44Z")
I fly out later today, Newark, to Montreal to Toulouse. Then pick up the rental car and an hour drive to my BIL’s place. I hope I can sleep on the second (long) flight. Also a longish stop-over in Montreal. The return trip will be London to JFK in NYC and then 2 trains to get home, so 2-3 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/71 "2025-06-01T18:23:32Z")
Bon voyage! Send pics! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/72 "2025-06-02T09:44:56Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Card 1 I used from LHR to Greenwich (Elisabeth Line to Canary Wharf – the dockland light rail was free) Just noticed the above. The DLR isn’t free, though granted, on that journey you might have reached the daily cap. There aren’t barriers at most DLR stations, but it’s the passenger’s responsibility to tap in and out on the card readers. I wouldn’t want anyone to misunderstand and end up paying a penalty fare ,(the DLR train attendants do check from time to time) ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/73 "2025-06-02T10:22:40Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > I wouldn’t want anyone to misunderstand and end up paying a penalty fare ,(the DLR train attendants do check from time to time) The only time we were stopped for a fare check was on the DLR ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578/74 "2025-06-02T11:03:17Z")
Huh I don’t remember even seeing a place to tap, but if I saw one I would have tapped. I could be misremembering. Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-visitor-oyster-card-questions-and-london-hotels/1017578.md?page=3)