[lagerstarfish]

I am taking part in a training thing in a couple of weeks time in London

The course runs from Monday to Thursday (2nd to 5th June)

I've scored a free place (payment in kind for my input to other work), but will have to pay for my own accommodation and travel

I haven't worked in London for 10 years, so am well out of date about where is cheap to stay

I'd like to be reasonable distance/time from some sort of bouldering facility

which walls are good for a fat punter who is allergic to yoga?

any suggestions?

any suggestions for how to reduce travel costs?

thanks

[Jaspersharpe]

Hostel? We're going for a day and a bit trip end of August and have booked a family room with en suite right in the centre for 87 quid.

Sounds pretty Formule 1 like.

Depends where you need to be obviously. I've heard it's quite a big place.

[Jaspersharpe]

E.g. https://m.hostelworld.com/hostels/London?source=adwordsmobiletopcitiesen&KID=11529760000&AID=20&sub_keyword=hostels%2520in%2520london&sub_ad=e&sub_publisher=ADW&gclid=CL-KxtXhvb4CFe3JtAodNjQAMg

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[miso soup]

Nothing is cheap in London. 

Loads of hostels round Kings Cross if you can handle it, loads of budget hotels round Victoria if you can't.

I reckon The Arch is the best bouldering wall (Bermondsey, south east).  Very punter friendly, there must be at least 200 problems under V5.  There is some yoga though.  North London has the Castle, East has Mile End, West has Westway (although it is mainly routes) and they're all good walls.  Wherever you stay you'll never be too far from one basically.  There's also the shiny new Vauxwall at Vauxhall and the petite Urban Ascent in Parsons Green.

[bigtuboflard]

Really need to decide if you'd rather be close to where the training is or a bit out of town and likely nearer the walls. If you want central I almost always book a Z Hotel for work as within budget, small but smart rooms and as much as you can eat cheese and wine 5 to 8 pm. Depends on your budget though of course...

[SA Chris]

You could try www.airbnb.co.uk

Or I'm sure a London based climber would let you couchsurf their pad for a few days in exchange for a couple of night at Chez LSF

[tomtom]

You could try www.airbnb.co.uk

Or I'm sure a London based climber would let you couchsurf their pad for a few days in exchange for a couple of night at Chez LSF

Heard good (and the less good are generally 'interesting') things about airBnB...

[lagerstarfish]

excellent call Chris

I heard summat on radio 4 about airBnB a while back, but had forgotten all about it

I'm not adverse to a bit of "interesting"

I've made enquiries about staying in the (private) rehab centre where the training takes place in exchange for some free therapeutic climbing anecdotes, but their rooms are worth £fuckton when filled, so I am unlikely to be offered anything.

[SA Chris]

I'd like to take credit, but I only heard about it when someone (Mr Popp?) was asking about places to stay in Noo Yawk.

[lagerstarfish]

I also did a quick search on airbnb for Fontainebleau

interesting

[cowboyhat]

Where exactly is the work?

You should figure out what the commute will be to a wall, and where you then might stay to avoid a triangulation. Physical proximity isn't always best, cos of the tubes innit.

Vauxwall is the most central and closest (1 minute walk) to a tube, plus its on the train. I haven't been.

The castle is a ten minute walk from Finsbury park which is both Victoria and Piccadilly lines.

I have used airbnb several times in other european cities and always thought it worked really well.

[cowboyhat]

 
I reckon The Arch is the best bouldering wall (Bermondsey, south east). 

Just saw this. Really? Perhaps in the day time.

However in the evening the Arch is the sweatiest, saunaiest, warmest and most humid bouldering wall in London. Are you an Orchid?

Transport isn't great either; I think that should be lagers main criteria.

[lagerstarfish]

thanks Mr Hat

I booked somewhere through airbnb a short walk from The Castle (you can see it from the room) and also easy to get to Manor House tube thing (I think)

work is by Regents Park tube station, so easy enough to get to

lets see if The Castle pin their holds properly...

[lagerstarfish]

what sort of shoes should I take for V grades?

[fried]

[miso soup]

 
I reckon The Arch is the best bouldering wall (Bermondsey, south east). 

Just saw this. Really? Perhaps in the day time.

However in the evening the Arch is the sweatiest, saunaiest, warmest and most humid bouldering wall in London. Are you an Orchid?

This is actually true and probably something I should have mentioned.  I don't go there in the evening.  If you're nine to fiving then forget it.

[Stubbs]

Beware of the large yoga/warm up area at the Castle Lagers, you may get dragged into an asana vortex!

[tomtom]

Oh - and everyone wears lurid coloured spandex at the Castle Lagers - so don't forget to take yours so you fit in... Wearing it on the tube will also help start interesting conversations..

[Jaspersharpe]

what sort of shoes should I take for V grades?

Doesn't matter just make sure you wear socks in them.

[lagerstarfish]

are we talkiing white sports socks or wooly walking socks?

[Grubes]

Pink with yellow polka dot knee socks


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[slackline]

are we talkiing white sports socks or wooly walking socks?

Which ever doesn't show through the lurid lycra 

[SA Chris]

are we talkiing white sports socks or wooly walking socks?

I believe rugby socks are the way to go. Clashing with the lycra, not contrasting it. Or if it's too warm for lycra, some silky jogging shorts are the acceptable alternative.

[lagerstarfish]

people go on about how many foreigners there are in London, but that's nothing compared to how many southerners there are

I went to The Castle. It was generally OK, but a little too much like a party at Paul Flower's house for my taste

[lagerstarfish]

I stayed here

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1753390

it was ace

soooo much better than a cheap hotel