It's quite clear that London hotel rates are more expensive this summer and there are many good reasons for that with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics coming soon. Accommodation in London has always been a large part of any visitor's budget so how can you still visit this year and enjoy the fun and celebrations?Instead of a hotel, would you consider camping in London? The Camping and Caravanning Club are offering several temporary event campsites this summer and some are just 10-15 minutes from the Olympic village. The WaterWorks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre in Leyton is probably the closest campsite to the Olympic Park and has pitches from £30 per night (accommodates up to four people).
Another good choice is at Chertsey which is close to the Olympic Cycling Road Race course and a half hour train ride away from London and the Olympic Park. Camping costs £11.30 per adult (per pitch per night).Each of the campsites will have full entertainment facilities and the flags of all nations flying over the pitches, plus - in some instances - large-screen televisions showing all of the action from the nearby Games. They rightly ask: Can there be anywhere better (or cheaper) to stay at the time of the Olympics?
- Find out More About Camping in London
- www.2012camping.co.uk
- www.campinlondon.com
- www.camp-2012.co.uk
What about a tent hotel specifically for 2012 – right next to the Olympic park. It isn’t holiday Inn.. it’s Holiday Out Hotel
Camping is a great idea and it’s good to know that there will be several temporary campsites this summer close to the Olympic Park. But, for those who really aren’t into camping or whose camping days are over, there’s still a way to avoid the high costs of hotel rooms – swap homes with a Londoner. In this way, not only do you not pay for your accommodation but you have all the space and facilities of a home away from home.
As Home Base Holidays is a London based home exchange service (since 1985) and also runs Guardian Home Exchange, there are many members in London and nearby and close to other Olympic venues, who want to escape during the Olympics and are offering their homes for exchange at this time.