any tips for a quick concert trip to London?

[Rincewind's acquaintance]

Hey all -

have asked for tips to a trip to Dublin last xmas which didn't happen due to bad economy and bad health. THANKS THANKS THANKS though for all your helpful advice and Omisan : thanks for showing me your photoalbum wtih the unforgettable Irish toilet... Hmmmmm...
Now...I could really use some tips on a short trip I need to go on in June 06, going to London for the first time ever and attending the best ever concert with Foo Fighters, Queens of The Stone Age, Motörhead and 2 other bands - my heeeeeeroes Flying and staying alone but meeting up with friends for the concert and after... Thinking of going on the day of the gig or maybe a day earlier but possibly leaving the next day unfortunately...exams period...
Do any of you helpful and darling people have any tips on the most accessible (to Heathrow) and cheapest place to stay and wheter or not hostels have later curfews than say hotels?
I also want to maybe arrive the day before and do some book-shopping...any tips on good bookstores with very cheap second-hand books somewhere near the Hyde Park area???
Any good tips for great pubs or bars to go to after the concert with long open hours???
What's the most convenient train station to find a hostel at - I mean somewhere with quick access to Heathrow-buses or trains???
Anyway hope you are all having a wonderful time wherever you are and maybe have some tips for a first-time-London-traveller...

Cheers

Heidi

[omisan]

No prob, Heidi... Actually, I'm going over to London for a few concerts pretty soon myself. I have a pretty extensive travelogue of a previous trip that might help you out with some of the questions here: Pissed in London: 2003

Heathrow's pretty out of the way, but the Heathrow Express can get you to Paddington Station in 15 minutes - 'course, it costs around £15. You can take the tube for a few quid and be in the center of town in around 45 minutes.

Hostels are pretty easy-going in London, so you generally won't have to worry about a curfew. I like Astor's Hyde Park Hostel for its location and social atmosphere, so it's the one I always wind up recommending (and staying at...) I know there are some bookstores in the area, but I don't recall any second-hand shops, but if you're in that neighborhood, you can check out the stores around Notting Hill. Didn't Hugh Grant have a book shop in that movie? Har!

You'll find a lot of bars w/ late hours around Oxford/Picadilly/Leicester Square, since it's a tourist/theatre hub, but there are plenty of other late bars around - just keep in mind that you'll often have to pay a cover after 11pm. Check out sites like Itchy London for the good word on bars/nightlife.

The aforementioned Astor's (and many other hostels) are in the Bayswater area right next to Paddington and on the northern edge of Hyde Park, so they're the quickest in terms of getting in/out of Heathrow - one stop away by tube, hop on the Heathrow Express.. and there ya go.

have fun - sounds like a killer lineup. Say 'allo to Lemmy for me!

[Rincewind's acquaintance]

Originally posted by omisan@Feb 18 2006, 12:33 AM
have fun - sounds like a killer lineup. Say 'allo to Lemmy for me!

[snapback]103221[/snapback]

Brilliant! Thanks for the tips, might come up with more questions... Yea, just realized after writing Hyde PArk area that I've never heard it referred to as an area for bookies...noooooo no Huge Grant thingy no thank you - hoping I'll stumble into a little shop like the one in Black Books preferrably wuíth a Dylan Moran-type character for owner

Will definetely check out your links as soon as my internet connection stops misbehaving and i can actually stay online for more than four minutes....sigh....

Just being nosy - but which concerts in London, Oh You Helpful You Omisan? T in the Park or something? Yes indeed i am going to see the ultimate killer lineup - CAN'T WAIT!!!! I'll be sure to give Lemmy a growling greeting from ya

For now - have fuuuuun all

[Rincewind's acquaintance]

Oh and Omisan if you're anywhere near London around 17th June let me know so I can give you a pint Appreciate this board mightily and thanks everyone for the pleasant and helpful atmosphere - hope to meet some of you guys out there sometime

Wow....my connection lasted for another message...

[Rincewind's acquaintance]

Originally posted by omisan@Feb 18 2006, 12:33 AM
I like Astor's Hyde Park Hostel for its location and social atmosphere, so it's the one I always wind up recommending (and staying at...)

[snapback]103221[/snapback]

Just had time to check out Astors Hyde Park Hostel and the Astors Quest Hostel - would you recommend the Quest as well or is the first much better? If you know...

[omisan]

Never been to the Quest - I usually stick to they Hyde Park.. There are some other hostels on the same street - Bellelass used to work at one and would probably recommend it as well, though I don't remember the name.

I'm going to catch a Depeche Mode at Wembley and The Cure at Royal Albert Hall in April... if I had the time/money, I'd totally hit the festival circuit in June and take you up on that pint, but I think this trip and Coachella Fest are going to drain me for most of the year.

[Rincewind's acquaintance]

Sounds like awesome concerts too - have a great trip!

[JeanB]

Get yourself down to Camden (northern line by the tube), and check out a pub called 'The Worlds End'. Its just outside the tube station. Judging by the bands your seeing, i think you'll be the type of character who will love Camden. Massive markets everywhere almost every day, so lots of interesting and cheap (for britain) stuff to buy. Loads of nice late opening pubs and clubs to go to in this area. Suits the alternative taste.

Charing Cross Road is famous for its second hand book stores. Use the tube and get out at charing cross station (obviously!)......

where is the concert? brixton academy? hammersmith? alexander palace? All of them are great venues!!!!

Hope this helps you.....Have a great time

[JeanB]

P.S mostly proper bookshops in camden road just like in black books.

We all wish a violent death on the unanimous conformity of waterstones.

[Somnambulation]

I seem to remember a few book shops on Portobello road near Notting Hill. That area has all kinds of little shops (a surprising number of which bought paintball tickets).