Planning Possible Salute Trip Advice Needed

[Belgian]

Hello guys, a mate and I are thinking of going to Salute this year, not sure yet but we reached the planning stage. We are just checking the possibilities of getting there any advice on the best way of transportation (from belgium (or lille) - london) and maybe also accomodation (we will probably stick around for the weekend). All advice is appreciated, we are currently checking eurostar any other ways (we won't be going there by car by the way) or useful tips? Thanks in advance.

[Momotaro]

The Docklands Light Railway has a stop at the Excel Centre, and there are several hotels within walking distance.  So you can either stay right next to the place and commute in to have an evening in London, or stay in London and commute out for the show.

I've stayed in both the Ramada and Premier Inn next to the Excel Centre and they're both good.  The Premier Inn is a budget hotel chain that always scores highly in customer satisfaction surveys - it's cheap, clean and warm.  There's a Travelodge (chain) hotel there, which is very cheap but a bit of a gamble - some are good, some are a bit dirty.  Also an Ibis.

Not that much to do and see in that part of London, so you may prefer to stay in London itself, especially if you'd like to do some sightseeing.  Again, Premier Inns are common.

If you can find a good deal and like messing about on trains, you could stay around Stretford/Westfield/Olympic Park or Canary Wharf.  Both are on branches of the Docklands Light Railway; both have lots of places to shop and eat.

[Belgian]

Thanks for the very useful information, much appreciated!

[OSHIROmodels]

If you're going to stay near the Excel centre is book now as I would imagine it will start to fill up soon.

cheers

James

[Belgian]

If you're going to stay near the Excel centre is book now as I would imagine it will start to fill up soon.

cheers

James

Hadn't though of that, good point!

[MediumAl]

Another thing to bear in mind is that the London Marathon is that weekend. In fact, the registration takes place at Excel on the same day as Salute. The Docklands light railway is heaving with Runners and wargamers. Not too difficult to work out who is who!

It 's only the registration event that takes place at Excel - the start and finish points are elsewhere, so it's not really first choice for marathon visitors to stay, but I suspect there will be a few more people than usual.

[Belgian]

Thanks for the information!

[6milPhil]

Eurostar will get you all the way into London, so it's a good option. Otherwise if you get a ferry you'll have to rely on public transport which isn't too great, it's slow and pricey outside of London. Typically every hotel around Excel is booked for Salute now, but the DLR is pretty nifty so a B&B or hotel anywhere along it's route - https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/dlr-route-map.pdf - would be good. You can lodge further afield of course but it's not as simple a journey.

Make sure you have a Salute ticket beforehand, the queue for those alone is massive, if you pay on the door you go in after all the pre-bought ticket holders. For a good place in the queue think about getting there around nine. If queues aren't your thing turn up about eleven and get in very fast.

Possibly bring a packed lunch and drinks with you, there's plenty available there but they can be pricey and there's more queues, also as you eat them you free up space for purchases.

Afterwards a lot of folk go to the Fox at Excel, a pub at the DLR station end. A great place to meet up, especially with folk who'd been running games and stalls and won't really have too much time to chat during the show.

I have heard rumours of some folk from Belgium bringing tobacco with them which they then sell for a small profit to partially fund their trip... who would do such a thing?

Another thing to bear in mind is that the London Marathon is that weekend. In fact, the registration takes place at Excel on the same day as Salute. The Docklands light railway is heaving with Runners and wargamers. Not too difficult to work out who is who!

You say that but on my first visit we did join that queue. "What a fine cross section of people this London show attracts..." I thought. 

[Belgian]

Eurostar will get you all the way into London, so it's a good option. Otherwise if you get a ferry you'll have to rely on public transport which isn't too great, it's slow and pricey outside of London. Typically every hotel around Excel is booked for Salute now, but the DLR is pretty nifty so a B&B or hotel anywhere along it's route - https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/dlr-route-map.pdf - would be good. You can lodge further afield of course but it's not as simple a journey.

Make sure you have a Salute ticket beforehand, the queue for those alone is massive, if you pay on the door you go in after all the pre-bought ticket holders. For a good place in the queue think about getting there around nine. If queues aren't your thing turn up about eleven and get in very fast.

Possibly bring a packed lunch and drinks with you, there's plenty available there but they can be pricey and there's more queues, also as you eat them you free up space for purchases.

Afterwards a lot of folk go to the Fox at Excel, a pub at the DLR station end. A great place to meet up, especially with folk who'd been running games and stalls and won't really have too much time to chat during the show.

I have heard rumours of some folk from Belgium bringing tobacco with them which they then sell for a small profit to partially fund their trip... who would do such a thing?


You say that but on my first visit we did join that queue. "What a fine cross section of people this London show attracts..." I thought. 

That's quite a lot of very interesting information! Thanks, fingers crossed and hopefully we can attend Salute this year.

[The Dozing Dragon]

Possibly bring a packed lunch and drinks with you, there's plenty available there but they can be pricey and there's more queues

Complete agreement on that. The prices are typical London 

[6milPhil]

...and not a Greggs in sight.

[Vermis]

A bunch of dittos: Eurostar's great, I once took that in the other direction, London -> Belgium. Book accommodation ASAP and try to get a pretty nice place. Never stayed in a Travelodge or Premier Inn (booked too late!) but they're bound to be nicer than a couple of places I did stay in. But that said, if you just want somewhere to lay your head, Stratford seems like a fairly pleasant area with fairly cheap places to stay, handy eateries and grocery shops, and a nice 'n' convenient hop on to the DLR at Stratford station.

[Belgian]

A bunch of dittos: Eurostar's great, I once took that in the other direction, London -> Belgium. Book accommodation ASAP and try to get a pretty nice place. Never stayed in a Travelodge or Premier Inn (booked too late!) but they're bound to be nicer than a couple of places I did stay in. But that said, if you just want somewhere to lay your head, Stratford seems like a fairly pleasant area with fairly cheap places to stay, handy eateries and grocery shops, and a nice 'n' convenient hop on to the DLR at Stratford station.

Thanks for the information, sad to inform you that the trip won't be made this year however.

[6milPhil]

That's a shame, maybe next year? 

[Vermis]

Thanks for the information, sad to inform you that the trip won't be made this year however.

That's okay, neither will mine.