Working in Canary Wharf

[Aman]

B&B Russell Square. There's a bus from Russell Square to the O2

I stayed in a private student halls of residence in Russell Square which worked out cheap on a B&B basis. That wasn't even in the summer, there were student there.
I forgot the name of it, it was on a crescent.

[Jubber]

I used to do that route on several contracts when living in Northampton.

I arranged (told them) that I'd do 8 till 4 so I'd leave home early 0620.

Make sure you get a Virgin train (swish comfy) go first class if you're on a good rate (first class isn't so frightening on a season ticket). Then from Euston take the Victoria line to Green Park. Then get the Jubilee Line to The Wharf - go up the front of the train, usually seats, and hunker down with a book before the train gets rammed picking up at Waterloo and London Bridge. Get to work for 8.

Going home was different - only cattle trucks from Euston at that time (to Northampton), but if you go first class you'll get a seat. Again - gives you time to read or surf with the new snazzy phone you'll buy on your plump rate.

It's a pain - but doable - depends what you're missing at home.

[Billy Pilgrim]

I used to do that route on several contracts when living in Northampton.

I arranged (told them) that I'd do 8 till 4 so I'd leave home early 0620.

Make sure you get a Virgin train (swish comfy) go first class if you're on a good rate (first class isn't so frightening on a season ticket). Then from Euston take the Victoria line to Green Park. Then get the Jubilee Line to The Wharf - go up the front of the train, usually seats, and hunker down with a book before the train gets rammed picking up at Waterloo and London Bridge. Get to work for 8.

Going home was different - only cattle trucks from Euston at that time (to Northampton), but if you go first class you'll get a seat. Again - gives you time to read or surf with the new snazzy phone you'll buy on your plump rate.

It's a pain - but doable - depends what you're missing at home.

I'm amazed that anyone can do that for a living. I couldn't cope with Manchester --> Brum commute on a daily basis. You just need at least one night a week to put your feet up / go for a few beers / collapse / watch the footy else you end up spending every waking hour either in or getting to work -- and you are completely furked by the time your weekend comes around.

Even Manchester / Telford I'd stay at least one night if I was doing a full week down there

[gadgetman]

I also did the same commute from Northampton and bought a first class season ticket though I didn't take that particular route. Used to take up to 2 hours each way and it was getting on for £700 per month IIRC.

Unfortunately they removed the early Virgin trains from the timetable at the end of 2008, don't know if they ever came back.

The journey was very tiring and I ended up paying to stay over 1 or 2 nights in a friend's flat in the Wharf.

I CBA doing long commutes any more, my current 40 minutes door to door is a breeze in comparison. And the scenery is much better

I'm amazed that anyone can do that for a living. I couldn't cope with Manchester --> Brum commute on a daily basis. You just need at least one night a week to put your feet up / go for a few beers / collapse / watch the footy else you end up spending every waking hour either in or getting to work -- and you are completely furked by the time your weekend comes around.

Even Manchester / Telford I'd stay at least one night if I was doing a full week down there

[bren586]

Get in touch with the Holiday Inn Express, Limehouse (15 mins walk away) - I was staying there regularly and got the rate down to £65 per night (for a min of 3 nights per week) -- if you decide to stay in hotels and don't do a deal like this then you will be F*CKED when the tourists are out in force ... prices I've paid for that particular hotel range from £59 to £129 per night - summer its a right hassle to even get in there (or anywhere else for that matter) !!!!

Best they offered me was 85 quid a night. At 65 I would have taken it.

[mobi]

Lower rate + easy commute is better than higher rate + tiring commute.

Most people underestimate the toll it takes on health/mind due to long (more than 1.5 hr each way) commute.

[cojak]

Lower rate + easy commute is better than higher rate + tiring commute.

Most people underestimate the toll it takes on health/mind due to long (more than 1.5 hr each way) commute.

Fine if you find a contract like that. In the current climate you can't be choosey.

I'm doing Nottingham - Leeds and it is possible but it's the longest daily commute I'm prepared to do. If my next contract is in London it will have to be a stay over,

[Jog On]

You don't have to rent too far in Central London, I commute into CW from Middlesex every day. Guy that sits next to me comes in from Bournmouth - every day

I can recommend the SW trains route into Waterloo - or if you can rent along the line into London Bridge you're only 3 stops on the Jubilee from Canary

[theroyale]

Some commutes these are! You start tending to when you have family and things I suppose... I move to where the contract. This afternoon I went home for lunch, five minutes by bicycle along a tree-lined street is current commute

[virtualm]

I commute to London on a weekly basis and stay in hotels and have been doing for 5 months. I'm still toying with the idea of an apartment but didnt want the hassle of finding somewhere and if the gig failed be left paying a bill I couldn't or wouldnt want to pay out for.

Some figures for you guys to stew over:-

Apartment:
£300 a week x 4 weeks = £1200 a month x 12 mths = £14,400 pa
Council tax (guestimate) £150 a month x 12 = £1800
Heating & Water = £50 a month x 12 = £600
TV license = £180 a year
Contents insurance = £250 a year

Total outgoings for apartment over 12 months = £17230

Hotel
£55 (max) a month x average 21 days a month x 12= £13860


Diff = £3370 (or a nice holiday for you and the mrs)

On average renting an aparment costs £13 more a day (£3370 / 12 / 21 days a month)

For me hotels work, mainly because of 1) Minimum risk if the gig fails, 2) I get the room cleaned daily clean towels etc, but that's not saying it can be a pain in the a*rse booking hotels weekly and planning ahead...but, if you find a cheaper hotel like I'm paying £45 a night for a really good budget hotel then the justification for hotels wins. I just think it's too much hassle to be looking for digs, then sorting out all the bills and d/d's - I'm too busy for that, I just want to chill when I've finished work.

Hope this helps, mine's a corona.