Londinium

[mrdonuts]

what are the cheapest ways to do a contract in London assuming you dont live there

[Zippy]

what are the cheapest ways to do a contract in London assuming you dont live there

Depends where you are starting from but assuming within commuting distance

- price up a season ticket (lots cheaper)
- get a hotel (reasonable is 70 quid a night out near chez Zip), but you still have to pay to get home at weekends and commute within Londinium
- get a bedsit (120 quid a week ish)

[threaded]

A long long time ago:

Well, I've tried the commuting by car and by train from Doncaster.

Staying at a cheap and an expensive hotel just outside the M25, place called Langley and commuting in by train.

Staying at a cheap hotel in Kings Cross, and at some of the better ones in and around the City.

Prefer the train from Doncaster, 1st class. You get to meet some quite interesting characters: Lords, MPs, Judges, Barristers, Lawyers, Railway workers, escorted prisoners and assorted Directors for Tescos. You can get loads of work done, although I tended to watch videos (home made battery powered kit as it was an awful long time ago. That also became a minor Plan B thanks to someone I met on the train too, which is another major plus point.)

[Troll]

Prefer the train from Doncaster, 1st class.

First Class used to be worth it when they had dedicated carriages to keep the undesirables out. These days (at least on South Eastern) you have share a carriage with the great unwashed - hardly worth the premium

[Lumiere]

Can't find that link about an IT contractor who used to sleep in the park while working on a gig in London ..

[rootsnall]

A mate did a long stint sleeping in a campervan in various London supermarket, hotel and sports centre carparks. Cheap as chips !

[sweetandsour]

what are the cheapest ways to do a contract in London assuming you dont live there

Most contractors that I have come accross book into one of the budget chain hotels, Travelodge or Premier Inn.

I hear the rates can be quite reasonable provided that you book far enough in advance.

Some prefer the stability of renting a bedsit.

You could also look for a houseshare. There are plenty of young professionals that prefer to live in some comfort - they are not all students in dumps like in 'The Young Ones'.

Have a look at http://www.gumtree.com/london-flatshare-offered.html for an idea of what is out there.

[Pogle]

what are the cheapest ways to do a contract in London assuming you dont live there

I'm currently doing this, and believe me there is no such thing as cheap in London.
I was staying with my brother in his tiny flat a 90 minute commute away, but 3 hrs travel on top of 10hr days was just too much.
I've stayed in nice hotels - which were very nice and not very cheap and I've stayed in an overprice fleapit - this week in fact.

Try negotiating a cheaper rate for a longer stay, I didn’t get much of a reduction when I tried it.

I am currently looking at mondaytofriday.com to find some local lodgings and went to see a place with a lovely lady - lots of space, nice and quiet, my own bathroom and sitting room for £500 a month.

I am also going to start working from home on Fridays, but that was part of my contract renewal negotiations.

Good luck

[Paddy]

what are the cheapest ways to do a contract in London assuming you dont live there

http://uk.easyroommate.com/south-eas...are/listings/l

[sasguru]

So I reckon there would be demand for medium-to-long term accomodation (without the 6-month SAT) in centralish London (say zones 2/3) in say, a large bedsit with ensuite bathroom, maybe with a microwave, at around the £400-450 pcm mark?

Hmmm, is this a good plan B if the sums work out. Will look into it.