London 2012 Accommodation
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:36 pm
It would appear that, owing to the Bloody Olympic Games in London next year, accommodation in the West End is at an absolute premium. Earlier today I rang Holborn Halls - hotel of choice for many FFers - to to informed that, a full nine months before the festival, they're completely booked up; as indeed are all the LSE halls.
Although the Olympics themselves will be over when the festival starts (the closing ceremony is on August 12), the Paralympics run from 29 August to 9 September. They don't coincide with the fest at all (which should be from August 23-27) but it would appear that any available rooms have been snatched up quickly and well in advance.
I haven't contacted any other accommodation in London, but [1] my hopes aren't high given the presence of the Games, and [2] I'd like to be where other FFers are so I don't have to walk back alone at 2 in the morning.
UPDATE: It may be that Holborn were incorrect when they said they were full, and none of the rooms for the Summer are actually released yet (even though one FFer has already managed to book. Enquiries (and worries) continue.
UPDATE 19/12/2011: It would now appear that rooms are available; however you can't book them just by going to the regular site, which shows zero availability. I rang them up and they directed me to the Priority Booking page (I guess I'm not on the priority mailing list). However, this does require the whole payment rather than the deposit. Also, because of the Games, the price is significantly higher than in previous years.
Although the Olympics themselves will be over when the festival starts (the closing ceremony is on August 12), the Paralympics run from 29 August to 9 September. They don't coincide with the fest at all (which should be from August 23-27) but it would appear that any available rooms have been snatched up quickly and well in advance.
I haven't contacted any other accommodation in London, but [1] my hopes aren't high given the presence of the Games, and [2] I'd like to be where other FFers are so I don't have to walk back alone at 2 in the morning.
UPDATE: It may be that Holborn were incorrect when they said they were full, and none of the rooms for the Summer are actually released yet (even though one FFer has already managed to book. Enquiries (and worries) continue.
UPDATE 19/12/2011: It would now appear that rooms are available; however you can't book them just by going to the regular site, which shows zero availability. I rang them up and they directed me to the Priority Booking page (I guess I'm not on the priority mailing list). However, this does require the whole payment rather than the deposit. Also, because of the Games, the price is significantly higher than in previous years.
hock: