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Okay I'm going to see Alice In Chains on the 4th July at London Astoria with 3 mates.
Unfortunately the earliest bus isn't until 08:15 on the 5th, so we are gonna need somewhere to go. One of my mates said just go to the nearest train station to where we get the bus from and chill in there all night.
Is that even possible? Stations are 24/7 right? Or would we just get kicked out anyway?
I don't think you'll have much luck with the train stations, they shut them down completely around midnight-1ish. Whether the doors remain open or not I'm not sure, but I wouldn't count on it.
Not sure of the score regarding bus stations though...
I'm sure a London-based NOOLer will take you in for the night. You could just hang around the train station, or head for one of the all-night cafes around Soho (safer than the train station).
The Astoria is right near Tottenham Court Road station, so you'd have to get the tube to Victoria to be near the coach station (or a night bus). If it was me (bearing in mind I'm getting on for 40 and a wuss rather than being 16 and fearless) I would head down to Bar Italia in Soho, about ten minutes walk from the Astoria.
Even Flow wrote: All night cafes? Please explain!!
Cafes that open all night!
Tim's picked a good choice. Bar Italia. Shove enough cawfee down yer neck to keep you awake all night!
Even Flow wrote: All night cafes? Please explain!!
Cafes that stay open 24/7. There's quite a few in the Soho area. Buy a coffee and you're sorted!
LOL I know what all night cafe means!! I was thinking more along the lines of how far away from the astoria/where is bar italia, and will they not mind us stayin in there from like midnight till half 7?
Bear in mind I will have NO idea where I am going once I am anywhere in London. 
Even Flow wrote: All night cafes? Please explain!!
you sure you should be staying on the streets at night? 
Barney Army wrote:
Even Flow wrote: All night cafes? Please explain!!
you sure you should be staying on the streets at night?
Barney Army wrote:
Even Flow wrote: All night cafes? Please explain!!
you sure you should be staying on the streets at night?
you sure you haven't taken that post the wrong way?
Found this about Bar Italia:
"At any time of the night, you'll have to queue for a coffee and there will be no room inside to drink it."
I've hung out at Victoria all night waiting for a bus back to Manchester...
but I've never done the train station thing...
ChrissMari wrote: I've hung out at Victoria all night waiting for a bus back to Manchester...
but I've never done the train station thing...
you mean you hung out around the coach station then?
You won't have any joy crashing out at a train or bus station. They kick everyone out.
Not a great way to spend a night anyway. :\ohwell:
If you have a couple of coffees and don't look too down and out 
you can hang around a cafe most of the night.
Bar Italia isn't far from The Astoria (Tottenham Court Rd tube)
It'll be getting light by 4AM. London's at it's best around then so you could walk back to Victoria Coach station if that's where your bus goes from.
Even Flow wrote: Found this about Bar Italia:
"At any time of the night, you'll have to queue for a coffee and there will be no room inside to drink it."
Still better than Victoria coach station. You're never gonna pull dossing there for the night 
If you're desperate, there's a 24Hr McD on Shaftsbury Ave (on the map in above link) near Piccadilly Circus tube.
Am I the only one who wonders about the point of seeing Alice in Chains now that Layne Staley (sic) is a stain on the couch? Did they get Ian Astbury to join them on vocals?
His Holiness, The Pope wrote: Am I the only one who wonders about the point of seeing Alice in Chains now that Layne Staley (sic) is a stain on the couch? Did they get Ian Astbury to join them on vocals?
"stain on the couch" :finger:
And that was a really nice way to talk about Layne 
His Holiness, The Pope wrote: Am I the only one who wonders about the point of seeing Alice in Chains now that Layne Staley (sic) is a stain on the couch? Did they get Ian Astbury to join them on vocals?
They've gone down a storm everywhere, especially at Download getting rave reviews from all the mags.
And no, Ian Astbury isn't singing with them.
The new singer won't be as good as Layne. But the important thing is that all the reviews I've read are saying he isn't trying to be Layne either.
Apparently he's doing a great job, and it will be interesting to see.
Even Flow wrote:
ChrissMari wrote: I've hung out at Victoria all night waiting for a bus back to Manchester...
but I've never done the train station thing...
you mean you hung out around the coach station then?
yes..
There are youth hostels all over London. I stayed in one once when I got pissed in London and missed the last train.
You share rooms with strangers though which, being a posh sort from Cheshire, took me completely by surprise.
Not as surprised as the other people in the room were though!
A Diamond a Dozen wrote: There are youth hostels all over London. I stayed in one once when I got pissed in London and missed the last train.
You share rooms with strangers though which, being a posh sort from Cheshire, took me completely by surprise.
Not as surprised as the other people in the room were though!
Surely there is some sort of age limit and rules regarding the folks they let in though???????!!!!!!!!! How did you manage it?
Uncle Liam wrote: National Express, from Victoria at 2330, 2359 and 0100.
cheers for the thought Liam 
it's 42 quid tho, can't really afford to spend that much on a coach. the megabus goin down ther is only 7.50
A Diamond a Dozen wrote: There are youth hostels all over London. I stayed in one once when I got pissed in London and missed the last train.
You share rooms with strangers though which, being a posh sort from Cheshire, took me completely by surprise.
Not as surprised as the other people in the room were though!
hahahah
Hostels are fun as long as you don't have any valuables with you. sleeping with your ipod, passport, and jewlery in your front pockets is not comfy or fun :P
lucyjane wrote:
A Diamond a Dozen wrote: There are youth hostels all over London. I stayed in one once when I got pissed in London and missed the last train.
You share rooms with strangers though which, being a posh sort from Cheshire, took me completely by surprise.
Not as surprised as the other people in the room were though!
Surely there is some sort of age limit and rules regarding the folks they let in though???????!!!!!!!!! How did you manage it?
not all of them are "youth" hostels.. i stayed in one in dublin that was full of otherwise homeless people eww
Even Flow wrote:
Uncle Liam wrote: National Express, from Victoria at 2330, 2359 and 0100.
cheers for the thought Liam
it's 42 quid tho, can't really afford to spend that much on a coach. the megabus goin down ther is only 7.50
national express does have a youth card discount.
ok im an idiot
i thought the national express was 42 quid for one person. that was actually the price for 2. think i am gonna go with the national express comin home.
cheers liam 
so all in all travel is gonna cost 28.50, not too bad i guess
