Contiki Basement
Last Updated: 29th May 2013
Contiki Basement – London
Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way
London WC1H ODG
London is a big city and it can be a little daunting. Even seasoned travellers often find this colourful, cosmopolitan and buzzing city a challenge.
Contiki’s Basement in London is your home away from home and is a friendly space for you to chill out, meet other travellers and get your bearings in one of the most exciting cities in the world.
Feel free to make use of the services provided by Contiki’s resident staff and use the Basement as your London launch pad to kick-start your holiday of a lifetime.
Location
The Contiki Basement is the London base for Contiki Tours in Europe. ‘The Basement’ is located downstairs in the basement of the Royal National Hotel , Bedford Way, London (Near Russell Square tube station) and is the meeting point for Contiki Tours starting in London.
Opening Hours
The Basement is open 7 days a week (even public holidays it’s rarely closed) during the following hours:
- May 1 – September 30: 9.00am – 8.00pm (Summer Hours)
- October 1 – March 31: 11.00am – 7.00pm (Winter Hours)
- April 1 – April 30: 11.00am – 8.00pm
Getting there
If you are staying at the Royal National Hotel or the Imperial Hotel, simply ask the hotel staff for directions, otherwise…
The closest tube to the Contiki Basement is ‘Russell Square’ (on the blue Picadilly line – the same line as Heathrow Airport) and the Basement is about 4 minutes walk from the tube station.
Turn left as you exit the Russell Square Station at the street level. Walk straight ahead along Bernard Street and cross the road at the traffic lights. Continue walking straight ahead with Russell Square (a park with a fence around it) on your left side. Turn right half way along Russell Square onto Bedford way.
Roughly 40 metres (about 40 yards) along Bedford Way you will see signs for the Basement and some stairs leading down to the Contiki Basement.
Directions from Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Heathrow Airport and Russell Square are both on the Piccadilly Tube Line (approximately 45 minutes). Exit Russell Square and follow instructions above to the Basement.
There is also the Heathrow Express train service which runs to Paddington. From Paddington you can get the Circle or Hammersmith & City Lines to Euston Square tube station. Exit the tube and head east on Euston Road. Take a right on Endsleigh Street and continue straight for approximately 800 yards (Endsleigh Street becomes Tavistock Sqaure and then Bedford Way) where you will see signs for the Basement and some stairs leading down to the Contiki Basement.
Directions from Gatwick Airport (LGW)
From Gatwick trains run into Victoria Station (approximately 30 minutes) then take the Victoria Line to Euston Station. Exit Euston Station and cross Euston Road before heading south on Endsleigh Street. Continue straight for approximately 800 yards (Endsleigh Street becomes Tavistock Sqaure and then Bedford Way) where you will see signs for the Basement and some stairs leading down to the Contiki Basement.
Contiki Basement Services
The Basement is also full of awesome travel resources and help for people staying in London.
- Contiki Merchandise
- Chill Out Area
- Internet Cafe
- London and UK Sightseeing
- Luggage storage
- Luggage Scales
- Mail Pickup point
- Postcards and Stamps
- Short Break Information
- Tour Meetings – London
Payment Options
You can pay for goods and services in The Basement by using:
- Cash in British Pound Sterling only (£)
- Credit card
The Basement does not offer a foreign currency exchange but you can find a Travelex in the Royal National Hotel, an American Express outside the Imperial Hotel, with many other money changers and banks around the Russell Square area.
Contact the Basement
Contiki Basement – London
Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way
London WC1H ODG
Tel: 020 7637 0802
fax: 020 7637 2121
email: basement.rep1@contiki.com
Add a Comment Comments (14)
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Awesome description on where to go after arriving in Heathrow. For a moment I almost feel like i’m gonna be lost on where I’m suppose to go once i arrive. Thank you for the direction.
Sarim
posted on 4th Aug 2012
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Excellent web-site you have got here.. It�s difficult to find exceptional composing like yours currently. I definitely value people today such as you! Choose care!!
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ababerze1974
posted on 6th Jun 2012
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If the basement only opens at 11am and the tour starts at 7am…
how are we supposed to get there? Lol. Or do we just meet at the basement entrance? :p
seraphically
posted on 1st Feb 2012
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posted on 24th Nov 2009
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Is London the only city that has a Contiki basement?
sammie_905820
posted on 3rd Apr 2009
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Also Kings Cross station has a left luggage area where you can leave your bags and fetch them later so you can wonder around the city!
kerry23
posted on 1st Apr 2009
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If you are taking the London Underground to Russell Square to get to The Royal National Hotel anyway, why not take it little further to King’s Cross St Pancras railway station to see the fabled Platform 9 ¾ ? There is a cast iron sign on the wall commemorating the fictional Harry Potter platform along with half of a luggage cart that appears to be traveling through the wall. It’s not much more than a silly photo opportunity but it’s a must have for any Harry Potter fan and a good way to kill time if you’re early for check-in but don’t want to wander too far from the hotel with your luggage in tow.
Andrea (Ea)
posted on 25th Feb 2009
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I have the same problem as Explorer1120641 except worse: i arrive at 430am… really dont know what i should do until 11am so any advice would be very helpful! :)
jacqui
posted on 30th Jan 2009
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I arrive in London just before 0600am the day before my tour, Contiki basement doesn’t open until 1100am and i can’t check into my hotel (Royal National) until 1400pm… What do i do with my luggage etc, i don’t want to waste a whole morning just sitting around waiting but i don’t want to lug my suitcase all over london checking it out… Any help/ Suggestions is greatly appriciated!
Global_Wanderer
posted on 4th Jan 2009
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is that the place where the optional excursions are paid ? thanks.
Luis
posted on 3rd Nov 2008
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How far is the Imperial from the Contiki Basement/Royal National? Is it easy to travel in between the two?
oooteresa
posted on 13th Sep 2008
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is this where we “meet the contiki crew” for day 1? thanks!
Charli
posted on 14th Jul 2008
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If one were interested in working at the basement would i go through Contiki or the hotel?
CaitlinM13
posted on 13th May 2008
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The staff in the Basement are super friendly and will go out of your way to help you.
Mike Contiki
posted on 7th Apr 2008
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