A lot of you have been asking about places to stay and how to generally get around during Summer of Sonic, so I’ve created a little guide to help those who are a little lost organising their trip!

GETTING AROUND:

An absolute essential for those coming to London for the first time is an Underground All-Day ticket; this allows you unlimited travel on the underground system, which is a real asset for those who want to explore the place. A Day Pass will cost you £5.80 for travel within Zones 1 and 2 (central London); these can be bought from every underground station and are an absolute must if you fancy doing a little bit of exploring before or after Summer of Sonic. I recommend printing off a map of the underground or picking up a free map at a station, as they are of great assistance when getting from A to B. If you have access to the internet keep an eye on the Tube Status for updates on delays or line closures.

PLACES TO STAY:

If you are looking for somewhere cheap and cheerful, then the Travelodge is your best bet. All of the rooms have an en-suite bathroom as well as coffee and tea making facilities. The Liverpool Street Travelodge is about 400 yards from the Liverpool street, and another 400 yards from the bottom of Brick Lane from which the Truman Brewery is only five minutes up the road by foot. Rooms are about £85 a night but there is an option for a Saver room on Friday for £52. You can stuff up to 3 people in certain rooms if someone does not mind sleeping on the pull-out sofa, and this is a great way to split the cost! In the same area you can find the Hotel Ibis (I said Ibis, not Iblis!), which offers similar amenities for about the same price as the Travelodge, but unfortunately only have double rooms available.

If you are really trying to budget for SoS, then there is always the Piccadilly Backpacker’s Hotel. Here they can accommodate parties of 4, 6 and 10 people in one room – ideal if you’re coming in a large party of people! Costs are per bed (£16-£26 a night), and if you plan on travelling alone you can book a bed in a shared room with other backpackers for very little cost. The Hotel has many facilities including showers, 24-hour security and WiFi, so your stay would be by no means uncomfortable. My recommendation for parties of two or three however would be with the Travelodge as there is little difference in cost (and it also saves the underground journey in the morning!)

For those looking for real convenience, the infamous and award-winning Hoxton Hotel is a mere five-minute walk from the Brewery, and offers real luxury with a plasma TV, duck down bedding and breakfast in the morning! (Oh, did I mention free WiFi?) It lies two minutes away from the Old Street underground station, which in turn is two stops away from London’s Kings Cross. Unfortunately the rooms are not cheap; expect to pay £127 for a double room for one night.

PLACES TO EAT:

Although there will most likely be snacks and light refreshments going at the Summer of Sonic, you will probably want somewhere to eat in the morning and evening. Brick Lane (on which the Brewery lies) has a nice selection of restaurants and cafes and there are usually touts out on the streets shouting out offers of the day, so keep your ears open for good deals! Liverpool Street (next to the station) has many different restaurants catering for many different tastes… and a MacDonald’s for those who are less adventurous and want a quick bite to eat for little cost! There are also a little cafes (including one called Leonidas if you want to spend your morning quoting 300!) where you can pick up breakfast on the run as you pass on your way to the venue.

WHAT TO BRING TO SOS:

If you have signed up to SoS, at some point you will be issued a ticket which you will need to bring to the event itself and present to one of the staff on the doors; this will allow you and your party entrance. Feel free to bring things like cameras and your handheld games consoles. Certain items are prohibited, so please take time to read the terms and conditions for entry into Summer of Sonic. Although in some cases it is unavoidable, carrying large bags into Summer of Sonic is not recommended, as it will likely have to be checked by a member of staff, will slow admission, and will become an inconvenience if you have to carry it around for several hours. Small backpacks, courier-style bags and handbags are recommended if you need to carry large numbers of items around. There may also be a raffle for prizes (as the selling of merchandise will probably be unlikely), so remember to bring some money with you too, just in case!

If you have any other questions about getting around, such as specifics that apply to you, feel free to get in contact via this email address, and we will try and help you out as much as we can!

T-Bird, SoS Event Staff