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:

• April 1 – September 30 9am – 8pm (Summer Hours)

• October 1 – 31 March 11am – 7pm (Winter Hours)

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.

Contiki Basement Services

The Basement is also full of awesome travel resources and help for people staying in London.

• Accommodation – 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
• Travel Zone

Payment Options

You can pay for goods and services in The Basement by using:

• Cash in British Pound Sterling only (£)
• Travelers cheques 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

London WC1H ODG

Tel: 020 7637 0802

fax: 020 7637 2121

email: basement.rep@contiki.co.uk