January Blues Festival

Getting to 229 Great Portland Street is easy thanks to London’s extensive public transport network. The nearest Tube stops are literally just around the corner: Great Portland Street station (Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines) is a short walk away. Regent’s Park station (Bakerloo line) and Warren Street station (Victoria and Northern lines) are also within a few minutes’ stroll. Major train stations like Euston and Paddington are under a mile away and connect quickly to the local tubes (for example, you can take the Circle/Hammersmith & City line from Paddington directly to Great Portland Street).

Many buses also serve the area. Routes running along Euston Road and Great Portland Street link the venue directly to different parts of the city. There’s even a strong night-time transport network: on weekends the Night Tube runs on the Victoria (Warren Street) and Central (Oxford Circus) lines, and there are regular night buses that cover the same routes if you stay late.

If you’re flying in, London’s airports connect easily to the city center. Heathrow is about 40 minutes away by Tube (Piccadilly line) or via the Heathrow Express train to Paddington (with a quick Tube or taxi onward). Gatwick has a direct train (Gatwick Express) to Victoria Station, from which the Victoria line goes north toward Warren Street. Stansted Express trains go to Liverpool Street station (then Circle/Hammersmith & City to Great Portland Street), and from Luton you can take Thameslink to St Pancras or Blackfriars with Tube transfers from there. London City Airport connects via the DLR to Bank and then the Tube. In general, most airport-to-central London trips take about an hour or less.

Driving is possible but not always convenient. 229 does not have dedicated parking, and the area is in a busy central zone. London’s Congestion Charge applies on weekdays, so check whether your route falls inside the charge area. There are public parking garages in Marylebone and Fitzrovia if you need a reserved spot, and metered street parking might be found on nearby side streets (often free after 6:30pm on weekdays). If you have a Blue Badge, accessible parking bays are available on Park Crescent (just north of the venue) and Greenwell Street. In many cases visitors find it easier to use a taxi or rideshare than to drive into central London.

Central London offers plenty of places to stay near the festival. The Marylebone, Fitzrovia, and Bloomsbury neighborhoods have everything from boutique hotels to budget guesthouses within walking distance or a short Tube ride. Hostels can be found around King’s Cross or Euston if you’re on a tight budget. For a unique option, the International Students House (just around the corner on Great Portland Street) offers dorm-style rooms to visitors too. Wherever you stay, you’ll find these central areas well connected by London transport, making it easy to get to the festival each night.