Concur with points made already.
AIAA is quiet and very not intense at the weekend cos nearly all the boys and girls have gone home for the weekend. WR you are correct.
NCL and DTV are very helpful.
LARS is also helpful and available from all the agencies shown in the planning books.
Avoid / talk to the Mil guys (ATC) ref the MATZs and you should have a hoot!
Down south - wierd lot, I second the avoid Stanstead theory as they are v busy, so why up both your and their workload and heart-rate if you don't need to!