To Drive To London Or Not
Discussion
JagBox said:
I used to Live in Richmond and my son now lives in Clapham. I wouldn't go through central London. I would take the M1 to the end then Inner London ringroad A406 west to Kew. Then Mortlake road/Upper Richmond Road A205 this then becomes the A3 straight to Clapham. Watch the speed and lookout for speed cameras. I do this journey in around 2 hours 30 mins at the weekend from Peterborough so probably similar time for you.
I wouldn't use this route, if there's an accident or other problem on the 406 or anywhere on the route you are in for very long delays.If you throw in the Putney Bridge Closure and Hammersmith Flyover Closure the North/South Circular can be really busy at weekend.
The normal route through Park Lane and Vauxhall or Chelsea Bridge would be safer bet and has plenty of alternative routes if it's busy
I rode through Brixton and over the water at the elephant and castle recently. It's a horrendous nightmare of idiotic drivers and too many restrictions. I can't see how anyone can say its easy, I was overtaking everything only because I was on a bike. It would have been hell in a car. Avoid if you can, it's too tiring and stressful.
JagBox said:
I used to Live in Richmond and my son now lives in Clapham. I wouldn't go through central London. I would take the M1 to the end then Inner London ringroad A406 west to Kew. Then Mortlake road/Upper Richmond Road A205 this then becomes the A3 straight to Clapham. Watch the speed and lookout for speed cameras. I do this journey in around 2 hours 30 mins at the weekend from Peterborough so probably similar time for you.
Only if the M4 works are finished. The A407 after Hanger Lane has been screwed most weekends for a while. Hammersmith is solid and the M25 round from the M1 a shocker. At present it is quicker to bang in from the bottom of the M1 straight down to Chelsea Bridge and over.
paranoid airbag said:
It says absolutely bugger all. What it says about this OP is they're sensible instead of overconfident - the latter being widely accepted as one of the biggest causes of accidents among new drivers.
I'd prefer the train (is it that much more expensive all up? sometimes it is, sometimes not, depending on timing), but as long as you're prepared with stuff like parking and navigation you'll be fine.
I don't think you're giving this enough credence. A licence is a licence to drive everywhere. It says that the holder is fully competent to drive on all manner of roads, in the worst of conditions, among you, me, and those we respectively care about. This, presumably perfectly average new(ish) driver doesn't feel comfortable driving in a perfectly ordinary city, despite holding the aforementioned licence. I'd prefer the train (is it that much more expensive all up? sometimes it is, sometimes not, depending on timing), but as long as you're prepared with stuff like parking and navigation you'll be fine.
That you seem to think being able to drive in London as a full licence holder with some solo driving experience somehow represents overconfidence. I think that every licence holder should be fully confident of their ability to drive in London (as any other absolutely ordinary set of roads) by virtue of having a licence so to do.
Imagine a pilot refusing to fly into Stanstead airport or a Dr refusing to deal with btoken bones. These people are similarly licenced to carry out certain activities. Their being granted those licences despite not being at a level of ability where they are confident enough to deal with routine tasks would be unacceptable. I feel that the same attitude should be adopted with driving. We have, for my money, far too many drivers on the roads as it is. Perhaps one way to reduce the numbers would be for the test to represent a meaningful challenge, instead of the gimmie it seems to be at present?
Simon.
sday12 said:
I never understood people who say don't drive in London, especially at the weekend, it's not Mars FFS.
Megabus loser-cruiser, a train that reeks of piss and goes knowhere near where you are going.
if you have a car, paid insurance, tax, maintence, use it!
Megabus loser-cruiser, a train that reeks of piss and goes knowhere near where you are going.
if you have a car, paid insurance, tax, maintence, use it!
1.5 hours on an airconditioned train from Leicester to St Pancras. 30 minutes on the Northern Line to SW4. Way less hassle than driving.
But for the OP potentially going in a party 3-4 people, splitting the costs and going by car makes sense. Cheaper overall and a road trip and adventure in London with mates. It won't take much to go wrong for the journey to become very tedious and long though.
dacouch said:
JagBox said:
I used to Live in Richmond and my son now lives in Clapham. I wouldn't go through central London. I would take the M1 to the end then Inner London ringroad A406 west to Kew. Then Mortlake road/Upper Richmond Road A205 this then becomes the A3 straight to Clapham. Watch the speed and lookout for speed cameras. I do this journey in around 2 hours 30 mins at the weekend from Peterborough so probably similar time for you.
I wouldn't use this route, if there's an accident or other problem on the 406 or anywhere on the route you are in for very long delays.Parking in Cockfosters and taking the tube is very good advice, anywhere within zone 6 in North and/or West London with parking is a good option. Off the top of my head, Surbiton has good train links into London but no idea how much parking is there?
ferrariF50lover said:
Imagine a pilot refusing to fly into Stanstead airport or a Dr refusing to deal with btoken bones. These people are similarly licenced to carry out certain activities.
What a strange post.Pilots can train for new airports by using the simulator. Not quite so easy to do that if you passed your driving test in rural Lincolnshire and then have to set out for the big city.
My top tip for weekend London parking is the City of London car parks - after Saturday mornings (which is £2.50-£3/hr) it's £2.50-£3 a day. They have plenty of CCTV, 24/7 staff, and plenty of space whenever I have been:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-...
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-...
ferrariF50lover said:
I don't think you're giving this enough credence. A licence is a licence to drive everywhere. It says that the holder is fully competent to drive on all manner of roads, in the worst of conditions, among you, me, and those we respectively care about. This, presumably perfectly average new(ish) driver doesn't feel comfortable driving in a perfectly ordinary city, despite holding the aforementioned licence.
That you seem to think being able to drive in London as a full licence holder with some solo driving experience somehow represents overconfidence. I think that every licence holder should be fully confident of their ability to drive in London (as any other absolutely ordinary set of roads) by virtue of having a licence so to do.
Imagine a pilot refusing to fly into Stanstead airport or a Dr refusing to deal with btoken bones. These people are similarly licenced to carry out certain activities. Their being granted those licences despite not being at a level of ability where they are confident enough to deal with routine tasks would be unacceptable. I feel that the same attitude should be adopted with driving. We have, for my money, far too many drivers on the roads as it is. Perhaps one way to reduce the numbers would be for the test to represent a meaningful challenge, instead of the gimmie it seems to be at present?
Simon.
Hang on there's no refusal going on. In your imaginary scenario lets say the pilot is flying somewhere completely unknown to him and he is a relatively inexperienced pilot. He may ask more experienced pilots for advice and guidance.That you seem to think being able to drive in London as a full licence holder with some solo driving experience somehow represents overconfidence. I think that every licence holder should be fully confident of their ability to drive in London (as any other absolutely ordinary set of roads) by virtue of having a licence so to do.
Imagine a pilot refusing to fly into Stanstead airport or a Dr refusing to deal with btoken bones. These people are similarly licenced to carry out certain activities. Their being granted those licences despite not being at a level of ability where they are confident enough to deal with routine tasks would be unacceptable. I feel that the same attitude should be adopted with driving. We have, for my money, far too many drivers on the roads as it is. Perhaps one way to reduce the numbers would be for the test to represent a meaningful challenge, instead of the gimmie it seems to be at present?
Simon.
I think you're way off on this one.
Edited by jonnyp100 on Monday 1st September 01:01
braddo said:
sday12 said:
I never understood people who say don't drive in London, especially at the weekend, it's not Mars FFS.
Megabus loser-cruiser, a train that reeks of piss and goes knowhere near where you are going.
if you have a car, paid insurance, tax, maintence, use it!
Megabus loser-cruiser, a train that reeks of piss and goes knowhere near where you are going.
if you have a car, paid insurance, tax, maintence, use it!
1.5 hours on an airconditioned train from Leicester to St Pancras. 30 minutes on the Northern Line to SW4. Way less hassle than driving.
But for the OP potentially going in a party 3-4 people, splitting the costs and going by car makes sense. Cheaper overall and a road trip and adventure in London with mates. It won't take much to go wrong for the journey to become very tedious and long though.
man up and drive whats the big deal. we are humans and drive cars like the rest of England its just that there may be more on the road than you are used to. Leicester ring road on a bad day makes the north circular look pedestrian by comparison
if you don't do it now youll always be scared to do it. be prepared and travel with lots of time and youll love it
if you don't do it now youll always be scared to do it. be prepared and travel with lots of time and youll love it
wormus said:
+1 I've done this many times. Parking at Cockfosters is cheap and plentiful. Simply jump on the Piccadilly line.
That's a long tube journey to get to SW4 though. The suggestion of going to Watford and then a train to Clapham Junction would be better for a hybrid journey I think.OP I did something similar soon after passing my test. I am in my early fifties now, and I have to go to London for work occasionally - I use the train for that, but if I were you, I'd definitely give it a go - as others have said, keep positive and view it as an experience like I have the few times I've driven in London.
ferrariF50lover said:
paranoid airbag said:
It says absolutely bugger all. What it says about this OP is they're sensible instead of overconfident - the latter being widely accepted as one of the biggest causes of accidents among new drivers.
I'd prefer the train (is it that much more expensive all up? sometimes it is, sometimes not, depending on timing), but as long as you're prepared with stuff like parking and navigation you'll be fine.
I don't think you're giving this enough credence. A licence is a licence to drive everywhere. It says that the holder is fully competent to drive on all manner of roads, in the worst of conditions, among you, me, and those we respectively care about. This, presumably perfectly average new(ish) driver doesn't feel comfortable driving in a perfectly ordinary city, despite holding the aforementioned licence. I'd prefer the train (is it that much more expensive all up? sometimes it is, sometimes not, depending on timing), but as long as you're prepared with stuff like parking and navigation you'll be fine.
That you seem to think being able to drive in London as a full licence holder with some solo driving experience somehow represents overconfidence. I think that every licence holder should be fully confident of their ability to drive in London (as any other absolutely ordinary set of roads) by virtue of having a licence so to do.
Imagine a pilot refusing to fly into Stanstead airport or a Dr refusing to deal with btoken bones. These people are similarly licenced to carry out certain activities. Their being granted those licences despite not being at a level of ability where they are confident enough to deal with routine tasks would be unacceptable. I feel that the same attitude should be adopted with driving. We have, for my money, far too many drivers on the roads as it is. Perhaps one way to reduce the numbers would be for the test to represent a meaningful challenge, instead of the gimmie it seems to be at present?
Simon.
I'm perfectly confident in driving in London, I chose not to when I can though as it's sh*t.
The level of aggression is off the chart, no one will let you out ever. Which then means that drivers will just pull out in front of you.
Filled with speed cameras and locals who know where they all are so will hoon past before slamming on the brakes. Confusing junctions, masses of one way systems, Taxi drivers that DGAF, insane courier riders, suicidal cyclists, ped-lemmings. All add up to something that if I can I avoid.
Relying on tw*tnav to get you past the confusing junctions brings on a new world of hurt as it insists on taking you through the worst bits as it assumes the speed limits apply (eg driving from the M40 to Canary Wharf it insists on the north circular as it's ~40mph, in reality its 10mph due to traffic lights it seems like every 10meters).
Its not a nice place to drive and while I accept that there are arguably worse cities out there they are in other countries, IMO it's not a "normal city", it's the worst place in the UK to drive.
In this case I would drive (not drinking, a number of friends with me etc) but if it was just me I'd take the train.
Driving on the weekend is different though.
If the OP is driving down on Saturday and returning Sunday, aim to travel in the mornings and then it won't be an issue. You can drive straight through central London in that case. It will still be busy on the Saturday but it won't be anything like the nightmare alluded to above.
If you leave by 11am on Sunday then it will be a fairly nice drive through central London and count as a little bit of sightseeing.
(ETA - if the weather forecast is good you could do a lot worse than hang out on Clapham Common on Saturday afternoon.
Grab your beverages from the Windmill Pub)
If the OP is driving down on Saturday and returning Sunday, aim to travel in the mornings and then it won't be an issue. You can drive straight through central London in that case. It will still be busy on the Saturday but it won't be anything like the nightmare alluded to above.
If you leave by 11am on Sunday then it will be a fairly nice drive through central London and count as a little bit of sightseeing.
(ETA - if the weather forecast is good you could do a lot worse than hang out on Clapham Common on Saturday afternoon.
Grab your beverages from the Windmill Pub)Edited by braddo on Monday 1st September 10:58
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