Driving through London this Saturday - any advice?

Driving through London this Saturday - any advice?

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EskimoArapaho

Original Poster:

5,135 posts

134 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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For reasons that are too dull to go into, I must drive from Southend to Park Lane mid-morning this Saturday (Oct 11th).

Any advice on routes to take/avoid?

Google tells me the A13 is quickest, which is a bit counter to my past experience (which may well be out of date now). I'll be looking for TfL updates on roadworks/closures/etc in a minute.

silver surfer

480 posts

207 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
quotequote all
A13 is your best bet and then drive past tower of London and stay on the right side of the river Thames.

SS

EskimoArapaho

Original Poster:

5,135 posts

134 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks - I'd always thought that the A13 was slower than the A127/A12. Maybe things have changed.

Dicky Knee

1,026 posts

130 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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A12 is a nightmare after Brentwood. A13, A1261 towards Canary Wharf, Limehouse Link, The Highway, Embankment then up to Trafalgar Sq. Piccadilly, Park Lane. Nice drive actually.

EskimoArapaho

Original Poster:

5,135 posts

134 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks. I missed your suggestion, but by coincidence that's exactly the route we used for our return journey. On the way into London, we went via A13/Commercial Road, Aldwich, Mansion House and then Embankment, and it was OK except for a road closure - Gracechurch St.

Just in case it's useful info for for future PHers:

1) I parked at the Park Lane Hilton for £15 for the day - booked via www.justpark.com (which used to be Park At My House). Very convenient.

2) It was not as slow as I thought it might be. With the exception that around midnight there's a near-solid mass of very posh cars all around Park Lane/Piccadilly/TrafSquare. Daft route, in hindsight - I should have gone via Constitution Hill and Parliament Square to the Embankment.

3) Kiku restaurant in Mayfair is not as good as I'd hoped. If anyone's got better suggestions for authentic Japanese food in central London, please let me know. smile

Edited by EskimoArapaho on Sunday 12th October 17:14

Dicky Knee

1,026 posts

130 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Zuma or for cheap(ish) and cheerful Pham Susuhi in Whitecross Street near Barbican.

Dicky Knee

1,026 posts

130 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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As an aside, have you tried Fujiyama in Hamet Court Road?

EskimoArapaho

Original Poster:

5,135 posts

134 months

Monday 13th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the suggestions - noted for the next trip. smile

I haven't tried the one in Southend; it seems an odd place for a Japanese chef to set up shop. Any good?

Dicky Knee

1,026 posts

130 months

Monday 13th October 2014
quotequote all
No. I just wondered. I hadn't been to Southend for years and was just doing a nostalgic walk a few weekends ago when I saw it. I used to go to a Southend alot as a child as my grandparents lived on London Road.