Advice on London trip please
Discussion
Righty ho, I have an unusual trip to do in Londinium.
(she wont use public transport from Worcester, so don't even go there !)
On Monday morning I need to get my wife to the American Embassy for 08.00 hrs.
I'd quite like to avoid the anti car tax, she wont be able to carry a mobile phone (the yanks must be alergic to them), she will need to be able to ring me from a callbox and have me pick her up when she's finished, and I'd like to avoid any effing tfl stopping penalties.
I hate London, such an anti car place.
Whilst she is being interragated, I will be going to Reading, then coming back to collect her.
Can any of you local boys suggest anywhere I could drop her off and pick her up from ?
Many thanks
(she wont use public transport from Worcester, so don't even go there !)
On Monday morning I need to get my wife to the American Embassy for 08.00 hrs.
I'd quite like to avoid the anti car tax, she wont be able to carry a mobile phone (the yanks must be alergic to them), she will need to be able to ring me from a callbox and have me pick her up when she's finished, and I'd like to avoid any effing tfl stopping penalties.
I hate London, such an anti car place.
Whilst she is being interragated, I will be going to Reading, then coming back to collect her.
Can any of you local boys suggest anywhere I could drop her off and pick her up from ?
Many thanks
It's not a huge walk from the north edge of the zone down to the embassy. About a mile.
Settle up in the outer circle, regents park. Stroll down marylebone high street. Allow 25-30 mins at "lady pace".
Might not work so well if she's planning on wearing heels though
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...
Settle up in the outer circle, regents park. Stroll down marylebone high street. Allow 25-30 mins at "lady pace".
Might not work so well if she's planning on wearing heels though
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...
Unless you get a 5am train you can't do it from Worcester to London in time anyway.
If you are intending to drive you should allow an hour to get from Hammersmith or so to Grov Sq for arrival at just before 8am - perhaps you should leave now,
Come up on Sunday - find a hotel deal with on-site parking just outside the cc zone, escort her to the embassy and then get the train out to Reading as this'll be cheap rate by then, get the train back into Paddington, collect her from the embassy, retreive your car and drive out of London home to Worcester before the afternoon/evening rush starts.
If you are intending to drive you should allow an hour to get from Hammersmith or so to Grov Sq for arrival at just before 8am - perhaps you should leave now,
Come up on Sunday - find a hotel deal with on-site parking just outside the cc zone, escort her to the embassy and then get the train out to Reading as this'll be cheap rate by then, get the train back into Paddington, collect her from the embassy, retreive your car and drive out of London home to Worcester before the afternoon/evening rush starts.
tubbystu said:
If you are intending to drive you should allow an hour to get from Hammersmith or so to Grov Sq for arrival at just before 8am - perhaps you should leave now,
About right.. If I read correctly you're doing Worcs - Zone 1 London - Reading - Zone 1 London - Worcs in one day? Totally mad! Like others suggest, I would drop her at the Reading train station.. With £20 for a return cab from Paddington if she can't find her way there herself!
Quick question did they ever get round to extending the congestion charge zone?
If not it's easy;
> Worcester to London (M40 -> A40 turn right at Paddington)
> Drive down Park Lane (not in the area) drop Mrs off half way down and she's got a 30second walk to Grosvenor Square.
> continue down to Marble Arch and Turn onto A4 -> M4 to Reading
Repeat in Reverse for going home, parking up in Regents Park near Royal Albert hall to await your Masters voice.
HTH
If not it's easy;
> Worcester to London (M40 -> A40 turn right at Paddington)
> Drive down Park Lane (not in the area) drop Mrs off half way down and she's got a 30second walk to Grosvenor Square.
> continue down to Marble Arch and Turn onto A4 -> M4 to Reading
Repeat in Reverse for going home, parking up in Regents Park near Royal Albert hall to await your Masters voice.
HTH
Marcellus said:
Quick question did they ever get round to extending the congestion charge zone?
If not it's easy;
> Worcester to London (M40 -> A40 turn right at Paddington)
> Drive down Park Lane (not in the area) drop Mrs off half way down and she's got a 30second walk to Grosvenor Square.
> continue down to Marble Arch and Turn onto A4 -> M4 to Reading
Repeat in Reverse for going home, parking up in Regents Park near Royal Albert hall to await your Masters voice.
HTH
I don't think that you'll find the Albert Hall anywhere near Regents Park!If not it's easy;
> Worcester to London (M40 -> A40 turn right at Paddington)
> Drive down Park Lane (not in the area) drop Mrs off half way down and she's got a 30second walk to Grosvenor Square.
> continue down to Marble Arch and Turn onto A4 -> M4 to Reading
Repeat in Reverse for going home, parking up in Regents Park near Royal Albert hall to await your Masters voice.
HTH
You can pull up at the entrance to the underground car park on the West side of Park Lane without incurring any parking penalties. Personally I'd fork out the £8 rather than having to tip toe your way around the edge of the zone to get on the M4 for Reading - you'll save yourself at least 30 minutes each way, and with the amount of roadworks about at the minute having the option to go in the zone might be a necessity rather than a choice.
You need to be at J3 of the M4 by 7am to stand any chance of getting to the Embassy by 8.
I used to do this exact journey about 5 times a month, and would allow 1 1/2 hours outside of rush hour.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&...
JimexPL said:
Marcellus said:
Quick question did they ever get round to extending the congestion charge zone?
If not it's easy;
> Worcester to London (M40 -> A40 turn right at Paddington)
> Drive down Park Lane (not in the area) drop Mrs off half way down and she's got a 30second walk to Grosvenor Square.
> continue down to Marble Arch and Turn onto A4 -> M4 to Reading
Repeat in Reverse for going home, parking up in Regents Park near Royal Albert hall to await your Masters voice.
HTH
I don't think that you'll find the Albert Hall anywhere near Regents Park!If not it's easy;
> Worcester to London (M40 -> A40 turn right at Paddington)
> Drive down Park Lane (not in the area) drop Mrs off half way down and she's got a 30second walk to Grosvenor Square.
> continue down to Marble Arch and Turn onto A4 -> M4 to Reading
Repeat in Reverse for going home, parking up in Regents Park near Royal Albert hall to await your Masters voice.
HTH
As they have extended the charge zone it makes my suggestion irrelevant anyway as you can't use the A4 -> M4 bit.
THEREFORE, if hell bent on avoiding congestion charge the route needs to be;
- M40 -> A40 to Edgware Road exit
- then in towards Victoria STAYING ON THE A5 to Park Lane.
- Drop wife
- to Hyde Park corner and onto Victoria and ultimately Vauxhall Bridge (DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE A202)
- Turn right and follow Embankment to Earls court -> A4 -> M4 -> Reading
For a parking up point you could use Battersea Park (Turn right at Chelsea Bridge)
The issue comes
Is this a joke . . . you are doing that kind of trip and more concerned about avoiding an £8 congestion charge than the inconvenience ?
How long do you think it will take you to get to Reading if you leave central London at 8am ?
Based on that, what time do you think you'll get back to the US Embassy ?
How long do you think it will take you to get to Reading if you leave central London at 8am ?
Based on that, what time do you think you'll get back to the US Embassy ?
Forgot to say that if you can convince her that public transport is the way forward, the train from Reading to Paddingon only takes about half an hour, then you can take a 10 minute bus ride right outside the station to Marble Arch, then walk to the Embassy (5-8 minutes).
Even if she only does this one way it's going to save you at least 3 hours wasted time in the car.
Even if she only does this one way it's going to save you at least 3 hours wasted time in the car.
Marcellus said:
Quick question did they ever get round to extending the congestion charge zone?
they did - now starts Shepherds Bush/Earls Court ish to the West (see the tfl website). Driving that far in would be a nightmare on a Monday morning, I did Kensington on a Sunday a few weeks back and that was bad enough! (and inside congestion charging zone). If the OP has to be in Reading with car - push the Mrs onto a train from there! It has a lot of trains and they are quick!
Surly she won't mind using the tube? If so get the M40/A40 and drop here at West Ruislip Station which is not to far off the A40 and easy to drop off. It's on the Central Line with a direct route to Marble Arch Station, a 5 min walk from the Embassy. If you get her there for 7am she will easily make 8am appointment.
You then have an easy drive back out on the M40 to Marlow and down to Reading. No driving in Central London, Job done!
You will pick up some local traffic around Ruislip.
You then have an easy drive back out on the M40 to Marlow and down to Reading. No driving in Central London, Job done!
You will pick up some local traffic around Ruislip.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff