Natural History & Science Parking... Tomorrow!!

[Welshbeef]

Hopefully someone can help here I need to spend roughly 2/3 hrs tomorrow morning in that area. I need to find parking OR train & Tube.

Train & Tube however add on (time wise) 2hrs - Note I have a half days leave so thats really not acceptable.

I believe to drive there it will be similar to train & multiple tube changes but on the return the car will win.

Cost by car is cleaerly CC £8 + whatever parking.

Ive looked online and seen NCP's but you cannot book there is on street parking but who knows if its free and who knows if the NCP's are free.
I have to be there between 9.30am-1pm but as its a half day driving would be leaving there at midday latest.

Help needed.

[ewenm]

There's a parking map on the Hammersmith council website - that will give you an idea of what on-street parking there is near there.

[tubbystu]

On street parking is expensive. £3 per hour is about average.

When I work in that area I use the underground car park on junc of Ennismore Gdns. Its cheaper than the NCP at Kensington Garden Hotel. Other than that not many car parks exist near the museums.

Drive most of the way and grab a tube to South Ken and walk 5/10 mins up the road would be best compromise.

see here for full parking details: http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/exhibition_road...

[swamp]

I think you would be a bit unlucky if you couldn't squeeze into the local NCP. I've never seen multi-storeys very busy in central London, apart from the one by Parliament on PMQs.

I would avoid street parking unless you are very confident of being able to read the signs. I don't mean to be sarcastic here, getting on-street parking right in London can be hard! It's also no cheaper than a proper car park.

Edited by swamp on Monday 6th December 17:05

[mantis84]

I work and live in the local area - go for the car parks, definitely don't use on street parking. Very expensive and you can bet that even if you're three seconds late getting back to your car it'll have a ticket on it (that's assuming you managed to fathom paying for the parking in the first place).

Even if you do find the NCPs closest to the museums are full, there are plenty you could go for only a short tube ride or walk to South Kensington - e.g. I'm pretty sure the one on Park Lane is rarely full. You could go and have a look at the ridiculous level of exotica in the Bob Forstner dealership if you parked there, well worth it if you don't get to see that sort of thing too often (although I must say I am getting rather bored of seeing a £1million Zonda parked up next to a Spyker next to a Koenigsegg next to an AMG Black everyday after 2 months).

[TVR1]

Kensington Garden Hotel is my bet.

http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/Guest-Informatio...

Actually not bad value @ £3.25 per/hour and you know you won't 'missjudge' the parking signs on street. Also only a 10 mins walk to the museums.

Please note the height restriction though! It is that low inside in a lot of places.

Edited by TVR1 on Monday 6th December 17:55

[Scraggles]

+ for the underground, recall the station is a 20 yards or so from the museum, no need to worry about overstaying and getting a £70 fine and then a clamp and tow soon after

[Welshbeef]

Thanks everyone

[Welshbeef]

Buggar...

Got caught in traffic and couldn't find the ncp or that hotel so parked onroad.
Now maybe I was in a rush but I paid my 2 hr ticket £6 and from memory it all seemed fine and I checked 6 other cars onfront of me too all pay and display.

Anyway came back and... Oh yes £120 ticket or £60 early payment. I called them furious about it etc but then calmed down and there it was every car infrobt of me parking ticket even spoke to one chap who got nailed too.

So trip to London cost £75 in congestion charge and parking costs for what turned out to be 1hr 10mins.

Not happy but what a pain I'll have to take a bath on this one.

[Scraggles]

next time take the train and walk 20 yards from the station exit to the museum entrance

[Welshbeef]

Yep.
Just paid it in full so £60 don't want any chance of a £120 instead..

[RRS_Staffs]

Sorry late to the thread and of no use now but I know the area well and Id have also seconded the tube

I dont know how well you know London but the parking vigilantes are merciless and the signage appalling

I received a couple of tickets and the memorable thing is on the wrapper of the ticket it helpfully tells you your car is now eligible to be clamped

And when you have a clamp the warning sticker on your window says you are now eligible to be towed

I have at least one mate who was ticketed, then clamped within minutes then towed well within the hour

Id say you did well

[swamp]

Sorry to hear you got a ticket. Doesn't give me any pleasure that I (and others) were right to warn about on-street London parking... Only hope it can serve as a warning for others.

For the record, Park Lane underground Masterpark is massive and 24/7. Bit of a stroll (or a bus/tube) to South Ken, but Park Lane is exempt from CC (if you drive carefully).