car parking and getting around central london

[e39darren]

Im taking my kids to London this Saturday as they are Chelsea fans and they want to go on the Stamford bridge tour .
its been over 10 years since I was last in London so can anyone help me out ? im looking for somewhere safe and cheap to park the car near SW6 1HS , preferably within walking distance of a tube station( I have tried google but it hasn't been very helpful ) .
also does anyone know if you can buy a family day ticket or something similar for the underground ( the kids have said they don't to use the bus as they go on the bus every day for school but have never been on the underground lol ) .
last thing can anyone recommend things to see or do that are cheap or free in central London for the day cos so far after the tour the missus wants to go to harrods and then have look at Buckingham palace , is the natural history museum worth a few hours around as well ?
thanks all

[RizzoTheRat]

Natural History Museum and Science museum are both pretty close to Harrods and well worth a visit. Both have got plenty of stuff for kids as well as adults. There's also Hamleys if you've got the kids with you but that could be expensive

No idea on parking though, I'd always take the train.

[DonkeyApple]

Drive to closest Zone 5/6 with a car park and then bend over and buy travel cards.

I live in central London and can't be bothered to drive around these days. It's just a pain in the arse, especially at the weekends when the roads are full of people who don't normally drive so far more chaotic than weekdays.

Have a nice day out but I'd swerve spending a large chunk of it in a car and then in secure parking.

[chris1roll]

www.parkatmyhouse.com

I've Used that a few times, then just use the tube.

[jayemm89]

It isn't close to the postcode, but I often park in a little car park in a street called Upper Marsh. It is right next to Waterloo station, about 1/4 mile from the London eye, if that. Great place and £12.50 for 24/hrs. No congestion charge on saturday either. Plenty of choice for tube and you're right in central London with access to all the joys that brings

[Magog]

I was going to suggest Ealing or Chiswick and get the District Line, but there are planned engineering works this coming weekend. I'm assuming you will be coming down the M4 in which case you could try parking by Barons Court tube station, looks like it is a residents zone Monday to Friday but not at weekends, no idea how busy it might get though.

Zone D on this map;
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/88600_122_T_Watermar...

If it's nice weather you could probably walk down to Stamford bridge from round there though. Also if you're going to see Buckingham Palace you might as well wonder down Through St James's Park and see Parliament, Whitehall, Horseguards Parade and Trafalgar Square while you're there.

You'll be able to get a Travelcard for the day for £8.90, you could get an oyster card, but that requires a £5 deposit, and depending on the age of your kids they may be able to travel with you for free;

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14554.aspx

As others have said the Natural History and Science museums are good fun and free entry.

[Krise]

I live just over the river in battersea, parking free on Saturdays outside my place, 10 min bus ride or 20 min walk to the stadium, usually plenty of space to park on the road most of Chelsea is permit on Saturday so pop over river to battersea / Clapham and you will get somewhere to park no problem.

If you google Battersea bridge you will see how close it is to the stadium it's also quite a nice walk !

[ChasW]

I was a ST holder at Chelsea and used to street park in the side streets to the west of West End Lane and north of Lillie Road. Tube station choices are West Kensington, West Brompton or Fulham Broadway. The walk to the Bridge would be c 10 minutes.

[TimLambert7]

jayemm89 said:

It isn't close to the postcode, but I often park in a little car park in a street called Upper Marsh. It is right next to Waterloo station, about 1/4 mile from the London eye, if that. Great place and £12.50 for 24/hrs. No congestion charge on saturday either. Plenty of choice for tube and you're right in central London with access to all the joys that brings

This sounds excellent.

That said, I just don't even bother taking a car in to London. The trains generally work well and a travel card (approx £25) gives you all your travel for a reasonable cost. Besides, the tubes are half the fun!

[camelot1971]

There's free safe parking on the road outside the Wembley Travelodge (runs parallel to the A406 North Circular). Very short walk to Stonebridge Park tube and 30 mins into the centre.

There's also the ACE cafe on that bit of road too if you want something to eat later

[TwigtheWonderkid]

e39darren said:

Im taking my kids to London this Saturday as they are Chelsea fans

Smart kids.

[Magog]

camelot1971 said:

There's free safe parking on the road outside the Wembley Travelodge (runs parallel to the A406 North Circular). Very short walk to Stonebridge Park tube and 30 mins into the centre.

There's also the ACE cafe on that bit of road too if you want something to eat later

Much as I love the Ace Cafe, and post industrial wastelands, I can't say that's the first bit of London I'd take my OH and kids to on a visit to London!

[Willy Nilly]

There are plenty of sights to see in London that you can look at for free. You could take them to Look at Downing Street and The Houses of Parliament for example and it would cost nowt. They see them on the news almost every day.

[toerag]

http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/london/

[Blib]

camelot1971 said:

There's also the ACE cafe on that bit of road too if you want something to eat later

Blimey. The whole of London to choose from & you recommend the Ace for a meal! I'd rather eat my socks.

[Ozzie Osmond]

I don't know where you're travelling from but seriously, you should consider travelling by train with a "travelcard" for London which will allow you to run around on public transport all day at no additional cost. I think there are heavily discounted fares for kids. Have a look at some of the book-in-advance train ticket websites such as,

http://www.thetrainline.com/

You might find it worth driving to the outskirts and getting a train from there.

[Gruber]

Parking at Stamford Bridge isn't crazily expensive and would potentially take out a lot of aggro (assuming it isn't a match day). You could then leave the car there, take a short walk to Fulham Broadway and jump on the tube up to Kensington for the Natural History Museum and Harrods.

http://www.chelseafc.com/chelsea-article/article/1...

Personally, I'd go with the "park for free in Battersea and walk" suggestion above, but I don't know how old your kids are and how far they're up for walking.

[996TT02]

Check out the nearest to you depending on where you are coming from, Zone 5 / 6 tube station, you should be able to find free on road parking close by without problems. Then buy travel cards, today they are all Zone 1-6 so it makes no difference. Any nearer and free parking for non residents tends to become thin on the ground, no point in stressing out.

[robmug]

I tend to park at the cinema at park royal and catch the tube from there. Parking is free, no issues coming back late at night and its right on the A40.

[Magog]

Gruber said:

Personally, I'd go with the "park for free in Battersea and walk" suggestion above, but I don't know how old your kids are and how far they're up for walking.

If you decide to park in Battersea you could always go to the children's zoo in Battersea Park.