People of London, I need local knowledge
Discussion
I'm doing a bit of travelling with work next week. I will be spending one day in Maidenhead and another 1-2 days in central London (just off Liverpool St). I am coming from Harrogate.
I've been to Maidenhead before, driving was the best option, 4h vs 6 hours on the train, and a delayed start/early finish or an extra night in a hotel.
I've been to the central London office before, the train was the best option, 3 hours and it drops me 10 minutes away on the tube.
I will need to drive to Maidenhead on day 1, then somehow make my way into London on day 2 and drive back that night.
What is the most practical way? I'm thinking drive into London in the morning (day 2), find somewhere to park for the day (north? inside M25?) then take the train in.
Or find a hotel in a similar location for the night, to save driving in in the morning?
Which way, and where would the locals recommend?
I've been to Maidenhead before, driving was the best option, 4h vs 6 hours on the train, and a delayed start/early finish or an extra night in a hotel.
I've been to the central London office before, the train was the best option, 3 hours and it drops me 10 minutes away on the tube.
I will need to drive to Maidenhead on day 1, then somehow make my way into London on day 2 and drive back that night.
What is the most practical way? I'm thinking drive into London in the morning (day 2), find somewhere to park for the day (north? inside M25?) then take the train in.
Or find a hotel in a similar location for the night, to save driving in in the morning?
Which way, and where would the locals recommend?
If you are driving anyway I'd just bite the bullet and drive into London. Maybe prebook parking at NCP Finsbury Square?
You don't mention the times you are required at the various places but if you can drive out of hours London won't be too bad.
You then need to balance the cost of parking and hotels as to where and when you arrive / leave.
If costs work out it would make sense to drive into London on night of day 1 and stay in hotel. You are then fresh for day 2 and can drive home that evening.
You don't mention the times you are required at the various places but if you can drive out of hours London won't be too bad.
You then need to balance the cost of parking and hotels as to where and when you arrive / leave.
If costs work out it would make sense to drive into London on night of day 1 and stay in hotel. You are then fresh for day 2 and can drive home that evening.
I would be tempted to drive from Maidenhead reasonably early the next morning and;
- Park the car at Hemel Hempstead - 30 mins train into Euston, a very short walk to Euston Square tube, short tube to L'pool St or alternatively Euston tube to Moorgate, then a very short walk to L'pool St, or;
- Park the car at Hatfield - 25 mins train into Kings X, short tube to L'poool St, or slow train, 40 mins direct into Moorgate, very short walk to L'pool St.
Direct train from Maidenhead into paddington for the days you need. Takes a little over 20 mins so you can get to your car and drive without having to negotiate any london traffic.
prolonged parking in London is obviously pricey, but you can find good price parking on sites such as justpark. Factor in congestion charge also
prolonged parking in London is obviously pricey, but you can find good price parking on sites such as justpark. Factor in congestion charge also
It really depends on what your priorities are.
Least overall hassle
Quick getaway on the final journey home
Cheap
and the other thing to factor in is which day of the week you'll be heading home. If it's a Friday, I would do everything in my power to change it to another day. If that's not an option then I'd probably drive to somewhere like Milton Keynes on the Thursday night, stay there and then get the train into London from there.
For least overall hassle, I would take the train from Maidenhead into London and then back again in the evening. You can then drive cross county to MK and join the M1 at J14. The biggest bottleneck will be the A404 at Handy Cross, and if you time this wrong it can be a nightmare. This is also probably the cheapest option.
For a compromise, you could drive into London on the M40, park at the NCP on the corner of Marylebone road and Grosvenor Place (avoids CC zone) and get the tube to where you're going. You're then right at the bottom of the A41, which takes you to the M1
Least overall hassle
Quick getaway on the final journey home
Cheap
and the other thing to factor in is which day of the week you'll be heading home. If it's a Friday, I would do everything in my power to change it to another day. If that's not an option then I'd probably drive to somewhere like Milton Keynes on the Thursday night, stay there and then get the train into London from there.
For least overall hassle, I would take the train from Maidenhead into London and then back again in the evening. You can then drive cross county to MK and join the M1 at J14. The biggest bottleneck will be the A404 at Handy Cross, and if you time this wrong it can be a nightmare. This is also probably the cheapest option.
For a compromise, you could drive into London on the M40, park at the NCP on the corner of Marylebone road and Grosvenor Place (avoids CC zone) and get the tube to where you're going. You're then right at the bottom of the A41, which takes you to the M1
omniflow said:
It really depends on what your priorities are.
Least overall hassle
Quick getaway on the final journey home
Cheap
and the other thing to factor in is which day of the week you'll be heading home. If it's a Friday, I would do everything in my power to change it to another day. If that's not an option then I'd probably drive to somewhere like Milton Keynes on the Thursday night, stay there and then get the train into London from there.
For least overall hassle, I would take the train from Maidenhead into London and then back again in the evening. You can then drive cross county to MK and join the M1 at J14. The biggest bottleneck will be the A404 at Handy Cross, and if you time this wrong it can be a nightmare. This is also probably the cheapest option.
For a compromise, you could drive into London on the M40, park at the NCP on the corner of Marylebone road and Grosvenor Place (avoids CC zone) and get the tube to where you're going. You're then right at the bottom of the A41, which takes you to the M1
By the time he gets back to the 404 it should be fine I would have thought.Least overall hassle
Quick getaway on the final journey home
Cheap
and the other thing to factor in is which day of the week you'll be heading home. If it's a Friday, I would do everything in my power to change it to another day. If that's not an option then I'd probably drive to somewhere like Milton Keynes on the Thursday night, stay there and then get the train into London from there.
For least overall hassle, I would take the train from Maidenhead into London and then back again in the evening. You can then drive cross county to MK and join the M1 at J14. The biggest bottleneck will be the A404 at Handy Cross, and if you time this wrong it can be a nightmare. This is also probably the cheapest option.
For a compromise, you could drive into London on the M40, park at the NCP on the corner of Marylebone road and Grosvenor Place (avoids CC zone) and get the tube to where you're going. You're then right at the bottom of the A41, which takes you to the M1
Alex@POD said:
Train from Maidenhead is a good shout, I didn't realise it would be that quick! 20 minutes to Paddington is not bad. Then it's direct on the tube to my station.
It will be Tuesday and Wednesday, I'll probably leave the office just before 4pm hopefully.
A couple of trains around 0800 take just over 20 mins. Not too long to stand! More likely to get a seat on slower ones but no big deal. Who said drive to Hemel, that would be mad . Obviously never done it It will be Tuesday and Wednesday, I'll probably leave the office just before 4pm hopefully.
It takes about 25 mins on the tube from Liverpool St to Paddington - which would have you back in Maidenhead at 5pm soonest assuming you leave the office at 4pm. It'll take quite some time to get onto the M1 at that time from there, probably 1.5hrs or so up to Milton Keynes.
I don't think there's an easy way TBH given you need to be West of London, the City and then back North! As said above, figure out what is most important to you - personally for me, it's always to get home soonest after my business commitments conclude, as when I'm away overnight I don't mind late finish/early starts as I'm stuck in the hotel otherwise...
I don't think there's an easy way TBH given you need to be West of London, the City and then back North! As said above, figure out what is most important to you - personally for me, it's always to get home soonest after my business commitments conclude, as when I'm away overnight I don't mind late finish/early starts as I'm stuck in the hotel otherwise...
Bullett said:
Why not stay in London and travel out to Maidenhead. You'll be going opposite to the majority flow into town and you stay in London which is where the majority of your time would be.
I need to be home Monday night, and my meeting in Maidenhead is fixed, I need to be there for 9/9:30 on Tuesday. The detour by the office is then tagged on to that. Unfortunately that prevents what you suggest, the earliest train would get me to Maidenhead for about 11 at the earliest.It looks like the best choice is between staying in Maidenhead and staying in Uxbridge. Either 20-30 minutes train + 20 minutes tube, or 50-55 minutes tube direct.
Uxbridge is on the M40, am I right in thinking this would be my best way out? M40 - A43 - M1? Or would the traffic up to High Wycombe be a nightmare? If I leave the office before 4PM I should be able to hit the M40 before 5PM.
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