driving into central London

[Jerry Can]

my wife has decided that we should have a family day out. So she has chosen to visit the tower of London on Saturday early. I can get pre booked parking for £16, and the petrol is free, so it would be a lot cheaper and more convenient than the train, but am I mad to contemplate driving into London? Would it be a congested nightmare, or reasonably smooth progress. I am travelling from Oxford. Which would be the best route to take.

tia.

[Garlick]

I live in SW London and drive into central area regularly.

People will tell you it's awfully busy. It's not and is less so on the weekends. Easy.

[sday12]

On a Saturday? Easy.

[10JH]

^ I regularly do a the same journey, at the weekend it's no problem. Finding parking on the side of the road isn't too bad either.

[Howard-]

Garlick said:

People will tell you it's awfully busy. It's not and is less so on the weekends. Easy.

This.

[DJFish]

+1
Earlier the better but certainly nothing to worry about.
Just take your time, read the road signs, lock your doors and don't show any fear.

[R11ysf]

Garlick said:

I live in SW London and drive into central area regularly.

People will tell you it's awfully busy. It's not and is less so on the weekends. Easy.

+1 Car is cheaper and easier than the train.

You also find central London a lot easier to drive round than Oxford

[Zeek]

There's an underground NCP in Thomas Moore Square, right on St Katherine Docks, next to the Tower. That will only cost you about 8 quid a day at the weekend. I stick the car in there during the week sometimes.

[Jerry Can]

thanks, its good to know that the car is still king. British rail can stick their supersava, and £10 parking fee up their arris.

[Doniger]

Jerry Can said:

my wife has decided that we should have a family day out. So she has chosen to visit the tower of London on Saturday early. I can get pre booked parking for £16, and the petrol is free, so it would be a lot cheaper and more convenient than the train, but am I mad to contemplate driving into London? Would it be a congested nightmare, or reasonably smooth progress. I am travelling from Oxford. Which would be the best route to take.

tia.

I do that route a lot for work...it's only ever a nightmare if there's a problem or at rush hour.
Early Saturday = fairly easy going, but check the highways agency website for delays before you set off.

Go straight down the M40 and A40, then let satnav do the rest.

[EK993]

Saturday will be easy, it will also be realtively dead around Tower of London at weekends.

Where are you parking? I think (you will need to check) that parking is free on Saturday on Wapping High St. You could park nr the St Katherine Docks end, walk through the docks and then onto the Tower.

[Garlick]

Isn't there a multi-story on the road leading up to Tower Bridge (Tower of London side) on the right hand side?

Relatively cheap too IIRC.

[Chris71]

Jerry Can said:

thanks, its good to know that the car is still king

Depends where you're coming from I think. From where I am in Enfield to properly central London could easily take 2 hours in the rush hour. It doesn't take me much more than that to drive home to Devon later in the evening!

[Libertine]

Hmmm, I agree on the weekend it shouldn't be a problem, and Tower Bridge isn't what I would class as central London. Picadilly Circus on a Friday evening in the other hand, can be a nightmare. A few months ago, it took me half an hour to go from The Ritz to Picadilly Circus, less than half a mile. Not fun!

[baldy1926]

It may be a bit slow due to the Blackwall tunnel being closed.However apart from that and a few roadworks around Victoria it should not be too bad-untill you go to leave then it will be like rush hour.As later during the day its often as bad if not worse than the week day rush period.

[grumbledoak]

M11, North Circular, A13 should be pretty good. Quite a few places to park, possibly even for free on a Saturday.

Edited by grumbledoak on Thursday 15th July 19:34

[lost in espace]

I am going into London on a Sat in August and IIRC you can park on meters and yellow lines after 1.30pm.

If I am wrong feel free to correct me!

[grumbledoak]

The yellow lines just mean there is a little sign somewhere. It's common enough to be able to park on a single yellow all day Saturday.

[choading]

Dont pay to park in London, free parking on waterloo bridge.

[ph123]

grumbledoak said:

M11, North Circular, A13 should be pretty good. Quite a few places to park, possibly even for free on a Saturday.

Edited by grumbledoak on Thursday 15th July 19:34

With respect, no.
M40,A40 and that inner ring road leads you almost directly down to Tower Bridge, perfect.