Calling Out Knowledgable Central London Drivers!!

Hamster

Hamster

Hamster

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I need to drive into London, getting to Elephant & Castle area by 8.30am on Friday. I live in Hayes, Middlesex so the route i planned is:

1) M4/A4 from Jn3
2) Right onto Earls Court Road
3) Left onto Embankment
4) Right onto Vauxhall Bridge
5) Following Kennington Lane to Elephant & Castle

I was planning to leave at around 7.30am. I know that there will be some traffic en-route but i don't drive into central London very often so does anyone have any tips for me please?

(I would normally take the tube but i've got a lot to carry so public transport is not really an option).

Thanks
:)
 
I used to live out west and drove into Battersea every day. It was a nightmare. Admittedly I've not done it for a long time but an hour wasn't enough to get in back then, things can't be better now.
 
Leave at 6.30 and take the A40 instead, it's bad but not as bad as the M4 that time of the morning:)
 
That is the route I would take. The only other option would be to come of at Hammersmith, go down the Fulham Palace Road, over Putney bridge and head up from that way. The traffic is going to be a nightmare either way you choose.
 
JohnnyG said:
Leave at 6.30 and take the A40 instead, it's bad but not as bad as the M4 that time of the morning:)
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I looked into the A40 option and it's easy for me to get on the A40 but the A4 seemed like an simpler route. As you're all suggesting, i will leave earlier though. It looks like a nightmare of a day's driving as i'll be doing the return journey at rush hour too.
 
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The A40 was always my choice of road - I tried both the A40 and the M4/A4 route (joining at Brentford IIRC) and the A40 was generally better. I ended up using a rather complicated system of back roads but I doubt I could manage to even find them myself now, let alone talk anyone through them!
 
Feek said:
The A40 was always my choice of road - I tried both the A40 and the M4/A4 route (joining at Brentford IIRC) and the A40 was generally better. I ended up using a rather complicated system of back roads but I doubt I could manage to even find them myself now, let alone talk anyone through them!
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No problem :) Thanks for the tips everyone. Seeing as from Brentford you decided to take the A40, the A4 must be ridiculously busy! I will borrow a satnav as mine is broken and probably take the A40 route. Looks like A40 then A201, from msn maps, is the route to take.
 
Leave at about 5:00am

Don't forget to check Congestion charge zones you may pass through (or be forced to pass through due to roadworks, etc).
 
Mr^B said:
Leave at about 5:00am

Don't forget to check Congestion charge zones you may pass through (or be forced to pass through due to roadworks, etc).
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LOL. I'd rather be late than leave at 5am :p Thanks for the tip on congestion charges; i had totally forgotten about that!!
 
generally speaking, however long a London journey SHOULD take, double it and add a bit. And make sure you dont take a wrong turning into the congestion charge zone ;)
 
Given all your replies and my general hate of sitting in traffic for long periods, i am trying to make arrangements so that i don't have to take so much with me to London and to travel by public transport. Thanks everyone for all the input :)
 
I regularly did that journey from Richmond - I'd agree with the London end of your route but not your timing.

From Richmond to get there by 8:30 I'd be leaving by 7. The end of the M4 through to riverside is a royal biatch in the morning.

If you ask me again on Monday I'll give you a run thru of the journey as I'll be doing it again :)
 
MacRS4 said:
I regularly did that journey from Richmond - I'd agree with the London end of your route but not your timing.

From Richmond to get there by 8:30 I'd be leaving by 7. The end of the M4 through to riverside is a royal biatch in the morning.

If you ask me again on Monday I'll give you a run thru of the journey as I'll be doing it again :)
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Thanks. If i remember i will ask you on Monday but as it's a one-off this Friday hopefully it's not a journey i will have to make in the very near future.

I've looked into public transport and have decided to park in Hounslow, catch the 7.31 train to Waterloo and from there it's just two stops on the tube to Elephant & Castle. From Hounslow to there should take just under an hour.
 
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