Travelling to Central London

SKaRT

SKaRT

SKaRT

Associate
Joined
2 Aug 2003
Posts
366
Location
Albany, New York
I have to get to Central London (Mayfair) next Wednesday for 9am for an appointment at the US Embassy. I've previously driven in to London twice and both times were mid afternoon and while the traffic was pretty horrible it was tolerable. I would assume trying to drive in to this area at this time in the morning would be truly horrific?

I'm going to be travelling from the midlands area and I'm quite happy to drive close to London and get on a train somewhere but since I have no clue where would be the most sensible place to board a train I'm after some suggestions. I will need to be there by 9am but I would prefer to be there for 8:30am really - I'd rather wait than be late!

There must be plenty of people who've made a similar journey so just after some advice as to the best route to take. If driving is the most sensible option then I will simply do that but if someone could guestimate how long it will take me to get in to that area at 8am on a Wednesday that would be good too.
 
People will probably suggest one of the outer tube stations, can imagine parking in central London will be quite bad. I don't know London so I can't say which one to go for :P.
 
When I had suppliers coming down from further up north they'd often arrive by 6.30am to avoid some of the rush hour traffic. Either that or they'd get the train straight through and not bother doing the car-then-train thing.
 
Just get the train all the way through, don't mess around with driving most of the way there then finding parking near a train station during rush hour. So many things could go wrong!!
 
I've driven a similar route a fair few times, as above say, either go stupidly early or even better, get the train.
 
There are tube stations all around there within walking distance to the US Embassy, ugly hunk of concrete that it is. Bond Street is where I got off IIRC. Far, far better to just get the train + tube than mess around driving and parking.
 
Alright looks like train + tube will be the best option overall. Do the tube stations have lockers or anything similar? The embassy doesn't allow electronic items or bags etc inside and I'll need somewhere to store my stuff like my phone if I do take a train the entire way.
 
If you're going by train then remember to book in advance! I got 2 single tickets for less than half the price of an open return just by booking the day before.
 
SKaRT said:
Alright looks like train + tube will be the best option overall. Do the tube stations have lockers or anything similar? The embassy doesn't allow electronic items or bags etc inside and I'll need somewhere to store my stuff like my phone if I do take a train the entire way.
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No lockers in any tube station I've been in, I'd assume it's the same reason there's no bins. That's a real bugger if you want to travel by train I'd want to take my TP and my phone, does the Embassy have lockers?
 
maccapacca said:
No lockers in any tube station I've been in, I'd assume it's the same reason there's no bins. That's a real bugger if you want to travel by train I'd want to take my TP and my phone, does the Embassy have lockers?
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Nope if you turn up with a bag or any electronic items, even things like key fobs for cars, they'll just tell you to reschedule your appointment. It's a total nightmare :(
 
Either leave your stuff at home (I'm sure you can manage one day without a phone), alternatively Gould's Pharmacy nearby offer a service where they will look after your items for a small fee of 5 quid or thereabouts.
 
I left my bags at Kings Cross for my Embassy visit, they have left luggage. Got the Tube to Bond St and was a 2 minute walk from there.
 
qqg3 said:
I left my bags at Kings Cross for my Embassy visit, they have left luggage. Got the Tube to Bond St and was a 2 minute walk from there.
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Ideal thanks, I'll be travelling in to Paddington rather than Kings Cross but they also operate a left luggage service so that should solve my problems.
 
shadesofgrey said:
Get on a coach dude, use a fun fare which are uber cheap. They have left luggage and the US embassy is only 10 mins away by bus from the coach station, or tube.
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Can't really go down this route, no coach station close enough to make it worth the effort. I'd have to drive to wherever, park, leave about an hour earlier and still have to sit through the traffic I want to avoid :p
 
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