London - Where to park?

Captain Chaos · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:22

I'm thinking about taking the Mrs into London for the day as she has never been.

London isnt a place that im familiar with as a rule and will be travelling down from the Midlands.

So wheres best to park? Is it best to drive in or park up outside London somewhere and get the train the rest of the way? Any advice would be most appreciated.

VincentHanna · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:26

Stratford Westfield car park and then use the tube.

Housey · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:27

Train it, MUCH simpler and quicker.

VincentHanna · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:30

Well yeah, definitely train it if you can.

But specifically the op said he was driving.

Rich · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:30

Looks like its only 8 quid for 24 hours too:

https://uk.westfield.com/london/services/all-services/parking/685

You're going to struggle to beat that.

Xire · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:31

If you dont intend to drive while you are in London, why drive down? just take the train. Also Parking at Westfield all day on a saturday will probably cost you the price of a ticket to london!

jimjamuk · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:37

Had to park near the shard a couple of weekends ago on a sunday and went on justpark and booked a space for prob a half to a third cheaper than parking in any of the local carparks

Scam · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:46

Just bung it in the middle of Trafalgar Square. i'm sure you'll be fine.

(Seriously, people drive into London!? :confused:

)

Cosimo · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:57

We don't need your car here. Just catch the train.

agnes · 20 Jun 2016 at 14:58

Train it, so much easier. I get the ease of parking at my works carpark under the building bang center in Embankment. But even then, I'd rather get the train in from Reading on a Saturday simply as it's less fuss.

EDIT: Just seen you mentioned the midlands. How much do you expect to do? I'd suggest staying the night. Really make use of the time. You've got multiple parks to see (Holland, Hyde, Green just to name a few). Camden lock and market, Oxford high street, natural history museum etc etc. So much. So I'd plan the day and stay a night.

Further advice, if it's nice, try and get a boris bike, it's really not that bad cycling and is MUCH better than tubing it everywhere. When you get a bit too flustered on a main road. Go into a side street and just slowly make your way to the destination.

Arazi · 20 Jun 2016 at 15:00

Leave car in drive and take train = shopping, sight seeing, drunk, train, home, pasty.

Whichever order you like.

flowrider99 · 20 Jun 2016 at 15:03

Dont forget to pay the congestion charge as well.

Bunka · 20 Jun 2016 at 15:59

Cosimo said:
We don't need your car here. Just catch the train.

This.

Glaucus · 20 Jun 2016 at 15:59

Housey said:
Train it, MUCH simpler and quicker.

this

Housey · 20 Jun 2016 at 16:03

Ive been travelling from the Midlands to London on a regular basis for 20 years. With the odd exception the last thing in the world I would do is drive into London. If you plan to go and enjoy the sites and sounds and don't need to haul stuff around it will be quicker, easier and probably at a weekend, cheaper on the train.

Feek · 20 Jun 2016 at 16:05

Let the train take the strain.

agnes · 20 Jun 2016 at 16:11

Feek said:
Let the train take the strain.

Get out.

DaleTheWhale · 20 Jun 2016 at 16:13

I've done both, train from Birmingham and drive from Birmingham.

The former was quicker, stress free and cheaper by about £60, took ages to find parking.

Feek said:
Let the train take the strain.

Leave.

Avenged7Fold · 20 Jun 2016 at 16:14

Train it, apart from all the ag and bother, you take away that massively unknown time factor of queuing to get in an out of London. Some days are worse than other but none are ever good.

Captain Chaos · 20 Jun 2016 at 16:15

Thanks all for the advice.

Looks like im grabbing the train hahaha.

Any pointers on what to do? London Eye and what not (can you tell I have no idea?)

Might as well stay the night so any last minute recommendations for accomodation?