London Park and Ride

[paulcleaver]

My nephew, his wife and 3 children (5, 8 & 11) are driving from Leicester to Woking on Wednesday, via M1 until J21A, then M25 off at J11) and they want to take the kids into London to the Natural History Museum. They intend catching a train/tube around 10am with return from Central London around 4pm.

Which is the best station to park the car at and go into Central London from please?

Is it Stanmore still or is there an alternative?

Also please, ticketing wise, what tickets will they need paper or Oyster?

It's a long time since I've done a park and ride going into London. Thank you for any input.

 

[High Dyke]

If using the tube, then Stanmore is probably the most convenient. Exit the M1 at Jct 4 and join the A41 (Edgeware Way). It's close to Stanmore. A sample journey takes about 50 minutes to South Kensington, the closest station to the museum.

Journey results

tfl.gov.uk

Another tube option.would be to exit M25 Jct.18 onto the A404 and park at Rickmansworth. Afterwards, return to the M25 to continue onwards from Jct.18. Travel times to South Kensington are slightly longer though.

 

[Snow1964]

If you are going to Natural History museum at South Kensington, and then after picking up car, driving to Woking, rather than returning up North, might not want Jubilee line at Stanmore to Green Park and Piccadilly (it is long walk to change between those lines at Green Park)

Hillingdon is an alternative easy to reach off motorway

I would suggest Osterley, which would allow direct Piccadilly line train. There is a small car park, but there is unrestricted (free) parking around Gresham Road, easy to reach off M25

 

[Lucan]

I don't understand. They are staying in or near Woking? Why not take the train from Woking?

 

[paulcleaver]

They are staying with relatives in Woking. They want to visit London on their way down there.

Are you suggesting that it would be easier just to travel in from Woking?

I don't understand. They are staying in or near Woking? Why not take the train from Woking?

 

[Lucan]

There is a fast and frequent service to London Waterloo from Woking. At Waterloo, change onto the Bakerloo Line northbound, three stops to Piccadilly Circus, then change onto the Piccadilly Line westbound to South Kensington. That is what I would do rather than drive through even the outer London suburbs. In fact I used to do that trip every day.

 

[Hadders]

Don’t underestimate the traffic congestion on the M25 past Heathrow. It’s hideous in the morning peak, and it sounds as though you’ll be hitting it at morning peak time!

I’d be tempted to head for Luton Airport Parkway, take a fast train into London from there but make sure you’re back on the road to avoid the evening peak (or stay in London longer and complete your journey to Woking after the evening peak).

 

[zero]

There is a fast and frequent service to London Waterloo from Woking. At Waterloo, change onto the Bakerloo Line northbound, three stops to Piccadilly Circus, then change onto the Piccadilly Line westbound to South Kensington. That is what I would do rather than drive through even the outer London suburbs. In fact I used to do that trip every day.

I would take a train from Woking to Clapham Junction then bus 345 rather than messing about with the tube.

If insisting on driving, it makes more sense to park at Osterley station, which is easy to get to from the M4, rather than Stanmore and then again have to mess around with changing at Green Park, and then you still have the bulk of the M25 to negotiate at the end of the day. If willing to walk, there are some streets with no restrictions 15 minutes away from Northfields / South Ealing.

 

[paulcleaver]

Thank you all for your kind comments on locations to park. I've given him the link to this thread, so he can choose from all of your kind suggestions.

Thank you all.