£35.50 to take a car into London 😲

Cabs. We have these things called cabs in London. Every local mini cab office worth its salt will do fixed price journeys to the major London airports.

I'm not complaining about anything. Merely pointing out there ISNT public transport everywhere in London during the night as a PP said. I don't live in Romford btw but it's the nearest but of London I know

What's your point?

You're talking about getting to Gatwick in the middle of the night, right? From Romford? OK, just drive. You're already starting inside the ULEZ so that's a wash either way plus, of course, the vast majority of cars in/around the ULEZ are already compliant. No-one would go from Romford to Gatwick via the CC zone so the CC cost is irrelevant. Similarly I can't see any reason to go through the Blackwall/Silvertown tunnels so the charges for that is also irrelevant but even if you chose to it'd be the shock! horror! off-peak rate of £1.50. The obvious route would be to go round the M25 and cross at the Dartford crossing which is, of course, entirely free in the middle of the night.

I really don't understand what you're complaining about.

That's ok if you live near a tham@eslink station. Not quite so easy if you live around romford or upminster for example.

@TimeandMotion it is literally in the title of the thread.

Actually I've just read a Zola novel set in the food market in the middle of Paris in the 19th century. They seem to have had a massive problem with large noisy carts delivering food to the market to feed the urban population of the day, and also for all the massive building works that were going on in those days with railways and the Haussmann rebuilding of the city - lots of discussion in the novel about how they all had to come in in the hours of darkness so they could be out of the city again before sunrise to avoid congestion and tolls.

Plus ca change, as Zola would (probably) have said...

@HowardTJMoon I don't actually think that's true for the trains, I know that the Elizabeth line, Picadilly Line and Heathrow express all have their last train around 11.30pm/midnight and then don't start up again until around 5am. Gatwick Express is similar.

That being said, for the vast majority of flights, the train is clearly the best option. For very early or late flights, get a taxi - driving your own car and then parking at LHR/LGW even for a short trip is almost always going to be more expensive than taking a cab.

Thameslink goes to Gatwick all night. My DD got there around 3am-ish just a few weeks ago.

I'll take your word about Heathrow. I know I've got there on the tube at stupid o'clock in the past but luckily I've not had to do that for a while. But coaches and night busses definitely run all night.

Funny that your post mentions a car but now you're driving an HGV.

@HowardTJMoon I don't actually think that's true for the trains, I know that the Elizabeth line, Picadilly Line and Heathrow express all have their last train around 11.30pm/midnight and then don't start up again until around 5am. Gatwick Express is similar.

That being said, for the vast majority of flights, the train is clearly the best option. For very early or late flights, get a taxi - driving your own car and then parking at LHR/LGW even for a short trip is almost always going to be more expensive than taking a cab.

You commute in a HGV? How odd. Most people drive HGVs for an employer who would pay any charges.

Not shit stirring just sleeping 😂😂
yes I can find my way round it with no charge it’s just a pain having to do it
I can see congestion increasing around tower bridge/rotherhithe area as well as the Dartford crossing which is a nightmare whenever you go
I drive an HGV in town so already have to sit in all the queues of traffic caused by the vehicles that don’t come into London 🤦🏻‍♂️
I was merely commenting on the potential for even more charges for motorists when it’s already expensive enough to drive

Not shit stirring just sleeping 😂😂
yes I can find my way round it with no charge it’s just a pain having to do it
I can see congestion increasing around tower bridge/rotherhithe area as well as the Dartford crossing which is a nightmare whenever you go
I drive an HGV in town so already have to sit in all the queues of traffic caused by the vehicles that don’t come into London 🤦🏻‍♂️
I was merely commenting on the potential for even more charges for motorists when it’s already expensive enough to drive

Yep, and people who moved to London know before they moved there that it's polluted.

As I wrote above the train is not really an option for flights that leave at 6 a.m. or come in at 23 p.m., which most if them do! Oh I know, I could book a hotel and save the ULEZ. Genius 🙄.

Not shit stirring just sleeping 😂😂
yes I can find my way round it with no charge it’s just a pain having to do it
I can see congestion increasing around tower bridge/rotherhithe area as well as the Dartford crossing which is a nightmare whenever you go
I drive an HGV in town so already have to sit in all the queues of traffic caused by the vehicles that don’t come into London 🤦🏻‍♂️
I was merely commenting on the potential for even more charges for motorists when it’s already expensive enough to drive

WTF? Are you suggesting people cycle into London - or to the airports? Not everyone lives close enough to do that! Taxis cost silly prices. And public transport? LOL don't make me laugh. It's ridiculously poor in most places, and even places that have it, get let down by it half the time.

Also PMSL at everyone who owns a car in London being wealthy!

There is some ludicrous and ignorant nonsense being spouted on this thread!