Best driving/train combo to get to East Croydon from south!

[User0610134049]

I could really do with some MN wisdom and help.
Am going to have to travel to East Croydon from Liphook (down the A3 and on the Waterloo/guildford/Portsmouth train line). On the train it’s 1.5-2 hours but only one option an hour really (change at Clapham junction)

Driving says an hour on Google maps but I know in reality will be horrendous and much longer.

Basically nearer home the train links are rubbish, but nearer Croydon the traffic will be awful won’t it.

I thought driving and parking to guildford might be good as it’s after that the traffic worsens on the A3 and m25… but the train links are still rubbish (might be better when timetable improves?)

I think Best option I’ve found so far is driving and parking at Redhill station (an hour maybe? But no idea what traffic is like from m25 to Redhill), then it’s 14 mins on the train and 4 trains an hour.

Merstham looks closer to m25 and 12mins on train but only 2 trains an hour.

Any other ideas I’m missing?

Three bridges could maybe work thank you.
It’s a (fairly predictable I think) drive of just over an hour then 20 min frequent train service.

What would be great is if sw trains lay on another Clapham junction service when the timetable returns to normal. Will check that. And I think have ruled out driving all the way.

Thanks for helping me with this!

Gatwick airport to east Croydon- trains quick and often. Not sure how far that is from you though?

@HavfrueDenizKisi

Gatwick airport to east Croydon- trains quick and often. Not sure how far that is from you though?

Parking a nightmare at lgw though.

Gatwick is quite far

Can you get the train to Wimbledon instead of Clapham Junction? Then you can get the tram from Wimbledon to East Croydon.

I did think of Wimbledon, but it’s 37 mins on the tram and trains don’t stop there from here. Thought about driving and parking there but I don’t think it would worth it

Do you not have a partner who could do the school run/collection on those days?

Hopefully he can. Pre covid he was out the house 7am - 8pm in london and sometimes going abroad. Now he works at home sometimes but enjoys the flexibility of going into london whenever and sometimes at short notice. Likewise the trips away to Europe can be short notice. I’ve asked if I know if advance days I’m in Croydon if he can work from home and been told no basically he can’t guarantee it and I ‘shouldn’t bank on him’ But that’s a whole other thread! 🙄