How to get into central London without driving into the city

[Sausagechipsandbean]

Hi,
I have a hen party next Thursday in London but it's the day of all the train strikes so there's a very realistic chance I won't be able to get my train. I can drive but I'm anxious about driving in the city centre, especially as I'm pregnant and we'll be leaving after dark so the idea of trying navigate my way out of the city on my own is really stressful.
Are there any tube stations that I can use to get into the city but that are enough on the outskirts that are easy enough to drive to and will have parking for the day? I'm coming from Norfolk so preferably that side of London.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Something on the Elizabeth line, I'd presume - head to one of the stations in Essex and park around there.

Could you take a coach service instead? Or book a hotel so you’re not travelling late at night?

A lot of the tubes are on strike too.

When you say city do you mean The City, or where? It'll be a PITA whatever re parking, traffic massively increased. I hope they call it off in the next few days.

Redbridge station carpark is where my mum and dad
park when coming from that way. Redbridge is on the central line. Think it’s £5 or £6 a day.

Tubes are on strike too mostly I’m afraid

The tubes are on strike on Tuesday, but not on Thursday (or Saturday).

Ooh hadn’t thought about the Elizabeth line. That’s probably much quicker.

When you say city do you mean The City, or where?

Yes, what is your ultimate destination, OP?

We're going to Leicester Square so that kind of central (sorry I don't know London well). The only bus currently available will take over 4 hours to get there. I'm working on the Friday so need to get home the same night really and I haven't budgeted for a hotel in London as well.

I’d drive. C London really isn’t that bad for traffic - I live there. I drive daily and it’s fine. I imagine London will be dead on the day of the strikes. Parking is free after 6.30 in most of C London. You’ll have to pay C Charge and ULEZ depending on your car. BUT a drive from Norfolk is loooong. Are you staying overnight?

Here you go, this has all the tube stations with cat parks, I come in from the opposite side so can't help with recommendations.

www.ncp.co.uk/parking-solutions/transport-for-london-car-parks/

Ok just seen your post re getting back on the same night. I wouldn’t advise a return car journey after a night out and pregnant. Can you not book the Friday off and stay?

I’ve parked in Wanstead before when doing similar.

Driving in London is fine if you don't panic and use a sat nav. But with all the strikes, traffic will be carnage.

I've just elected to cancel a brilliant night out I've been looking forward to for ages because I can't see any logical non-nightmare solution.

Honestly, I’d make my excuses!

<unhelpful>

Elizabeth Line isn't much good for east London. I'd drive to Epping and get the tube from there. You can walk from TCR to Leicester Square or it's just one stop. It costs £7.50/ day to park

We do this journey often from Norfolk, it's not loooong at all! I suppose it depends what part of Norfolk you're driving from. We always aim to park at Redbridge but sometimes it's full so we go up the road a bit to Wanstead. It's really no hassle at all. And we always come back the same night. Never been a problem.

Could you ask if any of the other hens could offer you a sofa for the night, and book Friday morning off work?

Are any of the other guests likely to drop out? I'd be torn between thinking it's going to be a bit of a nightmare, and not wanting to let the bride down.

It runs from Shenfield to Liverpool Street! It's very useful for East London.

I can't help with parking OP, I'm afraid. I know that some people who have parked at Westfield (Stratford), but I don't know the rate or when the parking closes.

There's no Tube strike on during the day on Thursday, but it is going to be busy travelling anywhere on the Tube network because the people who need to commute in by train will have to drive to outlier Tube stations. My advice is to drive to Shenfield, the furthest stop out on the Lizzy Line on the side of London you'll be driving in from. You should get a seat and you can get it through to Tottenham Court Road and walk to Leicester Square from there.

Thank you for all your advice, it's really helpful and really appreciated.
I can't really cancel my work this short notice as I have meetings that would be very difficult to rearrange but I can manage with a later start so will look to see if a hotel and driving into the centre is a feasible option; I'm not a nervous driver but just the idea of driving in central London fills me with dread. I've done it once before years and years ago and remember getting so stressed and lost.
The other hens are all coming from the same place together, it's only me from this end of the country and they're booked on a taxi together. I've already looked to see if I can drive to them and join with the taxi but sadly not as it's full and the next taxi up would cost literally hundreds more so I'm on my own.
The bride is one of my closest friends so I really don't want to cancel plus I've already paid for all the activities in the day which obviously I wouldn't get back so it would be money down the drain. Just such unfortunate timing. I literally never use the train for anything other than going into London which I do once in a blue moon... Just so typical the strikes land on this exact day 😅

@ItsNotNormalLove that looks like a really good option, only 1.5 hour's drive for me, thank you. May I ask, do you need to pay congestion changes or emissions changes (whatever they all) to drive there do you know?

@Sausagechipsandbean no congestion charge or anything like that at Redbridge or Wanstead. There is also Newbury Park and Snaresbrook too quite close. All on central line. Walk to Leicester Square fr9m Tottenham Court Road tube, it's a straight line.

The Elizabeth line is not joined up yet. If you get on in Essex you'll still need to change at Liverpool st at the moment. Much easier just to use the central line.

@alrightfella Thank you. I think I'll try these options.