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Original poster

Advice needed for non-refundable London trip this weekend

49 replies

iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 10:26

Hi all,
Could do with some help from ppl who know London well, as I don't really!
I have a non-refundable theatre trip booked to London Saturday 17th - obviously no longer a good time to go but it's been booked for months and can't be changed. We were going to drive and park in a Q car park near our hotel in Covent Garden due to the strikes which have now been cancelled. But i don't know what is best now - drive or train? Seems like either one will be a nightmare but which is going to be worse?! Any thoughts, tips or advice appreciated?

OP posts:
maxelly · 14/09/2022 10:35

I think I'd probably take the train myself although depends a bit which side of London/mainline train station you'll be coming in on as to how busy the tube will be to then get you to Covent Garden? The alternative might be still drive but park instead at an outer London tube station then get on the tube from there - it will likely be busy on a Saturday but you'll get a seat if you are at the far end of the line so it won't be as bad as if you were trying to ram in at one of the central london stations. There've been hysterical messages from TFL about avoiding travel all week but I've been commuting as normal and it's been absolutely fine, maybe a tad busier than normal but probably not even back to pre-pandemic levels, I am guessing so long as you avoid Green Park, St James palace etc and don't mind a bit of busyness or delays you'll be OK - maybe give us a rough location you're coming from and we can help plan a route?

Original poster
iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 10:41

Wow thank you, so helpful! I am only coming from Luton so not far but I just don't travel to London :( The hotel is the Strand Palace, a meal on Air street for 5pm and Theatre at the Palladium at 7. Did have brunch booked at St Pancras champagne bar for 11:15 but not sure how likely it is to get there on time?

OP posts:
maxelly · 14/09/2022 10:56

I don't see why you wouldn't get there on time, the fast train Luton to St Pancras is only just over 30 mins so even allowing for massive delays (which I don't think there will be TBH) if you aim for a 9am- or 9.30am ish train you'll be there with ample time to spare. I would recommend booking seats on the train though just in case it is busy just to be comfortable (you can book seats on the East Midlands fast trains, not sure about the Thameslink). Then after your brunch (assuming you are not reeling from the champers and/or have super heavy bags and/or it's not pissing down with rain!) personally I would actually walk down to Covent Garden from there, it's only about 1.5 miles or 35 mins walk and very easy to navigate using citymapper or google maps, you go past some nice squares for a little sit down/coffee stop on the way. Or there are many buses going that way, or only a few stops on the tube but it is possible the Piccadilly line will be very busy by Saturday afternoon with people going down to the palace so as you have lots of time I'd avoid that myself.

Or if you are particularly worried (like I say no need to be but understandable if you are a bit London-phobic) you could cancel the brunch and rebook for somewhere in Covent Garden and then get on the Thameslink straight from Luton to either Blackfriars or Farringdon. Neither are anywhere near the palace so shouldn't be too busy at all, I'd choose Blackfriars myself as it's a nice 20 minute walk all along the river to Covent Garden. I'd def do that on the Sunday on the way home either way...

Enjoy, sounds lovely to me!

Original poster
iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 11:39

Ah thanks so much for clarifying - suppose the news make everyone who is a bit London-phobic feel like it's all impossible?! Of course others who know we are going keep telling us how horrific it will be which compacts matters.

OP posts:
Original poster
iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 14:14

Does anyone think booking a space at Holborn gate Cark park would be good? DH for some reason is more panicked by the trains and wants to drive...conscious of road closures etc.

OP posts:
BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 14/09/2022 14:16

I would get the train personally

Sothis · 14/09/2022 14:18

Train. Definitely. Train timetables are being extended this weekend to cope with the crowds.

sunshineandsuddenshowers · 14/09/2022 14:24

It’s fine! I’ve just walked through St Pancras and it’s totally normal. Not seen anything anywhere that hasn’t been, tbh. Nothing is happening yet, it’ll be fine!

sunshineandsuddenshowers · 14/09/2022 14:24

But yes, train every time…

HavfrueDenizKisi · 14/09/2022 14:26

I absolutely wouldn't be driving in at all this weekend. And I'm in London and have no worries driving in if I need to.

I would most definitely take the train. Take an earlier than you need train, so you can make your way without having to rush. It won't be rammed everywhere and I expect places like Covent Garden will be as busy as usual but not wall to wall people. As long as you're not heading anywhere near Westminster or B Palace/Green park I think you'll be fine. Plus coming in from Luton is super easy on thameslink.

I understand people who don't know or come into London that much can get panicked by these events but it is a big place so it won't all be crowded. And I accidentally took my daughters to china town for dim sum and only realised it was gay pride when we got there! Now that was busy but we still got out dim sum with ease!

minipie · 14/09/2022 14:28

Oh I would never advise anyone to drive into London (unless they can’t take public transport for some reason). Even on a normal weekend the traffic is soul destroying.

I think if you take the train you’ll be fine. Just avoid the Palace area.

KMoo22 · 14/09/2022 14:31

@iwasgonnasay i would say Train/driving will be equally as bad as people will be queuing for MILES just to get into London to pay respects to the Queen whilst she's Laying in-state.
Id ensure you plan your Journey earlier than anticipated as your probably going to get delayed regardless of travelling, if Q parking lets you TRY book in advance see if it allows early booking for priority x

Comefromaway · 14/09/2022 14:33

I'd go on the train.

Dd works at another theatre very close to The Strand Palace. She got the train into central London today (and will be working Saturday). It's not that busy yet but allow plenty of time.

Doveyouknow · 14/09/2022 14:36

I am in London and public transport is fine at the moment. I really wouldn't drive into central London at the moment though. Loads of roads are closed and they are often being closed with little or no notice.

maxelly · 14/09/2022 14:40

iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 14:14

Does anyone think booking a space at Holborn gate Cark park would be good? DH for some reason is more panicked by the trains and wants to drive...conscious of road closures etc.

I mean I'm sure the carpark is fine particularly if it's reservable spaces but really, I wouldn't like to speak for the traffic in central London on Saturday, it's pretty bad at the best of times coming around the north circular and down the Euston Road and through Bloomsbury but this weekend, you might be sat there a long time and waste a lot of your day which is a pity as it's meant to be sunny and you could be enjoying a lovely brunch or wandering along the river rather than sat in a traffic fog. There won't be road closures on your route I don't think coming in from the North, but there may well be extra traffic due to road closures elsewhere and just general business.

If he really wants to avoid the trains (and I don't see why, they'll be running as normal or even extra services unlike the roads where they can't suddenly open up extra lanes) I would drive as far as the edge of London/M25 boundary and park in somewhere like High Barnet or Cockfosters (easily enough accessible from the M1 or A1) and jump on the tube from there. Both will have cheaper parking than in central and it will be about a 45 min hop down to town, take the Northern line charing cross branch to Leicester Square from high barnet or piccadilly line to Covent Garden from Cockfosters.

But honestly even that will be much slower than just jumping on a train and relaxing. Can you persuade him to at least check how the trains are in the morning and leave early enough that if you get to the station and somehow it's like last helicopter out of Saigon you have enough time to jump in the car and head down the motorway? If your meal isn't until 5 you'd have plenty of time to keep that as a back up option?

Snoken · 14/09/2022 14:45

Oh definitely take the train. There is no reason for you to drive, and you would no doubt get stuck in traffic many times trying to get to your hotel. London is terrible for congestion in normal times, this weekend will be worse. There is nothing blocking the trains though, so they will run regardless.

weddingDecliner · 14/09/2022 14:46

At the moment the traffic is lighter than usual (as of 30 minutes ago when I drove in from Putney to Westminster)

weddingDecliner · 14/09/2022 14:46

iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 10:41

Wow thank you, so helpful! I am only coming from Luton so not far but I just don't travel to London :( The hotel is the Strand Palace, a meal on Air street for 5pm and Theatre at the Palladium at 7. Did have brunch booked at St Pancras champagne bar for 11:15 but not sure how likely it is to get there on time?

It is a short walk?

Comefromaway · 14/09/2022 14:54

Enjoy the theatre anyway. It's closing night on Saturday I believe.

Kennykenkencat · 14/09/2022 15:01

If you are only coming from Luton then Thameslink and tubes. Don’t bother with the car you will pay car parking and congestion zone and Ulez if you have a diesel car. It all adds up.

What is the worse that can happen. You have to get the bus home or the money you have saved on car parks and congestion charges you could afford a taxi home.

Camdenish · 14/09/2022 15:06

Are you coming from Luton?

You could get Thameslink in as PP said. Even if central London is mad and for some reason you can’t get all the way in you can get off train at Kentish Town. You’d get a bus or a cab into town if you didn’t fancy the tube.

Surtsey · 14/09/2022 15:07

Hi OP, I live not all that far from you, take the train, definitely (we go to Covt Gdn a lot). But give yourselves at least a couple of extra hours. There's a taxi rank outside the station. Or you can plan your journey on the TFL website, and it will not only tell you tubes but buses as well, and also any delays. It might be worth walking at least part of the way. Buy travelcard train tickets, and you can use them on both the underground and buses.

mmmflakycrust81 · 14/09/2022 15:52

Oh christ no dont drive!

Train to St Pancras, Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden. Both stations have lifts for luggage.

London is a huge city and can absorb lots of extra people - unless you wonder down towards Buck Palace/Westminster I highly doubt you will notice any difference with crowds.

Echobelly · 14/09/2022 15:55

I wouldn't drive but I wouldn't worry too much about West End - I'd avoid Victoria, Westminster, St James Park and London Bridge area due to queues but I think everywhere else will be manageable

HaveringWavering · 14/09/2022 16:14

I don't understand why you had booked brunch at St Pancras if you were planning to drive?

I think you're worrying over nothing. The Queen is not lying in state in Leicester Square! You have your hotel and meals booked. Why would the train from Luton be delayed?

If there is some kind of madness on the tubes and buses it's walkable from St Pancras to Covent Garden.

What am I missing?

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