anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm?

[DickDarstedly]

I am wondering how long the queue is and how the organisation is working out. Are there enough toilets? Is it true that the wristband allows you to leave and come back?

EDITED BY MNHQ Please find the link to the new thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4635946-anyone-queuing-to-see-the-coffin-in-london-atm-pt-2

If anyone is just joining the queue, my son has just got to London Bridge having started queueing at 7pm, so 4.5 hrs.

@Libre55 : I’m sorry to read about such a poor & disappointing experience, clearly the access is not working at all for those for whom it is intended

Thanks for the advice.

I started there on Wed night was 9 hours total for me so he might have 8-10 more to go … seems like maybe it’s now 14-15 hours as reported by others today NOT 22/24 (I hope for all currently queuing)

SquashedFlyBiscuits · Today 23:20
Going to get up at 2am and drive in to London. Expecting to arrive at the queue site around 5. Any tips?

just to add, use toilets (real ones) where you pause in the line - South Bank buildings etc, as after Westminster Bridge there’s only portaloos with no soap.
Wrap up warmly, take a book or thick magazine to sit on when you pause (so you don’t sit directly on the cold pavement).
enjoy the queue experience - it’s not often you get to spend x hrs with a bunch of strangers and each has a story to tell and chat to share.

@BlooberryBiskits

yes, I’m predicting that he’ll get to the Hall at 8-9am.
Strangely, I’m rather glad I got inside during the night as I found the darkened windows more atmospheric and it just felt calmer than sunlight might have done, if that makes sense.

We went through at 11pm. Such an awesome sight. We were lucky to watch a guard change and then had a few minutes to walk past and take it all in. I will never forget that moment of standing at the top of the stairs.

In all, it took us 14 hours. Just over 12 hours to get from Southwark Park to Lambeth Bridge and then 2 hours through from the Bridge through the gardens.

If you can, please go.

23 minutes to get from the entrance of the park to the gridlock part of the queue. Unbelievably busy. 23.5 hours to go!

I do hope that the estimated time is a worst case scenario! How is the temperature? It's 6 degrees where I am up north, but according to the met office, it's a few degrees warmer in London so I hope you are managing to maintain a manageable temperature.

@SquashedFlyBiscuits There are some public toilets in Victoria Gardens, tucked away at the bottom of the steps you'll walk down to enter the gardens, to the left. They ladies only has three cubicles and I don't know what state they'll be in by now, but most people don't notice them so you might be lucky. Take your own toilet paper.

Security is very strict with liquids and gels (not just drinkable liquids). Think of the types of liquids you can only take on an aeroplane in small quantities - except here you can't take them at all and security will bin them. You can carry an empty drink bottle, as long as it's clear plastic. The snake queue through Victoria Gardens is about 2 hours so don't jettison your unused food and drink as soon as you get there.

I used to live off Southwark Park Road. Definitely Bermondsey tube station for Southwark Park. Turn right and it's a few minutes walk to the park which is on the right.

It's cold. They handed out blankets ( possibly to put over your companions who loose the will to live). But it's still packed so that's keeping us a bit warmer. Plus it's moving. 1 hour, 2 miles, still in southwark park

Watching the Live feed it always seems less crowded queue on the right. ( with your back to the stairs ) People seem less bunched together.

Try and get in that one. 😁

@IncessantNameChanger - am thinking of coming down. But is there a queue to join the queue? Do people think it is going to be 19.5 hours which is what the tracker says?

Fortitude @IncessantNameChanger !!
it must be hard in the cold … hopefully you will be moving during the night as that helps

Interesting re the blankets - foil or cloth ones?

Id estimate it’s going to be 14-15 hours for those starting now but time will tell

Good luck!!

I agree - the still & dark was v atmospheric

I'm still snaking in the park and the official timer says almost at max capacity. I think surely it will die down as we mostly the last few trains into London when we set off.

I don’t know - yes for anyone traveling, but some Londoners may wake up early & walk/bus to start

Joining in the dead of the night would make more sence to me. Surely its quotes then?

Just getting out of sothwark park

Wrist bands as you leave the park

In the queue now, London eye is in sight but everything closed for an hour for cleaning. Joined at 6.45pm when tracker said 24 hours but am hour in a sign said 14 hours so I don't think it was ever anything near that. It's been tough going, just standing for that long is hard work. I came because my mum was keen but didn't feel confident coming alone. I reckon we have 3-4 hours to go

Joined queue in Southwark Park at 2.28am. Policeman said it is about 3 hours in park. Someone on tube who had started queuing at 1.00pm said it was about 14 hours after you leave the park…but her timings don’t seem right as she was through in 12 hours!! Who knows?

For those coming - Bermondsey seems best station to get off at and there are signs pointing the way as some entrances closed. Cannot believe some have brought their children at this time of the day!!

So I arrived in Southwark Park at 2.28am and left an hour later with a band!