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Original poster

O2 arena on a Sunday - help me plan

23 replies

HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 18:04

I’m travelling from South Wales on Sunday for a concert in the O2 arena with my son.
My first thought was to drive to Slough and get the train and tube over, but I’m worried it’ll be super busy coming out at the end and the trains going to Slough late on a Sunday night aren’t very frequent.
I’ve read that getting out of the car park at the O2 is a nightmare which is why I’m reluctant to drive.
Does anyone have any helpful hints/tips or suggestions of how best to manage it please?

OP posts:
Comedycook · 23/06/2023 18:06

Are you staying overnight or just watching the show and going straight home?

Whataretheodds · 23/06/2023 18:07

Best thing would be to check which train/tube lines out of London will be running for a safe window after you leave the gig. Can you drive to the west end of a tube line and park there?

Original poster
HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 18:07

Watching and going home. In hindsight we should have stayed overnight but it’s too late to get the Monday off work now.

OP posts:

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Rogue1001MNer · 23/06/2023 18:21

Park at the arena.

You can book

Takes a while to get out! Add around an hour to your journey

AlisonDonut · 23/06/2023 18:23

If I was doing that [apart from the going to work thing] I'd get the Elizabeth Line from Slough to Stratford and then the Jubilee to the O2. After checking the last tube times of course.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 23/06/2023 18:23

Definitely avoid driving to the O2, it's a massive bottleneck to get off the peninsula. Get to the Elizabeth line and that should send you west at top speed

Bananaandpecan · 23/06/2023 18:29

Not sure on where to park etc but I went to a show there last Saturday and there is also a huge queue to get Into the tube station afterwards so you'd need to factor that in.
There are times that a show has to finish by so I'd check that and then try and decide.
Ours finished at 11pm
People were starting to leave just before the end so that's an idea if you're happy to leave a bit earlier.

Blueroses99 · 23/06/2023 18:34

I went to the O2 on a Sunday night and wouldn’t be able to make my last train from Waterloo without leaving the gig early. I parked at my friends place in Woolwich Arsenal and for the boat across 1 stop (there was no queue, unlike everyone going into London in the opposite direction), and then drove home. It was a while ago but perhaps you could look into this option.

Original poster
HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 18:54

That’s what I’m worried about - not being able to get my train on time as the trains on the Elizabeth line aren’t too frequent on a Sunday night.
I’m now considering getting the train all the way, staying overnight and getting a train home v early the Monday morning in time for work and school.

OP posts:
bettynutkins · 23/06/2023 19:36

Could you park at Stratford Westfield and get the jubilee to Greenwich? That's what I've done before, worked fine.
More driving but minimal public transport.

bruffin · 23/06/2023 19:46

bettynutkins · 23/06/2023 19:36

Could you park at Stratford Westfield and get the jubilee to Greenwich? That's what I've done before, worked fine.
More driving but minimal public transport.

This
We have been to O2 twice recently and parked at Stratford Westfield worked fine for us as well

Original poster
HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 20:09

So you park at the shopping centre? It’s about a 3.5 hours journey to/from there but this could work. I may try to convince son to leave the concert a little earlier.
How far is the tube station from the car park?

OP posts:
ItsReallyOnlyMe · 23/06/2023 20:17

You can also get the DLR from Stratford to Royal Victoria and get the cable car across to the O2.

We found this route out by accident when we had a concert at the O2 on a combined rail strike and tube strike (the DLR was running). It's a really cool way to arrive. I would suggest you get the Jubilee line back though for speed - the queue moves quickly after a concert even though it doesn't look like it will at the time.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 23/06/2023 20:21

HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 20:09

So you park at the shopping centre? It’s about a 3.5 hours journey to/from there but this could work. I may try to convince son to leave the concert a little earlier.
How far is the tube station from the car park?

Practically next door.

Original poster
HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 20:22

ItsReallyOnlyMe · 23/06/2023 20:17

You can also get the DLR from Stratford to Royal Victoria and get the cable car across to the O2.

We found this route out by accident when we had a concert at the O2 on a combined rail strike and tube strike (the DLR was running). It's a really cool way to arrive. I would suggest you get the Jubilee line back though for speed - the queue moves quickly after a concert even though it doesn't look like it will at the time.

Love that idea, thank you

OP posts:
bettynutkins · 23/06/2023 21:43

HelpAWelshie · 23/06/2023 20:09

So you park at the shopping centre? It’s about a 3.5 hours journey to/from there but this could work. I may try to convince son to leave the concert a little earlier.
How far is the tube station from the car park?

I think (pretty sure but not 100%!) if you park the John Lewis end then it's only maybe a 2 minute walk to Stratford station. The "wrong" end is still pretty close.
I do always leave during the end of the last song and make a dart for the station. You can usually find the set list if you look for it.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 24/06/2023 07:36

You do also need a backup plan in case you come out & find that the Jubilee line isn’t running. It’s under 20 mins by car so taxi is probably the best one.

Original poster
HelpAWelshie · 24/06/2023 08:36

bettynutkins · 23/06/2023 21:43

I think (pretty sure but not 100%!) if you park the John Lewis end then it's only maybe a 2 minute walk to Stratford station. The "wrong" end is still pretty close.
I do always leave during the end of the last song and make a dart for the station. You can usually find the set list if you look for it.

Show quote history

Thanks for your help. I was hoping to leave before the end but the last song is my son’s favourite so I can’t see that happening 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpAWelshie · 24/06/2023 08:37

EmpressaurusOfCats · 24/06/2023 07:36

You do also need a backup plan in case you come out & find that the Jubilee line isn’t running. It’s under 20 mins by car so taxi is probably the best one.

Ah no, just had a mini panic reading that. How likely is that to happen?

OP posts:
EmpressaurusOfCats · 24/06/2023 08:40

Probably not THAT likely. Keep an eye on https://tfl.gov.uk/ which will also tell you if there are engineering works planned. It’s just always good to have a plan B.

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Karatema · 24/06/2023 08:41

Last time I tubed to the O2, we left early and we were very glad we did; a friend stayed to the end and nearly missed her last train home! Since then we've driven, yes it's a phaff but at least we know we're going to reach home before morning.

ItsReallyOnlyMe · 24/06/2023 09:04

I would say it's pretty unlikely the Jubilee line won't be running - but plan B is either the cable car route and DLR back or the 108 bus to Stratford (stops at the O2). (The strikes last year meant we know all the options!)

rookiemere · 24/06/2023 17:30

My top tip for concerts is see if you can get the running order for the concert, then leave in the middle of the last song. Did that for Duran Duran and totally beat the crush at the end of the concert

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