Quick help needed - how easiest to get into London today?

[wonderstuff]

Have tickets for a show in Bloomsbury this evening and booked restaurant for early dinner in covent garden. Was planning to go from Basingstoke, but there's an issue on the line and looks like all the trains have been cancelled - national rail enquires site has crashed on me. I need to find somewhere with parking. Normally my second choice would be Reading, but industrial action on GWR today - Elizabeth line running but that takes an hour. I have driven to Kingston before... Imagine driving into central london will be a nightmare with SWT and GWR out.. I live just off the M3 about 20 min drive west of Basingstoke... WWYD.

What does google maps say on time to venue. Then check parking on
The local roads on
The council website. Lots of places on Sunday free especially after 5ish.
Don't forget congestion charge though. It stops at 6 on a Sunday.

Oh and Ulez!

So would you drive all the way in?

Just checked google maps, traffic is horrible.. I'm thinking Kingston might be best option.

Is all of SWT out? Could try Wimbledon station or Richmond as also tube options.
I was just interested in time difference by the time you drive halfway and then faff with trains and tube.
Point was it's quite easy to park in London on a Sunday pm so worth considering.
What are you off to see?

We usually park in a multi storey in Hammersmith and take the tube out bus from there

Richmond might be a good shout. Looks like heavy congestion after M25, will take another hour to get past the M3 I think. Off to see Lucy Beaumont at Bloomsbury theatre.

Hammersmith not looking too bad a drive at the moment either...

Just the Basingstoke mainline out on SWT I think. Such a nightmare.

Surbiton might be easier than Kingston, which will be awash with shoppers. Surbiton station car park generally quiet at weekends plus fast train to Waterloo - or Wimbledon if you want to pick up district line.

Drive to the underground station nearest to you, wherever that is. That's what DH had to do this morning.

Just park App. Drive somewhere pull up the app, book parking. Simple to use and you can always extend the booking if you need to.

Surbiton may also be a good call. Surbiton is an hours drive, Hammersmith looking like an hour and a half.

Nearest Tube is Reading, which is about 40 minutes away and then an hour on the Elizabeth line to central london..

Think I'll go with either Hammersmith or Surbiton. DH thinks Hammersmith, but I am nervous about silly amounts of traffic and London driving generally. Although I've driven to Harrow a few times, so probably not much worse than that?

Also now can't get hold of the friend I'm going with...

Hammersmith tube doesn’t have a car park. I think from the west I would do Westfield Shepherds Bush (tons of parking and can pick up the tube there) or Wimbledon (big station car park) if the route more south westerly looks clearer of traffic.

Thanks all. Just about to leave. Going to drive to Surbiton, park there and train/tube from there. Wish us luck! x