Where to park then get the train/tube into London

[LondonTrip24]

I have a weekend away planned with my children next week. They want to do everything Christmassy! The train into central London, coming from Birmingham was my first option but the prices are shocking. A friend suggested driving to the outskirts, then tube or train into London. Please could I have your suggestions and also if the car park is likely to have spaces if we arrived there at 11am ish. Thanks

I'd drive to Stratford (Westfield) and jump on the multitude of tubes/trains into Central London from there

Have you looked at getting the train into Marylebone from Moor St or Snow Hill? I often go to Bham for work and find that route cheaper and less busy than New St - Euston (mid-week). Less frequent and takes longer, though.

If you are coming from Birmingham I would suggest parking at Stanmore

Watford junction, just off the M1 and then the fast train 15 minutes to Euston. If you go to a tube station you will be sitting on the tube for ages.

Kew

Actually yes this is probs the best option if coming from the M1 and going to the west end

I would track back along the Chiltern line from Marylebone and decide where to park based on how much you want to spend on the train vs cost of parking. For example, the car park at Oxford Parkway is huge, and it's dead handy for the M40, but it's still a fair way from London. Using the same criteria, you've got High Wycombe and Beaconsfield with multi-story car parks, but there will be plenty of stations closer in to London which I've never used so I don't know about the car parking situation.

From Birmingham - I'd take the Chiltern train from Moor Street to Marylebone.
It might also be worth getting a railcard which will cost £30 but may well knock way more than that off your tickets.

Sounds like a complete palaver to drive to outer London and still have to tube/train it in.

How bout you use an app called 'just park' (there are others like it) you pay in advance to park on someone's drive near a station so it's booked in advance and much cheaper than council/NCP and the likes car parks.

I use the app all the time when needing to park close to a station. Works a treat!

I would do Stanmore as well then you are tubing it and can use pay as you go on a credit card

Personally I wouldn’t park at Beaconsfield or High Wycombe as the train is still relatively expensive.

Hillingdon or Amersham for TFL services are both much cheaper for parking and rail fares.

Check the prices from rugby, not so far to drive and often significantly cheaper. Also look at snow hill Birmingham to Marylebone, often cheaper and finally might be cheaper to buy a railcard, you can buy with Tesco Clubcard points if you have one

Look at the train from Nuneaton.

We also got the tube in from Harrow & Wealdstone as the line was better for where we were going to stay.

Have done this lots of times, would agree with looking down the train lines and finding somewhere nearer but cheaper. Also a railcard is a very good shout.

If you do drive I’d recommend one of the parking apps or Westfield Shepherds Bush (although I’d leave Birmingham 7am latest to avoid west way traffic). Don’t do Westfield Stratford from the midlands it will take you all day

I have driven to Edgware then got the Northern Line into London. There is a large car park and it’s relatively cheap, and the station is only a 5 minute drive off the M1.

(Sorry Not to answer your question) but depending what side of Bham you are, have you looked at trains from Warwick parkway? We went from there in the summer, as it was much cheaper to drive there and train it than Bham to Euston!
maybe look at Worcs too?

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm going to have an evening planning!

I usually just book parking somewhere Hammersmith / Park Lane / Hyde Park and then tube / walk in. A lot of hotels offer day rates. Alternatively you can get prebookable spots on driveways. Just check Parkopedia.

Park at Stanmore station and get the Jubilee Line

Drive to Q Park - Park Lane/Hyde Park £60 for 24 hours so much less than the train. Book ahead to save but always space.

@LondonTrip24 agree with @Whistledown2 use Just Park.

If you drive to Golders Green tube station area (about 2 hrs from BHM, you miss the congestion charge zone, and are then in London central by tube, within half an hour)

e.g. if you are doing a day trip on the Saturday, parking would cost ~£12, then tube fares.

https://www.justpark.com/search?arriving=2024-11-30T10%3A00&leaving=2024-11-30T20%3A00&q=London+NW11+7RN%2C+UK&coords=51.5722089%2C-0.1948102&place_id=ChIJabZI-psQdkgRDnvbZVeeeAI&filters=reservable

Depends on where in Birmingham you’re coming from - but I recommend taking the M6 / A14/ M11 and coming off at Epping. You can park at the station and get on the Central Line easily into central London

Hillingdon or Stanmore

Hillingdon station is right on the A40 - super easy if you come on from the M40. Will definitely have spaces and then you are right on the met line into central London