Advice about a trip to London

[cunoyerjudowel]

Please can anyone advise me of the best travel method for a trip I am making in may

The purpose of the trip is my daughter has a competition for her sport in the Sportsdock of the university of Easy London.

My aunt lives in Covent Garden and we will stay there on the Saturday night (no parking)

I have a fully electric car and would be able to drive.

We don't know what time we will finish the comp but could be up until 7- which makes the train costly and difficult

We live in Cheshire

So I am asking about park and ride options?

I am happy to get the tube around London (been lots of time but always for visiting my aunt alone)

So in a nutshell where should I park ? What's the charge for congestion on electric vehicles etc

You could park just outside London and get the train in. Charge on the way down and then just park in a decent road. I’m sure there are people more familiar with North London who can suggest places. Then just jump on the tube.

It sounds like it will be a fun trip x

Lots of my colleagues park near Brent Cross then get the tube in. (Free parking on residential roads)

Also ‘your parking space’ or ‘just park’ you can book someone’s driveway (all over town including central)

I don't know about specific parking but I'd find somewhere near the venue so you can get away easily after the competition.

There's no Park and Ride in London and most people use public transport here.

Try Parkopaedia or Just Parking to find a spot outside Central London, and use the Tube.

I park in Westfield White City but I am driving in from the West so easy for me to get to. You can get Central Line from there and buses. It’s £25 for 24 hours . I think it has charging points. x

are you doing the east London location first?

You could drive to Stratford area and book a Just Park space. Then you can get tube / DLR to east London Uni & it’s on the central line so easy from Covent Garden.

Or if you can’t be bothered driving to Stratford, find a Just Park space somewhere west on the central line. You could find somewhere as far out as West Ruislip.

There’s no congestion charge for electric vehicles, but you have to register your vehicle as being exempt in advance - it’s not just a case of driving it in and you don’t get charged.

Westfield in Shepherds Bush is also my parking location of choice if I don’t want to take the car right into the centre (which would be a nightmare on a Saturday).

Finding somewhere to park near the competition venue, and getting the tube back to stay at your aunt’s makes sense, I think.

We drive to Stanmore and get the tube from there, it cost us £17 for two days parking. I’m not sure how easy it would be for you to get to Stanmore, but there should be other end of the line tube stations that work for your route south. We head straight down the M1, East Midlands.

Where exactly is the “Sportsdock”?

Assuming it’s in East London/Docklands, your best bet is to park at Westfield Stratford. That’s a pretty straightforward drive from Cheshire: M6, M1, M25, M11, A12 (Westfield Stratford) is just off the A12).

(I live in East London but originally come from Lancs so frequently do a very similar drive visiting family & friends in Lancs - and Booths in Cheshire on the way back lol).

Edit: Just Googled Sportsdock. It’s in Gallions Reach. I didn’t realise that I’ve actually been there (and parked right outside but there were only a couple of parking spaces) as I went to the gym there with a friend who’s a member. Westfield Stratford will still work but the easiest option is to park at Gallions Reach Shopping Park where there’s a Tesco Extra, Nando’s etc. There weren’t any parking restrictions last time I was there and it’s maybe a 10 min walk to Sportsdock. It’s just off the North Circular so still same route from Cheshire but as the M11 ends, stay on the A406 East rather than swapping over to the A12.

The other option is to park at Excel and walk back (or get the DLR 2 stops).

Sorry, I missed that you’re staying in Covent Garden overnight but don’t have parking there. I’d park at Gallions Reach while your daughter competes at Sportsdock then drove to Westfield Stratford and park your car overnight there as it will be safest for your car. Get the Elizabeth line from Stratford to Tottenham Court Road (approx 10 mins) and it’s an easy stroll to Covent Garden from there.

I would use the Park on My Drive app (or whatever it's called). I live in London and this is the easiest way to do it. You'll be able to find somewhere relatively close to the sports venue.

Can you stay 2 nights with your aunt? That's what I would do if I could.

I wouldn’t do this in that area of East London unless it’s secure parking, or you have an old / ‘undesirable’ car. That part of London (Barking) is statistically the worse part of England for car thefts. Not worth the risk.

Thanks so much for the advice ladies I will digest it all