Tube/DLR strike and ABBA Voyage - help

[Inastatus]

DD and I are going to ABBA Voyage this Thursday and I’ve only just found out that there are tube strikes this week plus the DLR will not be running on Thursday. I’m not very good with the buses in London so is a taxi our only option or can we get the overground to somewhere close?

Where are you travelling from?

Well it totally depends what mainline station you are coming in to. Fenchurch/Liverpool street would be brilliant, and dont get a taxi, get an uber, will be miles cheaper than a black cab.

@PsychoSyd - sorry, I missed out that vital bit of info! We are from Hampshire and will be arriving at Waterloo.

@Dozycuntlaters - yeah, sorry, should have said we are arriving at London Waterloo.

Walk to Southwark station. Get the 63 bus to Farringdon, then the Elizabeth line (Crossrail) to Stratford, then walk from there.

The TFL journey planner is your friend here 😀

Ah ok. Well if you don't feel confident using the buses I think you'll just have to get an uber.

How are you at walking?

If you can get to an Elizabeth line station, you can get to Stratford and walk to the ABBA arena from there, but it is quite a walk. There are buses at Stratford but they can be difficult to find - there is also a taxi rank there if you come out of the Westfield exit.

Taxis and uber will all be hard to find so follow @PsychoSyd‘s instructions

@PsychoSyd - thanks, I’ll have a look at the TfL planner.

@LegoPicnic - happy to walk a reasonable distance.

You'll want bus stop SA in the direction of Kings Cross. They announce the next stop in plenty of time so you don't have to guess.

I don't know the way to the ABBA venue from Stratford station, so you'll have to use Google maps for that.

Or you could try Uber. The app is showing it's about £49 worth of journey, and the trouble will be demand as everyone will be wanting an Uber.

Oh, & if you're having trouble finding the bus stop at Southwark, put 'bus stop SA' into Google maps & you'll get directions.

I’d suggest downloading Citymapper, and using it’s ’strike safe’ function. For that journey, I think it will suggest train from Waterloo to London Bridge, then London Bridge to Farringdon, then Lizzie line to Stratford.

But if you’re not confident with that many changes, then you can get a direct (though very slow) train to Stratford from Clapham Junction - does your train to Waterloo stop there?

I'd get the 507 bus from Waterloo to victoria then the 25 bus, leave plenty of time, Thursdays is also late night shopping.

Thanks everyone. Some good options to look at here.

@ObstreperousCushion - that train journey sounds ok as long as none of those lines are affected. I’ll have a look at Citymapper. Our train doesn’t stop at Clapham.

The ABBA arena is around 10/15 minute walk from Stratford station/Westfield, it is signposted - walk towards the paths around the stadium.

If you’re coming into Waterloo you can get a train back out to Clapham Junction, literally takes 5 minutes. But, Clapham will be very busy!

@Inastatus Those are all trains (not tubes), of various types, so they should be working but will be very busy. I should have said, the one to London Bridge will be from Waterloo East (it’s connected to Waterloo by a footbridge) and it’ll probably be a South Eastern network train, and then I think it will be a Thameslink up to Farringdon.

@ObstreperousCushion - thanks, that’s really helpful.

Having been in London last night and this morning, don't assume you can easily get a bus or a taxi. I did get buses eventually but many weren't stopping/letting people on as they were over full and I only saw a handful of taxis with their lights on looking for fares, there were long queues at the stations. If using one of the 'running' rail lines double-check it's still stopping where you want to get on/off as some of those I was with this morning had found their normal services were terminating early as they couldn't terminate at a closed 'tube' station.

Does the river boat go that way

Because it’ll all be a bit crazy, I’d Uber it from Waterloo. Then you can relax and enjoy ABBA when you get there. It’s a fantastic event, enjoy!!

It’ll be approx £45 and obv you can book in advance.

If the Elizabeth line and DLR are down:

From Waterloo walk up the south bank to blackfriars Thameslink (the station spans the river), from there go to St Pancras then take the high speed line to Stratford international.

From there it's a 20min walk to Abba Voyage.

Waterloo? WATERLOO? And Abba? Come on!! I can't believe no one has commented! 😁
Sorry OP - I've been to Abba Voyage twice and the second time the DLR wasn't running. Wasn't a problem though. We just got the overground train to Stratford/Westfield and a cab to the venue, it wasnt too expensive and its too far and too busy next to traffic to walk.
The show is indescribably brilliant and amazing and emotional, you'll have a fabulous time x

@WindyBeech - oh that sounds like a nightmare 😫

@Absentosaur - yes, tempted to just splash out and get an Uber (if I can!). I’m a bit worried about booking in advance in case our train is delayed.

Riverboat! Get the Thames Clipper from Waterloo Central Pier (next to London Eye) to North Greenwich Pier – it's a short walk from there. Just give yourself loads of time as they will be v. busy in strike.

https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey