To want to drive to the O2 rather than get the train?

[b1uebells]

Dh says mad to drive and I and dcs must get train. I have no idea how long it would take to drive there in rush hour traffic, going from near shefford in Bedfordshire. Route planner says 1hr 30mins but not sure if it's longer in rush hour. Would be about same on train I think. I think car will be easier as after concert when 20,000 other people are coming out, surely the underground will be packed??

Aibu to want to drive? Anyone done similar or know about parking, the underground etc at the o2 arena?

Yabu to trust the time that the routeplanner is saying!

It's not hard to drive to, although I think it'll probably take longer than you're allowing. If you do decide to drive, remember to book the parking in advance. It's a massive rip-off, but needs to be done.

Allow plenty more time than an hour and a half - and triple it in rush hour!

How long do you think it make take Toby? Can't leave before 4.30pm due to work commitments.

Loving the name btw, R1 fan by any chance?

i drove last year from Herts (cause there wasn't any tube - shut for maintenance!) was fine - went on north circular, parking was about £17 though. i'd probably drive again.

have done driving and train (from Suffolk) both pretty easy but think train better at rush hour, things usually finish in good time for our Last Train from Liverpool St

I mean Stratford but I suppose it originates from Liverpool St

Oh didn't think tube could be shut, then we'd HAVE to drive. < gets excited >

How could I check such things?

Depends,I live not too far away. Blackwall tunnel is busy anytime & does close for maintenance. You will sit in traffic but at least you are in your own car. Parking should be booked in advance & is expensive. Timing may be pushing it though?

you check on the TFL website.

Train is packed, but if you hang back and let some manic people get through it won't be so bad.

You'll be stuck in the car park trying to get out for a while I'd imagine.

Isn't there a boat option too?

YABU if doing it in rush hour.
For us, coming from the SE it was fine, not peak time though and parking was well organised (you should pre book)

YANBU if pre booked parking and not at peak time, also if you leave plenty more time than the route planner says.

I would drive and park in the adjacent NCP carpark which is loads cheaper than the arena ones. Its a nightmare trying to get on the tube after a concert.

TfL website. O2 is on the Jubilee line (the grey one).

You'll be going around M25 to the A20, right? Can't imagine you'd want to drive around central London at rush hour. I'd double your time at least.

Is there no way you can take a half day at work?

*drive through central London during rush hour.

Don't go in the arena parking, go towards the "normal" parking and say you're going to the cinema, then it'll cost around £9 rather than around £20.

Park at the carpark by North Greenwich station. Its really really close. And cheaper. Or you could try parking at the pilot inn which is 2 minutes walk away, as long as you have a meal there, they don't mind you parking, we have done this several times before.

www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park.htm# Put in North Greenwich in the carpark finder. As long as you leave before midnight, otherwise they clamp you. Its cheaper though. And most O2 events finish by about 10.30pm

Thanks for links. Maybe train would be better then, I thought 1hr30mins was bad enough let alone doubling it to allow for rush hour!

Train is infinitely better! I'm closer to London than you, and I find the drive hellish!

Go as far as Westminster (I think that's the right station) then get the boat to the o2, drops you right at the door and you beat the crush on the way out, because everyone is crowing to get on the train, while you stroll down to the boat. It's about £12 return (last time I did it anyway) and is beautiful going down the Thames at night.

HTH. :)

I went to watch the ATP tennis finals at the o2 and parking was £30, complete rip off!!

Park near Canary Wharf and and get the Jubilee line one stop to North Greenwich. It's much easier than trying to leave the O2 especially if the Blackwall Tunnel closes at 9pm.

Trains aren't too bad though, they run very frequently on event nights.

No chance of doing that in 1hr 30 mins, unless on a Sunday or something. And even then, I doubt it. Also if you are not familiar with the route driving in London is a nightmare.

I live down the road from the o2 and go there most weekends and sometimes in the week for a meal with ds. if you park in the right car park (TFL) its not usually more than £4 wknds and 6 wkdays if youre parking for a couple of hours. the arena car park is a rip off around 20 and the cinema car park is about 6-12 depending on duration (our last resort for if the tfl owned car park is full). tube station is packed noisy and smelly with idiots bumping and pushing esp. after concert. bear that in mind with dc's. trains run frequently yes but not worth hassle. tube stress will put a real dampener. did it once, id rather pay the 30 quid arena parking fee

I drove up from Surrey and it was a nightmare. Took ages to find a parking space as only one car park was open, got to the point where I really thought we were going to have to abandon it, despite getting there with loads of time, we were racing into the arena at the last minute. Cost a fortune to park as well. Having seen how near the tube station is there is no way I would drive there again.