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AIBU?

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Original poster

To commute and park in London?

68 replies

phoebeflangey · 27/07/2014 22:33

Hate travelling and much happier driving but realise I'm bonkers for even contemplating it, BUT can anyone advise if I can drive and park for the day (weekday) around the Sealife Aquarium or The Shard ??!!

OP posts:
Pobblewhohasnotoes · 28/07/2014 20:47

From Waterloo you can walk to the aquarium.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 28/07/2014 20:48

Sorry I see you're not actually going to the aquarium! Which hospital?

Mintyy · 28/07/2014 21:16

phoebe, you obviously suffer from some sort of anxiety, but millions of people travel around London all day.

Tell us the hospital, we will tell you exactly what you need to do, timings and everything.

One thing I can say for certain is that public transport will be easier than driving!

Nancy66 · 28/07/2014 21:18

Is it St Thomas's? They have onsite parking - expensive though.

Lambstales · 28/07/2014 21:23

Mintyy patronising much.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 28/07/2014 21:24

If it is St Thomas' again it's walkable from Waterloo. Really easy, it's just down the road. Used to do it.

Mintyy · 28/07/2014 21:26

No, lambstales, not patronising at all!

BookFairy · 28/07/2014 21:28

Don't panic phoebe there are big signs for the underground so you would never get on one by accident.

If you're going to guy's/st thomas's you can come into Waterloo and walk :)

Bogeyface · 28/07/2014 21:29

My mother hates big cities with a passion, London is her worst. The only thing she hates more is driving, so when she had to go to London (v v rare) she would go on the train. Then 7/7 happened, Dad was en route to a meeting in Russell Square when it happened, and you can imagine how she was as she was already convinced that everyone down that London was just waiting for her to arrive so they could rob or rape or murder her, the bombings proved her point.

However, for a holiday they had to catch the Euro so got a train and stayed over near St Pancras. That night Dad got appendicitis and was in for 5 days. By the end of their time there she was happily wandering around at night on her own, strolling up and down Tottenham Court Road without a clue where she was going to just "have a look around" and told me "I can cope on my own you know!" when I offered to walk her back to the hotel before I did my shift with Dad.

The point of that very long and boring story is that her fear was fear of the unknown, once she realised that not every Londoner is a flick knife wielding maniac she relaxed. When you see the traffic in London you will think "Thank fuck I didnt drive!" and relax!

RiverTam · 28/07/2014 21:30

I don't think Mintyy was being patronising, how odd.

Yes, you can walk along to St Thomas's, and possibly to Guy's if you have the time and are able. Kings you could get the 171 bus to Camberwell and it's a 5 minute walk. Or get a cab, to any of them (well, not St Thomas's unless you can't walk at all).

Lambstales · 28/07/2014 21:34

Sorry Mintyy.

Just because someone is not used to travelling in London doesn't mean they have 'anxiety'.
Could be a lot more than anxiety if it's a hospital appointment.

I'd be bricking myself! very unMN!

cricketpitch · 28/07/2014 21:35

Are you comfortable driving thought central London? (Personally I hate it but I know others who are fine with it).

Parking is difficult but google might help! Where are you coming from? Would it help to drive part way and just get the train the last few stops? (If so I know somewhere PM me)

It is all well signposted but i understand why you would be nervous.

Nancy66 · 28/07/2014 21:44

If you really really can't face the thought of the train then you could drive to the Park Plaza Hotel near Westminster Bridge - a valet parking company operate from there (not just for guests of hotel.) You can dump your car there, leave them to park it for you and walk to where you need to be.

www.carspalogistics.co.uk/westminster

It will be so much less stressful to train it in though

Mintyy · 28/07/2014 21:46

Op uses words like terrified, worried, "huge thing". I would say she is anxious and I am trying to reassure her that there is really no need to be worried about travelling in London. And then you come along and say I'm patronising. Thanks a bunch.

Bogeyface · 28/07/2014 21:46

Are you comfortable driving thought central London? (Personally I hate it but I know others who are fine with it).

When Dsis and I went down for the appendix episode I mentioned above, when we finally got where we were going (thank you shite satnav!), she was as stressed and sweaty as I was and she wasnt driving! I have driven in central Paris and yes, the Arc de Triomphe is as bad as they say, but I still preferred that to London :o

Mintyy · 28/07/2014 21:47

Are you used to driving in London op? If not, then just put the thought of it out of your mind.

Lambstales · 28/07/2014 21:49

Well I did say sorry at 21.34

3littlefrogs · 28/07/2014 21:53

I live in London and would always do train/tube rather than drive. It is so much easier and what with the congestion charge, residents parking and the generally extortionate parking fees (and it is all park by mobile phone and credit card now, no coin meters unless you pay a fortune in a NCP car park), it isn't worth the hassle or the cost.
OP you will be fine.
You can plan your journey on the TFL website.

Original poster
phoebeflangey · 28/07/2014 22:18

Right then, firstly thanks Mintyy very thoughtful post and not at all patronising, you were spot on. I do have anxiety but only travelling/transport wise I'm fine in crowds etc but have decided thanks to all your sound advice to not drive to london. I am tonight at a town about half hour train journey to Waterloo. I have driven here tonight from the Cotswolds and I do not want to drive any further!! Tomorrow will be a train ride then a very slow walk ing the south bank I've been told, to Guys. Hope that's right lol !

OP posts:
MissDuke · 28/07/2014 22:27

Good luck. I visited London last year for the first time ever with my daughter and we found it surprisingly easy to negotiate the public transport and follow a map to our destinations - it is a great city to get around. Hope it all goes ok for you op.

SpicyPear · 28/07/2014 22:31

Yes it's about a mile and a half through lots of slow moving tourists.

Bogeyface · 28/07/2014 22:33

I think the beauty of London public transport is that it is geared up for tourists, so it makes it very hard to get it wrong.

As a confirmed country bumpkin, I was surprised how easy it was when I first went there. It is far easier to work out any journey in London than it is to work out what bus you need to catch to get to the hospital in my country town. Now I absolutely love London and visit whenever I can.

Original poster
phoebeflangey · 28/07/2014 22:37

I like the sound of that Bogey :) and thankyou MissDuke. Do I need an Oyster card for a bus?

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 28/07/2014 22:39

The only thing I would say is to check you are on the right side of the platform for the tube if you need it! Made that mistake before I realised there is a fucking map on the wall :o

Teddybeau1988 · 28/07/2014 22:39

If your walking from Waterloo head towards London eye, its easy to see from the station. Have a fab day OP