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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking in Central London

29 replies

velvetroses · 17/06/2017 01:59

I am due to graduate in July, the ceremony is being held at the Royal Festival Hall and it's at 10:30am.

Now, we could use public transport; that is via overground which will be 5 minutes and the underground for about 40 minutes in order to get to the venue around 10am.

I was looking at parking near the venue and came across this website; www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/locations/show/20490162?gclid=CLnN5ZHUw9QCFQoYGwodq0ILcg which states parking between 10am to 1pm costs just £6.

I am a bit skeptical at the price because it seems like it's cheap for central London parking. Driving to the venue will be about 1hour-1.5 hours which is not too bad.

Has anyone used this website and can tell me how genuine the prices are? Would you recommend driving or using public transport? Would love to hear from others who have been to this venue.

OP posts:
CremeFresh · 17/06/2017 02:11

You'll have to pay the congestion charge as well I think .

BigYellowJumper · 17/06/2017 02:33

I would just use public transport. Then you're not stressing about traffic and directions. If you go to Embankment station, all you need to do is cross over the bridge and Festival Hall is right there.

Original poster
velvetroses · 17/06/2017 02:35

CremeFresh I think congestion charges will be the most expensive thing if parking is just £6 for 3 hours

OP posts:
Original poster
velvetroses · 17/06/2017 02:37

BigYellowJumper Public transport seems the easier option due to the reasons you've outlined, but I guess I'm worried about delays etc especially as it is early morning and I'd probably end up looking like a hot mess after the victoria and the central/bakerloo line

OP posts:
BigYellowJumper · 17/06/2017 02:39

Give yourself an extra hour and you'll be fine, then you can have a look around, get a coffee etc if you have loads of time. People take the tube every day and don't look a mess. At that time, I'd be way more concerned about traffic than delays.

Original poster
velvetroses · 17/06/2017 02:53

BigYellowJumper that sounds like a plan, does mean we'll have to get up earlier and leave earlier. I'm going to ask some of my friends and see what their plans are for traveling.

OP posts:
notanevilstepmother · 17/06/2017 08:13

I think you may have underestimated the traffic in central London, it can be very difficult to reliably predict journey times. It would be awful to miss it if you got stuck somewhere.

AuditAngel · 17/06/2017 08:16

Have you tried Parkopedia? I have used them a few times, especially when needing to park for the Dorchester hotel. I managed to get all day for £5 on a Saturday about 10 minutes away, this year I have paid £18 for 10 hours on a Friday afternoon/evening just 5 minutes away

Ifailed · 17/06/2017 08:23

Now, we could use public transport; that is via overground which will be 5 minutes and the underground for about 40 minutes in order to get to the venue around 10am.

Not being flippant, but that's the sort of journey millions make everyday, and they manage to arrive at work fresh and ready. With public transport you also have a few choices if things go wrong, when driving you can easily get stuck in a queue with nothing to do but wait and get stressed out. Check the TFL website on the day for any holdups.

hula008 · 17/06/2017 08:32

I also second public transport - if there's a cheap car park nearby it's likely to be full at that time as well.

If your ceremony is at 10.30am, you'll have to get there about an hour or more early as queues for registration and gowns can be long.

Congrats on graduating - I also had my graduation there and it's a great venue.

JigglyTuff · 17/06/2017 08:37

How can you live so close to London and be so ignorant about the tube? Confused

balence49 · 17/06/2017 08:43

I'm not from London so maybe just haven't got used to it. But the tube at rush hour was unbarable, I'd rather have hours in my car and pay loads more than that rather than 10 mins on the tube. Urgh no way I could do that every day.

eurochick · 17/06/2017 08:46

Is it a weekday or a weekend? There is lots of free parking in London at the weekend so car parks will be cheap.

I would always take public transport though. Travelling times by road will be much less predictable.

singme · 17/06/2017 09:01

I used to live round there. So many options for public transport. Trains/buses/tube at Waterloo, never mind the other stations. No way would I drive especially as you seem to be saying the journey is shorter on the train/tube.
Although I'm not sure if the congestion charge is that side of the river? Never drove there so no idea.

JigglyTuff · 17/06/2017 09:32

It won't be rush hour if the OP is aiming to get there for 10am so the tubes will be fine. Also if she's coming in from eg Amersham, she will get a seat and it will be an entirely unstressful journey. CC applies south of the river pretty much anywhere in zone 1 so if the OP wants to park really close to RFH, it will apply if it's a weekday

Ifailed · 17/06/2017 09:33

Although I'm not sure if the congestion charge is that side of the river?

Yes, it is. It starts by tower bridge, across to Vauxhall, and down to the elephant.

Ifailed · 17/06/2017 09:35

Another option, especially on a nice day, is to go by Boat on the thames.

Shylo · 17/06/2017 09:36

I've used the website before and it was totally fine ..... but as all the posters have said above I would definitely use public transport in the situation you're describing

GladAllOver · 17/06/2017 09:40

If you are not used to driving in central London you will be far, far less stressed going by public transport.

SorrelSoup · 17/06/2017 09:43

If you're that worried you could always get a room.

Iamastonished · 17/06/2017 09:44

There is no way I would drive for all the reasons already stated above. Also, many tube trains have pretty good aircon these days.

LBOCS2 · 17/06/2017 09:46

There are roadworks around Elephant too; I got stuck there for well over an hour not that long ago.

Get public transport; there's a reason Londoners use it over driving!

BikeRunSki · 17/06/2017 09:48

Have you ever driven in Central London? It's not a task to be undertaken lightly. As a Londoner? I recommend public transport!

Orlantina · 17/06/2017 10:10

Based on driving in Central London yesterday, you probably need to leave by 3am to get there on time Grin

It's so slow.....And everyone seems to get up early.

Original poster
velvetroses · 21/06/2017 00:22

Thanks guys, I think I'm just worried and anxious for the ceremony. I will be taking public transport and leaving in good time so that I can touch up my makeup/outfit when I get there!

OP posts: