To be terrified of driving through London?

[JackReacherReader]

Ive just bought something on eBay that requires me to go to London and unless you can fit a dinner service in a suitcase on a train I think I'm going to have to drive.

I'm shitting myself. It's in Islington I don't even know where that is but I have a sat nav.. please tell I am being v unreasonable to be so worried about it 🤦‍♀️

God I would be too! Sorry I'm no help

Can it be packed carefully with bubble wrap into a suitcase with wheels?

Whereabouts are you starting from? Roughly, I don't want your postcode!

Near the Peak District :)

What is it you are worried about the traffic ? Getting lost ?

Parking it the biggest headache around Islington

Traffic will be heavy put on your playlist and give yourself a third more time that the sat nav tells you

Try using AnyVan. It’ll pull through the eBay listing if you want it to. I had a whole dinner service couriered from north wales to Essex for £70 in May. It would’ve been more than that in petrol. The trick is to be flexible on the dates but check with the seller first what days suit them better. Good luck!

You’ll be fine. The traffic will be heavier than you’re used to (probably) but it’s not so very different from driving in any other city. I drove around west London when newly qualified and it was OK.

YANBU. Drop a car somewhere and take public transport

You really don't need to worry. If you're coming from the North to North London, it's not like you'll need to drive through the City to get to Islington.

Plan your route beforehand, figure out parking options, and you'll be fine.

I'd be terrified, too! So terrified, it would be out of the question.

Is there any way you can get a courier to pick up for you?

Ah it will be fine! Go Saturday or Sunday morning early and there will be no traffic. Get in and out before around 10am and you’ll be grand. Check on parkopedia and then street view to see where you can park-loads of it will be restricted/permit only so make sure you have plenty of change and an idea of where to park up. I imagine you’ll come in to London from the M1, which then turns into the A1 and goes straight to Islington, so actually it couldn’t get much easier. Having to get from North to South London or across West to east would be far FAR worse!

Where are you driving from. I grew up in Islington. I don't live there any more but I drive across London (from Wembley to Stoke Newington) through Islington most weekends. I still use a sat nav though asy sense of direction is woeful.
London driving is fine as long as you make sure you don't get frustrated by too much traffic or impatient idiots and that you have somewhere to legally park at your destination Traffic rarely moves very quickly so not very dangerous really, though it is quite easy to get lost or Inthe wrong lane for something, but that is what the sat nav is for.

I’d get it couriered and save my blood pressure too. Unless you can do a train with a wheeled suitcase as has been said.

I was in a black cab at the end of June, through the centre of London and it’s completely insane. It’s not just a question of there being more traffic, it’s that Londoners are used to the driving style and people from other parts of the country aren’t.

Fuel will be expensive, apart from the stress and do you want to do a return journey in a day?

That’s not that bad - you can go straight in down the A1 which is pretty straightforward. It’s not like you’re hustling along Embankment during rush hour. Ask the seller about parking beforehand and check out the streets beforehand on googlemaps.

It’s easily a 3-5 hour drive though - can you not organise a courier?

Yes, M1, then A1 which turns into Archway and Holloway road. Really very straight. Takes you almost right to the Angel

Islington is North London, so as you're coming from the north, you won't have to drive through central London. Try to avoid rush hour/school run times. Expect lots of buses, lots of stopping and starting for traffic lights, lots of white vans.

Get it couriered. Honestly, your petrol will be as much anyway. As long as it’s well packed it’ll be fine.

But you’ll also be fine if you drive. Islington from ‘the North’ means you don’t need to do central London and so it’s just like a series of towns- the routes into Islington is going to be fine, I promise. And I’m a nervous driver who would get it couriered but I can picture a lot if your drive through north London and it’ll be OK.

As long as you know where you are going (and Islington is pretty well placed for avoiding overly tricky routes - ie it has good straightforward approach routes from m25 from all directions depending on where you come from) it should be fine Frankly driving in London is a lot easier than lots of other places because it is slower. It is very rare to need to make snap decisions. Usually you spend time sitting staring at your turn for some time before getting to it. Keep eye out for well marked bus/taxi lanes and when they operate (hours/days on signs). If in doubt stay out of them. Islington is mostly outside of congestion charge but check this out before being fined. Check your approach route does not enter charge area where possible. Or simply pay it - don’t forget or you will have to pay penalty. TfL site explains how to pay and where it operates. Realise above makes it sound a bit military exercise like but honestly don’t worry.

It must be cheaper to have it couriered than drive over 500 miles.

It’s fine. No harder than driving in any other city.

Use a sat nav. Sort of somewhere to park in advance (maybe book a space on yourparkingspace or similar) and travel off peak.

The thing about ‘London driving’ and attitude is that people change lane a lot more in my experience and expect to be let in and out and make seemingly last minute decisions- so it can seem aggressive. But it’s not really if you’re expecting people to be moving around a lot. Traffic is slow and stop-start so at least there’s thinking time!

Tbh driving in most of even proper central London is absolutely fine. The only bits I don’t like are Piccadilly Circus/trafalgar square etc because of the sheer number of pedestrians with a death wish who walk directly in front of your car and the cyclists/mopeds etc who weave in and out.

What is so amazing about this dinner service that you are willing to drive that far?

Could you not fit a dinner service in two suitcases, appropriately wrapped up?

I would get it couriered tbh.

London driving is strange, it's quite slow but people can be quite aggressive and force their way in and the amount of bloody bus lanes that start and stop is a nightmare.

However if you're used to driving in a city/ busy area I think you will be fine.

I'd be more worried about the long drive on a motorway from the Peak District than driving through a bit of North London. It's just like driving in any city so it can be stressful at times. If you never drive in a city I can see you might be anxious. Surely you can get the package couriered? It would probably be a similar cost and much less hassle for you.