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 🤦‍♀️

I drove from the South West to Stoke Newington (that’s via Hammersmith, King’s Cross and Islington) on my first ever drive as a qualified driver. The thing is London is so busy the traffic moves rather slowly. I was more worried about (for) pedestrians. Satnav will guide you which lane to take so it really shouldn’t be a big deal

Check when Arsenal are playing at home and avoid those dates.

As others have said coming from the north to north London is pretty straightforward, even as a seasoned London driver I hesitate to drive through south London and take the cheats way on the M25 if I have to go south!

If you travel on a Saturday you won't have to worry about the congestion charge - which does sneak across the south bit of Islington and can catch the unwary. Holloway Road is a bit of a mare ATM but would at least be nice and slow. Try to bring someone sensible with you who can look out for street signs and directions.

Hope it's a lovely dinner service, it will have instant memories attached to it.

Yup, avoid Arsenal home dates. If it helps at all, my friend recently took a deep breath, flew to France (a source of anxiety on its own), hired a car for the first time in 30 years, and drove on the right for the first time ever across the whole country to visit her sick father in hospital. It was incredibly empowering for her. You may find that encouraging, you may not!
I'd also check out the price of a carrier. Empowering experiences are one thing, long drives that are more expensive than paying someone else are another.

I took my driving lessons in Paris and there is NO WAY even I would consider driving in London.

Without a sat nav I would say don't even consider it but you will be absolutely fine.

Tired the OP is driving into North London from the North. What is so bad?

It’ll be fine. I used to drive in London a lot and I’m not a great driver! Mostly traffic is slow so it gives you time to think about which lane etc. Just don’t be too hesitant. Get ready for changing lights, changing lanes etc. No one really ‘lets you in’ when you need to change lanes so you need to be proactive! I would say cyclists and mopeds are the worst bit but again you tend to be moving slowly anyway.

It's not that bad. Just be prepared for people to drive like cunts and cut you up at every conceivable opportunity.

I find you just have to drive decisively and you'll be fine. If you get lost don't worry, the sat nav will put you back on route.

I am another vote for anyvan. I have had things couriered across the country a few times. I tend to get a few quotes come in and if you are lucky there will be a couple of couriers that want the job and end up in a bidding war, with quotes getting lower and lower. Worth a try. Do be flexible on dates if you can.

YAB a bit U, in the nicest possible way. There's nothing special about driving in London. The road signs, junctions etc. are just the same as any other big city. There is a bit more traffic than elsewhere but this if anything makes life easier as everything moves more slowly.

Just be prepared for people to drive like cunts and cut you up at every conceivable opportunity.

I've never found this (lived there for 15 years and still drive there regularly).

Something I'd add is that the borough of Islington has a blanket 20mph speed limit everywhere, which makes driving there positively sedate.

Go on a Sunday morning as it’s so much quieter. London driving means lots of people pulling out and waiting half way across the road to force the other lane to stop for them. Lane discipline isn’t good and weaving is standard. Also lots more taxis and minicabs whose driving can be quite assertive! Nothing I’m sure you don’t see in other cities though.

Make sure you know what other areas are on the way so that way you’ll know you’re going the right general direction.

London driving is so much easier with phones. Even now if I get lost I just pull in and check where I need to go.

It's easy to get to Islington from north. It's really nothing special. Just normal roads like any town or city.

So easy and not scary. Just slow!

Oh and it’s just like driving in most places esp North to Islington!

Ffs

Islington isn’t central London
From the north it is fine
No different from Manchester or Birmingham

It must be an absolutely amazing dinner service!

Islington is super easy to drive into from the North (A1). It is more driving in Outer London than "through" London.

Check Spurs, Arsenal and Wembley fixtures though and pick a time accordingly.

If you are going during the week, avoid school run times.

I would suggest going Sunday morning. Also on Sunday (have to check if it is the same as other boroughs) you can park on a single yellow. So that makes parking easier. Only annoying thing about driving through Islington is their blanket 20mph policy.

If you are coming down M1 it is junction 2 not the end of the M1 you have to get off for Archway etc.

I drive in London every week and find it is just one big traffic jam usually. So if you are able to sit in traffic you can drive in London.

Also the pay and display is pay by phone parking so having lots of change is irrelevant.

Just make sure you have a credit card and a mobile if you go any other day of the week

You need to get your elbows out as no one gives way. My 19-year-old sister often drives through Central London and hasn't had an incident yet. I'm sure you'll be fine.

In the end London is just any other town centre, there is just more of it. And the route, as people have said, is very straight forward.

Stay out of bus lanes.
Watch out for 20mph speed limits.
Stay out of yellow boxes - many have cameras on them.

Ask the sellers where you should park - it may be on a meter.

There are some 'London drivers', people are 'nippy' and decisive, a few might be aggressive, a few pull dodgy stunts, all you need to do is stay calm and ignore it all, and don't feel pressured.

Go on a Sunday. Traffic is much lighter than on weekdays, there’s no congestion charge to worry about and you will be able to park almost anywhere. You’ll be surprised how straightforward it is.

I once ended up having to go from South of London, right through the middle to the Midlands after the M25 was closed and SatNav recalculated the route. Changing lanes last minute going round the Oval was a case of, close my eyes and just DO it, whilst actually squealing out loud as I did. Marble arch wasnt much fun either; I was utterly terrified and so relieved when I finally reached the M1...but you'll be fine - keep your eyes peeled and dont be hesitant would be my advice. I think Liverpool city centre is actually worse personally, even with a SatNav! Good Luck and enjoy your dinner service :)

You'll be fine driving from the north to Islington. Like others have said, parking will be the biggest problem and Sunday morning would be the easiest or a weekday. I'd avoid Saturday afternoon because of parking.

Traffic in London doesn't move very quickly so it won't be as stressful as you might think. My dad always comments on how much less aggressive drivers are in London compared to the Scottish city he lives near. People are pretty understanding that we're all just trying to get somewhere.

Honestly it's not as bad as people generally think

I covered London in a previous role and went everywhere from Kensington to islington to harrow and I promise it's not that bad

I think remove the concept of London from it and it reduces anxiety a lot

Leave loads of time , don't drive in a bus lane and ignore the idiots being narky and you are set

Lots of 20mph zones and that's ok

Deep breath and you'll feel like an achievement when it's done