London Workers

[RaspberryBlu]

Posting for traffic to be truthful! I have a job that will require me to commute to BBC Television Studio. There no longer is a car park and I can't even see a private one from aerial maps.I prefer to drive as severely anxious on public transport.

What do people do?! Surely the TV presenters don't take public transport to these places!?!

Par for the course for this poster. Being spiteful, goady and nasty is his stock-in-trade.

Most petrol cars are ulez compliant already and then you don't need to pay. We have a ten year old car and no problem.

There are few staff car parks anywhere in london.

If you can't cope with public transport, you'll need to cycle, walk, or get a taxi.

I'd strongly recommend seeking therapy for the issues with public transport.

Definitely worth discussing with a doctor whether medication might be a possibility in the short term if whatever therapy you're already trying can't help in the time available. The cost of parking at Westfield would pay for a couple of sessions with private doctors.

What would a disabled person do? There really appears to be NO on site parking!

That's really not true. If you work for the BBC and are disabled they can reserve a parking space for you. There is on site parking, just not for everyone.

I do find it a bit odd though that you are surprised that an office in London doesn't have plenty of parking for everyone. Nope, they generally don't. 😂

And if anything, being next to a massive shopping centre it's actually really easy to get to. You can park at Westfield or take public transport. Not sure why this is perplexing.

I think this plan would be an utter nightmare OP. The Mayor has made car use very difficult. Most people I know use public transport, or cycle, or use a scooter to get into work. You only use your car to do your weekly shopping or go on holiday. I think a pp is right, maybe therapy is the way forward. The Tube and using a bike is so much quicker and cheaper than using your car.

(My workplace is a Tube station but we have a taxi rank and a bicycle park outside)

There’s also Wood Lane opposite for Hammersmith and city, plus it’s totally walkable from Shepherds Bush overground at the other end. So very well served by public transport- no need to drive there at all. I’m really sorry OP but your anxiety ruling out every form of public transport really will be a big issue in getting round this. Driving will take forever and come at a colossal expense.

Everyone uses public transport (or cycles) in London, including people who work for the BBC, CEOs, politicians … the alternative for antisocial hours and people who are too famous is generally cabs rather private cars so no need to park.

It doesn't sound like the right job for you.

Westfield surely? Their SmartParking page says it would be £8.50 for 6-14 hours. I think you have to sign up and pay in advance.

Oh and OP Westfield is the shopping centre over the road.

Although I agree with PP that 3 hours drive each way will be horrendous. Expect this to take significantly longer if you are travelling at rush hours.

You park at Westfield and pay the ££££

It's a good 30 years since driving to work in London was feasible! Nothing to do with the current mayor. Everyone uses public transport, no reason not to - what is your anxiety about?

Presenters and studio staff use bikes, public transport, taxis or private hire like Addison Lee. (I used to work at White City.) The really big stars had their own drivers but that was relatively rare.

Parking isn’t an option unless you can afford to shell out Westfield rates on the daily.

Can’t believe you actually thought that, let along posted it.

I've seen Ken Livingstone on the tube, and BoJo is another keen cyclist. OK politicians not TV presenters but would frequently be on the BBC.

Most buses are now wheelchair accessible so disabled people can and do use them. The tube is not so wheelchair (or baby buggy) friendly, though any new stations or lines like Battersea Power Station or the Elizabeth Line are bound to be accessible though I've not been, and a lot of stations are being refurbished. Finsbury Park for instance which is a station I use a lot has had an overhaul of late to include lifts.

Some TV presenters cycle, given that they have 2 legs and its quick and keeps them fit.

Skinnyfatte, car use in London is indeed difficult that is why private car ownership is going down. Conveniently supermarkets deliver and trains go to holiday destinations. Not everyone needs a car to live a full life.

I don’t know London ever so well but I am intrigued as to your plan for your day.

Assuming you will be working 9-5 ish (big assumption I know) then will you be leaving home at 5/5.30 ish to arrive in London around 8.30. Park and walk to work. Then finish at 5, walk back to the car and head off and be home around 8.30/9.

That sounds totally unsustainable even on a best case scenario when there are no hold ups and even if you replaced the final walk with a cab or even public transport if you found you could manage it.

Will it be every day? I honestly think it would end up with total burnout very quickly. In fact it would be downright dangerous with the long drive home.

Very few people drive to work in London.
If public transport is an issue, you might want to reconsider the job.
(Even if you could find a car park, finding a reliable space every time might be a nightmare and the traffic on your commute will be hellish).

Westfield is walkable and seems an obvious solution. I also live 3 hours from London but in a city and regularly commute to 3 other cities where there is rarely workplace parking. I used to have a relatively niche job where even in London there was always staff parking but never in an office based workplace.

I do my driving lessons around westfield and it can be a bitch for traffic.

Get the train. Practice on a quiet Sunday which route to take and plan ahead.

This! And 'leaving' home at 5.5.30. That means up at 4.30 latest. Having got home at 9 the previous night? Noooo thanks.

I used to live near there. There isn’t an on-site car park. There is parking at Westfield. An NCP towards Holland Park, there maybe parking at the Hilton.

There is meter parking on some residential roads but very expensive.

OP I hate to say but I don’t think this job is really doable by car, you will spending so much on fuel and parking, it might be worth looking for something else.

Driving there really isn't viable. The congestion is horrendous (not exaggerating to say it can take one hour to travel 2 miles at peak times). You would also have the ULEZ charge, if applicable, and high parking costs, plus fuel, for which duty is going up.

I would suggest CBT to get past your anxiety on public transport.

In central London most either use public transport, walk, or cycle.