To drive into central London on Xmas eve? Paddington closed

[ChristmasEvemaddness]

I'm furious what was supposed to be a relaxed trip into central London now means a stressful drive. Our we mad to think of driving in?

Cross post
yes, route planners can be mad

hopefully our suggestions will sort you out, it won't be a long journey from Ealing Broadway, half an hour depending on luck and crowds.

Thank you Emma 👌

Unsure why Paddington is closed and if it's major strikes etc but usually traffic coming into London on xmas eve would not be so bad. I'd be more wondering about the logistics of parking.

However, since there are a plethora of other stations I'm sure you could find an alternate route to get in surely? Or drive towards the end of one of the tube lines and get a tube into Central? The Elizabeth Line goes all the way to Reading if you're coming in from west.

Other London mainline stations off the top of my head:

Kings X St Pancras, Kings Cross, Euston, Marylebone, Charing Cross, Waterloo, Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street, London Bridge... and more!

If you prefer not to change lines, check the Central Line on arrival at Ealing Broadway, it might be fine by then.

if you have a buggy etc, at Tottenham Court Road you can get in a lift to street level. This will take you on to Dean Street I think, and helps avoid crowds.

I don't think there's lifts at Leicester Square but not 100% sure.

If you tell us where you are coming. From that would help too. Seems odd that the route planner is not telling you get the central line all the way from Ealing Broadway to Tottenham court road

I imagine that's due to the state of the Central Line, my ex tells me it's been horrific the last two weeks and he got an apology email today.

btw for any lurkers - Kings Cross is closed on Christmas Eve, Victoria also closed to some rail routes.

There are lots of streets in central London with free parking on Sundays. Several of the little roads off Regent Street will have free parking (e.g. Jermyn Street) and then you can walk to Shaftesbury Avenue.

I do think traffic could be a nightmare, but if you have time to spare and leave with loads of time to get there, you may be much more comfortable being in your own car and having some control over your journey rather than trying to navigate a limited and unreliable train service.

Paddington is completely closed and there is a limited service on several underground lines, as well as diversions from other mainline stations, which is going to make every other line busier, and there'll be the usual Sunday reduced service on top of that. I'm a lifelong Londoner and am usually all for taking public transport, and never drive or get a taxi as public transport is usually quicker, but even I wouldn't bother with trying to faff about with shitty trains on Christmas Eve!

Yes this. Leave very early and drive. Download justpark app and book a private drive.

Cripes I apologise for giving rubbish advice above, I live in KX and wasn't even aware it's closed christmas eve

I'm not a party animal any more but there was a time you could always rely on the trains and underground on xmas eve.

Still, have a look at the Elizabeth line and see what that's doing as it might be a good way in.

Get the train to Ealing Broadway then Central Line to Tottenham Court Rd or District Line then swap on to the Piccadilly line (multiple options to swap) and go to Leicester Sq or Piccadilly Circus?

The Elizabeth Line is useless at the best of times, but running a reduced service on Xmas Eve.

I'm not a travel geek, honestly. I've left London now (officially in November) but the rage about commuting probably won't leave me till I leave this earth.

Best London Christmas Eve travel advice this year is - don't travel, or drive if you can.

Though in OP case I hope we have solved it!

Driving into central London will be fine
Just like it always is- probably less so as a Sunday

Just like driving anywhere else in the country any other day of the year?

(driving in London is much less stressful than the A1 on any day. the M62 past Leeds , Manchester City centre at any time etc)

n

What is your concern?

Do you have a ULEZ compliant vehicle? Driving in could cost a fair bit if you have to pay ULEZ as well as the congestion charge.

The main issue with driving in Central London is the number of one way streets, bus lanes etc. I live in London and if I’m going to a bit I don’t know I often run through the route on street map so you know roughly which lane you need to be in for your proposed route and where the 24/7 bus lanes are. Usually traffic is relatively slow moving and people are used to other drivers needing to change lanes fairly rapidly when they realise there is a feeder lane for the junction they need.

We stay with family who live in Pimlico, we come down the M1, lovely Friday evening drive through London (although Hyde Park Corner is always a challenge! ) and free street parking evenings and weekends. It is busy to drive through but so less stressful than lugging luggage around various trains and tubes. (And cheaper than train for 4 of us, plus trains are so unreliable currently). Car is ULEZ compliant.

No we don't have ulez compliant sadly.
But we have decided to drive, I don't want to get stuck on a tube or train with such scant services.

Thanks for all the brilliant help mnetters...