London Driving/Parking

[CouldntPickAName]

Need to collect a relative after an operation from central London. Never drove in London before.
I was thinking of parking outside of central London and using a taxi from the hospital to get outside the busiest of London roads.
Can anyone suggest a location that would be a good place to park? Don't really want to be more than 20/30 minutes away.
Thank you

Where are you coming from? Westfield is usually a good bet. There's one in Stratford and another in Shepherd's Bush

If you want to identify somewhere within 30 mins of the hospital, you are going to need to say which hospital it is and also, ideally which direction you will be approaching London from. There are too many central London hospitals to advise without a bit more to go on.

Which hospital? I live near a few hospitals, and getting from here to Shepard's bush can take an hour in the car during the day. And up to 50 minutes for Stratford depending on the route is taken and traffic.

St Thomas hospital

Just pay to park in the hospital car park. Much simpler.

The isdue is that roads are busy til you get outside the m25. So you won't save time and it will a costly taxi. So spend the money on car park . Easiest way

Ok thank you, never drove in London so wasn't sure as usually use the tube.

@CouldntPickAName St Thomas hospital does have a big car park but driving in the London Bridge/Waterloo can be a nightmare, depending on the time of day. The traffic around the hospital hardly moves. If you are not used to driving in a very busy, traffic congested neighbourhood, I would recommend parking near a station that feeds into Waterloo. Jubilee line is a good tube to take (North Greenwich and Canary Wharf have plenty of paid parking next to the stations) or the South Western train line (Clapham and Wimbledon have some parking, but not a lot).

Which direction are you coming in to London from? Maybe we can help you with the best station to park in.

But if she plans to.get taxi back to car with the patient then she may as well.drive herself. What time of day will.it be ?
It s just slow in London but not difficult
Surely better in your own car than.faffing about with parling tube and taxis

I work near there and get buses. Sometimes drive. Even.rush hour you can easily drive across town . Own car own radio much better.

No, not better to drive yourself. Taxis go in bus lanes and take good shortcuts. I would park somewhere outside congestion charge and spend that money on a taxi.

but crucially depends where you're coming from, OP?

Even.rush hour you can easily drive across town

This is the first time I've heard anyone claim you can easily drive across London in rush hour. I must be living in a parallel universe. I drive in central London in rush hour 5 days a week and "easily" is the last word that springs to mind. It can be exhausting. I got an Uber to work for the last two days as I had work events (i.e. drinking!) in the evening and it was blissful to be driven rather than be the driver (and I love to drive usually).

However, on a more positive note the roads are significantly quieter than usual now we're in the holiday period. So if the OP is going to do it, this is probably the best - or least worst time. I'd suggest researching the cost of a taxi versus own car and parking though. It's actually cheaper for me to get Ubers than it is to use my own car and park because the parking fees can be so high.

Thank you for replies. Will be coming from South West near Bristol.

It will be a Friday , unsure on what time yet. What times would people suggest I avoid?

Try justpark website to find a private parking space - much cheaper and guaranteed space.

OP, if you were coming from the north/south/west I would have recommended parking on the jubilee or northern lines but the only parking you’re going to find around the M4 will be near stations like Richmond, Clapham Jn, Twickenham, Staines, etc. And then train to Waterloo.

If you are driving best to avoid 3-7pm on a Friday.

Stay overnight drive out early Saturday morning it s quietest.

Richmond and Twickenham have very limited station parking but do have public paid for car parks nearish station but that would then involve a walk from station which may not be ideal. Public roads in and around Staines which is near m3 and m4 station often have space and many are free to park..it's about 30 minutes to Waterloo but still involves walking from station...

Isleworth/Osterley would work. Isleworth is a train straight into Waterloo so easy for St. Thomas. Osterley is on the Piccadilly line.

Osterley is a long and costly taxi ride from st Thomas if the patient cannot take tube.

St thomas to isleworth maybe £30 taxi or more. Check . Unless you know area around stations it may be painful driving around looking for parking.
If you can drive around suburbs looking for parking you can drive into central London. It isn't so busy on london roads now in August.

Osterley to St Thomas is about a 50-minute drive on a quiet Saturday afternoon.
In an Uber, you are looking at least £30. Gett etc a lot more. Metered cab get caught in traffic and you are looking at £80+

We use this site all the time when we need to park en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/hospital/st-thomas-hospital-london/?arriving=201808111500&leaving=201808111700