Can you give me any insight into concerts at the O2?

[MsFogi]

DD is going to a concert at the O2 next weekend - this will be her first concert (she is going with a friend). Can anyone give me any insight into how busy the tube is on the way to/from the venue on concert days? Am I correct in assuming that the North Greenwich station comes out directly into the venue or is there some walking to do?
I am considering going to pick her and her friend up at the end - is that a bad idea in terms of parking/managing to find them in the masses of people? Alternatively I am considering going along with DH and having dinner whilst they are at the concert - is there enough to keep us occupied there for the entire duration of a concert?
Any insights at all gratefully received!!

I wouldn’t worry OP. Of all the London concert venues, the O2 is relatively safe and quick/easy to get to and from.
it is very busy afterwards, but the flow of people tends to move quickly and safely.
I wouldn’t bother trying to collect by car afterwards - there are loads of car parks, and it’s quite confusing trying to find people afterwards.
Tube is the best bet, and it’s literally a 2 min walk along a designated walkway from the O2 to the Tube - it would be impossible for your DD to get lost finding her way to it.

Finally, although there are lots of restaurants there, it’s quite a soul less and cold space to hang around in for several hours, so I would recommend that you stay for the duration.

*WOULDN’T recommend staying for the duration!

Getting in is fine- I’d advise she got there late afternoon for mooch around the shops and some dinner as the tube starts to get congested at about 6ish. Yes North Greenwich is a 2 minute walk from the o2.

leaving will be busy, but doable. Many people leave 10 minutes early to avoid the worst of it. She’ll be fine, will just need to squeeze onto a tube to get home. Won’t be comfortable but not the end of the world.

if you REALLY want to pick her up, then you’ll need to be quick as you can’t loiter.

this will be clearer if you look on Google maps, but if you leave the o2 and walk through the bus depot, you come to some stairs that take you down to the main road. If you track her and time it perfectly, you’ll be able to scoop her up from the base of the stairs without bother. Under no circumstances drive into the car park- you won’t get out in less than 2 hours.

its easy to get to, a right pain leaving, takes ages to get on the tube. Don't pick her up from the venue , it took me over an hour to get out of the car park last time. You can only take a big a big as an a4 piece of paper, otherwise you have to leave it at a bag drop, that can take an hour to pick back up.

Thanks for the insights - I would never have thought about it taking so long to get out of the parking!!!

There is a dedicated pick up only car park which I have used several times. It has a 20 minute time limit, but I have overstayed each time and not had a ticket. Its the furthest one from the venue so easy and quick enough to get out of by car.

Beyond dinner, there is a cinema and bowling alley there, plus an outlet shopping centre so you could amuse yourself for a few hours.

If we go to the o2, I always book parking in advance, which is usually car park 1, and its generally quick to get out of. Its cheaper for us to do that rather than use public transport. The underground station is always busy, but moves through quickly enough.

Yes definitely don’t recommend the parking! It took me nearly 2 hours to get out of the car park one time and last time I went a few weeks ago they were doing lots of road works around there so I can imagine it being worse now.

the tube there and back is safe as a large of number of people will be using the service.

how old is your daughter? She could go earlier potentially for dinner? If so I recommended booking in advance as show nights are quite busy, esp if on a weekend and you can spend a long time just queuing for a table.

If you are collecting try and park in the station car park rather than the O2 parking , it’s much cheaper and quicker to get out of .

Sorry @Floralnomad I wouldn’t recommend the station car park, thats the one it took me 2 hours to get out of 😩

The uber boat up the river stops at the 02 and is much quiter than the tube, are you in London anyway. Where are you travelling from.

@Covetthee oh dear , I’ve used it lots of times and never had a problem , I’ve sat in the main car park for ages though .

This, the Uber boat is fabulous, you can pre-book to guarantee your seat and it's a pretty ride. There are a few stops so you can plan the best one for you to meet them.

www.thamesclippers.com/whats-on-and-offers/the-o2-post-show-services