Help ! Please ! I'm driving into London and I need some help....

[dowdowpen]

Hi. I've managed to get tickets for the children in need concert at the Royal Albert Hall this thursday evening but circumstances dictate that I must drive into London from the midlands and I really need help with where to park.
A friend recommended that I park at Hyde Park near Marble Arch. Looking on the map that does look a good option, however now I'm looking to pre-book on the internet there seems to be two car parks there. One BCP and one Westminster or are they really the same one? Each of their websites says entrance and exits at Marble Arch and Park Lane. I'm worried if I book one and end up driving into the other I'll have to pay twice or lose a space or panic as it'll be the first time I've ever driven into London. I know this must sound a bit daft but please help if you can

To be honest, I would abandon car on the edge of London near a convenient tube station and get the tube in. Is there any reason why you can't do this?

I live at the end of the Jubilee line in north London and it takes me about 40 mins from here to Hyde Park. If I drove in the late afternoon, I have no idea how long it would take - could be hours!!! I wouldn't contemplate it. I have driven a fair amount in London, but now it sends me crackers - the traffic, the (appalling) drivers...

My advice would be DON'T do it!!!

I would also suggest getting reasonably near and getting the tube. DH used to drive into London everyday. A meer 12 miles. It could take over 2 hours!!

I would also suggest you think about getting a cab back to your car, after the concert! The nearest tube station is shut after about 9pm and it's a hell of a walk to the next one!!

PS The parking will be v expensive and you will also have to pay congestion charge.

In the evening you can park for free in Exhibition Road

Mumof2 - you must live very near where I used to live!

You could park in Hyde Park. Not Marble Arch but the road that cuts right through it - there is parking on the road and also a small car park just off it, and parking on the road in front of the tennis court. Very close to the Albert Hall (about 5 mins walk). It may cost a bit though, and don't forget the congestion charge. You should get parked - I pass here every day and it isn't too bad - even when there is a concert on.

It is in Westminster but is on the edge with Kensington & Chelsea.

Traffic is a bit heavy - come down the M40 and approach central London via Hammersmith. This will take you into town in the right area (towards the Natural History museum on Cromwell Road).

hf - we had that conversation once before...I do!

And will for a while longer although the rumours re sell off are rife!!

My memory is going! Selling off eh? Prime spot it is.

A lot better than Bushey! But we are a bit lonely with not too many neighbours...

Head to M25, off at junction 15 onto M4. M4 turns into A4 - stay on until you get to central London (look for Baden Powell House and the Natural History Museum (on either side of the turning) and turn up Exhibition Road - it will take you exacty where you want to be.

Thank you. I've managed to phone Westminster car park customer services who were of very little help but then I spoke to someone at BCP Parking. The car park is Marble Arch / Park Lane, so no congestion charge, it will cost £26 for 24hrs which I thought was pretty good. I've also looked at google street map to see the entrance (oh I now love google street view). We will set off once the kids are in school, I can often make it to the M25 in 2 hours so it gives us all afternoon to get from there to RAH. Personally I'd much much much prefer to be getting the train in and a hotel for the night but the person I'm going with has unavoidable commitments first thing friday morning and is not keen on the tube at all. So the compromise is if I want to go it has to be by car but we're going to try and give ourselves as much time as we can. Thanks for your help.

I see! I should have put at all

Just wanted to add that I drove down. It was amazingly quick, quiet and easy. 2 hours 20 minutes Derby to Park Lane car park. So I needn't have worried. The Edgeware Road was pretty clear and much quieter than what I'd usual drive through in Nottingham, so luck was definately on my side.
And the Children in Need Conert was amazing