Traveling to London

lasor

Hi All

Im traveling to London from midlands shortly for a day out and would like to ask your assistance. I want to travel be car and park just outside congestion zone then travel by tube into and around london. I have a bluebadge so im looking for free parking all day and I dont want to be to far outside the center of london. Would be very grateful for any advice.

Thanks

Savvy_Sue

I know that from the TFL site you can get details of which tube stations are accessible. Without knowing what your disability makes difficult it's going to be hard for anyone to know how to advise you, eg if you can use escalators rather than lifts that increases the number of 'accessible' tube stations.

I don't know that side of London at all, but have you considered getting the train into London? Because in general rail stations are more accessible than tube stations.

If you don't already have a disabled persons rail card then buying one might pay for itself on this trip.

jellytastic

If you are disabled you can apply for a congestion charge exemption, I have one.
Everytime I have been to London I have had to take taxis everywhere as I cannot manage the tube at all - I have not found a disabled friendly station anywhere that Ive travelled within London - Im sure there are some just not where I have been. Also with the volume of people around especially at commuting time the tube is a complete no no for me. I am not in a wheelchair and can walk and do escalators but the trauma of travelling by tube is terrible for me.
I used to love to go to London but the extra costs in travelling around for me are a nightmare.
Enjoy your time there..

jellytastic

I forgot to say that even though I am exempt from the congestion charge I find it easier to go by train, new street birmingham to euston in 1hour 20 minutes, taxi from euston to city centre or hotel is totally stress free. We go first class which if you book early isnt too expensive and you get a lovely breakfast aswell - highly recommended.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, I must say that driving around the centre of London wouldn't be my first choice!

Debt_Free_Chick

lasor wrote: »

Hi All

Im traveling to London from midlands shortly for a day out and would like to ask your assistance. I want to travel be car and park just outside congestion zone then travel by tube into and around london. I have a bluebadge so im looking for free parking all day and I dont want to be to far outside the center of london. Would be very grateful for any advice.

Thanks

I can't be sure, but I don't think that your bluebadge means very much. Most of the stations are now "privately owned" so it's very much down to them whether they offer concessions to blue badge holders or not.

Tube stations and their blue-badge/disabled concessions are on the TFL website here. Note the number of disabled bays in the right hand column. If you get to a station, then you may find that the disabled bays have been taken, already.

That said, Rickmansworth looks promising with 12 bays and is accessible from the Midlands via the M1 or M40. It's on the Met Line so goes in to Baker Street.

Having said that, you can get a Chiltern Railways train from the Midlands direct into Marylebone anyway

Oscar_The_Grouch

To be honest, if I were having a day out in London, I'd be having a night in a hotel too!! Have you considered getting a Premier Inn room (they do disabled rooms which are not bad and wheelchair friendly and free parking)? They've got the sale on at the mo.

You could park at the inn, travel in to London from there and have a pint/glass of wine when you get back to the hotel. You split your travel over 2 days and will have more energy to enjoy the day in London.

Here's the link to Martin's article about the Premier Inn sale:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/#hotel