Best west London cheap car park -> tube -> central london?

geordieracer

If your coming down the A/M40 dont discount parking @ a First great western station or even a chiltern station then train and tube from there. Fast reliable services and you'll get out of london quicker when its time to get home

blizeH

Many thanks Flyboy, lots of great info... are there any of the tube station car parks that you'd recommend then? For what it's worth I'd plan on arriving quite early (before 9am) and leaving late (around mightnight) if that'll help with the traffic/parking thing.

And thanks (both) for the train recommendation, but that's going to be rather expensive from Gloucester, and it's not easy for me to get to the train station anyway (ie not without paying to park up for the day anyway, plus it's another 40 minutes added to the journey)

Driving or National Express are my two options really, although I do like the flexibility and far quicker journey (at least 2 hours saved, probably more) in using a car instead.

blizeH

Chiswick is the nearest tube station to me by car anyway, although there's no tube car park there...

diable

Some parts of Acton, Shepherds Bush (not by the Westfield Shopping centre as it is now a CPZ) and Hammersmith have free parking on weekends. I'd be careful about Chiswick as on Saturdays you have to pay for parking.

If you come in to town I suppose you'll use the A40/M40 which will take you to W12, easy to get into London via tube or Bus.

When the football season starts do be aware that on match days (QPR) the parking can be quiet tight.

HTH

blizeH

Many thanks again, I'm thinking Hammersmith is the best option if it has parking and a tube station nearby (Acton is a bit too far north, and Shepherds Bush is maybe a little too central!!) so yeah I'm thinking Hammersmith, just driving there and seeing what's about, parking up and finding our way to the tube station - thanks!

Sorry to be such a noob about all of this btw, just need to get some kind of idea where the best place to go is, otherwise I probably would've just gone to Hillingdon every time which really isn't the best option at all (especially if we go every other weekend as planned). Fingers crossed we'll get there early enough that football parking won't be an issue for us

Flyboy152

blizeH wrote: »

Many thanks Flyboy, lots of great info... are there any of the tube station car parks that you'd recommend then? For what it's worth I'd plan on arriving quite early (before 9am) and leaving late (around mightnight) if that'll help with the traffic/parking thing.

And thanks (both) for the train recommendation, but that's going to be rather expensive from Gloucester, and it's not easy for me to get to the train station anyway (ie not without paying to park up for the day anyway, plus it's another 40 minutes added to the journey)

Driving or National Express are my two options really, although I do like the flexibility and far quicker journey (at least 2 hours saved, probably more) in using a car instead.

Your initial thought about Hillingdon station really is your best bet, but I'd watch for the last train times.

blizeH wrote: »

Chiswick is the nearest tube station to me by car anyway, although there's no tube car park there...

Not really, seeing as you will quite literally drive straight past Hillingdon tube station, to get to West London on the A40.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=hillingdon+station&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=station&hnear=0x48766d93577f64cd:0x12a123b176defe91,Hillingdon,+Uxbridge,+Greater+London&view=map&cid=11718818817211558964&ll=51.554276,-0.450032&spn=0.000537,0.003484&z=19&layer=c&cbll=51.554276,-0.450031&panoid=MvRjQgdQZo2R17MgsCXwjw&cbp=13,131.41,,0,-8.37

That futuristic looking building to the right is Hillingdon Tube Station.

tanith

I second going for Hillingdon station it really is your best option and its really not that far into town from there and very direct. the parkings cheap and easy just seconds from the A40 to the car park of the station.. you will be off the A40 and on the train very quickly with no walking to find the station, and going home you'll be back onto the A40 in a minute or so.. no traffic no crowds..

blizeH

Many thanks, yeah I've been to that tube station before and it is convenient!

Thinking actually, it is actually around 25 miles less and over 10 minutes quicker to get to than Hammersmith, so that'll be the one I guess... just have to hope the tube is working fine otherwise I could be in a spot of bother as it's so far out! I know the tube can be a little flakey on weekends ;o

Seems like I've come full circle! Hillingdon it is then, nice too as it isn't too bad to get to at all, and there shouldn't be that much traffic I guess. Nice to know I won't go there and always think to myself "Damn, am I wasting a lot of time by doing this?" though

moonrakerz

Flyboy152 wrote: »

As far as I am aware, there are no free car parks at or near any tube stations. As far as Chiswick is concerned, forget it. The traffic etc., will make the journey quite difficult and unless you are used to driving London, your trip will less enjoyable. Parking is extremely limited, mostly short term (one or two hours and no return within one hour etc.) and resident permits only, even at weekends. You don't want to return form your day out to find your car has been clamped or towed away.

Sorry but that is a complete misrepresentation/misinterpretation of what I suggested.

Unless it is the height of the rush hour - which the OP implies it won't be, J2 of the M4 is reasonably easy to reach. Going any further into town IS asking for problems.
I park on the street about 100yds from Gunnersbury tube/overground station (which in turn is only a few hundred yards from J2) - completely free at w/e and evenings. Reasonable area, never had any problems all the times I have parked there.

Flyboy152

moonrakerz wrote: »

Sorry but that is a complete misrepresentation/misinterpretation of what I suggested.

Unless it is the height of the rush hour - which the OP implies it won't be, J2 of the M4 is reasonably easy to reach. Going any further into town IS asking for problems.
I park on the street about 100yds from Gunnersbury tube/overground station (which in turn is only a few hundred yards from J2) - completely free at w/e and evenings. Reasonable area, never had any problems all the times I have parked there.

Yes, but you know they are there. If the OP is unfamiliar with the area, it is not advisable to wander around in a car, hoping to find a vacant free parking space at the weekend.