Help needed parking or travelling around London

pugsley_h

We are staying in a cheap and cheerful travelodge in Bracknell, whilst visiting Legoland. We are wanting to make the most of our merlin passes and visit London for the day to go to the London eye etc. I have looked into train fares, and it is out of our budget
So, has anybody got any suggestions for cheaper ways to get there - I don't know anything about London transport. We are staying at Bracknell central, and want to visit the London eye, Madame Tussauds, and possibly the London dungeon. We are a family of four, and we are happy to use the car or public transport. Many thanks for your help

susancs

You could travel towards London and park up at a tube station and get the tube in for cheaper train fares. Children aged 10 and under travel free on London transport tubes and buses and each adult could get a one day travelcard. You could look at parking at Hillingdon tube station which would be a 30 minute or so drive. From Hillingdon you get metropolitan tube line direct to Baker street for Madam Ts, then from Baker Street, Jubillee line to Westminster or Waterloo for The London Eye, Dungeons and London Aquarium (all beside each other and Merlin pass attractions). £6.20 weekday parking, £2 Sat and £1.50 Sunday.
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/tube-station-car-parks

An off peak zone 1-6 daily travelcard (buy after 9.30am weekdays) for unlimited travel on London buses, tubes and overground train would cost £8.90 per adult.
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-adult-fares-jan-2014.pdf

You could drive into London itself but there is limited expensive parking and you will also have to pay the congestion charge if going weekdays. If you could travel in early morning on a Sunday to central London, it is easier to find parking as parking restrictions are sometimes lifted on some streets (not sure about around Westminster, but in Kensington, Camden and roads opposite the Natural History Museum there has been limited parking after 8.30am), the traffic is less, plus no congestion charge.

Nadstar

What day are you going?

On a Sunday, if you get up early enough there is LOADS of free parking in the West End and no Congestion Charge either x

susancs

if you are going the end of August and not booked the Bracknell TL, I was impressed with the Bricket Wood/St Albans Premier when we collected some friends on our way to a nearby event. It was not your normal budget hotel as it was accesses through a small country lane and had a lovely river with ducks on the grounds, working waterwheel and a pub onsite, as well as an excellent children's playground. It is only a 15 minute drive from there to Stanmore jubillee line tube station, which has a huge car park. They have £29 family rooms at the end of August i.e. 31 and Monday 1st Sept. it is about 40 minutes drive to Legoland from there.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186306-d571788-Reviews-Premier_Inn_St_Albans_Bricket_Wood-St_Albans_Hertfordshire_England.html

pugsley_h

Thank you all for your replies.

Driving part way and then using public transport sounds the way to go:T

You have all been really helpful:beer:

Alan_Bowen

Just a word of warning if you are travelling in the near future, all tube lines through Hillingdon are closed 7 days a week until 11 August and believe me you do not want to endure the 'rail replacement buses' in this heat. They are slow and uncomfortable.

As you will be staying south of London, have a look at travelling from Morden at the southern end of the Northern Line, direct service to Waterloo for the London Eye. If you are trying to save money give Madame Taussauds a very wide berth, the biggest tourist rip off in London, for 2 A and 2 C it is £110 unless you book on line in advance and that, to me, is daylight robbery

*smurfy*

I live in Reading not far from Bracknell.What I do is down M4 and park at North ealing tube station.What you need to take into account though is cost of petrol,parking at tube station & travel cards,and compare that with pre booking train with travel card from Bracknell. But best bet is to go to London on a sunday as theres lots of free parking.

w211

Greenline bus 702/701 goes direct from Bracknell to London Victoria.

http://www.greenline.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Services/South_East/SELN701,702_311011_311011M.pdf

pugsley_h

I started this thread a couple of years ago - and it was really helpful, making our 2 trips to London a lot easier!


We are going to London again in December - we have booked Harry Potter for Saturday, and we are thinking of going to Shrek on Sunday, and maybe to watch Lion King (musical) The posts from a couple of years ago said that parking in London is free on Sunday and there is no congestion charge - is that still true? Has anyone got any advice on the best area to park - we will be using the sat nav!


Thanks in advance for any suggestions

BrentMeister

Greenwich NCP (Next to the O2).
http://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/north-greenwich-stn-lul/

£6 all day on a Sunday. Can then get an all day travel pass for the underground. (Or even get an Oyster card as it works out much cheaper)

pugsley_h

Just to add, this time we are staying In Hemel Hempstead - so the other option is to save the hassle of driving and get the train instead. Last time we drove to Hillingdon and got the train in from there - would it be worth doing the same again, or is there a nearer Zone 6 station to Hemel Hempstead.


Thanks