Park and Ride advice needed please! (for travel to German Embassy in London)

ViktoriaSophiaa_

I have an appointment at the German Embassy on 21/09 (in Belgravia).
I will be travelling from Norfolk, and as the appointment has been given to me quite last minute, train prices are unfortunately looking like they're going to be pretty darn extortionate! (Especially as the appointment is for my son, so I will have to pay that price x2).

Last time we went, I managed to find a car park within a five minute walk from the embassy so that's an option. However, once you factor in congestion charge etc. I was wondering if there's a cheaper option. 
I'm trying to look at Park and Rides, but because my geography knowledge of London is pretty much non-existent, I have no idea which one would be closest to the Embassy whilst also avoiding the congestion areas. 

Would anyone be able to offer some advice?

Thanking you kindly in advance!  

AdrianC

The 21st is nearly a fortnight away. That's not that last-minute... According to TheTrainLine, if you pick the right times, you can do Norwich to London for £25/head return, £50 total. Less if your son is under 16 or has a railcard.

Where in Norfolk are you?

I'd personally just drive to the nearest station on a reasonably decent connection, and not even attempt to worry about getting near London by car.

ViktoriaSophiaa_

I'll be travelling from Yarmouth. If I've done my research right, the nearest train station is Victoria. Our appointment is at 11:00, so when I was looking, the trains I would have to catch to make it to the appointment on time were ~£100 (give or take).
Sod's law, if our appointment was slightly later in the day, I would've been able to get one of them cheaper ones you've managed to find!   

I know this is a silly question, but what's classed as a "reasonably decent connection"? I was looking and would Stratford make sense?

born_again

What about driving to Norwich & using intercity?

Don't forget to balance out that roads are getting back to normal rush hours now. So you will be driving at the worst time. Even if the train is going to be £100 is it worth all the stress of driving just to save a few £ on costs?

daveyjp

Have a play with trainsplit (by far the best site for finding cheap fares) and see what fares are available.

I've found advanced singles for £12 each way per person, £48 for two return.

NBLondon

ViktoriaSophiaa_ said:

I know this is a silly question, but what's classed as a "reasonably decent connection"? I was looking and would Stratford make sense?

Stratford to Victoria is best part of an hour on the tube - with a change.   Unless you can get a much cheaper ticket ending there compared to London Liverpool Street it's not a great option.

PaulyB1971

I often travel from Great Yarmouth to London. The train times have been screwed a bit with Covid, but it is easy enough to work the timings out. No way would I drive into London, or close by now. Stratford is on the Norwich to Liverpool Street line anyway, so that wouldn't save you time at all. The only other thing I have done before was drive to Elstree, and then train from there (it's classed as zone 6 on the underground)

PaulyB1971

Just looked, would be around £68 from Norwich return for 2 adults

daveyjp

PaulyB1971 said:

Just looked, would be around £68 from Norwich return for 2 adults

Which is £20 more than the fares I found from Great Yarmouth.

PaulyB1971

daveyjp said:

PaulyB1971 said:

Just looked, would be around £68 from Norwich return for 2 adults

Which is £20 more than the fares I found from Great Yarmouth.

How many changes? Norwich to Liverpool Street is direct

AdrianC

ViktoriaSophiaa_ said:

I'll be travelling from Yarmouth. If I've done my research right, the nearest train station is Victoria. Our appointment is at 11:00, so when I was looking, the trains I would have to catch to make it to the appointment on time were ~£100 (give or take).

Yep, that's your problem... Peak time on a weekday!

I know this is a silly question, but what's classed as a "reasonably decent connection"? I was looking and would Stratford make sense?

One with a choice of fast trains. Not the boonies of a branch line.

Remember, not every train stops at every station - but loads will stop at Cambridge or Norwich or Stansted or...

Arriving in London by 10.15, to give you time to get to the embassy...
From Norwich, £73 for the two of you, leaving at 8am.
From Yarmouth, £95, leaving before 6am.
From Ipswich, £48, leaving at 9am.