Sutton - avoiding driving on the M25

jagger86

Hey everyone
I've started a new job which involves travelling to the office once a month on a Monday to Sutton, London.

The first time I went I drove to Stanmore, tube to Victoria and then a train to Sutton. 

I am wondering if there is another more efficient way of getting there - maybe a train station I can drive to then just hop on one train? I'm not familiar with greater London so any suggestions appreciated.

I am in Leicestershire but my partner lives in Coventry so could go from there if quicker easier. I don't live near a train station so would have to drive to one so thinking I might as well drive a bit further down?

My car isn't ULEZ compliant and the rush hour traffic says its nearly a 4 hr drive on a Monday morning.

la531983

Trains run direct between St Albans and Sutton, maybe look there and at the intermediate stations just after St Albans to see where is best to park.
St Albans is outside the M25 if that helps. 

Or take a faster one from Luton or Bedford to St Pancras and it's a same platform change on the Thameslink platforms (or a trip downstairs if you hop on one of the EMR trains at Luton or Bedford).
You could just take an EMR train from Leicester to be honest (or Corby, or Loughborough, or Market Harborough, you dont actually tell us where in Leicestershire you are), and when it gets to St P head downstairs for the Sutton train.

jagger86

la531983 said:

Trains run direct between St Albans and Sutton, maybe look there and at the intermediate stations just after St Albans to see where is best to park.
St Albans is outside the M25 if that helps. 

Or take a faster one from Luton or Bedford to St Pancras and it's a same platform change on the Thameslink platforms (or a trip downstairs if you hop on one of the EMR trains at Luton or Bedford).
You could just take an EMR train from Leicester to be honest (or Corby, or Loughborough, or Market Harborough, you dont actually tell us where in Leicestershire you are), and when it gets to St P head downstairs for the Sutton train.

Thanks for that, I will take a look at St Albans.

The trouble is the Leicester or Loughborough trains are extortionate!

I usually go from Tamworth or Rugby for leisure, as it's cheaper and a faster train.

Rugby is a 35 mins drive from my house, Tamworth is 30 mins, Leicester there is too much city traffic and hard to park and Loughborough about 30 mins too. 

la531983

jagger86 said:

la531983 said:

Trains run direct between St Albans and Sutton, maybe look there and at the intermediate stations just after St Albans to see where is best to park.
St Albans is outside the M25 if that helps. 

Or take a faster one from Luton or Bedford to St Pancras and it's a same platform change on the Thameslink platforms (or a trip downstairs if you hop on one of the EMR trains at Luton or Bedford).
You could just take an EMR train from Leicester to be honest (or Corby, or Loughborough, or Market Harborough, you dont actually tell us where in Leicestershire you are), and when it gets to St P head downstairs for the Sutton train.

Thanks for that, I will take a look at St Albans.

The trouble is the Leicester or Loughborough trains are extortionate!

I usually go from Tamworth or Rugby for leisure, as it's cheaper and a faster train.

Rugby is a 35 mins drive from my house, Tamworth is 30 mins, Leicester there is too much city traffic and hard to park and Loughborough about 30 mins too. 

A train from Tamworth or Rugby doesnt take you into a London terminal with a direct train to Sutton iirc, so this is the trade-off you have - do you want less changes, or perhaps a faster method with cross-London changes on the Tube?

MilesT6060842

Luton Airport parkway (EMR and Thameslink, fast-ish trains) is easy access to M1 and has a multistory car park.