Getting to Central London

[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi,

Being from up north I dont know london that well. I may need to be in the Strand London on Tuesday for arround 09.00 but need to find the best(cheapest way) of doing it.

A train from sheffield is 125 quid !
Is there a park and ride near the end of the M1 ? (one where the bike/car stand a change of being htere when I get back)

Regards
C
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[G]

Welcome to use a 'park and ride' in Reading, though less good if you're coming from London.

Also of interest would be Nortel HQ where I'm working at the mo. It's just of M4 J8/9 and parking is free, they also have a free (I believe) bus to and from the Station which is only five minutes away. Still not great coming down the M1, though.

[yambabe]

Stafford - London train leaves Stafford at 6.43am, arrives London at 8.18am is £44 single.

Depending what time you're coming back, a single London - Stafford on the same day (leaves 20.17, hits Stafford 21.46) could be as low as £17, making a total of £61.

If you go National Express from Birmingham (leaves Brum 5.0am, gets to London 7.50am) it's only £16 return.
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[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi,

Coach is too early I'm not that cheap. I am probably going to go from sheffield as I will be at work on Monday and Wendesday.

But thanks anyway

Regards
C
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[Bendy]

There's nothing to my knowledge at the end of the M1, I think the last 'leave your car and take a train' kinda place is Luton. Decent bus service from there, but it's not quick.

If you can find a train that'll go to Charing Cross, then the lack of hassle's probably worth the extra money. But coming from the north, most'll probably take your to Kings Cross or Liverpool Street, so you're going to need tube time as well.

Strand's not actually that hard to get to by road, you just follow the river for the most part. Or I could think of a fair few places in West London that you could safely leave the bike/car and get on a tube to go into town proper. My old work, for example.

Owt I can do to help, just shout. Hell, I'm self employed and have bog all to do all day, I'll even chum you into town if need be (I do know London fairly well).

[WavyGravy]

other option is drive/ride down to watford and catch a tube to euston square, catch a bus to trafalgar square (run every 5 mins or so) from outside main euston train station(2 min walk from euston square) the bus goes the length of the strand ..... or just walk all the way down southampton row/kingsway and it comes out on the junction of strand/fleet street by the BBC and waldorf hotel, its about 15 -20 min walk .... check the tube does stop at euston square, lots of train/tube routes have been disrupted by the channel rail link construction. i used to commute into euston station and walk down to kingsway most days its a pleasant walk past a few landmarks if you keep your eyes open
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[sickpup]

If you come into Central London and head straight down to Farringdon Rd EC1 there is plenty of bike parking. Both sides of the road south of the viaduct and down the middle of the road north of fleet street and easy to get to from the A1.

10/15 minutes walk to your destination.

As an eample of how easy this would be. Straight down the M1. Follow signs on north circ to A1. Straight down A1 to Islington. Straight over lights at Pentonville Road/Islington High St. Right on Roseberry Ave by Sadlers wells. Left on Farringdon street. Under Viaduct to Farringdon Street.

[cagiva gezzer]

You could go to Watford or Rickmansworth park up for (at a guess) under £10 per day in a decent car park and get the tube into london.

Takes 30-40 from either and a travel card will be £10-15.

For quick reference, Watford and Ricky are just inside the M25.
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[The Tot]

The strand is where my dad's old office (BBC bush house) was - if you're tempted to take the bike, there's a[size=18] bike park in temple [/size]that's always never full. The temple bike park is found here- see map. You're always guaranteed a place. You can bet your bottom dollar on it! - WC2 postcode

If you don't mind leaving your bike in and around the outskirts of london.

M1 it, head for brent Cross- it's right at the bottom of the M1, i.e. junciton 1. Head for any one of the multistorey car parks, park and lock up there for free. This is by far the most convenient option barring the above as it's just off the M1 exit, not difficult to see. Saves you time as well in locating the thing.

Now, would you mind taking the bus?

Brent cross has a bus station. Single fares are £1.20. Get a one day bus pass and it's only 3.50 for the day.

best way to get to strand from brent cross

189 bus heading to oxford street
get off at selfridges and get any of these buses heading to picadilly/trafalgar square. Get the bus from outside the selfrideges main entrance. If stuck, just ask somebody or read the directions at the bus stop. Shouldn't be too busy at about 8 AM.

6 - which terminates at aldwych/strand
:arrow:13- terminates at aldwych/strand
:arrow:15- blackwall via strand
:arrow:23 Liverpool street via strand

Those are the ones i know off the top of my head.

Total journey time from brent cross - strand on the 189 + transfers is about 45 mins - 1 hr in the mornign rush hour. 189's are frequent at every 10 minutes. The shoppin centre car park is free and cctv'd

I know this cos i'm either sad, or i used to take diplomatic guests on sightseeing tours since i was 7 so i tend to know the bus routes around london.

I'd recommend the bus method - hassle free and £3.50 cheap - forget about park and rides in luton or watford, they're too far out of your way. You can blitz the M1 from the M25 to Brent cross in about 20 minutes riding conservatively. I've done Watford to brent cross in about 10 minutes before absolutely caining it. Met line from watford to baker street takes about 50 mins. Then you have to change to the bakerloo line to get to charing cross. You'd easily be paying 8 quid for your travelcard because Watford is in the extended zone. Cheaper by a bit from Rickmansworth, but is it worth the hassle when you have a straight run to brent cross from the M1 for less than the cost of a travelcard in terms of fuel?

Not trying to undermine everybody's kind suggestions, i'd think my way is the cheapest and most efficient way.

Hope you get there easy, Hope this helps

Titot

Also PM me if you may need a london bus map? I think i've got a copy lying about.
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[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi,

thanks for help but it all off for now !

Regards
C
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