Advice from "Londoners" for travel

[dozypillock]

It seems I now need to see a Urology stone consultant at Guys hospital next Friday, at 10.45.
I live in Lancing, West Sussex, so will take some time to travel.
Looking at train tickets, it will cost a fortune for myself and partner at the time we need to leave.
I am thinking about driving much nearer, parking up, and getting a train from somewhere nearer, as it seems parking/driving into London is a complete no-no.
Any advice from others?
The trains I would need from home all seem to fall into the peak time range (cheaper to fly abroad, it seems).
Suggestions as to a station nearer, with good parking (Mercedes safe ding free parking would be good) or does anybody on here have a large mansion, outside the congestion zone, with a drive, I could use for a few hours, and just get the tube?

Neil

 

[moonloops]

Neil, the north bound Northern line to London Bridge starts at Morden, so if you park at Peel House car park it costs £5 a day. Probably a 20 min tube ride from there.

Hope that helps.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Park at Haywards Heath and get Thameslink to London Bridge, which is right next to Guys.

Driving into South London on the A23 is ballsachingly awful and from memory parking by Guys is close to non-existent and very expensive.

 

[wongl]

I don't know how convenient it is for you to get to East Croydon? Trains runs from East Croydon (zone 5) to London Bridge every 5 to 10 mins and it takes only 15mins (if you skip the slower commuter trains). An off-peak Zone 1 to 6 travel card (valid for trains after 9.30am) costs £8.90.

You would need to find a suitable parking space in Croydon, and I would suggest parking at the underground carpark at the Fairfield Halls (which is probably the nearest off street public car park to East Croydon station). You can find out about the parking charges from this URL Croydon Fairfield Halls

By the way London Bridge station is undergoing renovation, so you should keep an eye out for when there may travel disruptions. See https://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-infor...n-bridge-upgrade-travel-advice#on-this-page-0

 

[neilrr]

Sometimes this can make train tickets cheaper, occasionally a lot cheaper.

Free split ticket tool for advanced & walk-on train tickets - MSE

 

[dozypillock]

Sometimes this can make train tickets cheaper, occasionally a lot cheaper.

Free split ticket tool for advanced & walk-on train tickets - MSE

I almost never use trains, and forgot about hearing how you can split journeys. Thanks for the reminder. Looks like best to get to Brighton only, using peak ticket, then an off peak to London bridge is half price or less after 9-00. I would still get there in plenty of time.

Neil

 

[dozypillock]

I don't know how convenient it is for you to get to East Croydon? Trains runs from East Croydon (zone 5) to London Bridge every 5 to 10 mins and it takes only 15mins (if you skip the slower commuter trains). An off-peak Zone 1 to 6 travel card (valid for trains after 9.30am) costs £8.90.

You would need to find a suitable parking space in Croydon, and I would suggest parking at the underground carpark at the Fairfield Halls (which is probably the nearest off street public car park to East Croydon station). You can find out about the parking charges from this URL Croydon Fairfield Halls

By the way London Bridge station is undergoing renovation, so you should keep an eye out for when there may travel disruptions. See https://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-infor...n-bridge-upgrade-travel-advice#on-this-page-0

I pulled up the station on google earth and saw there was lots of work going on. Hopefully it may only be minor delays, but will check that site out. Will be just my luck that station is shut on that day. As if I was not stressed enough about this appointment.

Neil

 

[henley]

I pulled up the station on google earth and saw there was lots of work going on. Hopefully it may only be minor delays, but will check that site out. Will be just my luck that station is shut on that day. As if I was not stressed enough about this appointment.

Neil

Careful Google imagery is between 1 and 3 years out of date, its not real time anywhere and never has been.

 

[Rayny]

I parked at Haywards Heath last Thursday and took the train to London Bridge.

The car park at Haywards Heath has been reduced in size to cater for the building of a multi story car park - I arrived at about 11am and it was about an hour before a parking space became free, so I would not take the chance unless you get there early.

London Bridge Station was fully operational. It looks like trains may be disrupted again from 20th December :
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-infor...l-station/london-bridge-upgrade-travel-advice

 

[Charles Morgan]

No substitute for recent experience!

OP - if you're stressed why not just take the train all the way? Traffic jams, inability to find a spot etc can seriously shove up your BP, which is not great.

My sympathies, I've had both kidney and gallstones, they are not fun.

 

[blue gnome123]

You need to either get to a station on the London Bridge or Waterloo lines (it's only two stops to London Bridge on the underground) or Northern Line. The closer to London the more likely you are going to get a post 9:30 cheaper fare although that only leaves you with 1:15mins to get to Guys.

Have a look at the Network map http://www.southernrailway.com/images/network_map_full.jpg

 

[noy91]

Starting from Chichester, not far from Lancing, I find the easiest way is to take the M25 and A2, park up in Britannia Village by Royal Victoria Dock (free, lots of spaces during working hours) and then cross the road to West Silvertown DLR which will take you to central in about 25 mins changing either at Bank or Canning Town. The latter will allow you to take the Jubilee line to Westminster, and then you can just walk across the bridge to Guys. Even in rush hour, never taken me more than 2hrs 15 to get from home to Zone 1, but can be worse coming out.

 

[noy91]

Actually, I was thinking of St Thomas' there, but the basic route stands, with London Bridge also on the Jubilee

 

[Mike Walker]

No need to worry overmuch about the work currently taking place at London Bridge as it only affects the terminating platforms at present. Just wait until the New Year though - then there will be severe disruption as work commences on the through platforms until August 2016!

You can drive to my house - BR4 post code - park on the drive, 10 minute walk to West Wickham Station and 30 minute train journey to London Bridge. Job done and no dings I promise........ well........

Ex Design Manager for Costain who is undertaking the whole Project, hence my slight knowledge of the programme of works.

 

[ras8963]

It seems I now need to see a Urology stone consultant at Guys hospital next Friday, at 10.45.
I live in Lancing, West Sussex, so will take some time to travel.
Looking at train tickets, it will cost a fortune for myself and partner at the time we need to leave.
I am thinking about driving much nearer, parking up, and getting a train from somewhere nearer, as it seems parking/driving into London is a complete no-no.
Any advice from others?
The trains I would need from home all seem to fall into the peak time range (cheaper to fly abroad, it seems).
Suggestions as to a station nearer, with good parking (Mercedes safe ding free parking would be good) or does anybody on here have a large mansion, outside the congestion zone, with a drive, I could use for a few hours, and just get the tube?

Neil

I dont quite live in a mansion but I have space on my drive, short walk to station, Surrey zone 5, one change to Victoria, then tube to hospital. PM me if it might be of help.
Otherwise as mentioned in an earlier post, drive to Morden direct, always available parking and only costs a few quid and pretty secure. Tube up is quite a short journey and probably most economic option...

ATB

 

[ras8963]

Mikes offer above gets you closer than my address, btw.

Top man

ATB

 

[dozypillock]

No substitute for recent experience!

OP - if you're stressed why not just take the train all the way? Traffic jams, inability to find a spot etc can seriously shove up your BP, which is not great.

My sympathies, I've had both kidney and gallstones, they are not fun.

Lots to think about, and some good advice coming up on here.
Train would seem the best option, hopefully in terms of reliability and timings. Traffic can be unpredictable at the best of times, and would be on the road in rush hour.
Sitting in my own comfortable leather chair, listening to my own music sounds preferable, but am hoping that a train will be more failsafe.
Looks like if I plan my journey, so a big part is off peak, it will save a fortune.
Seems hospital is only a short walk from the station, so should be able to plan to get there with about 10-15 mins to spare.
Will just have to plan it all well, so well write it all down, changes etc, and see if it will work out ok.
I am not going for an op this time, but to see a specialist, to hopefully determine why I keep getting Cystine stones, when I never had them in my first 50 years. Had 2 operations earlier this year, one through my back, where they emptied all the stones out, then a sound treatment, to blast the re-occurrence.
Suspect lots of questions, blood tests etc

Neil