Hi
I need to go to London this Friday for an interview. It's near Waterloo, and I'm travelling from Leamington Spa. As it's a bit late in the day for cheap rail, I was planning to drive most of the way and then park up and tube in the rest of the way.
So, what in your opinion is the best place to stop/park and ride? My interview's at 14:30, so hopefully I'll be finished by rush hour (or just in time for it!).
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks,
--------------
Mike Farrow
|
If you want to do it this way, drive down the M40, continue on to A40 and come off for Hillingdon (B466 I think). Park at Hillingdon tube - Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines. Metropolitan is slightly quicker - change at Baker Street for the Bakerloo line.
However I often interview candidates in London who have come on cheap rail for a 2.30 interview - I did two yesterday. It's worth checking train times and fares. Leamington Spa is presumably Euston - Northern line direct to Waterloo.
Good luck with the interview.
|
|
You could park at M40 J6 (Watlingon) and catch the Oxford-Victoria bus www.oxfordtube.com (every 20 mins)to Victoria. Waterloo is 10 mins on the Tube.
|
Depending on how much you like public transport you could get onto the Chiltern train at Warwick Parkway (into Marylebone and cheaper than Virgin) or drive straight down the M40 / A40 to Euston and park under the station (charges less than NCP) and use Tube from there.
Friday afternoon is not the best time to get a train out of London.
|
Friday afternoon is not the best time to get a train out of >> London.
Not a clever time to be driving out of London either, either way you will be trying to do the same as several thousand other people, getting out of London.
|
The main objective IMO is to arrive on time and in a good frame of mind so
I would let the train take the strain. Better than joining the road warriors.
I would suggest it is far more likely to be quicker and no traffic problems. It is so easy to get snarled up in London and not know the way around the problem.
Better to mull over the coming interview looking out of a side window than a windscreen.
I have used the train from Warwick back to London a couple of times and at that time of day it was very pleasant.
The return home may be crowded but you have only a short car trip whatever the outcome of the interview.
|
Agree with henry k, you don't want to try driving into London if time is of the essence. You may arrive late, sweaty and flustered, and spend the interview worrying about meter time or some such...
If you do drive, don't go further into town than say North Kensington, where fairly cheap ten-hour pay and display slots are to be found (Hillingdon is probably a better idea). And leave a good half-hour spare. You can always kill time, but you can't retrieve it when you're late.
|
"Agree with henry k, you don't want to try driving into London if time is of the essence. You may arrive late, sweaty and flustered, and spend the interview worrying about meter time or some such... "
For the same reason, I'd discount the option of catching a coach into Victoria. Made the mistake of getting the coach from Heathrow instead of the tube - once. On the coach, arrived in Heathrow at 10am and barely made my 2pm meeting!
Good luck with the interview,
- Gromit
|
|
|
|
If you want to do it this way, drive down the M40, continue on to A40 and come off for Hillingdon (B466 I think). Park at Hillingdon tube
>>
I would vote for this option if you drive.
The A40 is fine up to this point but soon becomes much slower into town. It WILL be slow for many miles coming out of town back to Hillingdon.
Can someone give any details of parking?
|
Another option to explore:
Drive to Banbury , park at Castle Quays, walk to station
Chiltern trains to Marylebone are regular. Cheap fares start around 10am from there. Add £4 for zone 1 tube ticket. Book online.
M40 south has roadworks around Oxford which would slow you down on the way in.
Northbound, you would have slow traffic all the way on Friday.
|
btw
have you asked if the interview travel expenses will be refunded ?
|
Hi
Thanks for the replies. I've decided to heed your advice and go by train. The train should (I think) take my to Marylebone, so that'll be on the Bakerloo line going straight to Waterloo.
Train was only £22 when I checked and will hopefully get me there a lot quicker. I'm catching the one that gives me an hour to spare, I hope (?) that's ample to get me through the tubes and to Waterloo.
btw have you asked if the interview travel expenses will be refunded
They said they would, and even provide me with a form. That's why I wanted to go by car! Though they don't say what they pay per mile.
--------------
Mike Farrow
|
|
|
|
Can someone give any details of parking?
Monday to Friday £3.50 per day
|
|
|
|
|
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/218abfd28ee906878153973733100c13/58f3aec6d84773ad1e67d9576a71cd28.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/fallback/coming-soon.webp)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/f90aa0e4720757dd1c0d957cc0a3eb6d/186cf9f6be35373ea04c92cc87c3b1c4.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/cd0a41a0bb43603f30f6ce57d34733c2/2865acf6364200e91a131d97b9e14c2d.jpg)
