subject: Making The Best Of A Drive To London [print this page] Visiting London by car can be an absolute nightmare. The prospect of driving through some areas can trigger hives before you've even planned your route. Negotiating traffic, following signs, finding a car park...it can be enough to deter even the most steadfast of drivers.
Here are a few handy pointers for anyone who is unable or unwilling to use the train and must prepare for the car journey into our bustling capital.
Consider the congestion charge. This can be a nasty sting if you're not expecting it so you need to know your route and wether it crosses into the zone. The charges are only in operation on weekdays between 07:00 and 18:00 so if that applies to you, you need to pay in advance on the government website. You can download the charge zones form the official government site to see where they are.
Plan your route carefully. If you know people living in London it might be a good idea to ask them for tips regarding the best route to take. They will know which areas are best to avoid at certain times of the day. If you have a GPS you're very lucky, but you should still know where you're going in advance. Print off a map with directions if you need to so you can visualise where you are going and don't get flustered on the day. Google maps are great for this, and you can zoom in on areas that you might need more detail for.
Know if your destination provides parking. Don't assume the venue you are visiting has ample free parking; take a look at their website or give them a ring before. If there isn't parking on-site you will need to check out car parks in the near vicinity. You can book parking in london centre in advance on some websites which will save you some money. Having this sorted already can also save some hassle on the day.
Know your route from the car park. It sounds simple but in practice, walking through parts of london can be disorientating. It's always good to have a map of London if you don't mind carrying it with you. Remember to carry some cash with you if you're going to need the underground. Consider a travel card if you know you have to travel about a bit to different parts. This could save you a few pounds and it's also much more convenient than having to purchase tickets for different rail lines throughout the day.
Keep your car radio on throughout the day so that you can receive traffic updates. Avoiding traffic hotspots where you can will improve your journey no end. Getting caught in a jam in London is never too pleasant, so try to be adaptable and prepared to deviate from your course if you are alerted to any problems.
This all sounds like a lot of effort but you don't have to employ all these suggestions to plan a successful drive to London. Hopefully this just gives you a few thoughts that could help you prepare a little better for it. Nothing is quite as daunting if you feel prepared for it.
by: Patrick Omari
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