parking in London, for tube

[redcrx]

Can anyone recommend a car park?
we are travelling into London to the Natural History Museum on a saturday. We will be coming down M11 and want to find somewhere to park and travel in by tube.
As we have 2 children we dont want too many changes before South Kensington so are thinking that we should look around for best carpark and access to the tube and South Kensington.

We want a secure car park as we are going from London on to stay with relatives in south, so the car will be full of luggage etc.

[lesblue]

Hi red. Your best bet is to come off M11 at junction 7, and take B1393 into Epping. Station is signposted on the left. I am sure your luggage will be safe, as this is well outside the "dodgier" areas of our great metropolis. An all-zones travelcard will cost about �7, and you will need to change at Holborn for South Ken. Epping to Holborn is probably 30 minutes. Holborn to South Ken perhaps 20.

[VHG]

I am not certain I would like to leave my car at ANY train station if it was full of luggage.

If you are travelling down from the North, then going on to the South, it makes sense to park somewhere near the Museum.

It may be expensive, but it will be offset by not having to pay for the tube, or having to spend time getting there and back. Plus most car parks will be manned and hence secure.

Here is a list of parking near the museum (I found this by a simple Google search for "Natural History Museum parking")

http://www.londontown.com/ParkingInformation/A ttraction/Natural_History_Museum/aab8/

[VHG]

The museum web site says:

> there is limited meter parking on Exhibition Road

I seem to remember there are lots of meters around the Albert Hall as well, which is nearby.

This site may also help find local parking, just select Natural History Museum from the drop down list.

http://www.park-up.com/

[Postdog]

As someone who lives the epping side of the line (just 2 stops down) be advised that not only are all the car parks full with commuters cars, but it is also common for all the surrounding streets to be full too. That applies to all outlying stations.

[VHG]

Nothing to do with your parking problem, but one thing that may enrich your visit to the area.

The Great Exhibition, that took place during Queen Victoria's reign (the Crystal Palace bulding), was held in Hyde Park (it only moved to the Crystal Palace area of London after the exhibition finished).

Prince Albert was heavily involved in the Great Exhibition, which was a great succes.

To try and make something more permanent to celebrate art, learning and education an area was created just South of Hyde park called Albertopolis.

A number of buildings were built, including the Albert Hall, the History museum, Science museum and V&A museum, plus the College of art, the College of Music and others.

These were all buit in the one area, with support from Prince Albert.

After he died the Albert Memorial was built opposite the Albert Hall.

More on Albertopolis here

http://www.inetours.com/England/London/pages/S _Kensington.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertopolis

[VHG]

>be advised that not only are all the car parks full with >commuters cars

Even on a Saturday (when he says he is going) ?

[Postdog]

Well OK, I didn't register that bit......

[redcrx]

thank you all for your replies.
Postdog, i take it the car parks lesblue suggested are ok at weekends?
VHG, we are meeting a whole group of forum friends (all parents of 3 year olds) so i think the children may not be interested in much other than the dinosaurs at NHM. But if we get time afterwards we may take our two (3 and 10 months) and wander about. Thanks for the extra info.

[Cathyhuns]

If you decide to park near the Museums, the easiest place to park on a Saturday is in the Imperial College car park. This is only open to the public at weekends so doesn't always appear on car parking websites.

The other thing to watch is that different parts of Exhibition Road are in different London Boroughs so have different parking restrictions. Make sure you check the road markings and street side signs immediately adjacent to where you park.

But none of it is cheap so personally I'd park at somewhere like Epping station and catch the Tube, which can be an adventure in its own right for kids.

But check Engineering works. The Central line is closed this weekend between Leytonstone and Liverpool Street so you'd have to change to a bus for part of the journey. tfl.gov.uk gives details of planned closures.

Finally, think about going to Launch Pad at the Science Museum. It'll be heaving on a Saturday but is a child's delight.

[lesblue]

Please be aware that (if you decide to drive into London) the roads in Central London can be busier at weekends than during the week, because there is no congestion charge to pay. Sitting in a traffic jam is no picnic, especially with young ones.

Have a great day.....it truly is a wonderful city (honest).

[redcrx]

i do like the city, as and when we do visit. Ive not taken the kids before so usually we've stayed in hotel ad parked the motorbike instead, much easier.

i didnt realise there was no congestion charge at weekends, thanks for that.

I wont be driving, i know that, will get Mr CRX to, as although I think Im a better driver than he is i am not used to such congestion in a place i dont know.

The Imperial College looks good, but a 3 year old boy would also love to travel in n Underground Ernie lol

[Eve]

Last time I went to the museum we managed to park across the road right outside on a Saturday.

Just don't be tempted to try and park anywhere further up round Harrods etc... it'd bleed you dry!

Doesn't really help you wanting to go by tube though.

I love the museum, have fun :)

[Eve]

I just had a google and found this...

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/tubestationcar parks/default.aspx

and a Tube map...

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standar d-tube-map.pdf