I've never towed into London, but have driven there once or twice. If it's your first time then I'd recommend finding somewhere outside London and using public transport to get i and out of the City. You avoid congestion charges this way too.
Last time we went to London with our tent/trailer we stayed at Kelvden Hatch C&CC site at Brentwood. Its a good site, took the underground train from Brentwood. Although it took about an hour didn't have any problems. We're thinking of going to London again for Easter 08 (now with our caravan). Might just use same site or maybe C&CC Chertsey site. Don't fancy towing into London would rather take public transport in. Whats public transprt like from Chersey into London, does anyone know?
Went to Crystal Palace 3 weeks ago. I too was scared of going through London. It was OK though. We did take 2 wrong turns caused by following sat nav directions. Wouldn't bother with sat nav again, if going again, would just follow the South circular signs, they were well posted. Then if you follow the route in the cc book you'll find it no problem.
As I used to live 100 metres from the Abbey wood site, & my office is in Dulwich Village 2 miles from the Crystal Palace site, in my humble opinion, for you as a newbie towing a caravan, Abbey wood is probably the easiest site to tow to. M1 then clockwise round the M25, over the Queen Elizabeth bridge over the Thames (Dartford River Crossing) up to junc 2 on the M25, then London bound on the A2, come off at the Danson interchange & follow the signs, the site is approx 3 miles from the A2.
To be honest, traffic in London doesn't now have a quite period, down here, if asked how far is somewhere, we give the answer in time not in miles, in the "rush hour" traffic can move at the fantastic pace of approx 8mph!
Transport into the centre of London is easy from Abbey Wood, just a 5 minute stroll down to the station, hop on a train straight into the city centre, or if you fancy doing it in "style" hop on the train to Greenwich, exit the station, turn left, walk down to the site of the Cutty Sark & then take the river bus up to the city, or you can even stay in Greenwich & visit the national Maritime museum & Greenwich park for the Royal observitory.
------------- GeorgeB
I'm a Grumpa....its just like being a Grandpa..only grumpier!
Quote: Originally posted by blatchatter on 28/10/2007
As you are travelling from the north you could stay at the Caravan Club site at Welwyn Garden City and get the train in to London from Hatfield.
By far the best idea. The fast service from Hatfield - on a good day - only takes twenty minutes to your connection with either the Victoria or Piccadilly tube lines at Finsbury Park or stay on the train to Kings Cross - another 6 minutes - and you can connect additionally to the Metropolitan and Circle lines. The Circle line does exactly what it suggests. Clockwise from Kings Cross you access the City of London first, anti-clockwise takes you right around the outer West End connecting up with all the other tube lines to take you into the centre.
Last time we went to London with our tent/trailer we stayed at Kelvden Hatch C&CC site at Brentwood. Its a good site, took the underground train from Brentwood. Although it took about an hour didn't have any problems. We're thinking of going to London again for Easter 08 (now with our caravan). Might just use same site or maybe C&CC Chertsey site. Don't fancy towing into London would rather take public transport in. Whats public transprt like from Chersey into London, does anyone know?
Sorry Lassie but there ain't any underground from Brentwood. From there you take the mainline to either Stratford for the Jubilee or Central lines or stay on the mainline to Liverpool Street to connect with the Central, Metropolitan or Circle Lines. Alternatively you can drive to Upminster and take the District line into London from there, but it takes forever!
Public transport from Chertsey is a bit scant - just Southern Region rattler into Waterloo but you can quite easily drive to Hatton Cross on the Piccadilly tube line and get into London that way. Again this can take quite a time.
I always recommend visitors to London stay north of the Thames. From the suburbs and beyond you have excellent fast BR services into Euston, King's Cross/St Pancras Thameslink and King's Cross all connecting to London Underground services where in South London, with the exception of the Docklands Light Railway at Lewisham and the East London Tube line at New Cross and New Cross Gate you have to rely almost completely on Southern Railway to get you into Central London. Otherwise south of the Thames there is only the Northern Tube Line that runs from Morden in the south and the District Line that runs in from Wimbledon and Richmond in the south west.
Quote: Originally posted by Popjay on 31/10/2007
Went to Crystal Palace 3 weeks ago. I too was scared of going through London. It was OK though. We did take 2 wrong turns caused by following sat nav directions. Wouldn't bother with sat nav again, if going again, would just follow the South circular signs, they were well posted. Then if you follow the route in the cc book you'll find it no problem.
Can I agree with this message, we have been to Crystal palace several times from Rochdale going down the M1 and the CC instructions are perfect, if you follow them you have no problems. Once you get off the M1 and onto the North circular route allow yourself an hour to get to CP and you will not be far wrong, just take your time and follow the signs.
We stayed here c&cc when we went. Down A1 to south mims then onto M25 for about 20mins and another 10 min drive to the site.The site was lovely and welcoming and very large field with ehu.We went into london on the tube about 10min drive to the tube station and for 2 adults and 1 child it was £13 for all 6 zones, tube ride lasted about 30mins adds to the fun for the kids im sure will be going back this year.
I was wondering if someone could help me its about the outdoor revolution universal awning annexe, i have read the post regarding annexes and i'm still stuck. We have an old NR Verona awning that slides into the side of the van, the sides do zip out but the sides also slide into the van, does anyone no if the universal annexe would fit the awning, i have e mailed NR but havent had a reply back from them
Thanks
Kez h
Sorry put on wrong post, still thawing out from easter
Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 29/10/2007
I've never towed into London, but have driven there once or twice. If it's your first time then I'd recommend finding somewhere outside London and using public transport to get i and out of the City. You avoid congestion charges this way too.
Travelling from our way up the M4 Crystal Palace is dead easy to get to. You'll find that the London traffic gives you loadsa room. I find London drivers far less aggressive than Swansea or Cardiff drivers. And if you hit the conjestion charge zone you have missed a turn.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Towing to London.....scared !!!
