Getting to the Excel Centre from the M4 avoiding the Congestion Charge

[wiltsman]

On a midweek day in May, I want to drive to the Excel Centre London, avoiding the Congestion Charge.

I'd like a knowledgeable ABer to advise me. Which of the following routes would you recommend?

1) Drive to a reasonably priced car park say in Ealing or Hammersmith, then take the tube and DLR to the Excel Centre.

2) Leave the M4 at Junc. 4b, then drive clockwise on the M25 until its junction with the A13, and go on in to the Excel from there.

3) Leave the M4 at Junc 1, then drive clockwise round the A406, North Circular Road, until it's junction with the A13, and go on in to the Excel from there.

...or 4) Do you know a better way?

Bear in mind, time and costs should have a factor in the decision.

Many thanks.

[VHG]

I sometimes go to Hammersmith by train (and VERY occasionally by car on the weekend) to go to see Fulham play at nearby Craven Cottage.

The traffic round there is a nightmare and I would not suggest going anywhere near Hammersmith by car.

Hammermsith roundabout can be gridlocked and the Hammersmith flyover has had problems lately meaning it is sometimes closed, making the traffic even worse.

Keep well clear of Hamersmith.

[puternut]

Not 3)

North Circ is a fickle and unrelable road at the best of times. Possible delays one day but clear the next

[VHG]

You dont actually say where you are coming FROM, but I assume from somwehere West as you are coming in on the M4.

Are you going straight home afterwards or taking the car somewhere else?

>>>>...or 4) Do you know a better way?

Ditch the car totally and go by train.

Or park on the very edge of London and get the train in.

I would also ask on Trip Advisor as there are some very knowledgable people on their who can advise.

[wiltsman]

Thank you both for taking the trouble to reply to a complex question. I live about seven miles from Swindon, so perhaps seeing if I can find a train on the Trainline at a good price might be the answer.

I prefer the train but the costs can be prohibitive, so I normally take the car to London and park at a multi storey in Hammersmith when I'm going in to central London.

I wonder if the Hammersmith flyover problems will be sorted by early May? I read that they're hoping to be back to normal for the Olympics, but that's July!

Thank you for the Trip Advisor advice VHG, and to you putternut for your comment on the North Circular.

[puternut]

Also might be worth consideration is the cost of the London Underground / DLR from Ealing Broadway to Prince Regent is £4.30 per adult single. An off peak return (zone 1-3 1 day travel card) is £7.70. So if more than 1 person going then this adds up.

[tamborine]

Leave M4 @ J5, either park in Marriot hotel for brekkies or across road in layby. Bustop on A4 towards Colnbrook. All buses go to Heathrow bus depot every 20mins. Find coach to London City Airport (every 20mins). Cheapest, quickest, relaxing route :)

http://www.streetmap....p.srf&searchp=ids.srf

Coach fare

http://www.terravisio...Lf_nq8CFcsNtAodqh1zdQ

[wiltsman]

Thank you.

[Iggle Piggle]

borrow someones car with foreign plates for the day... these plates are not on the database (apparently).

[rov1100]

Travelling in the opposite direction nearly every week using the M25 takes on average 2 hours to travel from one side to the other, The most holdups are around the M25/M4 junction. On top of this at present there is a 50mph going on to do with the road widening but this should end soon. It used to be the case the holdups were round about rush hour time but now with the increase in traffic therer is no good time to go. HGVs are the main problem and most of them are foreign owned with their continental number plates.

[maxi2]

Option 2. No contest. Trust me.

[wiltsman]

Thank you for all your replies. Now going into a darkened room to mull over your contributions. Actually, I'll be away from my laptop for a couple of days, so wont be looking at further answers until late Mon or Tues.

Happy Easter to you all.

[tamborine]

Which way did you go ?

[wiltsman]

Sorry 'tamborine', it's only taken me three months to answer your enquiry!

In the end, I parked on someone's drive just five minutes walk from Acton Town tube station, then using a Travel Card, travelled across the city by underground and the DLR to the Excel Centre.

I paid seven pounds for all day use of the drive after finding it on 'parkatmyhouse.com'. It was very handy as it was only a few minutes from the M4. The journey to the Excel Centre took just under one hour.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the decision I took.