I'm after a bit of help. I'm visiting my sister inlaw this week who lives at RAF Benson. I know to drive were only about 1h from London so we fancied taking my son to London Zoo. How easy is it to get to via car or am I better trying public transport? I had a quick Google and is bringing up trains from Reading to Paddington but there £45 a skull ! Then the minefield of the underground which I've never used. I know I will have to pay a congestion charge but surely it can't be that bad? If we left Benson @ 9am I'm guessing we would hit London a bout 9:40, what's it like round these times?
Thanks for any help. There would be 3 adults and one child. [img]http://www.fuelly.com/driver/rob2529/range-rover[img/]
04, 4.4V8, Vogue Oslo Blue with LPG.
"You can sleep in your car, BUT you can't race your house!!!!"

If something can't be fixed with a hammer....... You have yourself an electrical fault!

Hi Rob. I do this journey a fair bit and public transport isnt too bad if you can get a lift to cholsey (about 5-10 mins drive from benson).

But it is usually cheaper if there is more than one of you, to drive to hammersmith and park in the big NCP car pack (prices arent too horrific for london), and get a the all day zone 1&2 tickets (iirc £5.60).

Traffic on the m4 shouldn't be too bad around that time as you should have missed the reading rush by then, may be a little stop and go but as long as there are no accidents should be fine. The same goes for hammersmith.

If you are in the forces, then the cheapest way to do it would be to park at northolt, 10min walk to the underground then allday ticket it from there.

Oh and dont worry about the underground, just leave plenty of time. There are so many maps and guides and in my opinion is one of the only pubilc transport systems in the uk that is actually any good.

I'd drive the whole way & park at the Zoo, it's much easier IMHO.

Come in on the M40 & then you just turn left into Park Square East, about 1/2 mile past Baker St Station & park in the all day car park for the zoo.

You won't have to pay congestion charge as you are right in the edge of the zone - you will if you turn right off the Euston Road though!

Traffic shouldn't be too bad at that time, as there is a small window just after 9am.

Hope that helps

I know its hit and miss but what are the busy times for driving in London? if im driving to Hammersmith then using the underground as ive gone so far would it not be just as easy to drive direct to the zoo? thank you both for your help. im not in the forces its my brother inlaw who is but hes working all week so its my family and his wife. I do have a car pass for parking on Benson so mybe that will allow us to park there? [img]http://www.fuelly.com/driver/rob2529/range-rover[img/]
04, 4.4V8, Vogue Oslo Blue with LPG.
"You can sleep in your car, BUT you can't race your house!!!!"

If something can't be fixed with a hammer....... You have yourself an electrical fault!

If you leave Benson about 9am then you should hit London about 10am just after the busy morning rush & before it gets too busy again about midday. I would also try to leave for home before 5pm or after 7pm which is the other busy time.

I agree that if you drive as far as Hammersmith then you may as well drive all the way to Regents Park as the tube will be rather hot & uncomfortable compared to your FFRR.

HTH.