Hello all,
These questions may sound daft but i've never been to London before so want to double check my google homework!
I want to ride down to London from Leicester on Saturday to visit the natural history museum and I'm a little confused by congestion charge. Am i right in thinking i don't need to pay on a Saturday? are motorbikes even subject to a charge weekdays?
I have also seen there are motorcycle bays. These look quite common on a map I've seen, are the easy to spot? do I just phone the number when i find one and pay?
Anything else i should be aware of other than lots of traffic?
Again, sorry if these seem stupid questions but i've never been!
Cheers, Ryan
Motorcycles are exempt the congestion charge.
Parking, be careful. City of Westminster charge for motorcycle parking, London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have two types of motorcycle parking bay. Residents only, and visitors which are free.
The boundary between both boroughs is close by to the north of the museums, so pay attention to where you choose to park.
It will be worthwhile registering before you go, or using an app on your phone like Ringgo.
Have a look online
https://www.myringgo.co.uk/apps
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/parking-transport-and-streets/visitors/visitors-parking-and-pay-and-display
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/parking
Do you really want to ride into central London, why not park at an outer London tube station and travel in from there. ?
https://tfl.gov.uk/
Thanks for the information. Ive never been on a train either :mfr_lol: if thats going to be easier than parking in london ill give that a go?
When I go to Wembley I park at Hillingdon and go on the tube, check the underground map and see what's best.
Right
Home via the M1 to Brent Cross which is at the end of the M.1, junction with the A406
Park for free in the shopping centre car park, then a ten minute walk to Brent Cross tube station on the Northern Line
https://www.brentcross.co.uk/visitor-info/parking
Note, car park shuts at 20:00
OR
Park at Brent Cross tube station for £2.20 and no rush to get back for car park closing.
If you have never driven or ridden in London before, I would seriously consider the park/tube option.
Mr Doebag offers you good advice ... if you are new to London best to take the train tube bus walk option ... then you can see for yourself how awful it is especially on a Saturday when you don't know where you are going :yes:
Thanks for the advice! I will ride to Brent cross and get the tube!
I lived and worked there long enough to know where I was going and could give all my attention to riding and all those nutters out to kill me.
If you are worrying about what lane to be in, 'is it this turning or the next' and trying to look/listen to a sat-nav I'd get the tube.
As Dirty Harry said ' a man's got to know his limitations'
I appreciate it. I thought I was being a bit OTT having all these questions about driving to London but seems I was right. I was only going on the bike as I thought it would be easier for parking and getting about than in the car. can't say riding 100 miles down the M1 is a nice ride!
I'm only going as I've always wanted to see the natural history museum!
If you go there in the dark then it looks gorgeous from the outside.. beautifully lit up ... as does the V&A :yes: Enjoy your trip.
Leave bike in well lit space chained to something solid
Coman
:agree: :agree:
Riding in London takes a lot out of you. Very stressful unless yer used to it. :death:
As the others say, take the Tube or train from the outskirts.
Natural History /Science / Victoria & Albert are all amazing. :clap: :banana:
Is it all fairly straight forward catching the tube? All displayed what to catch etc? Like I say, I've never even been on a train!
Bet it's not often people on here are discouraged from riding their GTR :mfr_lol:
Brent Cross is on the Northern Line, so it either goes into the city or out to the end of the line.
You'll find there is a large map of the system both outside the station and on the platforms.
The trains to the City go either via Charing Cross or the City. To make it easier for you get one that goes via Charing Cross,
Get off at Leicester Square and change on to the Piccadilly Line going to Heathrow. Get out at South Kensington and follow signs to the museums.
If you have a contactless debit card, you will not need to buy a ticket. Touch your card to the reader at the station entrance and the barrier will open for you.
When you get to your destination, touch your card at the station exit and it will debit the amount of money for your fare.
Go to the TfL website and you can print off a map, you'll see what I mean about the Charing Cross/City thing by following the black lines from Brent Cross
Don't be afraid to ask, we don't bite down there !
Look for an NCP - plenty around and about £6 to park a bike securely all day on a Saturday.
Well I went London Friday and parked up at Brent cross and used the underground doebag your directions were perfect thanks alot! The natural history museum was brilliant as well, well worth the trip! I was really impressed with how efficient the trains were as well!
Just to finish on a bad note, when I got home I stepped off the bike and dropped it... Still not sure what happened! Most of the damage has been polished out but I do have a chunk missing from the right fairing just under the wing mirror but lucky that was all!
Thanks again!
Sorry to hear about the bike but glad you enjoyed London !! :yes: