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I am taking my daughter and her friend to a little gig in London. It's on a Sunday night, and the last train back to Leeds is at 10.35pm so that doesn't work. Rather than driving there and back, I was wondering if there is a later train that will get me back somewhere within, say, 30 miles of Harrogate. I have already ruled out the coach as it takes an age (we wouldn't get home until about 6am) and she has school the following morning.
York would appear to be the logical solution, but I’m not googling for you to see if it has trains
If they have school the next morning isn’t the logical solution not to go to the gig, or request the day off school ?
taking my daughter and her friend to a little gig in London
I had a similar situation a few years ago, in the end I just drove us into London, yes it was a pain, but it took away any missing the last train home angst, and I suspect if there's 3 of you travelling it'll also work out cheaper!
Sadly, long-distance night trains are a think of the past, in this country :-/
York would appear to be the logical solution, but I’m not googling for you to see if it has trains
Leeds is the latest train.
If they have school the next morning isn’t the logical solution not to go to the gig, or request the day off school ?
It's a one-off gig by her favourite artist (Asha Banks) and she really doesn't want to miss out. She doesn't need to take the day off school – she's 16 and can manage a late night.
I had a similar situation a few years ago, in the end I just drove us into London, yes it was a pain, but it took away any missing the last train home angst, and I suspect if there's 3 of you travelling it'll also work out cheaper!
It would probably be cheaper, I agree – if I do end up doing that, I'll park somewhere outside the centre and get a tube in.
It would probably be cheaper, I agree – if I do end up doing that, I'll park somewhere outside the centre and get a tube in.
This - where's the gig (can't see a listing) - few tube stops away from that and sun evening parking should be easy.
Just have the Red Bull on standby
As for the cancel because it's a school day crew....I think there's 3 days of term left after next weekend, they won't miss much, and they'll probably sleep in the car anyway.
The reality is you'll need to leave the gig early to get public transport out of the city on a Sunday. Night trains just don't make economic sense, and most companies' drivers still volunteer to work Sundays. You could drive to somewhere north and train in/out, e.g. Baldock is on A1 and has fast trains to Kings Cross, but last out on Sunday is 23:10 arriving Baldock 23:40. One of the airport trains that run through the night? Bishops Stortford parking isn't expensive and town is on M11 but convenience depends on where the gig is v Liverpool St. Luton / Bedford trains might be better, run late regularly and Luton Airport Parkway easy to access M1.
Assuming gig is somewhere central or south, you could equally drive to a tube station to avoid missing the end.
Trains to Milton Keynes or Luton depart later which will cut out some of your drive / give you chance to nap for a bit.
if I do end up doing that, I'll park somewhere outside the centre and get a tube in
I was coming in from the north (M1) and eyed up Radlett as it was close to the motorway, had lots of parking at the station, and has a frequent train service to KX.
In the end though there was a train strike on the day so we ended up driving into central London, it was a breeze, hardly any traffic, yes we had to pay the various charges etc, watch for the 20mph limits, but it made it a lot easier after the gig to get away. Before the gig, to get the most out of the congestion charge, I drove around Westminster etc to show my daughter the 'sights', she loved it 🙂
Stanmore is the default North London parking option, though as above, MK might work as well.
This - where's the gig (can't see a listing)
It's at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (she just announced a fan pre-sale last night on Insta, so I don't think Google has caught up yet).
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
sounds like parking at Stanmore (qv) and taking the Jubilee line is a good bet, to Baker Street.
though having got that far by car, I'd be tempted to just drive all the way and find a carpark nearby!
After everything that's been written here and doing a bit of legwork on train company operators myself, I think I'd be looking at a surprise bout of food poisoning and a last-minute AirBnB booking. 😁
You may not need to park so far away and it's easy to get out of London late at night.
A few years ago I saw the Cure at Wembley and used Just Park to park in someone's drive a mere 10 minute walk away.
Have a look on Just Park. Theres a surprising amount of parking in London near most venues.
Are the exams finished yet? Day off.
Trains to Milton Keynes or Luton depart later which will cut out some of your drive / give you chance to nap for a bit.
From memory and from when my BiL lived there Bishop's Stortford trains run late too and it's an easy drive back.
Bishops stortford does seem like a good option, last twin seems to be at midnight.
Though you need to get to Liverpool St, then 50 minutes in the train. And all to save 30minutes driving.
I know what I’d do: drive. And I love trains. But in this case they make no sense
This is what travelodges, Ibis, and premier inns are for .
Can you not invert the problem. Stay in London and an early train home for school?
I wouldn’t bother with Just Park, parking restrictions are pretty chill on a Sunday, just have a mosey round some nearby residential streets via Google streetview to look at the parking signs. I’ve driven in on a Sunday to visit London Zoo (also Regents Park) and parked a couple of mins walk away in Primrose Hill.
I’m 45 mins on the train from Kings Cross and I often drive for gigs nowadays. £30 return on the train, or about £3 of electricity in the car.
I doubt we’ll be able to stay over - my daughter and the friend she’s going with will be just starting A Levels and they are both *very* conscientious.
I am taking my daughter and her friend to a little gig in London. It's on a Sunday night, and the last train back to Leeds is at 10.35pm so that doesn't work.
The last train back to pretty much anywhere outside of London is at latest 11.28, which, for a national public transport system is shit! Most gigs finish around 11.00pm, and venues like Roundhouse and O2 Arena are a 20+ minute tube ride to a mainline station.
I’ve been using JustPark for years, there’s nearly always somewhere to park that’s convenient to whichever direction you’re coming from; for me I usually park about a ten minute walk from Ravenscourt Tube station, and it’s an easy drive back out to the M4.
I wouldn’t bother with Just Park, parking restrictions are pretty chill on a Sunday, just have a mosey round some nearby residential streets via Google
I wouldn’t chance it, in London it’s quite possible to miss a sign somewhere and come back to the car and find it clamped! It happened to my mates car, because the road we’d used for ages had changed to parking restrictions, and we hadn’t seen the signs fifty metres away.
JustPark is dead easy to use, I’ve used it in London, Reading and Bristol, and it’s great for the peace of mind just knowing you’re not going to find a ticket or a clamp on your car!
I'd drive or stay over - trains aren't an option on the east coast main line that late and going west coast, the last train is even earlier and that only gets you to Manchester... Last train to York on the east coast is 2205 and last train to Leeds is 2235 on a Sunday. Don't even think there are any options of hopping across to jump on a XC route either.
As a londoner - I would forget all these train/tube hybrid ideas. It is just going to cost you an hour either end of the concert. On a Sunday you can typically park on single yellows in most boroughs... I think your concert is in Regents Park which is even easier.
Drive straight down the M1 and then park somewhere like Swiss Cottage. Loads of easy parking on single Yellows on a Sunday or after 6pm on a weekday... then once you're done you'll be able to drive straight back on the Finchley Road and be on the M1/A1 within 15 minutes.
If you have to walk out to Euston or Kings X and get a train, or even jump on a tube back to some place off in north London you will burn a huge amount of time.
my daughter and the friend she’s going with will be just starting A Levels
In the middle of July? Shouldn't they be coming to the end of a school year, not starting one?
Looks like you're driving then. Are you going to the gig yourself or simply playing taxi? If the latter, do you have a friend/partner who would share driving duties with you?
I have already ruled out the coach as it takes an age (we wouldn't get home until about 6am)
But you'd all get several hours' sleep. Have you got work in the morning?
In the middle of July?
It's at the end of September – I am not sure where you have got July from?
Do you have an idea of how big the crowd will be? We were at BST in Hyde Park last Friday. Initially the closest tube stations were closed after it ended, which initially thwarted us. Are they that concerned about 1 day at the start of 2 years study? What will they do for uni open days?
It's at the end of September – I am not sure where you have got July from?
poss made the same misread as me in your OP - you said on a sunday night, I misread as 'on sunday night' - ie this sunday
Now my 3 days left in term comment makes no sense.
OTOH, with no timetables yet, they could well have Monday morning free anyway.
Do you have an idea of how big the crowd will be?
It will be quite small – I believe the capacity is <2,000
Are they that concerned about 1 day at the start of 2 years study?
The school expects all Yr 12 students to be in school for full days (using school facilities for independent study). They have to 'earn' the right to be able to study from home, and, as this is right at the beginning of term, they are keen to get their Brownie Points.
You said on a sunday night, I misread as 'on sunday night' - ie this sunday
Ahhh!
It's at the end of September – I am not sure where you have got July from?
Apologies, I thought you said it was this Sunday. Back to school for me for reading comprehension.
The school expects all Yr 12 students to be in school for full days (using school facilities for independent study). They have to 'earn' the right to be able to study from home, and, as this is right at the beginning of term, they are keen to get their Brownie Points.
Is it worth perhaps having a grown-up conversation with the school? I understand their point, but with sufficient notice perhaps they can get Monday's work/study issued on the Friday, complete it on the Saturday?
Is it worth perhaps having a grown-up conversation with the school? I understand their point, but with sufficient notice perhaps they can get Monday's work/study issued on the Friday, complete it on the Saturday?
Yes, that's certainly worth consideration – the school know they are two of the higher achievers (I have no idea where my daughter gets it from), so they shouldn't have any concerns about them missing a day of study. Obviously, I'd need to get the other girl's mum & dad in agreement, though.