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Mouse9
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Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 64
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 Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: London Congestion charge? Please school me |
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There isn't a general forum where I can ask general question but I am scheduled to travel to London next week so I am wondering what to do in regards to congestion charge?
Do I have to pay a fee in advance? Or have some kind of indicator I have paid?
I am travelling to Belgrave Square Which is right in the middle of London, Piccadilly Arcade. |
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DennisN
Tired Old Man
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 14907
Location: Keynsham
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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I'll move this into the "general subjects" forum.
On the day you travel, preferably before you get there, phone Transport for London on 0845 900 1234 and ask to pay a congestion charge for that day only. You'll need your credit card handy to read out the details to them. It'll cost you £8. They'll offer to post you a receipt if you want one.
It is possible to pay by other methods - some motorway service stations have pay stations (but the only time I tried using one it gave me so much grief I gave up and got on the phone!).
I don't know how far in advance you can pay, but it's better to wait until the actual day anyway - who knows what circumstances might arise to prevent you travelling on that day.
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Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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GerryC
Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Mar 01, 2005
Posts: 1513
Location: West Mids
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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There's lots of information on the Congestion Charge website. There's loads of ways to pay - just make sure you pay by the end of the day to avoid penalty charges. Whoever you are going to probably knows the local shops that accept payment (similar scheme to phone top-ups).
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Gerry
TomTom730T
Cameralert for Android
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mikealder
Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005
Posts: 19638
Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I can't be bothered with paying to drive on roads that are blocked by stationary traffic, the last few times I have left the car near the M25 at a tube station and used the tube/ train as its less hassle - Mike |
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253
Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 05, 2007
Posts: 1058
Location: The green bit between the M40, M4 and M25.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Motorbike, motorbike and motorbike.
No Mayoral revenue generating scheme, and only £1 to park all day (Which goes to Westminster council).
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Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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Andy_P
Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005
Posts: 19991
Location: West and Southwest London
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| 253 wrote: | Motorbike, motorbike and motorbike.
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...and you can't even be seen by the SPECS cameras! (maybe) |
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253
Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 05, 2007
Posts: 1058
Location: The green bit between the M40, M4 and M25.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| Andy_P wrote: | | 253 wrote: | Motorbike, motorbike and motorbike.
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...and you can't even be seen by the SPECS cameras! (maybe) |
I'm still careful mind, just in case. Mobiles the same, rumours doing the rounds in bike circles that some areas the vans use speed cams at back and front of the van.
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Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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SpikeyMikey
Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 21, 2006
Posts: 858
Location: Hertfordshire. Forever blowing bubbles
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| GerryC wrote: | | just make sure you pay by the end of the day to avoid penalty charges. |
If you do forget on the day you can pay a higher charge of £10 within the next 24 hours.
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Mike
TT GO6000 (Europe); iPhone and iPad Pro with iOS TT GO & MyDrive + CamerAlert |
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Mouse9
Regular Visitor
Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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| How bad is it in the car in London? |
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lyngarth
Occasional Visitor
Joined: Sep 15, 2005
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Run your car or van on LPG, only 50p per ltr and you can drive around London for only £10 per year.  |
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AndyVaughan
Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006
Posts: 1500
Location: Rossendale
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| If you can make sense of the stupid restrictions for qualifying LPG vehicles - don't they have to be on the Powershift register or something, and if your model isn't on there then tough?? |
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DennisN
Tired Old Man
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 14907
Location: Keynsham
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| Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| Mouse9 wrote: | | How bad is it in the car in London? |
I find the greatest problem is being in the correct lane when there's a lot of traffic about. If possible, go for the middle lane of three, then you won't find yourself trapped in a right or left turn lane when you need to go straight ahead, but you'll have the option to slip into the turn lane when you need to.
Drive steadily, don't fight your way around - most other people there know what they're doing and have no need or intention to do you a mischief. You'll meet no more idiots than elsewhere. The most disturbing thing I find is motorbikes filtering through and around from every side, so keep a regular eye on your wing mirrors.
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Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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253
Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 05, 2007
Posts: 1058
Location: The green bit between the M40, M4 and M25.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:22 am Post subject: |
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Basically what DennisN said.
If you are going to drive in the centre - Grosvenor Sq, Piccadilly, Park Lane, Tottenham Court Road and the like, remember there will be a lot of 1 way roads and therefore No Entry. You will find yourself having to travel what seems like miles to go around again to get back where you were. You can and will get disorientated.
But this is no different for any big city I suppose.
Spend some time haing a look at the London A-Z before you go (or Google) as it shows the 1 Way roads and you should be able to plan yourself a route.
Good luck.
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Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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Mouse9
Regular Visitor
Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:29 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks guys, how good is TomTom in London? interms of getting you around, getting you on the right lane? |
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DennisN
Tired Old Man
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 14907
Location: Keynsham
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| Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Mouse9 wrote: | | Thanks guys, how good is TomTom in London? interms of getting you around, getting you on the right lane? |
There are two problems with TT (and I presume any other satnav).
1. In some areas ("canyons" of high buildings all round you), the device loses the satellite signal and starts to turn turtle and lose its position on the map. All you can do in that circumstance is either panic, or hold your nerve and carry on going along where you think you were going and hope to get both signal and repositioning on the map soon. I try to deal with it by having several devices, with at least one of them on 2D view rather than 3D - this allows me to see more of the area and have a running idea of where I'm going. After quite a lot of this happening, I watch all my devices like a hawk (London traffic is usually so slow that's not dangerous) so that I see immediately one of them starts going haywire. I don't expect you've got several devices so, I'll just wish you good luck.
2. Map accuracy. 253 talks of looking at an A-Z and familiarising yourself in advance. I couldn't do that, too much to look for. But in any event, neither the A-Z nor the TomTom are totally accurate. Remember the words we all use when there's one of those news articles about somebody following his satnav into a river or railway line - your eyeball and brain are responsible for what you do and where you go, not the map or the satnav.
Overall, I rely totally on my TomTom(s) and find them very reliable. You can't expect them to be 100% accurate, so there have been occasions when they've told me to turn into a No Entry or No Right/Left Turn road, but few and far between (I swear about it, but on reflection, the TT knows London a damned sight better than I do!). Before I got them, London was hard work with the A-Zs (I had two). I would admire anybody who could memorise an A-Z route, because I don't think it's practical. Having an open A-Z on the passenger seat is very difficult, so I consider my TTs as invaluable.
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Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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