Surrey Train Station with Good Access to London

[matt666]

I've got to drive from Nottingham to Eastbourne in a couple of weeks, but I've got a meeting in central London (near Moorgate) on the same day.

I'm thinking the easiest way to do it is get round most of the M25, park up at a station in Surrey, get the train to London, then back out afterwards and continue my journey.

Anyone know of a decent station to do that? Coulsdon South looks a good option, 4 trains per hour into London but the car park looks a bit small. Any better options?

[CharlesElliott]

Walton on Thames?

[bigandclever]

I would do Merstham. Touch over half hour into London Bridge. 5 minutes off the M25. And then for Eastbourne it's straight(ish) down the M23/A23/A27.

[Big E 118]

I'd go the other way on the M25 and stop at Sevenoaks, just off the motorway, plenty of parking and good service. Personally I think the eastern side of the M25 is better clockwise and less likely to get snarled up.

It will be just as quick getting to Eastbourne as you'll avoid the very slow A22 southbound.

You could use Oxted as well but last time I used that station the car park was full (probably pre covid).

[dcb]

matt666 said:

I've got to drive from Nottingham to Eastbourne in a couple of weeks, but I've got a meeting in central London (near Moorgate) on the same day.

I'm thinking the easiest way to do it is get round most of the M25, park up at a station in Surrey, get the train to London, then back out afterwards and continue my journey.

Anyone know of a decent station to do that? Coulsdon South looks a good option, 4 trains per hour into London but the car park looks a bit small. Any better options?

The more of the M25 is in your journey, the more upredictable your arrival time.

The section of the M25 from M40 to M3 is awful - certainly in the top 10 most congested
roads in Europe. Worth avoiding 7am - 9am and 4pm - 7pm.

I'd park in North London, do Moorgate, get back out, then continue my journey.
The south end of the M1 is horrendous in commuter times.

Of course, anywhere within 50 miles of London will have a full train station car park.
M25land is known as commuter land for a reason.

Have you considered the train ? It's a lot less aggro.

[dcb]

dcb said:

Have you considered the train ? It's a lot less aggro.

Nottingham to St Pancras 1 hour 45 minutes. Victoria to Eastbourne 1 hour 25 minutes.

£120 return it says on the national rail website.

[matt666]

Thanks, that might be the best option

[PhilboSE]

dcb said:

Of course, anywhere within 50 miles of London will have a full train station car park.
M25land is known as commuter land for a reason.

Leatherhead station has a public car park very near that is usually not full.
Ashtead station car park post-Covid rarely fills up as well.

Down side is a 40 minute grind into Waterloo or Victoria on miserable sweaty outdated rolling stock - but you'll probably get a seat even at peak times (the trains really fill up a couple of stations later).

[craigjm]

Park in Ealing at Ealing Broadway, lizzy line to Liverpool Street

[Resolutionary]

Personally I'd come off the M25 at Junction 9, then either:

Street park near Chessington South / North station, trains every half hour to Waterloo
Street park near Motspur Park station, trains every fifteen minutes to Waterloo

These routes get you to SE1 in about 25 - 35 minutes, and from there you can head uptown (and back) pretty easily, without having to pay for parking.