75 replies to this topic

[Mediclad]

Guys chill out its only one stop on the DLR.... Just to let those of you lucky enough not to be from London, the stops on the DLR are sooo closely bunched together it's simply a minor inconvenience.....no £20 taxis for 1mile journeys at all.

Excel is easily accessible from most DLR stations along that arm of the network not just those indicated on route maps...all hotels in the immediate vicinity are within easy walking distance. Buses 241 and 473 (amongst others) also run along the excel centre and are incredibly frequent from early morning until late at night.

I'm in the area so would be happy to help with any alternative travel routes that I think would be beneficial to you, just give me a shout.

[Mediclad]

Tehzmann_TNG, on 20 July 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

Kind of a stupid question, but how easy is it to get dropped off at he event? My wife's grandparents live about 9 miles south of ExCel and it would be very convienant to just get dropped off. Also, being American and not spending a lot of time in London, how much can I expect to pay for a Taxi for about 9 miles?

Thanks

EXTREMELY easy....there are places to drop off all along the roads surrounding Excel

[Mediclad]

Murph, on 16 July 2012 - 06:56 AM, said:

Damn! Wish I'd seen this before I booked my hotel I'm in the travelogde in Woolwich, I'm gonna be completely screwed!

Take the Emirates Air-Line cablecar from North Woolwich over the Thames and it stops pretty much outside the entrance to Excel :-)

[Mediclad]

Mediclad, on 20 July 2012 - 07:47 AM, said:

Murph, on 16 July 2012 - 06:56 AM, said:

Damn! Wish I'd seen this before I booked my hotel I'm in the travelogde in Woolwich, I'm gonna be completely screwed!

Take the Emirates Air-Line cablecar from North Woolwich over the Thames and it stops pretty much outside the entrance to Excel :-)

Oops - meant Grenwich Peninsula but it's VERY easy to get to from Woolwich

[TommyT]

Tehzmann_TNG, on 20 July 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

how much can I expect to pay for a Taxi for about 9 miles?

A lot. It's difficult to be exact, because as you can see from the tariff, the charge is based on doing blocks of distances or taking blocks of time - so when you're going quickly you get charged by distance for that bit of the journey, and when you're stopped at traffic lights you'll be paying for that bit by time. There is some guidance here, but your journey is rather outside their range.
What I can say is that based on the distance charges alone (i.e. assuming that you're constantly on the move), 9 miles under tariff 1 (the weekday daytime rate) would cost £27.40, and under tariff 2 (weekday evenings and weekend day/evening rate) you're looking at £31. Even in moderate traffic with the sort of numbers of traffic lights etc you're likely to encounter in 9 miles, I would guess that realistically those figures would look like minimums of £35 and £40, and I wouldn't be surprised if you goit up towards £50.
I would suggest that whilst the wife's grandparent's may be close(-ish) by, if they can't drive you in, then see if they can drive you to some sort of useful train station or bus stop that will get you in, because the taxi costs won't be pretty.
(You may be able to get a minicab cheaper than a black cab but the quality and reliability is patchy)

[Tehzmann_TNG]

TommyT, on 20 July 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

Tehzmann_TNG, on 20 July 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

how much can I expect to pay for a Taxi for about 9 miles?

A lot. It's difficult to be exact, because as you can see from the tariff, the charge is based on doing blocks of distances or taking blocks of time - so when you're going quickly you get charged by distance for that bit of the journey, and when you're stopped at traffic lights you'll be paying for that bit by time. There is some guidance here, but your journey is rather outside their range.
What I can say is that based on the distance charges alone (i.e. assuming that you're constantly on the move), 9 miles under tariff 1 (the weekday daytime rate) would cost £27.40, and under tariff 2 (weekday evenings and weekend day/evening rate) you're looking at £31. Even in moderate traffic with the sort of numbers of traffic lights etc you're likely to encounter in 9 miles, I would guess that realistically those figures would look like minimums of £35 and £40, and I wouldn't be surprised if you goit up towards £50.
I would suggest that whilst the wife's grandparent's may be close(-ish) by, if they can't drive you in, then see if they can drive you to some sort of useful train station or bus stop that will get you in, because the taxi costs won't be pretty.
(You may be able to get a minicab cheaper than a black cab but the quality and reliability is patchy)

Wow thanks for this information. I was only looking at getting taxis on my way back at night. I plan to go to the parties and I didnt know what was going to be available at that time of night.

[TommyT]

Tehzmann_TNG, on 21 July 2012 - 07:00 AM, said:

Wow thanks for this information. I was only looking at getting taxis on my way back at night. I plan to go to the parties and I didnt know what was going to be available at that time of night.

No worries - but if you're looking at it for jorneys after 10pm, then you'd be on tariff 3 which is pricier still (theoretical minimum for that is £35.40) - I think you'd be lucky to get out at under £45. And that assumes you could find somebody who wants to go that far out...
Best of luck.

[tomscaper]

Ive been looking at the tube and travel as i dont have much idea of travelling in london, and the disruption concern me too like most people.

Travelling there seems straight forward
Travelling back is

If anyone understands some of the tube information such as the return on the sunday i searched for tube info on travelling on the  Hammersmith & City Line but it saying the METROPOLITAN LINE -  no service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate, my confusion is if there the same line or seperate and if it then affects the Hammersmith & City Line

Route 2 details
Time Route details Information Maps 16:01

16:06 Royal Victoria DLR Station
Take Docklands Light Railway towards Stratford International DLR Station Av journey time: 5 mins Zone(s): 3
16:14

16:40 West Ham Underground Station
Take the Hammersmith & City Line towards  Liverpool Street

METROPOLITAN LINE: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October, no service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate. Rail replacement buses operate. Reported: 12/07/12 12:33 Last updated: 12/07/12 12:34 Av journey time: 26 mins Zone(s): 3, 2, 1 King's Cross St.Pancras
Walk to King's Cross and St Pancras Transfer time: 6 mins 16:46 King's Cross and St Pancras

[Malius]

Ignore the Metropolitan line bit, it's just informing you that there is no service. By the looks of your journey planner you don't need to use it.

[tomscaper]

Thank you, it was just confusing i have only been to london a few times and the tube seems a bit overwhelming.

[ElizaJay]

I must admit I'm not keen on the tube either but have read that it's possible to get an overground train from St Pancras to Custom House (DLR) so am hoping to take that route.

[Malius]

ElizaJay, on 07 August 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

I must admit I'm not keen on the tube either but have read that it's possible to get an overground train from St Pancras to Custom House (DLR) so am hoping to take that route.

The nearest Overground stations to the ExCel are Barking or Stratford, so you would still need to find alternative transport to the DLR.

[khitomer]

The tube is easy peasy! If you have an iPhone or Android get one of the tube planner apps, they'll even tell when the next train is due and how to plan your journey. Be aware however that the DLR is not in operation to Excel on the Sat and Sun of the event, bummer!

[trekkiefan]

ElizaJay, on 07 August 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

I must admit I'm not keen on the tube either but have read that it's possible to get an overground train from St Pancras to Custom House (DLR) so am hoping to take that route.

you'er talking about the Javelin line from St.Pancras to Stratford International at which point you can get the DLR to Custom house (but only when they are running)

[Annick]

khitomer, on 09 August 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:

The tube is easy peasy! If you have an iPhone or Android get one of the tube planner apps, they'll even tell when the next train is due and how to plan your journey. Be aware however that the DLR is not in operation to Excel on the Sat and Sun of the event, bummer!

Thanks for this tip, my boyfriend has uploaded it straight away :-)

[jonrees87]

khitomer, on 09 August 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:

The tube is easy peasy! If you have an iPhone or Android get one of the tube planner apps, they'll even tell when the next train is due and how to plan your journey. Be aware however that the DLR is not in operation to Excel on the Sat and Sun of the event, bummer!

But the nearest station that is running is only 20 mins walk away and there'll be bus replacements (just in case anyone not familiar starts panicing).