Best place to park to get a train to Paddington?

[isdoo]

Need to travel from the south west and be in East London by 9am.

The cost of the Train is silly money.

So I was thinking of driving part of the journey or most and wondering on the best place to switch to the train?

Looking maybe at Reading, but can be almost anywhere into London.

I have a blue badge as well if that makes a difference.

 

[StephenHunter]

Where in the SW are you?

 

[isdoo]

Only Taunton, but it is a last minute booking and so prices are high for peak travel compared to a couple of months later.

I would be going first normally.

Happy to drive part of the way

 

[W-on-Sea]

Lots and lots of car parking spaces at Didcot, both "official" and unofficial.

 

[JonathanH]

Lots and lots of car parking spaces at Didcot, both "official" and unofficial.

Still not exactly cheap for the journey into London from Didcot though. Maidenhead might be a little better or even somewhere in West London.

One point to note is that from Reading eastwards, cheaper fares are available on Contactless before 0630, although that is a really early start from Taunton.

 

[Twingo37175]

Just a thought, have you thought of split ticketing? Looking at Wednesday morning (03/08) as an example - and assuming no railcard, £120 on the 06.20 from Taunton becomes less than £70 through trainsplit (for the same train). Assuming one way at this stage as I don't know further information.

 

[Lewlew]

Parking in the multi storey at Reading station costs about £20, the others in town aren’t much better either

 

[Purple Train]

If you can bear going to Slough (which not everyone can) there are some decent parking spaces around Slough and Burnham stations. Not sure about Langley - that isn't my bit of town.

 

[Keysan]

Swindon, Hungerford or Didcot are not bad shouts however, when heading that way the shopping centre at Westfields Sheppard's Bush was only £6 all day last time we parked up. Please do check what they are charging these days before travelling.

 

[Snow1964]

Might also be worth looking at driving along A303 which would be fairly empty at that time of morning, and getting a train at Andover or Basingstoke.

Depending on where you want in East London, the Jubilee line is quick from Waterloo (just remember to use the tube entrance opposite platform 4 barriers to avoid long underground walk)

 

[JonathanH]

Swindon, Hungerford or Didcot are not bad shouts however

Anytime travelcard prices:
Taunton £288.70
Swindon £158.70
Hungerford £73.60
Didcot £80.50

While cheaper than Taunton, they are all still expensive places from which to travel into London at peak times.

 

[StephenHunter]

Why not book an Advance Single?

 

[JonathanH]

Why not book an Advance Single?

That was what the OP appears to have been contemplating. Just because there is an advance single available, it doesn't mean it isn't 'silly money'. The advance single on the first connection from Taunton to Paddington on Monday is £119.60.

 

[StephenHunter]

Anytime travelcard prices:
Taunton £288.70
Swindon £158.70
Hungerford £73.60
Didcot £80.50

While cheaper than Taunton, they are all still expensive places from which to travel into London at peak times.

Don't use an Anytime Travelcard if you're just making a couple of journeys. Just use contactless.