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warren



Member Since: 14 Oct 2009
Location: East Lancs.
Posts: 903

England 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
Long Stay Parking in London
I realise I'm not a Defender owner (at the moment!) since Big Black was replaced with a mortgage, so hope no one minds me posting still.

Basically this summer me and a few others are planning on cycling London to Brighton, but we've currently having a bit of a nightmare sorting out how we're getting the bikes to London. None of the train companies can guarantee bike spaces. Virgin trains said they have spaces we can reserve, but apparently they go quickly. So considering scrapping the train and driving to London, leaving only the train from Brighton back to London to sort.

There'll be at least two of us going down from East Lancs, and as I can only get one bike in the Astra I'd have to take the Transit, but it'd mean leaving it in London for a few days - Thursday to Tuesday probably. Is there anywhere I could park it as close to the centre as possible (not in the congestion charge area) for a few days? It's a standard SWB low roof Transit, so not especially huge, but after taking Big Black to London a couple of years back I know parking can be a bit of a pain...
Post #231207 28th Apr 2013 5:14pm
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
it's going to cost .. unless there's a friendly forum person living in town. when I go up, I use on open carpark near the natural history museum, have a look on google maps, there's a few in there.

could you get someone to drive it to Brighton for you ?
Post #231211 28th Apr 2013 5:31pm
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Romadog



Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Powys
Posts: 1749

In past I have parked on a residential road near a train station. Eg. Mortlake station
Post #231213 28th Apr 2013 5:33pm
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warren



Member Since: 14 Oct 2009
Location: East Lancs.
Posts: 903

England 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
I had a feeling it'd be expensive... Think someone suggested the carpark near the natural history museum when I took the Defender down.

I've been asking around if someone fancies driving it onto Brighton but had no takers yet.. Another advantage of that is we wouldn't need to lug our luggage along too.

There is the residential street option, but I'm not sure how the residents would take it if a Pikey Wagon rocked up out outside their house... Confused
Post #231217 28th Apr 2013 5:42pm
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wyvern



Member Since: 13 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2101

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
best place may be Heathrow airport .. lots of secure overheight parking there and has links to the city center via busses to victoria & trains to Paddington

Better still is to go from home as normal, take a bike bag and you can go onto any train with out saying anything as its then a bit of lugage rather than a bike ... takes less than 5 mins to pop the wheels off remove the peddles, turn the bars and pop into a bag. easy to carry and strap onto the bike at the other end when rideing
simples!
Bike bags are cheep as chips or as expensive as you like .. for an example
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tifosi-light-weight-bike-bag/
or you can make your own with some old tent material and a couple of nylon stops!
probably cheeper than parking !!
Thumbs Up Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126
Post #231218 28th Apr 2013 5:44pm
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Wangers



Member Since: 19 Jan 2013
Location: West London
Posts: 265

United Kingdom 1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Aintree Green
Warren, PM sent. Let me know one way or the other.

Ta,

Si TY&GN
10 years in a WOLF, WIMIK and Snatch and this is all I have to show!
Post #231222 28th Apr 2013 5:52pm
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WelshGas



Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935

Wales 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Park Lane /Hyde Park underground car park, pre-booked is £26 / 24 hrs, and it takes a 90 without any problems . Height limit 2.08 m. Also it is outside Conjestion Zone, but IS within the LEZ zone. Thumbs Up LANDYWATCH

Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners

http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php
Post #231223 28th Apr 2013 6:00pm
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warren



Member Since: 14 Oct 2009
Location: East Lancs.
Posts: 903

England 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
Replied to your PM Wangers Thumbs Up Thumbs Up

That bike bag is a good idea though! Could come in very handy, although I'm not 100% if my bike would fit....


Click image to enlarge


And yeah, [possibly foolishly] thats what I'm planning on riding to Brighton LOL - although possibly with road tyres!

Just checked and the van complies with all the LEZ crap, but think it might be a bit too tall for the car park..


Click image to enlarge


I never compared it against the 90 but I'm sure it's a bit taller (even without the ladders)... not 100% though.
Post #231226 28th Apr 2013 6:16pm
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Killer90
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Member Since: 09 Oct 2011
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 6478

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Fuji White
Your more than welcome to park up at CSK Land Rovers Thumbs Up Dont mind opening up for you to park inside, You could jump on the train into London from Ware Herts then Thumbs Up CSK Automotive
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Post #231227 28th Apr 2013 6:18pm
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TheWarden



Member Since: 25 Feb 2013
Location: Southampton
Posts: 179

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
When I do the London to Brighton rides I drive to Brighton and get the first train back to London. You can almost guarantee a bike space and the train fare is very cheap.... Also lots more parking round Brighton and it's cheaper. Not least you can just jump in your car and head home when finished 2013 Aintree Green 110 Station Wagon SX
Post #231231 28th Apr 2013 6:29pm
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Busboy



Member Since: 23 Jan 2012
Location: West London
Posts: 182

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Warren

we live in Heathrow, quite welcome to use the drive if you wish..... Thumbs Up local places to stay and the obvious links into London..... Steve
Post #231233 28th Apr 2013 6:35pm
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wyvern



Member Since: 13 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2101

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
warren wrote:
Replied to your PM Wangers Thumbs Up Thumbs Up

That bike bag is a good idea though! Could come in very handy, although I'm not 100% if my bike would fit....
.


Your bike will fit in no problems in to a standard bag no problems. We have full size touring bikes that we have had in bags before with no probs !
drop the seat post off, whip off the peddles, whip off the wheels, turn /remove the handlebars & stem, wrap the chain and mechs in a plastic bag, then put in in the bag.. use 2 alan keys and a small spanner for the whole job.
That sounds a lot but belive me its all very simple and quick - get a pair of plastic gloves to make it cleaner on your hands

Yes - must do is to fit road tyers and keep them hard. !
enjoy the ride! Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126
Post #231262 28th Apr 2013 7:25pm
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6089

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
I always use the NCP carpark just off of upper marsh road, right across the bridge from the houses of parliament.

It's right behind St Thomas's hospital, and (i think) subb'd by the NHS....

either way, it's only £10 for 24 hours. has a gate and "guards", and under the railway arches, so you'd fit an artic in there (headroom)
Post #231343 29th Apr 2013 6:56am
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warren



Member Since: 14 Oct 2009
Location: East Lancs.
Posts: 903

England 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
Massive thanks to you all for the replies and all the offers of parking/drive space at your workshops/homes!

Was talking with one of the guys I'm doing the ride with, and think we're going to do go with Warden's idea now, drive to Brighton and ditch the van there, then train back to London and cycle back. It'd also save us cycling with our luggage too.

Thanks again for all the offers, if any of you are around in London/Brighton when I'm there I'll buy you a pint! Thumbs Up Thumbs Up
Post #232015 1st May 2013 2:10pm
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