Advice on commuting to St Georges please

[Sarah G]

I would really appreciate any advice from people who travel into St Georges either on public transport or by car, or know the area. I'm starting on the GEP course in September.

I live out towards Guildford and need to travel in every day (3 kids at home, oh joy). Public transport links are OK but will cost me over £2000 a year and, like the rest of you, I will be a tad strapped for cash in September. I am lucky enough to have a car which would cost half as much as the train, but what would it be like driving into Tooting - completely impossible or just awful? And is parking out of the question? I looked into these private car parking spaces you can rent locally but they cost from £25 a week so that's not really an option.

I would be so grateful for any advice as this is already causing me a lot of worry.

Many thanks

Sarah

[auden]

you'll be alright for parking because there's a few roads around the hospital which are unrestricted and you can either park there or at halls, both of which will leave you a walk of 10-15 mins to get in.

the driving should be OK, it'll be london traffic but there's plenty of people do commute and manage OK. you might find it better to develop a habit of aiming to be in a bit early each day and working at Georges to avoid the morning rush coming into london for 9am but otherwise it should be do-able.

[Gizmo says -]

dont drive in between 8am and 11am, or out between 4pm and 7pm, i would say.

[Sarah G]

Thanks guys

I know it would be much better to get in earlier but I just can't do it around childcare.
Thanks Libs for the parking suggestions. Would you mind just letting me know a bit more about parking at Halls as that sounds potentially a lot less stressful than hunting for a road-space at 5 to 9 which is probably when I'd get there (I'm already factoring in a pair of trainers in the backpack to jog from the car. I will be the flustered, dishevelled, slightly late student at the back of the class). Would I need to get a permit and is this OK if I don't live in Halls?

many thanks again for any advice.

[Gizmo says -]

parking in alls is easy.

usually plenty of spare space except later on in the termz.
borrow a traffic cone and use it to 'reserve' your own personal space wif a reserved sign, that should fool the unquestioning first year sgul medics at the grove.

[Sarah G]

brilliant idea. I'll nick the 'space reserved for duty doctor' sign that's outside my department before I leave work, plus bit of velcro. Ta!

[Gizmo says -]

although peronally i would never drive in.

you'll be able to miss most of the lectures in the first year though so no worry, you should be able to limit furst year travel to just a few days a week. Probably 2nd year too.
not so third year.....

[claneyuk]

Yeah, there are loads of places with free parking about 10-15 minutes walk from the medical school. Also, don't worry about missing a few lectures too!

[Lyra]

Hi Sarah

Don't worry, it's perfectly do-able. There's someone in almost exactly the same position as you already at George's - I'll ask them to PM you. (And they'll probably tell you about the Student Parent Association at the same time - there are lots of us!)

Halls parking is OK although not 100 per cent reliable, but the estate right next door is a better bet.