Olympia advice please.

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ThomasTank

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I have decided to take my 8 year old daughter to Olympia for a christmas treat this year.
I have never been so have no idea at all about it, in fact I have not been to London for YEARS
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* TT wonders if Olympia is actually in london*
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Anyway, whats the best day to go to watch the show jumping??
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Can I drive my car there
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or do I have to get a train
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Can I get lunch or should I take a picnic
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Oh and whats the shopping like
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Yes it is in London, have a look online to see whats on then decide what would suite you best, yes you can drive. We parked in the Homebase just round the corner (£16 for a day ) We drove from Portsmouth and went on the Sunday it took bout 1 1\2 hours as central London is always busy!! You can buy lunch\ dinner depending on what performance you go to. Take your credit card coz you can shop 'till you drop!! We are planning on going on the Saturday this year. However or whenever you go you and your daughter will have a fab time, its really Christmassy
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Don't drive, you'll go mad!! Very little parking as well. Either bus it or train. From what I remember food is quite expensive but there is plenty of choice, depends if you want to carry food around all day if you take a picnic.
Shopping is great!!
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Have a great time!
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Yup - you have to drive right through the middle of London to get to Olympia. Train is less stressful. Only trouble with train is that you may have to get moving quickly at the end of the show to ensure you catch the last train.

Shopping is fab and loads of places to buy food, but my mum always takes a picnic anyway
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Forgot to say, yes you can get the train as the station is a two min walk but a freind and I went to Erotica at Olyimpia on the train, problem was getting home the only train to Portsmouth was the slow train and stopped at EVERY station so it took hours to get home!!
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Plus then you have to get back home from the station, driving was so much less hasstle for us last year but it depends on you
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Drive to the edge of the tube network (zone 5 or 6) and park there. Then you have later last trains and relatively cheap transport without having to trek to Kensington through central London.

If you do decide to drive, might be better to go round the outside rather than through. Even off peak, there are stupid traffic light phasings and the south circular is rubbish!
 
Are you going to the afternoon or evening performance? If its the afternoon you'll have no probs with the train as I think you're out by 6pm, and I think they let you in about 9.30am but the first performance isn't until 1pm ish?? Check on the national rail website for train times!
 
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OMG I will end up in a terrible state of panic and collapse trying to get home
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Is it anywhere near Croydon ??

[/ QUOTE ] PMSL! No where near Croydon - you actually have to cross the River Thames to get there!
 
Kensington - West London, just north of the river. Completely the wrong side for Kent!

District Line at Wimbledon would work. Otherwise get the train into Victoria and pick up District Line to Earls Court. Will then need to change to get to Olympia.

Olympia has rubbish parking and the congestion is horrid - don't drive all the way in!
 
We always drive, I would expect the tubes/trains are packed after the performance. There was a car park quoted in the Olympia literature/on the website that we pre-booked the last couple of yrs, trouble-free parking and just around the corner. Yes London traffic is busy but the only thing you can do is leave earlier/in the day.
 
you might be better with an afternoon session - sat. PM is usually the world cup qualifier and that is top class jumping but iwthout the hassle of worrying about missing last train - then you could drive to Wimbledon and get the tube - parking at wimbledon is good long term - just around the corner - but take lots of £ coins - 5 hrs costs 7 quid
 
I go every year and it's no problem. I get the tube to earls court then you change and catch the train to earls court olympia it takes 10minutes or instead of changeing you can walk. Olympia is right outside the train station. The food and drink is very expencive so buy before you go in. there are plenty of shops round about. This year Olympia is stopping on Saturday night. Thursday evening is the christmas pair relay when the junior and show jumpers jump it's great fun your girl will love that. then the shetland pony raceing and the musical ride then the finale. Friday is the puissance it's very exciting am sure what ever night you choose to go you will love it. Don't worry about the transport though the train is fine. Only dissapointing thing you don't get to see the horses in their stables or warm up arena's. take lots of money with you as the shops are amazing. Good Luck It's also a week later this year ending on the 22nd
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Oooh I am very excited
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It is a surprise for her
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I think we will do an afternoon slot and a picnic
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I have rellies in Richmond and Croydon so I will see if it is easier from theirs
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Yes it's in London, it's just out of Kensington. They put on special tubes when it's on so I would go into Paddington, use the Circle line and then the Olympia trains. It's so easy to get round London on the tube, esp for that area of London.

Personally wouldn't drive - I work in that part of London and you can't park there at all, it's all metered and about £5 an hour to park!
 
The problem is , I have no idea where ANYTHING is in London.
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I havent been there for years and years and I have no interest in the place
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I prefer greenery miself
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Whilst we're on the sunject, is anyone going from the north on the train? I am hoping to take my son, and wiill be going to St Pancras, but have absolutely no idea as to where I go from there!
 
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Whilst we're on the sunject, is anyone going from the north on the train? I am hoping to take my son, and wiill be going to St Pancras, but have absolutely no idea as to where I go from there!

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you are a step ahead of me. I don't even know which station it stops at yet
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well, don't ask me, I'll have difficulty finding the exit from st pancras!!

We really want to see the Shetland Grand national, and have only just realised it's on daily lol.
 
I don't read a lot of what's on here so you might be better to send me a PM nearer the time. The tube seems really daunting when you first use it but it's so easy and quick. Takes me 15 mins on the tube max to get from Paddington to South Kensington for my appointments, in the car that could take an hour!
 
I'm taking my boys on the 20th Dec for the evening performance shopping is great (but then horse shopping so good anyway).Haven't been for a while the last time I went I bumped into Cliff Richard
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I have just prebooked my parking at the grand cost of £21.50
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but as parking in London so so rubbish I couldn't not risk it.(their phone number is 0871 871 9809 its the multi storey right next door they have a map online showing where they are.)
Oylmpia parking website
So all in all my treat for a night out is costing a small fortune
 
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