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When is it considered rush hour in london? morning and afternoon times would be appreciated.
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It depends what you're doing.
If you're driving into London, all the approach roads in within a 30 mile radius get pretty slow from 6 am. All London-bound trains and tubes from 7 am are more or less chock full. They all become merely crowded from 10 am.
Anywhere near schools gets immobile from 3.15 to 4. Outbound congestion on trains, tubs and roads starts from around 4, and goes on to 7.30
There's also a slightly different contra-flow congestion timetable (such as inbound early evenings, especially Fridays and Saturdays), and a whole distinctive set of horrors on Sundays.
But there are lots of local complications that can create congestion at almost any time. For most planning purposes though, assume 0001 Monday to 2359 Sunday,
<<But there are lots of local complications that can create congestion at almost any time. For most planning purposes though, assume 0001 Monday to 2359 Sunday,>>
That sounds like good advice. We didn't notice any difference in the massive amount of traffic in central London after the congestion charge went into effect--except that it's worse on Piccadilly and around Trafalgar Sq. Cabbies complained that several smaller streets they could use to avoid traffic jams have been cut off.
That's amusing, Flanneruk!
Assuming Joanel means the tube, assume that 0730 to 0900 and 1630 to 1830 are peak times and obviously quite a bit quieter during a working day, especially outside central London. At weekends it can be pretty busy in central London from late in the morning, but a lot depends on what's on where. Anywhere serving the main central shopping areas will be busier on Saturdays, the District Line to Sloane Square will get very horticultural the week of the Chelsea Flower Show, and so on.
If you're worried by the thought of crowds, just watch the flow of people in and out of the station and, if necessary, wait a while or make alternative arrangements: www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner.
Just stay out of their way when the pubs close at night, I think at about 11 pm, after which begins the mad dash to the tube to get to the after hours clubs. We nearly were trampled by an angry, drunk pack of party-goers a few years ago! VERY bad experience.