To Waterloo Station for 7:37 Eurostar with Tour de France traffic
 

This is my first question,but hope you sages in London can help.
Family has to get to Waterloo this Sat. July 7 for early train to Paris; but, whoops, I didn't know about start of Tour de France and street closings. We are already worried about delays due to increased security, and now don't know how to factor in road closings!! Ray Skinner is booked. There is a bus right to Waterloo just across the street from our rented flat, which is in Chelsea near Glebe (sw3 5ej) ((husband is working at Brompton Hosp)); but I'm completely unsure what to do.

Thanks--you've been great assistance in planning our trip, love the forum. And love the buses, by the way.
Penny

You will be fine. The road closures on Saturday are right in the haert of the capital in and around the Westminster area, and the bus route you need won't be impeded.

All details about the Tour de France in London, including road closures can be seen at http://www.tourdefrancelondon.com/en/203.asp

Thanks! Now, what time should we leave our flat, given traffic/congestion between Chelsea (a few blocks from Sloane Sq.) and Waterloo Station? (given it's Sat. and early)
DH is Type A-squared, and wants to plan to arrive by 6:30 am. We have 5 nonrefundable tickets at stake, but want the 3 kiddies to be spared undue sleeplessness...

Here's what the tube website says about bus service in London over the weekend with the Tour de France:

"TOUR DE FRANCE: From 1200 Friday 6 until 1500 Sunday 8 July, Routes 1 2 3 4 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 29 35 36 38 40 42 43 45 47 48 52 53 63 73 74 76 77 78 82 87 88 89 91 96 99 100 108 129 133 137 139 141 148 149 159 161 172 176 177 180 188 199 211 225 229 242 244 286 341 343 344 360 380 388 401 414 422 428 436 452 453 469 472 477 486 492 B11 C10 P12 RV1 N2 N3 N5 N8 N9 N11 N13 N18 N20 N21 N26 N29 N35 N36 N41 N44 N47 N50 N52 N63 N76 N87 N89 N91 N97 N133 N155 N159 N279 N343 and N381 are subject to possible delays and diversions in Central London (on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and South East London (on Sunday only)."

and in particular for 211 (the bus route from Chelsea to Waterloo):

"ROUTE 211 From 2200 Friday until 0200 Saturday, diverted, towards Waterloo Station only between Parliament Square and Waterloo Station. From 0700 until 2100 Saturday, diverted in both directions between County Hall Roundabout and Victoria Station via Lambeth Palace Road, Lambeth Bridge, Millbank and Vauxhall Bridge Road. From 0600 until 1300 Sunday, no service between Victoria Station and Waterloo Station."

So there will be diversions on that early Saturday morning, not scheduled for exactly your window of time.

If you do a Journey Planner search on the website, it shows either the 211 bus (about 20 minutes from Sloane Square) or a combination of Circle or District from Sloane Square with change at Embankment to Bakerloo or Northern (about 10 minutes from Sloane Square).

If you are not familiar with Journey Planner, the website is www.journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk, where you can search by station, address or point of interest.

Why not just book a taxi? Whoever this Ray Skinner bloke might be, he's not the only taxi driver in town.