Me and the boy are flying down from Edinburgh to Wembley, into Stansted. How to get back to Stansted is the issue.

Tube/Train via Liverpool St is fine. It takes 45 minutes, they say, for the train, and say the same again to get to Liverpool St. A total of 90 minutes. The plane is 8:50 p.m with checking in at 8:20 latest, 7:50 prefered. No problem you say.

Well yes it may be if we have extra time and penalties. The game may no finish until way after 6, extra time would take 45 minutes elapsed time, and then pens another 15 so 6ish isn't unreasonable. Can I get to Liverpool St for the every 30 mins train ?

Working backwards ... 7:50 Stansted 7:00 Liverpool St 6:20 Wembley Way

Is this REALLY doable ?

OR, do I hire a car at Stansted, and fight the car traffic instead (poetry there) Where would I park, how long does it take to get to the M25.

Money is not the issue, it's getting home on Sunday that's the issue.

Last year I had to get a taxi from Newcastle to Dunfermline having missed train connections because of extra time. (My wife doesn't know). I rather have it planned this time.

I accept that the perfect answer is for us to win in normal time, but it's not something to rely on.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000

Answers

Mac.....

It would be do-able, but it would be tight.

I think you would be better off on the train as opposed to driving coz although you might get a clear run on the 25 to the M11, there is no guarantee.

Who are you flying with.....last time I flew to Belfast I checked in at Heathrow for the return flight to try and save time at Belfast International on the way back....it was just as well I did, coz my taxi from the city was late and, after a 110 MPH journey up the motorway, I got the the airport with about five minutes to the flight closing and had no problem getting on.....now that was with British Midland, but I have also checked in on the way out with both British Airways and British Caledonian......it might get you an extra half hour or so if you can do it.

If you are going to hire a car, head down the M11 to the M25 toward Heathrow and come round to the M40/A40M......come off there, (Junc 16 I think but I can check for certain if you are doing it) head toward London, go over the Denham turn off and under the Swakely's turn off....take the next left toward Hillingdon....when you get to the lights at the bottom of the hill, turn left and then immediately left again into the Hillingdon Underground Car Park. Leave the car there and get the Metroplitan Line to Wembley Park......top of Wembley Way (11 stations/20 minutes tops) .....then after the game, do the return tube journey get the car and you are about two miles from the M25...... Hillingdon is the closest station to the motorway that I know with direct contact to Wembley

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000

cheers, I think the train should take the strain, I'm off to look at timetables

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2000

Train looks the only workable option, I think your main problem is gonna be getting out of Wembley and then into Liverpool St.

I take it flying early on the monday morning isn't an option?

Any chance that you might pop into the Post Office in Wembley with Ben to say hi to everyone? I still owe you a drink or two if my memory serves me right...

Good luck!!

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2000