If you’ve got a question about getting to the Games, check our frequently asked questions below. We’ve split them up into sections to make it easier to browse and find the answer you’re looking for.
Blue Badge parking
Is there Blue Badge parking at every venue?
Yes. A limited number of parking spaces are provided close to each venue for disabled spectators who are UK Blue Badge holders or members of an equivalent national scheme. These parking spaces are subject to availability and must be booked in advance.
What kind of permit do I need to book Blue Badge parking?
To book accessible parking, a UK Blue Badge or proof of membership of an equivalent national scheme is required and should be displayed on arrival at the parking site.
Do I have to arrive at the Blue Badge parking site at a particular time?
All accessible parking sites have specific arrival windows. Parking may be booked by sports session. Please use the spectator journey planner to plan your route to the Games or book your Blue Badge space now
What information will I receive with my Blue Badge booking?
You will be sent a travel pack approximately eight weeks before travel, containing full details of your booking and maps of where the site is. It will also include a permit which, along with your Blue Badge, will give you access to the car park. We will email you to let you know when it has been sent.
Coach travel
Can I get a coach directly to London 2012 venues?
Yes. 2012 Games coach services will operate from a variety of locations across the UK to the Olympic Park, ExCeL and The Nothe – Weymouth. All these services are accessible. View a map of our pick-up points.
Can I buy a return ticket for the 2012 Games coach service and return on a later date?
No – you must make your return journey on the same day as your outward journey, or purchase two day return tickets.
If my plans change, can I change my 2012 Games coach ticket?
Changes to tickets purchased from March 2012 will be subject to the terms and conditions on the 2012 Games coach booking website
Where will coaches depart from?
The 2012 Games coach booking website features details of where services depart from. Your travel pack, which will contain full details of your booking, will be e-mailed to you approximately eight weeks before you travel and will include maps showing you where to board your coach.
Park-and-ride
Can I drive to the Games?
There is no spectator parking at London 2012 venues. Instead, secure park-and-ride sites with limited spaces will be provided at convenient locations. Venues with park-and-ride facilities include:
– Olympic Park
– ExCeL
– Weymouth and Portland
– Eton Dorney
– Hadleigh Farm
– Lee Valley White Water Centre
– Football venues (this service is park-and-walk in some instances)
Park-and-ride spaces are limited and must be booked in advance. Park-and-ride sites will close approximately one hour after the last shuttle bus arrives from the venue. Accessible parking spaces are available at all sites, and accessible shuttle buses will be provided.
Is there a 2012 Games park-and-ride site at every venue?
No, the venues being served by park-and-ride services are:
- Olympic Park
- ExCeL
- Greenwich Park (30 July only)
- Weymouth and Portland
- Eton Dorney
- Hadleigh Farm
- Lee Valley White Water Centre
- Football venues
Where are park-and-ride sites located?
Sites for the Olympic Park and ExCeL are located at Hertfordshire Showground and Lakeside, Essex. Spaces are also available for park-and-rail services from Ebbsfleet. For other venues, sites are conveniently located a short bus journey from your venue. You will be told which site you have been allocated approximately eight weeks before you travel.
Can I leave my car overnight at a 2012 Games park-and-ride site?
No, all vehicles should be collected by the closing time at the site. Any vehicle not collected will be removed from the site. Closing times differ between sites. Please visit the 2012 Games park-and-ride booking website for details.
Rail travel
Can I take a train to the Games?
Yes. If you have received confirmation that you have been allocated a ticket for the London 2012 Olympic or Paralympic Games, you can book a 2012 Games Train Ticket for journeys from any National Rail station in the country to London and the co-Host Cities.
Where will 2012 Games train services operate to and from?
2012 Games Train Tickets will be available for travel between any National Rail station in Great Britain and London, as well as the co-Host Cities of Coventry, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Weymouth.
Can I buy a return ticket for the 2012 Games rail service and return on a later date?
Yes. You can book tickets for travel anytime between 18 July 2012 and 14 September 2012.
Is the rail network an accessible travel option?
Yes, London 2012 has worked with the rail industry to ensure there are suitable rail options to venues for spectators with accessibility requirements. The spectator journey planner includes rail routes with step-free access and stations with staff available to assist passengers. We recommend you book your rail ticket early, especially if you require a wheelchair space.
Passengers who require assistance on the National Rail network, such as help getting on or off a train, should book assistance by calling the dedicated National Rail Games Travel contact centre on 0844 693 2899 (local rate, lines open 08.00-20.00).
For travel in London, London Underground, London Overground and the Docklands Light Railway operate a turn-up-and-go service. Please use the spectator journey planner to find suitable routes and allow extra time when travelling through central London.
Find out more about accessible travel
Do I need my London 2012 event ticket to travel?
Yes, you must have your London 2012 event ticket with you. The 2012 Games Train Ticket is only valid for travel when presented for inspection at the station/onboard the train together with your event ticket.
If my plans change, can I change my 2012 Games Train Ticket?
If a London 2012 event is rescheduled, customers can change their tickets free of charge. If a customer wants to change their ticket for any other reason, they will get one change free of charge but will pay the difference in the fare. Any further changes will incur an administration fee, plus the difference in the fare.
Ticket refunds are not available.
When can I buy train tickets to parts of Great Britain not hosting London 2012 events?
Tickets for travel to parts of the country not hosting London 2012 events will be available 12 weeks in advance of the planned travel date. Customers can plan their journey and buy tickets from any staffed station or online at www.nationalrail.co.uk
River travel
Where will river services operate to and from?
There are four different river services:
2012 Games river bus services will operate from piers in central London to Greenwich Park and North Greenwich Arena. Express services will operate during the Games, in addition to a service that stops at every pier.
A frequent 2012 Games river tours service will run at approx. 15 minute intervals from Westminster/London Eye (Waterloo) to piers in Greenwich (journey time approximately one hour to one hour 10 mins) via Tower/St Katharine’s Piers (journey time of approx. 30 mins).
The 2012 Games canal service travels along the River Lee Navigation. There are two routes available: from Limehouse Basin (next to the River Thames) to the western entrance of the Olympic Park; and from Tottenham Hale (in North London) to the northern Park entrance.
The 2012 Games Eton Dorney shuttle service will operate between Windsor Promenade and Windsor Racecourse (transport hub).
Spectator journey planner
What is the spectator journey planner?
The London 2012 spectator journey planner helps Games ticket holders plan their journeys by public transport, cycling and walking from anywhere in Great Britain to, and between, London 2012 venues, and by car to park-and-ride sites.
You can search for journeys between 18 July 2012 and 14 September 2012, which covers the entire Games period. You cannot book your travel on the spectator journey planner – however, links to specific Games booking websites are provided.
Does the spectator journey planner include time for unforeseen delays on the transport network?
No, the spectator journey planner does not include additional time for unforeseen delays on the transport network. For some venues with a larger number of spectators, you should allow extra time for travel. During the Games, the spectator journey planner will also include details of Underground lines if they are known to be closed or disrupted.
Does the spectator journey planner include additional time for passing through security at venues?
No, the spectator journey planner does not include additional time for airport-style security. Please enter the time you would like to get to your venue, taking into account recommended arrival times. Remember – the transport network will be extremely busy during the Games so you may want to allow additional time for unforeseen delays.
Is the spectator journey planner up-to-date?
The majority of timetables and schedules used in the spectator journey planner are up-to-date and represent the actual services that will operate during the Games. In some cases (eg for many London Underground services), we have used indicative timetables and schedules. However, these are based on the agreed operation of these services and are representative of the actual services that will operate during the Games. As the Games get closer, these indicative timetables and schedules will be updated to an actual and final status.
At any rate, you should recheck your journey the morning or night before you travel to the Games to make sure there are no changes to your journey plan.
What is a recommended station?
Recommended stations are rail or London Underground stations that London 2012 and its partners advise spectators to use to access London 2012 venues. In most cases, the routes from the recommended stations will be indicated on maps and at the stations on the day of travel.
Can I plan a cycle journey to a London 2012 venue from anywhere in Great Britain?
You can plan a cycle journey from within 20km of each venue, with the exception of Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, where you can plan a cycle journey from within 10km of the venue.
Does the spectator journey planner include a walking only option?
The spectator journey planner does not include a walking only option – however, it includes walking links from transport hubs and recommended stations to venues.
I have accessibility requirements – what options are available when planning my journey?
The spectator journey planner includes some accessible options which allow you to avoid the London Underground, and to request a journey with staff assistance at stations, stops and piers, or with step-free access, where available. To choose accessible options, go to the public transport page and select ‘Additional mobility options’. Read more about accessible travel during the Games
I planned an accessible journey but have been given a journey that uses stations which are not currently accessible.
The spectator journey planner includes stations that may not be accessible now but will be accessible during the London 2012 Games.
My journey takes a lot longer than I would have expected, or takes a different route than I would have expected. Why is this?
The spectator journey planner includes recommended routes to make your journey as easy as possible. These recommended routes have been developed in partnership with transport operators. In some cases, we have adapted the spectator journey planner to provide the best routes to London 2012 venues based on the predicted status of the transport network during the Games. This might result in slightly longer journeys, but they may also be easier and more efficient – avoiding the busiest stations or lines.
Please ensure you enter the time you would like to get to your venue, taking into account recommended arrival times. Remember – the transport network will be extremely busy during the Games so you may want to allow additional time for travel.
