Cheshire Blue said:
4.5 hours, u think it could seriously b that long?
i always drive to my sisters flat tho in West Hampstead or my mates near putney and I could swear its never usually that long.
Still say the best way is the train tho.
Depends where you start from. If you're in somewhere like Congleton/Sandbach/Crewe then it won't take as long as it would from central or north Manchester. But from anywhere near central Manchester to Norwood/Thornton Heath will take 4.5 hours on a good day. Traffic in the London suburbs can be a nightmare around rush hour, particularly south London.
Problem with trains is that there isn't a direct train after 10pm so if you want to get there and back without staying over then you'll have to drive. Might also be easier to park somewhere further out and get the train or tube in. Last tube is usually after midnight and last trains maybe 11:30.