How do the costs stack up? The train fare is £63.90. The bus costs £18. Driving my little Micra cost no more than £14 in fuel and £4.20 to park all day in Old Deer Park car park. The route couldn’t be simpler: drive up the M3 and keep going straight on ’till you cross the River Thames. The car park is then the first right turn. Leave the car park by the other exit and walk to the station.

Up to four of us can get into London and back about as quickly as the best train, for the price of one coach fare. Sadly, the choice is a no-brainer.

Notes

• You need to register your (small) car in advance at RingGo to get the £4.20 parking. Paying cash costs £10.
• You shouldn’t drive to Richmond in a big oldish diesel. The Low Emission Zone will get you.
• Always use an Oyster card on the tube. The cash fare into central London from Richmond, Waterloo or Victoria is £4 each way. The Oyster fares range from £1.80 to £3.10 with a maximum daily total of £10. You’ll easily recover the £3 card deposit in a single day. Buy it at almost any tube station.