You might think, “I’ll just take a train from somewhere else, like Charlton or Maze Hill.” Wrong. Those stations are not even close—they’re a mile or more away, meaning you’ll either walk through a dodgy car park or catch a bus that smells like a gym sock. Stick to the Tube. Trust me, I’ve done the walk from Charlton, and I still have nightmares about the roundabout.
The nearest rail station is actually Greenwich (for National Rail trains from London Bridge), but that’s a 25-minute walk along the Thames Path. That sounds romantic until it’s raining, you’re wearing new shoes, and a seagull tries to steal your crisps. Not worth it.
For bus people: the 188, 108, 422, and 472 all stop at North Greenwich station. But buses in London are run by chaos demons who change routes at random. Take the Tube. It’s simpler, and the escalator is long enough to double as a workout.
The One Quirky Alternative You Didn’t Ask For
If you’re arriving by boat (yes, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a thing), you’ll dock right at the O2’s riverside. That’s technically the “nearest” transport option in a straight line, but boats run on a schedule that seems designed by a drunk Roman emperor. They’re fun for tourists, but for a concert? You’ll arrive smelling like river water and overpay for a tiny soft drink.
Up at the O2 | Directions, Location, & Tips
Also, the boat terminal is called North Greenwich Pier, which is just the station’s wet cousin. It’s a 5-minute walk to the venue, but you’ll have to dodge seagulls and people taking selfies with the Thames behind them. Not ideal when you’re running late to see a tribute act called “ABBA Again.”
