If you want to avoid the main rush, consider Charlton station. It’s a ten-minute walk from the O2, but it serves the National Rail network. Think of it as the calm, slightly older sibling to the busy tube.
Waterloo Underground Station To The O2 Arena – WDXO
Trains from Charlton go toward central London via Lewisham or out toward Woolwich and beyond. It’s not as frequent as the tube, so check the timetable on your phone while you’re still inside the arena. But if you time it right, you’ll glide out with barely any crowd.
Walking to Charlton is also lovely on a dry night. You pass the Thames Barrier and some quiet riverside benches. I once saw a fox trotting along the path, looking as if it was late for the show too. Charming stuff.
When You Want a Longer Stroll
There’s also Cutty Sark station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). It’s about a fifteen-minute walk across the foot tunnel under the Thames. Yes, a foot tunnel—it’s like a secret passageway for pedestrians, and it smells faintly of damp history.
The DLR is driverless, which feels like a little sci-fi adventure after a night of loud music. It takes you to places like Bank, Canning Town, and Lewisham. If you’re staying south of the river, this is your hidden gem.
