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'''Cost of public transport''': £2.80 (off peak) from Zone 1. (Bus fare £1.50)
'''Cost of public transport''': £2.40 (off peak) from Zone 1.
'''Cost of public transport''': £3.10 (off peak) from Zone 1
<map lat='51.43983124736507' lng='0.0528717041015625' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' />
'''Last verified''': Cost of the train to Mottingham was £5. (edit- Prices must have gone down!) Me and and my girlfriend hitchhiked from Mottingham spot and a lorry picked us up in 15 minutes and took us to the start of M20. There we waited about 20 minutes in a motorway entrance, and got a drive by another lorry all the way to Folkestone service station. There a car picked us up after 5 minutes and took us with them on the ferry and all the way to [[Brugge]] in [[Belgium]].
Verified April 2018 - Took around 20 minutes asking at the Shell Petrol Station before getting a lift close Cost of public transport: train to the M20Mottingham was £5.
'''Cost of public transport''': £2.80 (off-peak) from zone 1. (Mottingham train station doesn't have barriers...)<br/ >
'''Last verified''': November 2015
'''Cost of public transport''': One train ticket ''from zone 1'' (approximately £3.50 off-peak) or take the train from Elephant & Castle in central south-east (no barriers) towards Seven Oaks for a free ride.
Same directions as for Option 2 above, but this time, walk into town from the station, and head to the London Road going south towards M20. On the way there is a Texaco petrol station that seems quite busy. Further down (where I hitchhiked, August 2012) there is a big parking space, with a greasy spoon van if you're hungry or in need of a cup of coffee. The road takes you straight down to the motorway. <br/ >
'''Last verified''': [[User:TBF|TBF]] hitchhiked from the Texaco station in Nov 2015 and got a ride to Maidstone in about 20 minutes. Make sure that you get a ride going to Maidstone Service Station, because it's after the town so someone going to the town of Maidstone won't pass the service station. If you do get a ride just to the town of Maidstone, there is a good lay-by for hitchhiking on the roundabout that leads to the on ramp to the M20, but you'll have to thumb a ride because there is nowhere to ask people. It works with a sign saying "M20 4 miles" to get to the service station.
<map lat=Same directions as for Option 2 above, but this time, walk into town from the station, and head to the London Road going south towards M20. On the way there is a Texaco petrol station that seems quite busy. Further down (where I hitchhiked, August 2012) there is a big parking space, with a greasy spoon van if you'51re hungry or in need of a cup of coffee. The road takes you straight down to the motorway.3902018510923Make sure that you get a ride going to Maidstone Service Station, because it' lng=s after the town so someone going to the town of Maidstone won'0t pass the service station.188269615173336If you do get a ride just to the town of Maidstone, there is a good lay-by for hitchhiking on the roundabout that leads to the on ramp to the M20, but you' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' />ll have to thumb a ride because there is nowhere to ask people. It works with a sign saying "M20 4 miles" to get to the service station.
'''Last Verified''': April 2015 '''Cost of Public Transport''': You can reach London Bridge by overground from a station without barriers and skip the fare.
'''Cost of public transport''': £3.10 (off peak) from zone 1.
'''Cost of public transport''': xxx
'''Cost of public transport''': £2.80 (off-peak) from zone 1. Tip: To get to the same part of london, you can also take the Central line to Roding Valley. Here there are no barriers as you exit so if you managed to get into the underground system for free, you can get out for free. It's about a half an hour walk to the start of the M11. For getting into the underground system, you can for example get in at Finsbury Park where there are no barriers either. There are also other stations.
M3 is not an easy motorway to get to, although the following worked for [[User:Lnx|Lnx]]:<br/ >
'''Cost of public transport''': One ticket/travelcard to zone 6 + one ticket from ''Hampton'' to ''Kempton Park'' railway station. '''Kempton Park''' station is just outside London Transport Zones (''Hampton'', the previous station on the Waterloo-Shepperton line, is in zone 6), but it has no ticket barriers and the chances of meeting a ticket inspector between ''Hampton'' and ''Kempton Park'' should be quite remote.
'''Cost of public transport''': £3.80 (off-peak) (£2.70 off-peak from Clapham Junction) (June 2016)
'''Cost of public transport''': £2.40 (off-peak from Zone 1)
* [[London Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]]* [[London Stansted]]* [[London Heathrow]]* [[Luton|London Luton]]
<br/ >
no edit summary
==== Option 2: A4 leading to M4 (or M3) ====
Take District Line Underground to ''West Kensington'' (zone 2). Turn right out of the station, there are traffic lights 10m away. Turn right and there is a lay-by where you can stand. The advantage of this spot is that all the traffic must stop here frequently for the lights and much of it is going to either of the motorways. (It's also cheaper to get to).
==== Option 3: Motorway service station Heston ====
=== Southeast towards [[South East England|The South East]], [[Maidstone]], [[Folkestone]] ([[Channel Tunnel]]), [[Dover]] (Ferries to Europe) {{Mgb|20}} ===
==== Option 1: Mottingham ====
Take the train from ''Charing Cross Station'' (Zone 1) to ''Mottingham Station'' (Zone 4). It passes through ''Waterloo East'' (Zone 1), ''London Bridge'' (Zone 1), ''New Cross'' (Zone 2) and ''Lewisham'' (Zone 2) stations on its way to ''Dartford'' or ''Gillingham''. Alternatively, take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich, and from there, the 161 bus to Mottingham. When you come out of the train station, walk 100m south along Court Road to the intersection with Sidcup Road (A20). At the traffic lights turn left, where you will see a Shell petrol station.<br/ >
The best ride to accept from Mottingham is one that brings you directly into the South-East along the M20 and past the M20/M25 junction, most likely to the [[Maidstone Services]]. Many drivers have said that many hitch-hikers happen to stand and hitch at the M20/M25 junction, but the police might be more likely to pick you up.
Cost of public transport: £2.80 (off-peak) from zone 1. (Mottingham train station doesn'''t have barriers...)<br/ > NOTE:''' The most classic method departing London in the direction of continental Europe begins in Mottingham. Most traffic is local, thus it is best to ask people whether they are going onto the M25 ring road. If yes, they will passby the BP @ Swanley as described in option 2. The next major service station after Swanley is after the M25 called Maidstone Services on the M20 Junction 8; be sure to find a ride that exits at junction 8 as the main exit for the town of Maidstone is junction 7. This is the last major service station located before Dover and it is recommended to find a ride directly onto the train or ferry from here. "I have hitched across the channel many times from Maidstone, with waits ranging from 30 seconds to as long as 6 hours."
==== Option 2: BP petrol station on Swanley Bypass (A20) ====
Take a train from ''London Victoria'' to ''Swanley''. Some trains will go directly there, otherwise change at Bromley South. (There is also a direct train from St. Pancras to Swanley, but it cost £8.80 (peak) in Nov 2015, so might as well just get a megabus if you're going to pay that much). From the station, cross the tracks with the pedestrian bridge to Everest Place, turn right on St. Mary's Rd to the roundabout at London Road. From here, turn left (north) along London Road/ Maidstone Road for 2.6kms. Here you'll find a hole in the fence on the left leading to a BP petrol station with a McD. It's a longer walk than to the Texaco mentioned below but managed to get a lift there in 15 minutes at 22:00 asking people (September 2013). It seemed most traffic was M20/M25, but might of been the time of night. This is perfect for getting to Maidstone.<br/ >
==== Option 3: Texaco petrol station, Swanley ====
==== Option 4: Motorway service station Clackett Lane (M25) ====
1. Take the train from ''London Bridge'' to ''Oxted''. Walk southeast along Station Road to Westerham Road (A25). Turn left (east) and walk 3.5km till the junction with Clackett Lane. Turn left here and walk 1.6km along Clackett Lane to the entrance to the service station (heading East) just after you pass over the M25 motorway bridge.
2. Take the train from ''Victoria'' to ''Bromley South''. Then take bus 246 south in the direction of Westerham Green and get off at ''Pilgrims Way''. Walk west along Pilgrims Way and then Pilgrims Lane for ≈1.4km until you reach Clackett Lane. Turn left (south) and walk for ≈1km until you reach the entrance to the service station heading East (before crossing over the motorway bridge).
=== Southeast towards [[South East England|The South East]], [[Hastings]], [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]] A21 ===
==== Option 1: M40 Junction 1 ====
Take a Piccadilly or Metropolitan Line to ''Uxbridge'' (Zone 6). Exit the station onto High Street and turn right. Walk until you reach Harefield Road - turn left there, and then right at the next big roundabout. From there follow signs to M40 - you will eventually get to junction 1 slip road, and you can hitch-hike from there (there's also a nice spot at the traffic lights). You might need to cross parts of the road where vehicle will already be flying at motorway speeds - stay safe!!!
Confirm with the driver that he is going straight onto the M40, and does not turn onto M25 (London Orbital). Also beware that Junction 2 is not very easy to hitch-hike on (see M40 article).<br/ >
==== Option 2: A40 Junction (Hangar Lane) ====
=== North towards [[Luton]], [[Milton Keynes]], ('''''[[East Midlands|The East Midlands]]'''''), [[Northampton]], [[Leicester]], [[Derby]], [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]], [[Leeds]] {{Mgb|1}} ===
==== Option 1: Motorway service station London Gateway ====
==== Option 2: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51.572780,+-0.230950&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Staples Corner] ====
Important : If you are getting a lift from here, ensure that the driver is driving to at least the next service station (Toddington), which is approximately 50-60 miles from this spot.
Moat Mount Park bus stop on A1. Buses 292, 384, 606 tops there. After 5 km there is a Mimms Service petrol station / rest stop
Cost of public transport: xxx
=== Northwest towards [[Cambridge]], [[London Stansted]], [[Norwich]], [[East of England|The East]], East Coast {{Mgb|11}} ===
=== Southwest towards [[South West England|The South West]], [[Basingstoke]], [[Salisbury]], [[Southampton]], [[Porstmouth]], [[South West England|Dorset]], [[Poole|Bournemouth]] {{Mgb|3}} ===
==== Option 1: Lay-by on A316 near Kempton Park ====
Take the train from ''London Waterloo'' in the direction of Shepperton and exit at ''Kempton Park'' station. Exit the station (do not go on the footbridge), cross the racecourse car park and turn right into Park Road, which goes into the slip road coming off A316. When you reach the A316 itself, walk on the pavement in the opposite direction to the traffic. You will immediately see a lay-by (chances are some lorries will be parked there). You can hitch from there. The position is not perfect, as the road is going downhill, and the traffic is traveling very fast (50-70mph).<br/ >
==== Option 2: A316 Junction with A312 ====
Take the train on the same line as above, and get off at ''Fulwell''. Walk south on Wellington Road, and then turn right onto Park Road. Follow this road as it joins the A312 for about 1.5 km in total. Just below the A316 bridge, which you will see ahead of you as you follow the A312, there is a roundabout. The first left turn on this roundabout is an on-ramp for the A316. There is a bus stop and a pedestrian crossing here, and traffic is going uphill, and so is quite slow. One user waited here for about 30 minutes with a sign saying "M3".
Cost of public transport: xxx
=== Southwest towards [[Woking]], [[Guildford]], [[Porstmouth]], [[Worthing]] A3/{{agb|3}}, & A24 ===
=== South towards [[Brighton]] {{Mgb|23}} ===
Take a train from ''Victoria'', ''Clapham Junction'', or ''London Bridge'' station to ''East Croyden'' (zone 6). From here, take a train to ''Coulsdon South''. Turn left out of the station on Brighton Road and walk 600m to the roundabout. Nearly all the traffic goes to the M23 from here.
=== East towards [[East of England|The East]], [[East of England|Essex]], [[Chelmsford]], [[Colchester]], [[Ipswich]], [[Southend-on-Sea]] A/12 ===
Take Hammersmith & City Line or District Line to ''Bow Road'' (Zone 2). Walk east for ≈700m along the Bow Road to the roundabout junction with the A12. There are traffic lights here, and a McDonalds across the road. Hitch on the slip road heading north on the A12. You can get lifts from here to Ipswich or Colchester. I waited 20 minutes. It was OK. There is plenty of room for people to stop as there is a bus stop nearby.
== Airports ==
Paid transport to and from airports can be expensive. Hitching can be a good alternative. The exits to the airports can also be good places to get lifts to other places. For example, if you get stuck on the western part of the M25, try to get to Heathrow, from there people are going all over the country. If you are coming from Brighton, and trying to get around London, you may get a ride quicker to where you want to go if you get dropped at Gatwick Airport than at Pease Pottage services.
== Transiting Greater London ==
Since nearly all the motorway networks lead towards London, you probably might have to go through that urban area somehow to reach your destination. The M25 is the ring motorway that surrounds the city and connects with every possible motorway network in all directions. It's recommended to find a lift past London as it's somewhat hard to find somebody going off the M25 in your direction from any of the service stations on the M25. Be careful: there are only 3 service stations, and the entire western section has none at all. It may also be possible to head around the M25 from junction to junction. However, the only problem is that a few of the junctions are really bad in the south, and you can get really stuck as a large part of the traffic is only going round the ring a short distance. If if you do get stuck, try making a sign M25 east or west. So consider waiting for a ride that actually takes you to the road you want to be on, rather than just stopping somewhere at random on the M25.
=== South Mimms Services ===
South Mimms services are in Potters Bar in the northeast of London and are actually just off the M25 at the junction of the A1(M). For some reason, although it's a big services, you can get stuck here for hours. One option, as ever, is to ask people where they're headed... but there are so many directions possible that it could take a long time to find someone headed your way. Standing at the exit of the services is unlikely to work, for whatever reason. Several reports of hours of waiting here mean that you probably need to try something else. If you're going towards the west, you can stand at the ridiculous entrance to the west slip road onto the M25. Although insane, you should be able to get a fast ride out. Have a big sign and someone should be able to at least take you further down the M25 to a better junction, or directly to where you're going, be it to the west or down to Sussex. Any information on going east?
=== Clacket Lane Services ===
Clackett Lane services are located in the south of London and are possibly the best place to get lifts on the M25. There is a bridge here to cross from one side to the other, which can be useful to know if, for example, you are trying to hitch from the M4 to Brighton but get a lift with someone who is going to Dover.
