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London

14,754 bytes added, 11:50, 6 August 2023
Southeast towards The South East, Maidstone, Folkestone (Channel Tunnel), Dover (Ferries to Europe) {{Mgb|20}}: Added extra possible spo.
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{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
{{Infobox Location
|country = England
|pop = 8.623 million (2015)
|motorways = {{Mgb|1}} {{Mgb|11}} {{Mgb|2}} {{Mgb|20}} {{Mgb|23}} {{Mgb|25}} {{Mgb|3}} {{Mgb|4}}
|map = <map lat='51.500152' lng='-0.126236' zoom='11' view='3'/>
}}
'''London''' is the capital of [[England]] and the [[United Kingdom]].It's worth knowing that London is HUGE (third biggest city in Europe).
 == Greater London ==This region is a part of the [[East of England]] and accessible through the motorways M1/A1 and M11. These regions are part of the [[London]] commuter belt and include in part or totally the following counties: '''Bedfordshire:''' [[Luton]] (London Luton Airport) '''Cambridgeshire:''' [[Cambridge]], [[Peterborough]] '''Essex:''' [[Colchester]], [[Southend-on-Sea]] '''Hertfordshire:''' [[Stevanage]], [[Bishop's Stortford]] / [[London Stansted]] (Airport)  ==Hitching OutHitchhiking in ==* London has a motorway ring-road, the [[httpM25 (GB)|M25]]. '''Get dropped off on or near the M25 and use the public transport to get wherever you need.''' If you are coming from the west and your driver is heading south on the M25, ask to be dropped off at the first junction on the M25:Heathrow Terminal 5. Get off at the roundabout at the end of the motorway spur and walk to the terminal building. The Piccadilly Line Underground starts here. If they are heading north, see the description for getting to Uxbridge Underground station below.<br/ >If you are coming from the southeast on the M20, ask to be dropped off at the A20/M20/wwwM25 roundabout. From here you can take the B2173 road 2km to Swanley train station.hitchbaseAlternatively, if they are heading further north, get dropped off at the M25/A12 junction and walk ≈3km west to Harold Wood station.com<br/ >If you're coming from the north and your driver is heading towards the M4/ergebnisseM3 direction, try to persuade them to do a slight detour off the M25 to junction 1 of the M40 (roundabout with A40).php?LANGFrom there, it's a ≈2km walk to Uxbridge Underground station. Otherwise, get off at the last services (Toddington) before the M25 and look for a lift going inside the ring road.<br/ > '''Hitch into London from the last services on your motorway before the M25 (the driver will usually know which one this is).''' Then try to find a ride that bring you close enough to your destination. Check "public transport" for navigating the system efficiently and cheaply. See the transiting around the M25 section below if you just want to bypass London.  =eng&abfrage%5Bstartort%5D=444 Hitchbase] has some information about hitchhiking Hitchhiking out of London==
Hitchhiking out of London is pretty tricky, but not impossible - the big problem is getting onto a motorway is a bit of a challenge, once you're on the motorway, stick to the petrol stations, hitching entrance ramp to entrance ramp is quite difficult, especially in the big cities.
===How to get onto the M4 Motorway===
* '''Where to''': [[The West]], [[The South West]], [[Bristol]], [[Devon]], [[Cornwall]]
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to Zone 3 - approximately 3 UKP from Zone 1.
* '''Last verified''': March 2006
* === West towards [[Reading]], [[Swindon]], ([[South West England|The South-West]]), [[Bristol]], [[South West England|Devon]], [[South West England|Cornwall]] [[South Wales]] {{Mgb|4}} === When hitching West out of London and onto the M4, to try to avoid accepting a ride to anywhere before Reading Central. A few of the earlier junctions are hitchhiking nightmare spots - junction 8,9 for Maidenhead and 10 for Reading East are two of the worst junctions for hitchhiking in this area of the country because of the M4 then turning into another motorway for a few miles, thus taking you well off your route. Reading Services is great though, and well worth encouraging your driver to take you the extra few miles to.  '''DirectionsOption 1''':M4 Motorway Junction 1 (Chiswick Roundabout)Get A. Take the District Line Underground to ''Gunnersbury'' (zone 3) or train to ''Kew Bridge''. (Alternatively, the Overground at ''South Acton'' doesn't have barriers, but is a kilometer further away.) Both stations are on the Chiswick High Road (A315 - one west and one east of the roundabout) along which you walk 500m to Junction 1 of the M4 where you will see the Esso petrol station that is on the corner of the slip road onto the motorway heading west. There is a bus lay-by nearby with a sign saying M4 west. B. Take bus H91 from ''Hammersmith Bus station '' in the direction of Hounslow West and get off at ''Chiswick Park Roundabout/Gunnersbury'', and you are already at the bus lay- by hitching point. Cost of public transport: £2.80 (off peak) from Zone 1. (Bus fare £1.50) '''Option 2''': A4 leading to M4 (or M3) Heading for [[South West England|Cornwall]], it is much easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 in [[Bristol]] than trying to hitch the M3 through [[South West England|Dorset]]. 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 find stand. The advantage of this spot is that all the traffic must stop here frequently for the entrance lights and much of it is going to either of the motorways M4 - its about . (It's also cheaper to get to).  Cost of public transport: £2.40 (off peak) from Zone 1. '''Option 3''': Motorway service station Heston Take Piccadilly Line Underground westbound and get off at ''Hounslow West'' (zone 5 miles ). Turn right from the station exit and walk 800m west along Bath Road to just past Henleys roundabout where there is a BP petrol station. Right at the actual entrance exit of the petrol station is a footpath heading north. Walk ≈650m and where it splits, turn right 20 metres until you reach Armytage Rd. Turn left onto this road and continue north for another ≈200m, cross over Cranford Lane and then continue north again for another ≈350m along Phoenix Way until it bends to the M4left. Just past the bend, you will see a short path on the right through the bushes/trees onto Heston service station.It's not an overly busy services but enough traffic to justify getting out here and cutting out all the local traffic in the centre. Use a sign as there is a lot of local traffic and also traffic heading onto the M25 both south and north. Cost of public transport: £3.10 (off peak) from Zone 1  === 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 can come out of the train station, walk 100m south along Court Road to the main road for intersection with Sidcup Road (A20). At the traffic lights turn left, where you will see a mile and theres an Esso Shell petrol station .<br/ > Cost of public transport: train to Mottingham was £5.  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 corner next M20 Junction 8; be sure to find a bridge with ride that exits at junction 8 as the main london traffic running above you, exit for the town of Maidstone is junction 7. This is the last major service station located before Dover and you can stand in it is recommended to find a layby nearby 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) The easiest way to get here is to take a sign saying M4 westtrain to Sidcup, then take the 233 city bus towards Swanley and someone get off at Old Maidstone Road. The service station will pick be about two minutes' walk down and across the road. There is a gate in the fence, though it may be closed in which case you up'll have to jump the fence. Another way to get here is to take a train from ''London Victoria'' to ''Swanley''. Some trains will go directly there, otherwise change at Bromley South. Gunnersbury tube (There is also convenienta 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 the service station behind a fence on the left. 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/ > This service station has a BP petrol station and a McDonald's. 
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.
Heading for Cornwall'''Option 3''': Texaco petrol station, its much easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 than trying to hitch the M3.Swanley
===How Same directions as for Option 2 above, but this time, walk into town from the station, and head to get onto the London Road going south towards M20 Motorway (South East)===* . On the way there is a Texaco petrol station that seems quite busy. Further down 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. 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'Where t pass the service station. If you do get a ride just to''': [[Dover]]the town of Maidstone, [[The Channel Tunnel]]there is a good lay-by for hitchhiking on the roundabout that leads to the on ramp to the M20, [[France]]* but you'''Cost of public transport''': One ticket 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 Zone 1 (approximately 2 UKP from Zone 1), one train ticket (approximately 3the service station.10 UKP) * '''Last verified''': October 2007
<map lat='51.43983124736507' lng='0.0528717041015625' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' />Cost of Public Transport: xxx
* '''DirectionsOption 4'''Get the Underground to London Bridge Station and get the commuter train to a : Motorway service station called Mottingham - this is very close to the entrance to the M20 to Dover, head for Great Sidcup road and around 800 yards further down the road is a set of traffic lights Clackett Lane (corner of Sydcup Road and Court RoadM25), and you can hold a sign saying Dover here and try to get the cars stopped at the lights to let you jump in. You can also stand by Sydcup road at the Shell Gas Station entrance. Remember that the Shell Gas Station is the only place that a car can pull aside before the highway, it is therefore flaw to try to walk further down Sydcup.
The A. Take the train to Mottingham (zone 4) depart from Charing Cross Station (downtown zone 1) through Waterloo(zone 1), ''London Bridge '' to ''Oxted''. Walk southeast along Station Road to Westerham Road (zone 1A25), New Cross . Turn left (zone 2east) and Lewisham (zone 2) Stations on its way to Dartford and Gillinghamwalk 3. Mottingham Station (as well as 5km till the previous station of Lee in zone 3) does not have a check-in/check-out gate, which means that it is better not to use a Oyster Card when going to that station as you won't have the chance to 'touch out' junction with Clackett Lane. Turn left here and be charged consequentlywalk 1. Therefore, it is also possible 6km along Clackett Lane to simply buy a ticket the entrance to the previous service station in zone 3 (Hither Green or Leeheading East) and bring the coast of the ticket beneath just after you pass over the 3 pounds. The distance between each stations is no longer than 5 minutesM25 motorway bridge.
The best ride B. Take the train from ''Victoria'' to accept from Mottingham is one that brings you directly into the ''Bromley South-East along ''. Then take bus 246 south in the M20 direction of Westerham Green and past the M20-M25 jonction, most likely to the [[Maidstone Services]]get off at ''Pilgrims Way''. Many drivers said that many hitch-hikers happens to stand Walk west along Pilgrims Way and hitch at the jonction, but the police might be more likely to pick then Pilgrims Lane for ≈1.4km until you upreach Clackett Lane. There is also a BP Gas Station Services Turn left (Swanley Servicessouth) and walk for ≈1km until you reach the entrance to the service station heading East (before crossing over the M25 junction but the cars still goes in every direction from there and catching a ride might reveal more difficultmotorway bridge).
===How to get onto the M40 Motorway (via Hillingdon)===* '''Where to''': West Midlands: [[Oxford]], [[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]] * '''Cost of public transport'''Public Transport: One ticket to zone 6You can reach London Bridge by overground from a station without barriers and skip the fare.* '''Last verified''': December 2007
<map lat='51Option 5: (Experimental) : Sun in the Sands roundabout, direct onto the A2 to Dover.55322' lng='-0Jass passed here the other day and saw what seems to be an ideal spot with a lot of space for vehicles to pull over on the slip road onto the motorway.4508' zoom='17' view='0' float='right' Take the overline to Blackheath from London Bridge. Follow Montpellier Road past the large Blackheart meadows/>park then up Shooters Hill Road till you get to the roundabout.
*'''Directions''':M40 is different from other motorways originating from London=== Southeast towards [[South East England|The South East]], as it starts quite close to M25 and is a continuation of the dual-carriageway A40.[[Hastings]], [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]] A21 ===
A40 has a number of entrances with heavy traffic, but the one I used was in Hillingdon.As you exit the tube station and go to the end of walkway, turn left and walk until you reach big traffic light-controlled crossroads of Long Lane and Western Avenue (NOT the A40 Western Avenue). Cross the road, then turn right and continue to the roundabout, whose primary exit is the slip-road to A40. Stand just after the beginning of the hatched area - this is a suitable place for the car to stop. The area is also well-lit at night, which makes it a perfect place to hitch.It is advisable to have a sign saying "M40 (N)", "Oxford" or something similar, as a lot of traffic uses M40 just until junction 1a, to go on M25.Add info pls
===How to get onto the M1 MotorwayNorthwest towards [[Oxford]], [[High Wycombe]], [[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]], [[North Wales]] {{Mgb|40}} ===* '''Where to''': The North* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 5. * '''Last verified''': March 2007
*'''Directions''':It [[M40 (GB)|M40]] is possible to walk different from other motorways originating from Edgware tube (Northern Line) to London Gateway Services on the M1. There are a few different ways to walk, but the simplest is: Turn right out of the station onto Station Road. Follow the road along, as it turns into Hale Lane, keep going, then turn left onto selvage lane keep going, you will go over a bridge over the M1, then come starts quite close to M25 as a big roundabout, Apex corner. Go down into the subway under the roundabout, and come out on the A1 (barnet way), just by the petrol station. Turn left just behind continuation of the petrol station onto Ellesmere ave, and keep walking until you come to a road on your left with a big sign telling you not to go down there. Walk down it and you come to london gateway services.[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Edgware,+Station+Rd,+Edgware,+Greater+London,+United+Kingdom&daddr=Ellesmere+ave&sll=51.618975,-0.26532&sspn=0.014895,0.039396&ie=UTF8&ll=51.618976,dual-0carriageway A40.265388&spn=0.014895,0.039396&z=15&om=1 Google map of directions]
Also [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51.572780,+-0.230950&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om='''Option 1 Staples Corner]. Minimal walking. For public transport, enter Staples Corner in TFL's [http''://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en Journey Planner]. This worked successfully for [[User:System.Exception]] July 2007.M40 Junction 1
Another option is Take a Piccadilly or Metropolitan Line to take ''Uxbridge'' (Zone 6). Exit the tube to Brent Crossstation onto High Street and turn right. From there Walk until you follow the North Circular reach Harefield Road westwards for about 1km- turn left there, and then right at the next big roundabout. From there follow signs to M40 - you will eventually get to the bottom of the M1 (don't get confused with the A1 which also passes nearby, although if this junction 1 slip road is more convenient for where you want to go, and you can also hitch -hike from here). After passing the shopping centre, you should see the M1. It is possible to hitch there (there's also a nice spot at the first entrance you see, which is the traffic coming off the Westbound North Circularlights). However, it tends You might need to go slightly quicker if you walk 2 minutes more around cross parts of the roundabout. you'll see a railway bridge, go under it and there is a bus stop beside a car repair place. It doesn't look like such a great place, but it works quite well if you have a sign. Certainly it's better than the entrance to the M1 used by traffic going eastbound on the North Circular, which has a big camera pointing right road where vehicle will already be flying at where you would stand.motorway speeds - stay safe!!!
Brent Cross tube has barriersConfirm with the driver that he is going straight onto the M40, but they are often left open, so if you can get in without paying, you have a good chance of and does not turn onto M25 (London Orbital). Also beware that Junction 2 is not having problems very easy to hitch-hike on the way out(see M40 article).
==Airports=='''Option 2''': A40 Junction (Hangar Lane) Paid transport Take the Central Line tube (West Ruislip branch) to ''Hangar Lane'' (zone 3). As you exit into the main hall of the tube station, have a look at the local area map and find the exit for the westbound A40 slip road. Keep walking along the slip road, and then A40. There are two good places to hitch from airports can be expensive: 1. A bus stop just past the junction with Lynwood Rd. Hitching can be It has a long lay-by, which is a good alternativeplace to hitch from as long as there's nothing parked there. Legally, it's a "non-stopping except buses" lay-by. 2. The exits other place is half a mile further on, a little lay-by with no restrictions. Its good spot and has an advantage of being open to the airports entire A40 (the Lynwood Rd bus stop has a separation between the incoming slip road and the main carriageway, so you can also only be picked up by traffic emerging from North Circular Road, or Lynwood Road). '''Option 3''': A40 Junction (Hillingdon) Take the Piccadilly or Metropolitan Line tube to ''Hillingdon'' (zone 6). As you exit the tube station and go to the end of walkway, turn right and walk until you reach the big traffic light-controlled crossroads of 'Long Lane' and 'Western Avenue' (NOT the A40 Western Avenue). Cross the road, then turn right and continue to the roundabout, whose primary exit is the slip-road to A40. Stand on the grass next to of the hatched area - the hatched area is a good places and legal place for a vehicle to stop. The area is also well-lit which makes it a perfect place to hitch at night.It is advisable to have a sign saying "Oxford" or something, as a lot of traffic leaves [[M40 (GB)|M40]] at junction 1a to continue on [[M25 (GB)|M25]].There is also an Oxford Tube coach stop in Western Avenue/Freezeland Way nearby. If you happen to get really stuck (which I think you won't - I waited only about 12 minutes for a ride on an evening during a post-Christmas season) and only need to get to Oxford, this might be an alternative.<br/ > If your driver is going to Oxford or somewhere nearby then request to be dropped off at the 'Welcome Break' services just before Wheatley, junction 8A (just a km after junction 8). This is a busy services and easy to find lifts all over the country.  === 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 Take Northern Line tube to other placesEdgware, and then walk 2.5km: Turn right out of the station onto 'Station Road'. For exampleFollow the road along, it turns into 'Hale Lane', keep going, then turn left onto 'Selvage Lane' and keep going, if you get stuck will then go over a bridge over the M1 and come to a big roundabout 'Apex Corner'. Go down into the subway under the roundabout, and come out on the western part A1 ('Barnet Way), just by the petrol station. Turn left just behind the petrol station onto 'Ellesmere Avenue', this road runs parallel to the high way. Keep walking until you come to a road on your left with a big sign with three symbols, one of which would translate as 'no access to anyone except authorised vehicles' and clearly goes under the M25motorway. Walk down it and you come to [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/51.6136474,-0.2756824/51.6331801,-0.267389/@51.6234134,-0.28321,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m24!4m23!1m20!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2707532!2d51.6182613!3s0x487616bd30b5031d:0x8018c6fc46ad7c0a!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2601509!2d51.6168185!3s0x487616bf7b9c6b11:0x36592f73c8bb24ff!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2554027!2d51.6210173!3s0x487616ea6c84b413:0x4e9825452a0ab13a!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2661023!2d51.6315945!3s0x4876168dfd4886a1:0x9337096bd5773568!1m0!3e2?hl=en London Gateway Services]. Cost of public transport: £3.10 (off peak) from zone 1. '''Option 2''': [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51.572780, try +-0.230950&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Staples Corner] Take Northern Line tube to ''Brent Cross'' (zone 3). From there you follow the 'North Circular Road' westwards for about 1km (along Tilling Road), and you get to Heathrowthe bottom of the M1 (don't get confused with the A1 which also passes nearby, although if this road is more convenient for your destination, you can also hitch from here). After passing the shopping centre, you should see the M1. It is possible to hitch at the first entrance you see, which is the traffic coming off the 'Westbound North Circular' (there people are going all over is a bus stop just after the slip road joins the North Circular, and a small lay-by further on - both adjacent to the lane for M1). You can also hitch at the traffic lights (see spot on the map to the right) or on the hard shoulder on the countryon-ramp that slopes up right after those traffic lights.  Important : If you are coming getting a lift from Brightonhere, ensure that the driver is driving to at least the next service station (Toddington), which is approximately 50-60 miles from this spot.  Cost of public transport: xxx [[File:Staples_corner_m1.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Hitching Spot at Staples Corner for M1]] - This place seems to work really well. I get the bus to brent cross and trying then its about a 10 min walk to this spot. However, it tends to get go slightly quicker if you walk 2 minutes more around Londonthe roundabout ('''Staples Corner ''West'' '''). You'll see a railway bridge, go under it and there is a bus stop beside a car repair place (the bus stop itself is near Adrian Avenue and is by the ''Western'' side of the railway bridge). It doesn't look like such a great place, but it works quite well if you have a sign.  - This is a very good place, however one user recommends right next to the car repair center ( on the right of it )there is entrance for the M1 Motorway which is slightly going upwards before meeting the highway. You may get go up and make sure to stand atleast 100 meters away from the point where cars enter on this road from the redlight behind. Have a ride quicker sign that says M1.  - In case you are going to where Edinburgh: once you are at any of the service stations on the motorway, you want will find a lot of people going in that direction, i.e. going to go if Leeds and further. Somewhere north of Leeds, the M1 becomes the A1(M) highway; however, ensure that once you are on this highway going in the direction of Newcastle, and then Edinburgh, you do not get dropped out at the last petrol station before Newcastle. Get out at Gatwick Airport the 2nd, 3rd or 4th last petrol station before Newcastle, but not the last one. The second last one has a huge McD and more long-distance traffic than the last one, which has a Burger King and Costa and is just a small petrol station with mostly local traffic from Newcastle coming for petrol. Ensure whoever is taking you drops you off only at Pease Pottage servicesa petrol station and not on a country road. After Newcastle, there is only one major/decent petrol station in a town called Alnwick (pronounced 'Annick'). Try finding someone who is going to Edinburgh directly from one of the earlier good McD stations. A better alternative route to Edinburgh is to take the M1, M6, A74(M), and A707; this way, you won't have to bother about McD and Newcastle.  === North towards, [[Stevanage]], [[Peterborough]], [[East Midlands]], [[East of England|The East]], [[Newcastle]], [[North East England|The North East]] {{agb|1}} === 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 GatwickStansted]], [[Norwich]], [[East of England|The East]], East Coast {{Mgb|11}} === Take the Central Line tube to ''Redbridge'' (zone 4). Once at the station, turn right and use the subways to cross under the A406. Once on the slip road for the A406 (extending Eastern Avenue), there is a great place for vehicles to pull over. The spot is located just next to the bridge over a canal or river. The traffic will not be coming from A406, but it really is a good place to hitch a ride. It is strongly recommended that you bring a M11 sign with you.  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.  * === 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 StanstedWaterloo'' 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) 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. '''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 [[Porstmouth]], [[Worthing]]A3/{{agb|3}}, & A24 ===* West Lodge bus stop on A3. Buses 85, 265 and 969 stops there. There is also Co-op Roehampton Vale petrol station Cost of public transport: xxx  === South towards [[Brighton]] {{Mgb|23}} === Take a train from ''Victoria'', ''Clapham Junction'', or ''London HeathrowBridge'' 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. Cost of public transport: £3.80 (off-peak) (£2.70 off-peak from Clapham Junction)  === East towards [[East of England|The East]], [[East of England|Essex]], [[Chelmsford]], [[Colchester]], [[Ipswich]], [[Southend-on-Sea]]A/12 ===
== Transiting in Greater London ==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.
Since nearly all the highway networks leads towards London you probably might have to go through that urban area somehow to reach your destination. The M25 is the ring highway that surrounds the metropole and connects with every possible highway network in destination Cost of the country. It is then better to be left at some very specific Motorway Services to manage to catch a ride furtherpublic transport: £2.40 (off-peak from Zone 1)
Be careful: there are only 3 service stations on the M25, and on the whole western part there are none at all. If you get dropped at a junction rather than at services you can get really stuck, as a large part of the traffic is only going round the road a short way. If it is not possible to get a lift to one of the services, consider waiting for a ride that takes you actually to the road you want to be on, rather than just stopping somewhere random on the M25.
===Clacket Lane Services=Airports ==
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 who4s going to Dover.'''[[London Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]]''' / '''[[London Stansted|London Stansted]]''' / '''[[London Heathrow|London Heathrow]]''' / '''[[Luton|London Luton]]'''
==Sleep==There's several options when it comes Paid transport to finding and from airports can be expensive. Hitching can be a place 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 sleepHeathrow, from there people are going all over the country. If the worst prevails you are coming from Brighton, and trying to get around London, you're without may get a place, ride quicker to where you're still not too bad off. Central London is relatively safe and want to go if you probably wont be bothered sleeping outsideget dropped at Gatwick Airport than at Pease Pottage services.
===Squatting===
London has such an abundance of [[squat]]s that you shouldn't ever have to pay for accomodation. Don't worry about the connotation associated with squats. They generally aren't crackhouses or scabie infested punk hangouts. People of all types squat in London and their homes are usually very nice. They are especially helpful if you're planning to stick around for a while, but can also be great if you're just passing through. [[User:Zac Stewart|Zac]]<small><sup>[[User talk:Zac Stewart|talk]]</sup></small> ended up with a squat to sleep in on his first night, and in [[Mayfair]] of all places!
'''[http://www.rampart.co.nr/ rampART]''' is a squatted social center in [[Whitechapel]]. This place isn't a residential squat, but they have a "crash room" for visitors. They make it clear that it is not a tourist hostel so you needn't bother them unless you are interested in getting involved with their project for some time while you're there. To stay, you need to contact them well ahead of time. If nothing else, it's a great place to meet squatters and find a place to stay. They also have free internet! The address is 15-17 Rampart Street, == Transiting Greater London, E1 2LA.==
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 '''[http://wwwM25 is the ring motorway that surrounds the city and connects with every possible motorway network in all directions.squatter.org.uk/ Advisory Service for Squatters]It''' is more helpful for people that are planning s recommended to find a place lift past London as it's somewhat hard to livefind 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, but and the entire western section has none at all. It may also be able possible to help you find a place head around the M25 from junction to crashjunction. It's located at However, the only problem is that a few of the Freedom Bookstore junctions are really bad in Whitechapel the south, and you can get really stuck as a large part of the traffic is another great place to meet squatters as well as only going round the ring a short distance. If if you do get online stuck, try making a sign M25 east or west. So consider waiting for free. The address is Angel Alleya ride that actually takes you to the road you want to be on, 84b Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, England, E1 7QX. (Telrather than just stopping somewhere at random on the M25. 020-32160099)
==Eat= South Mimms Services ===Cheap and free food abounds in London.
===Free===Plenty South Mimms services are in Potters Bar in the northeast of places throw out food London and are actually just off the M25 at closing time. Always check the bags out front junction of the A1(M). For some reason, although it'''Pret s a Mangers''' and '''Benjy's''' at 5-7pm. If you feel up to itbig services, you can even go inside when get stuck here for hours. One option, as ever, is to ask people where they 're headed... but there are closing shop and explain 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 homeless and pick out all going towards the food west, you want instead of getting it off can stand at the ridiculous entrance to the west slip road onto the sidewalkM25. Feel no shameAlthough 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 helping going, be it to curb wastefulness!the west or down to Sussex.
The '''Coffee Republic''' on Great Marlborough Street near the Oxford Circle and Carnaby Street is reported to put out garbage bags with totally normal food--boiled potatoes, sandwiches, etc. every eveing around 8pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends.=== Clacket Lane Services ===
===Cheap===If you're going to self cater, stick to '''Sainsbury's''' and '''Tesco''' rather than Clackett Lane services are located in the convenient Off-Licenses for better prices. If you are a bit out south of Central London, you might as well look for '''Lidl''', anyhow with a decent and wise grocery, you can are possibly the best place to get your grocery for nearly a week for about 10 pounds at any of lifts on the mentioned supermarketM25. If you get tired of peanut butter sandwiches or want There is a bridge here to cross from one side to fill up for the weekendother, try one of the MANY £5 all-you-which can-eat '''Thai Buffets'''. Go earlybe useful to know if, they get more expensive in the evening. While downtownfor example, you can also are trying to hitch from the M4 to Brighton but get a 6inches sandwich at '''Subway''' for 2 pounds. Bear in mind anyway that food in the supermarket lift with someone who is margined higher than in any other shop located in the countrysidegoing to Dover.
==Public Transport==Public transport Take the train from ''Victoria'' to ''Bromley South''. Then take bus 246 ([http://www.tfllondonbusroutes.govnet/times/246Sum.uk/ Transport for Londonhtm timetable here]) is ridiculously expensive south in London the direction of Westerham Green and there are plenty of ways to avoid paying get off at ''Pilgrims Way''. Walk west along Pilgrims Way and then Pilgrims Lane for it ≈1.4km until you reach Clackett Lane. Turn left (of course it's at your own risk!south). Look out and walk for ≈1km until you reach the new bendy buses, where you dont have entrance to pay the driver. As for travelcards you can buy a child one for £2 service station (at time of writingheading east), which will get you through barriers on the tube. In Continue walking along Clackett Lane for another 400m over the evenings, you can often pick them up off motorway M25 bridge to reach the floor outside stations or buy them from a tout entrance for a pound or twothe services heading west. At British Rail stations You can see where you can often buy 're going on a 'permit to travel' for 5p when map [http://www.motorwayservices.info/clacket_lane_services_m25/googlemap here]. Where it says "Clacket Wood" is the ticket office service station. There is closed, which means if you get caught you will only be charged the fare also a street view of your journey and not finedthis area on google maps.
Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch to Brighton (Westbound) or Dover (Eastbound) and also fairly good for most other directions as it's a busy station. Best thing is to stand outside the main doors into the station and ask everyone that comes out if they are going your way ("excuse me, are you by any chance going to Brighton?")
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
The best option is to get yourself a '''Oyster Card''' for London which gives you access to all public transport within London for 50% of the price. The Oyster card is basically a top-up plastic card that you get for 3 pounds (refundable when you return the card) top-up with the amount you wish and then use as a check-in/check-out to get through the gates while the money is deduced according to the distance you travelled. As an 'intelligent system' it will always calculate the lowest fare for you during the day and you can never end up paying more than a normal day ticket at the last. Bear in mind that some stations in Zone 4 and beyond does not have a check-out gate, so using the Oyster wouldn't be the best in such conditions as you will charges the maximum fare for the journey. It also means, by a priori knowing about the absence of gates, that you can try to travel to that station with a cheaper ticket (this especially counts for the trains).{{nomadwiki}}
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