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===How to get onto the M4 Motorway (West)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]'''''), [[Reading]], [[Swindon]], ('''''[[South West (England)|The South-West]]'''''), [[Bristol]], [[South West (England)|Devon]], [[South West (England)|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 the station Chiswick Park ''Gunnersbury''(District Linezone 3) or train to ''Kew Bridge'' - from there you can find . (Alternatively, the entrance to Overground at ''South Acton'' doesn't have barriers, but is a kilometer further away.) Both stations are on the motorways M4 Chiswick High Road (A315 - its about 5 miles to one west and one east of the actual entrance roundabout) along which you walk 500m to Junction 1 of the M4, but where you can walk along will see the main road for a mile and theres an Esso petrol station that is on the corner next to a bridge with of the slip road onto the main london traffic running above you, and you can stand in motorway heading west. There is a layby bus lay-by nearby with a sign saying M4 west, and someone will pick you up. Gunnersbury Underground Tube ''(District Line)'' is also convenient.
Heading for '''Cornwall''', it is much more easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 in [[Bristol]] than trying to hitch the M3 through [[South West Cost of public transport: £2.80 (Englandoff peak)|Dorset]]from Zone 1. (Bus fare £1.50)
===How to get onto the M20 Motorway (South East)===<map lat='51.43983124736507' lng='0.0528717041015625Option 2' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' />: A4 leading to M4 (or M3)
* '''Where to''': ('''''Heading for [[South East (West England)|South EastCornwall]]'''''), it is much easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 in [[MaidstoneBristol]], than trying to hitch the M3 through [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]], [[The Channel Tunnel]South West England|Dorset], [[France]] (''[[Western Europe]]'')* '''Cost of public transport''': One train ticket ''from zone 1''(approximately £3.10) * '''Last verified''': October 2007
* '''Directions'''Get the Take District Line Underground to London Bridge Station ''(Northern Line - Jubilee Line)'' and get the commuter train to a station called Mottingham West Kensington''(direction Dartfordzone 2)'' - this is very close to . Turn right out of the entrance to the M20 to Dover - head for 'Great Sidcup Road' around 800 yards further down the road is a set of station, there are traffic lights (corner of 'Sydcup Road' 10m away. Turn right and 'Court Road'), and you can hold there is a sign saying Dover from that crossroad and try to get the cars stopped at the lights to let lay-by where you jump in. You can also stand by 'Sydcup Road' at the Shell Gas Station entrance. Remember The advantage of this spot is that all the Shell Gas Station is traffic must stop here frequently for the only place that a car can pull aside before the highway, lights and much of it is therefore flaw going to either of the motorways. (It's also cheaper to try get to walk further down 'Sydcup Road').
The train to Mottingham Cost of public transport: £2.40 (zone 4off peak) departs from Charing Cross Station (downtown zone 1) through Waterloo (zone 1), London Bridge (zone Zone 1), New Cross (zone 2) and Lewisham (zone 2) stations on its way to Dartford and Gillingham. Mottingham Station (as well as 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' and be charged consequently. Therefore, it is also possible to simply buy a ticket to the previous station in zone 3 (Hither Green or Lee) and bring the cost of the ticket beneath the 3 pounds. The distance between each stations is no longer than 5 minutes.
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 said that many hitch-hikers happens to stand and hitch at the junction, but the police might be more likely to pick you up. '''Option 3''': Motorway service station Heston
There Take Piccadilly Line Underground westbound and get off at ''Hounslow West'' (zone 5). Turn right from the station exit and walk 800m west along Bath Road to just past Henleys roundabout where there is also a BP Gas Station Services (Swanley Services) before petrol station. Right at the M25 junction but exit of the cars still goes in every direction from there petrol station is a footpath heading north. Walk ≈650m and catching a ride might reveal difficult; although where it would not be advised to go splits, turn right 20 metres until thereyou reach Armytage Rd. Turn left onto this road and continue north for another ≈200m, someone might want want cross over Cranford Lane and then continue north again for another ≈350m along Phoenix Way until it bends to do so if he feels he needs the left. 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 change landscape ''(gathering more information needed)''justify getting out here and cutting out all the local traffic in the centre. Drivers have Use a sign as there is a lot of local traffic and also said that some people do hitch-hike at traffic heading onto the M20/M25 Interchange Roundabouts, though this sound more likely to be illegal, more information would be welcomeboth south and north. {{infoneeded|Help getting the accurate evaluation regarding this issue}}
====How to get onto M2 Motorway (South East)====* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East (England)|South East]]'''''), [[Rochester]], [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]]* '''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified''': £3.10 (off peak) from Zone 1
*'''Directions''':
Get the Underground to London Bridge Station ''(Northern Line - Jubilee Line)'' and get the commuter train to a station called Mottingham ''(direction Dartford)''
(''Note that you can hitch along the M20 and changing to the M2 in [[Maidstone]]'')
{{infoneeded | Help complete this information with the one available for the M20}}
*'''DirectionsOption 1''':{{infoneeded| Help providing the information with the one available for the M20}}Mottingham
===How Take the train from ''Charing Cross Station'' (Zone 1) to get onto ''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 M40 Motorway 161 bus to Mottingham. When you come out of the train station, walk 100m south along Court Road to the intersection with Sidcup Road (North WestA20)===. At the traffic lights turn left, where you will see a Shell petrol station.<br/ >
<map lat='51Cost of public transport: train to Mottingham was £5.55322' lng='-0.4508' zoom='17' view='0' float='right' />
* '''Where The best ride to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]''''')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 [[OxfordMaidstone Services]]. Many drivers have said that many hitch-hikers happen to stand and hitch at the M20/M25 junction, [[High Wycombe]], ('''''[[West Midlands (England)|The West Midlands]]'''''), [[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]], [[Redditch]]* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket but the police might be more likely to zone 6 (Hillingdon) or zone 3 (Hanger Lane)pick you up.* '''Last verified''': 28 December 2007 (Hillingdon), 26 January 2008 (Hanger Lane)
*'''Directions'''Cost of public transport:M40 is different £2.80 (off-peak) from other motorways originating from London, as it starts quite close to M25 as a continuation of the dual-carriageway A40zone 1. (Mottingham train station doesn't have barriers...)<br/ >
A40 has a number NOTE: The most classic method departing London in the direction of entrances with heavy continental Europe begins in Mottingham. Most trafficis 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 following 2 places train or ferry from here. "I have been successfully hitched across the channel many times from:Maidstone, with waits ranging from 30 seconds to as long as 6 hours."
- '''HillingdonOption 2''' Underground : BP petrol station on Swanley Bypass (tube station ''Piccadilly/Metropolitan Lines''A20).
As you exit the tube station and go The easiest way to get here is to take a train to Sidcup, then take the end of walkway, turn left 233 city bus towards Swanley and get off at Old Maidstone Road. The service station will be about two minutes' walk until you reach big traffic light-controlled crossroads of 'Long Lane' down and 'Western Avenue' (NOT the A40 Western Avenue). Cross across 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 There is a good and legal place for a vehicle to stop. The area is also well-lit gate in the fence, though it may be closed in which makes it a perfect place case you'll have to hitch at nightjump the fence.
It Another way to get here is advisable to have take a train from ''London Victoria'' to ''Swanley''. Some trains will go directly there, otherwise change at Bromley South. (There is also a sign saying "Oxford" or somethingdirect train from St. Pancras to Swanley, but it cost £8.80 (peak) in Nov 2015, so might as well just get a lot of traffic leaves M40 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 junction 1a 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 continue on 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/ >
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 This service station has a ride on an evening during BP petrol station and a post-Christmas season) and only need to get to Oxford, this might be an alternativeMcDonald's.
- Cost of public transport: One train ticket ''from zone 1'Hanger Lane''' Underground (Central Line, West Ruislip branchapproximately £3.50 off-peak) or take the train from Elephant & Castle in central south-east (no barriers)towards Seven Oaks for a free ride.
As you exit into the main hall of the tube '''Option 3''': Texaco petrol station, have a look at the local area map and find an exit by the Westbound A40 slip road. Once you are out of the underground, keep walking along the slip road, and then A40, and you will see 2 suitable places to hitch from.Swanley
One 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 there is a big parking space, with a greasy spoon van if you're hungry or in need of them is a bus stop just past 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't pass the junction with Lynwood Rdservice station. It has If you do get a long lay-byride just to the town of Maidstone, which there is a good place lay-by for hitchhiking on the roundabout that leads to the on ramp to hitch from as long as therethe M20, but you's nothing parked ll have to thumb a ride because thereis nowhere to ask people. Legally, it's It works with a sign saying "non-stopping except busesM20 4 miles" lay-byto get to the service station.
The other place is half a mile further on - a little lay-by with no restrictions. I (Lnx) have not personally hitched from there, but it looks like a suitable place and has an advantage Cost of being open to the entire A40 (the Lynwood Rd bus stop has a separation between the slip road and the main carriageway).Public Transport: xxx
===How to get onto the M1 Motorway (North)===* '''Where toOption 4''': ('''''[[The North (England)|The North (London)]]'''''), [[Luton]], [[Milton Keynes]], ('''''[[East Midlands Motorway service station Clackett Lane (England)|The East Midlands]]'''''M25), [[Northampton]], [[Leicester]]* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 5. * '''Last verified''': March 2007
*A. Take the train from ''London Bridge'Directions'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.
** B. Take the train from ''Victoria'Option 1'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).
It is possible to walk Cost of Public Transport: You can reach London Bridge by overground 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, it turns into 'Hale Lane', keep going, then turn left onto 'Selvage Lane' and keep going, you 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, without barriers and come out on the A1 ('Barnet Way), just by skip the petrol stationfare. Turn left just behind the petrol station onto 'Ellesmere Avenue', 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,-0.265388&spn=0.014895,0.039396&z=15&om=1 Google map of directions]
Also [httpOption 5://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51.572780(Experimental) : Sun in the Sands roundabout,+-0direct onto the A2 to Dover.230950&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Staples Corner]Jass 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. Minimal walkingTake the overline to Blackheath from London Bridge. For public transport, enter 'Staples Corner' in TFL's [http:Follow Montpellier Road past the large Blackheart meadows//journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en Journey Planner]. This worked successfully for [[User:System.Exception]] in July 2007park then up Shooters Hill Road till you get to the roundabout.
** '''Option 2'''=== Southeast towards [[South East England|The South East]], [[Hastings]], [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]] A21 ===
Another option is to take the tube to Brent Cross ''(Northern Line)''. From there you follow the 'North Circular Road' westwards for about 1km, and you get to the 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'. However, it tends to go slightly quicker if you walk 2 minutes more around 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 is better than the entrance to the M1 used by traffic going eastbound on the 'North Circular', which has a big camera pointing right at where you would stand.Add info pls
Brent Cross tube has barriers, but they are often left open, so if you can get in without paying, you have a good chance of not having problems on the way out.
*'''Directions''':''[[M40 (Same information GB)|M40]] is different from other motorways originating from London, as it starts quite close to M25 as a continuation of the M1)'' {{infoneeded| Help complete this information with the one available for the M20}}dual-carriageway A40.
Another option is to take the tube to Brent Cross ''(Northern Line)'Option 1'. From there you follow the 'North Circular Road' westwards for about 1km, and you get to the 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'. However, it tends to go slightly quicker if you walk 2 minutes more around 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 is better than the entrance to the M1 used by traffic going eastbound on the 'North Circular', which has a big camera pointing right at where you would stand.: M40 Junction 1
Brent Cross tube has barriers, but they are often 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 openthere, so if and then right at the next big roundabout. From there follow signs to M40 - you can will eventually get in without payingto junction 1 slip road, and you have can hitch-hike from there (there's also a good chance nice spot at the traffic lights). You might need to cross parts of not having problems on the way out.road where vehicle will already be flying at motorway speeds - stay safe!!!
===How to get Confirm with the driver that he is going straight onto the M40, and does not turn onto M11 Motorway M25 (North EastLondon Orbital)===* '''Where . Also beware that Junction 2 is not very easy to''': hitch-hike on ('''''[[East (Englandsee M40 article)|The East]]'''''), [[Cambridge]], [[Peterborough]], [[Norwich]], [[London Stansted]] * '''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified''': .
*'''DirectionsOption 2''':{{infoneeded| Information needed}}A40 Junction (Hangar Lane)
===How to get onto M3 Motorway Take the Central Line tube (South WestRuislip branch)===* '''Where to''': ('Hangar Lane''''[[South West (England)|The South West]]'''''zone 3). As you exit into the main hall of the tube station, [[Basingstoke]]have a look at the local area map and find the exit for the westbound A40 slip road. Keep walking along the slip road, [[Salisbury]], [[Southampton]], [[Porstmouth]], [[South West (England)|Dorset]], [[Bournemouth]]* '''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified'''and then A40. There are two good places to hitch from:
*1. A bus stop just past the junction with Lynwood Rd. It has a long lay-by, which is a good place to hitch from as long as there's nothing parked there. Legally, it''Directions''':{{infoneeded|Information needed}}s a "non-stopping except buses" lay-by.
====How 2. The 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 get onto A3/A24 Highway (South)====* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East the entire A40 (England)|The South East]]''''')the Lynwood Rd bus stop has a separation between the incoming slip road and the main carriageway, [[Woking]]so you can only be picked up by traffic emerging from North Circular Road, [[Porstmouth]], [[Guildford]], [[Worthing]]* '''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified''': or Lynwood Road).
*'''DirectionsOption 3''':{{infoneeded|Information needed}}A40 Junction (Hillingdon)
===How Take the Piccadilly or Metropolitan Line tube to get onto M23 Motorway/A22 Highway (South)===* '''Where 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''[[South East (EnglandNOT 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 and legal place for a vehicle to stop. The South East]]''''')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 [[BrightonM40 (GB)|M40]], at junction 1a to continue on [[EastbourneM25 (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'''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified''': 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''Directions''':{{infoneeded|Information needed}}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.
===How to get onto A12/A13 Highway (East)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[East (England)|The East]]'''''), [[East (England)|Essex]], [[Chelmsford]], [[Colchester]], [[Ipswich]], [[Southend-on-Sea]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':
*=== North towards [[Luton]], [[Milton Keynes]], ('''Directions''[[East Midlands|The East Midlands]]''''':), [[Northampton]], [[Leicester]], [[Derby]], [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]], [[Leeds]] {{infoneededMgb|Information needed1}}===
== Transiting 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 Greater London ==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".
Since nearly all the highway networks lead 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 further.public transport: xxx
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.
Possibly the best place to get lifts West Lodge bus stop on the M25A3. Buses 85, 265 and 969 stops there. 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.also Co-op Roehampton Vale petrol station
==Public Transport==Public Cost of public transport ([http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London]) is ridiculously expensive in London and there are plenty of ways to avoid paying for it (of course it's at your own risk!). Look out for the new bendy buses, where you don't have to pay the driver. xxx
As for travelcards you can buy a child one for £2 (at time of writing), which will get you through barriers on the tube. In the evenings, you can often pick them up off the floor outside stations or buy them from a tout for a pound or two. At British Rail stations you can often buy a 'permit to travel' for 5p when the ticket office is closed, which means if you get caught you will only be charged the fare of your journey and not fined (the penalty fare is a steep £20 at present).
An Oyster card is Take a smart train from ''Victoria'', ''Clapham Junction'', or ''London Bridge'' station to ''East Croyden'' (RFIDzone 6) card which you need . From here, take a train to touch ''Coulsdon South''. Turn left out of the station on Brighton Road and walk 600m to the reader at roundabout. Nearly all the gates/station platform/bus when you travel. It can be charged with two types of tickets: a period travelcard (one week or more), or a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) balance. As a hitch-hiker, you are most likely traffic goes to need the latter optionM23 from here.
In order to obtain an Oyster card or top it up, go to any London Underground ticket office or any ticket shop Cost of public transport: £3.80 (most likely any corner shop near an underground station will do.off-peak) It costs £3 (refundable when you return the card to any London Underground ticket office)£2. In London Underground you can also top70 off-up using special machines.peak from Clapham Junction)
An additional benefit of the Oyster card is the price capping: the system does not charge you more than you would have to pay for an equivalent day travelcard, minus 50p. For example, a peak one-day travelcard for zones 1-4 costs £9.40. If you make a lot of journeys in a day within these zones, the system stops charging you once you've spent £8.90.
If you travel by tram, you need Take Hammersmith & City Line or District Line to ''touch inBow Road'' on (Zone 2). Walk east for ≈700m along the Bow Road to the roundabout junction with the platformA12. There are traffic lights here, except Wimbledon station which has gatesand a McDonalds across the road. The ticket inspectors are not always present Hitch on the slip road heading north on tramsthe 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.
====Travelling by Tube or DLR====When using Oyster PAYG, you need to ''touch in'' before travel - at the gates if they are present, or at the station platform if it does not have gates (Kensington Olympia, stations north of Queen's Park and most DLR stations). At the end Cost of your journey you ''touch out'', the system calculates how much you've travelled and charges you accordinglypublic transport: £2. If you do not touch out, you get charged a "maximum cash single fare" 40 (also known as the Entry Chargeoff-peak from Zone 1), which was £5 in 2007, but is likely to increase with the introduction of zones 7,8 and 9.
You will be charged the Entry Charge if you do not ''touch out'' within 90 minutes of ''touching in'', or you enter a station and exit the same station again without touching out elsewhere.
If the station you are travelling to does not accept pay-as-you-go, it is likely that it has no ticket barriers either.'''[[London Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]]''' / '''[[London Stansted|London Stansted]]''' / '''[[London Heathrow|London Heathrow]]''' / '''[[Luton|London Luton]]'''
Most stations Paid transport to and trains within from airports can be expensive. Hitching can be a good alternative. The exits to the Greater London boundary have a penalty fare policyairports can also be good places to get lifts to other places. For example, which means if you cannot buy a tickets get stuck on the trainwestern part of the M25, unless it was impossible try to obtain a ticket prior get to travel - i.e. the ticket office was closed (or absent)Heathrow, or from there people are going all over the ticket machine was out of ordercountry. In these situations If you are coming from Brighton, and trying to get around London, you must obtain may get a "Permit ride quicker to travel" from a Permit where you want to Travel machine - go if you can just throw a 5p coin into it and get this permitdropped at Gatwick Airport than at Pease Pottage services.
===Squatting===Since nearly all the motorway networks lead towards London has such an abundance of [[squat]]s that , you shouldn't ever probably might have to pay for accomodationgo through that urban area somehow to reach your destination. Don't worry about The M25 is the ring motorway that surrounds the connotation associated city and connects with squatsevery possible motorway network in all directions. They generally arenIt's recommended to find a lift past London as it't crackhouses or scabie infested punk hangoutss somewhat hard to find somebody going off the M25 in your direction from any of the service stations on the M25. People of Be careful: there are only 3 service stations, and the entire western section has none at all types squat in London and their homes are usually very nice. They are especially helpful if you're planning It may also be possible to stick head around for the M25 from junction to junction. However, the only problem is that a whilefew of the junctions are really bad in the south, but and you can also be great get really stuck as a large part of the traffic is only going round the ring a short distance. If if you're just passing throughdo get stuck, try making a sign M25 east or west. [[User:Zac Stewart|Zac]]<small><sup>[[User talk:Zac Stewart|talk]]</sup></small> ended up with So consider waiting for a squat ride that actually takes you to the road you want to sleep in be on his first night, and in [[Mayfair]] of all places!rather than just stopping somewhere at random on the M25.
'''[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, London, E1 2LA.=== South Mimms Services ===
The 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''[http://wwwre headed.squatter.org.uk/ Advisory Service for Squatters]''' 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 more helpful unlikely to work, for people whatever reason. Several reports of hours of waiting here mean that are planning you probably need to find a place try something else. If you're going towards the west, you can stand at the ridiculous entrance to livethe west slip road onto the M25. Although insane, but may you should be able to help you find get a fast ride out. Have a place big sign and someone should be able to crash. It's located at least take you further down the Freedom Bookstore in Whitechapel and is another great place M25 to meet squatters as well as get online for free. The address is Angel Alleya better junction, 84b Whitechapel High Streetor directly to where you're going, Whitechapel, London, England, E1 7QX. (Telbe it to the west or down to Sussex. 020-32160099)
===Free===Plenty of places throw out food at closing time. Always check Clackett Lane services are located in the bags out front south of '''Pret a Mangers''' London and '''Benjy's''' at 5-7pmare possibly the best place to get lifts on the M25. If you feel up There is a bridge here to cross from one side to the other, which can be useful to itknow if, for example, you can even go inside when they are closing shop and explain that you're homeless and pick out all trying to hitch from the food you want instead of getting it off the sidewalkM4 to Brighton but get a lift with someone who is going to Dover. Feel no shame, you're helping to curb wastefulness!
The Take the train from ''Victoria'Coffee Republic'to '' on Great Marlborough Street near Bromley South''. Then take bus 246 ([http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/246Sum.htm timetable here]) south in the Oxford Circle direction of Westerham Green and Carnaby Street is reported 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). Continue walking along Clackett Lane for another 400m over the motorway M25 bridge to put out garbage bags with totally normal food--boiled potatoes, sandwiches, etcreach the entrance for the services heading west. every eveing around 8pm You can see where you're going on weekdays and 7pm a map [http://www.motorwayservices.info/clacket_lane_services_m25/googlemap here]. Where it says "Clacket Wood" is the service station. There is also a street view of this area on weekendsgoogle maps.
===Cheap===If you're going Clacket Lane is an excellent place to self cater, stick hitch to '''Sainsbury's''' Brighton (Westbound) or Dover (Eastbound) and '''Tesco''' rather than the convenient Off-Licenses also fairly good for better prices. If you are a bit out of Central London, you might most other directions as well look for '''Lidl''', '''Morrisons''', '''Netto''' or '''Asda''it's a busy station. Anyhow with a decent Best thing is to stand outside the main doors into the station and wise groceryask everyone that comes out if they are going your way ("excuse me, are you can get your grocery for nearly a week for about 10-15 pounds at by any of the mentioned supermarket with decent, fresh and healthy food ''(chance going to cookBrighton?")''. == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
If you get tired of peanut butter sandwiches or want to fill up for the weekend, try one of the MANY £5 all-you-can-eat '''Thai Buffets'''. Go early, they get more expensive in the evening. While downtown, you can also get a ''<nowiki>'</nowiki>6inches sandwich of the day<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' at '''Subway''' for 2 pounds. Bear in mind anyway that food in the supermarket is margined higher than in any other shop located in the countryside, a margin also applies to shops banded 'Express' or 'City' (Tesco - Sainsbury) compare to larger surfaces stores.{{nomadwiki}}
→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.
B. Take bus H91 from ''Hammersmith Bus station'' in the direction of Hounslow West and get off at ''Chiswick Roundabout/Gunnersbury'', and you are already at the bus lay-by hitching point.
====How to get onto A21 Highway (South East)====* '''Where to''': ('''''Southeast towards [[South East (England)|The South East]]'''''), [[HastingsMaidstone]], [[Folkestone]] ([[Channel Tunnel]]), [[Royal Tunbridge WellsDover]]* '''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified''': (Ferries to Europe) {{Mgb|20}} ===
====How to get onto A1 Highway (North)====* '''Where to''': ('''''Northwest towards [[The North (England)|The North (London)Oxford]]'''''), [[StevanageHigh Wycombe]], ('''''[[East Midlands (England)|East MidlandsWarwick]]'''''), ('''''[[East (England)|The EastBirmingham]]'''''), [[PeterboroughNorth Wales]]* '''Cost of public transport''': * '''Last verified''': {{Mgb|40}} ===
'''Option 1''': Motorway service station London Gateway Take Northern Line tube to Edgware, and then walk 2.5km: Turn right out of the station onto 'Station Road'. Follow the road along, it turns into 'Hale Lane', keep going, then turn left onto 'Selvage Lane' and keep going, you 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 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 motorway. 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,+-0.230950&ie=AirportsUTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Staples Corner]Paid transport 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 the 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 airports can be expensivehere). After passing the shopping centre, you should see the M1. Hitching can be It is possible to hitch at the first entrance you see, which is the traffic coming off the 'Westbound North Circular' (there is a bus stop just after the slip road joins the North Circular, and a good alternative. The exits small lay-by further on - both adjacent to the airports lane for M1). You can also be good places hitch at the traffic lights (see spot on the map to the right) or on the hard shoulder on the on-ramp that slopes up right after those traffic lights. 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. 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 lifts the bus to brent cross and then its about a 10 min walk to other placesthis spot. For exampleHowever, it tends to go slightly quicker if you get stuck on walk 2 minutes more around the 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 part ''Western'' side of the M25railway 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, try however one user recommends right next to get 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 go up and make sure to Heathrow, stand atleast 100 meters away from the point where cars enter on this road from there people the redlight behind. Have a sign that says M1. - In case you are going all over to Edinburgh: once you are at any of the service stations on the countrymotorway, you will find a lot of people going in that direction, i.e. going to Leeds and further. If 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 out at the last petrol station before Newcastle. Get out at 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 a 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 Brightonone of the earlier good McD stations. A better alternative route to Edinburgh is to take the M1, M6, A74(M), and trying A707; this way, you won't have to get around 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]], [[LondonStansted]], [[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 may bring a M11 sign with you. Cost of public transport: £2.80 (off-peak) from zone 1. Tip: To get a ride quicker to where the same part of london, you want can also take the Central line to go 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 dropped in at Gatwick Airport than at Pease Pottage servicesFinsbury Park where there are no barriers either. There are also other stations.* === Southwest towards [[London GatwickSouth West England|The South West]], [[Basingstoke]], [[Salisbury]], [[Southampton]]* , [[London StanstedPorstmouth]]* , [[London HeathrowSouth West England|Dorset]]* , [[Luton Poole| London LutonBournemouth]]{{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) 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
===Clacket Lane ServicesSouthwest towards [[Porstmouth]], [[Worthing]] A3/{{agb|3}}, & A24 ===
===Oyster cardSouth towards [[Brighton]] {{Mgb|23}} ===The [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London]'s policy in the recent years has been the elimination of normal paper tickets ("cash single fares") and replacing them with so-called '''Oyster''' cards. The cash fares are now a lot more expensive than tickets on Oyster (a bus fare costs £2 on paper, and only £0.90 on Oyster; the off-peak tube travel within the first six zones varies from £1.50 to £2 on Oyster, but is fixed at a steep £4 for a paper ticket.)
====Travelling by bus or tram====When travelling by busEast towards [[East of England|The East]], you usually touch the reader next to the driver ''at the start [[East of your journey only'' (touch ''in''). In bendy buses there are also readers by the middle and rear sets of doors England|Essex]], [[Chelmsford]], [[Colchester]], [[Ipswich]], [[Southend- these are the most popular among people not paying for bus travel. In doubleon-decker buses the middle doors are for exit only, and you won't be let in through them.Sea]] A/12 ===
==Airports ==Travelling by National Rail====Please note that as of January 2008 '''very few National Rail stations accept Pay-as-you-go on Oyster'''. The full list can be found [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/5823.aspx here].
==SleepTransiting Greater London ==There are several options when it comes to finding a place to sleep. If the worst prevails and you're without a place, you're still not too bad off. Central London is relatively safe and you probably wont be bothered sleeping outside.
==Eat= Clacket Lane Services ===Cheap and free food abounds in London.
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