London to the M20 by train

[Rude-boy]

A little help if you please for those in the know when it comes to these things.

I have to get myself from London to the nearest easiest train station for someone driving anti clockwise on the M25 and then on to the M20 to the Euro Tunnel to collect me from.

We are going to be taking the 10:30am train on a Friday so I realise that what looks close on a map might be a 45minute detour for them which will not make me very popular...

It doesn't really matter which station in central London I have to leave from as I'll be arriving in town in good time to get to a hotel near by which I'll book when I've worked out where is closest to the station i have to leave from in the morning!

At the moment the favourite is to go from St Pancras Int to Ashford Int but at that time of the morning the traffic might be a 'mare.

Anyone got any better ideas?

Thanks

Edited by Rude-boy on Wednesday 19th May 23:26

[kiethton]

Knockholt?

Knockholt is literally on junction 4 of the m25, just off the roundabout at the end of the slip road. You are then able to go back and join the M26 about 2 miles away at junction 5 junction heading back clockwise.

Its only a half hourish train journey as well and i think zone 6on the train so won't be too expensive.

[forsure]

Rude-boy said:

At the moment the favourite is to go from St Pancras Int to Ashford Int but at that time of the morning the traffic might be a 'mare.

Anyone got any better ideas?

Thanks

Edited by Rude-boy on Wednesday 19th May 23:26

Frankly, no. I don't know Ashford, but I'm guessing that signposting, access and pick-up/short-term parking are as good as you'll get.

Eta: keithton's Knockholt idea could be worth a look, but I don't think you can join the M26 eastbound at J5 - you'd have to go north to the M20 at J3.

Edited by forsure on Thursday 20th May 01:39

[itsnotarace]

Aylesford (M20 jnct 5) or Bearsted (leave M20 jnct 7, rejoin at jnct 8)

Both within 5 minute drive of the M20

St Pancras to Aylesford is 58 minutes, 1 change
Victoria to Bearsted is just over an hour, direct train


ETA - Bearsted is a nice little village, choose this as the scenic route

Edited by itsnotarace on Thursday 20th May 10:17

[Rude-boy]

Thanks all for your replies.

I'll check in with the others and give them the options.

Thanks again.

[Neil H]

Swanley is probably your best bet as it's right at the start of the M20, and just off the M25 you go there from Victoria. Traffic going south-east on the M20 shouldn't be too bad, usually most people are going the other way.

Another option is Chislehurst (different line from Swanley, you can go from Charing Cross), it's very close to the A20 which leads into the M20, and only 10-15 minutes from the M25.

Edited by Neil H on Thursday 20th May 12:29

[SimonV8ster]

Chelsfield ? About half a mile, from Junc 4 of the M25.

You can get fast trains from London Bridge to Chelsfield in about 22-23 miutes.

Edited by SimonV8ster on Thursday 20th May 17:50

[Denis O]

Get to Ashford International by train. Get a cab to the Tesco which sits on the roundabout at Junc 10 on M20. Get mate to meet you at the Tesco.

Cab will be about £10 and the downtime is about 2 minutes.

[Chrisgr31]

Denis O said:

Get to Ashford International by train. Get a cab to the Tesco which sits on the roundabout at Junc 10 on M20. Get mate to meet you at the Tesco.

Cab will be about £10 and the downtime is about 2 minutes.

That would be my suggestion as well. The drive from the M20 to the station is a bit of a pain, and you do need to go round the houses a bit. So getting a taxi from the station to nearer the motorway seems better. Coming anticlockwise on the M25 the driver will want to use the M26 to get to the M20 so Chilsehurst, Knockholt etc lose on that.

[Neil H]

Chrisgr31 said:

Coming anticlockwise on the M25 the driver will want to use the M26 to get to the M20 so Chilsehurst, Knockholt etc lose on that.

Good point!

M26 is much quicker.

[forsure]

Neil H said:

Chrisgr31 said:

Coming anticlockwise on the M25 the driver will want to use the M26 to get to the M20 so Chilsehurst, Knockholt etc lose on that.

Good point!

M26 is much quicker.

Indeed, M25 anticlockwise onto M26 works well; clockwise it can't be done.