Help with train: Day trip London to Canterbury

[Blue and Green]

Mr Blue and I are considering a day trip from our base in London (Aldwych, near Covent Garden) to Canterbury. While Mr Blue can easily transfer from the chair, and walk short distances or a few stairs if necessary, we travel with a manual, collapsible wheelchair. When in London, we use taxis or walk (I push the chair) as the hassle of figuring out whether an Underground Station is or is not easily accessible is not worth it to us at this point in our lives.

 

It looks like we can  do a day trip via train from Charing Cross Station to Canterbury, and then return to St Pancras International (all without transferring trains).  I'm assuming these stations are wheelchair accessible.

 

The following is not clear to me---Should we purchase tickets in advance or simply buy at the station the morning we want to travel? Are these reserved seats on trains or does everyone just take what is available?  Will we be able to  fold the wheelchair and easily store it somewhere on the train? 

 

We will go either on a Tuesday or Thursday in June...

Thank you in advance for any assistance in planning!

[PhilbeachTraveller]

There are two types of train to Canterbury - High Speed from St Pancras and the 'slow' train from Victoria or Charing Cross (tickets are cheaper from Victoria). As you will be travelling on a weekday, best to travel 'off peak' (after 9.30am) as it's cheaper. The slow train takes an hour and 40 minutes, whilst the High Speed takes just under an hour. Both are wheelchair accessible but Canterbury West has full wheelchair access for all platforms, whilst Canterbury East has limited platform access. 

 

No seat reservations on either train, although as you're travelling out of London it shouldn't be too bad space-wise. Certainly on the High Speed train there is room to store your wheelchair (don't even need to fold it) as certain carriages have special spaces. 

 

Tickets aren't really cheaper to purchase in advance but, just checking their website, you can purchase single tickets which work out £10 cheaper than off-peak return! So if this is important, you can book online and collect from a machine at the station or get there early on the day to buy your tickets from a human who will hopefully try to find you the cheapest tickets. The cheaper tickets do require to you take certain train times, where as an off-peak return will let you take any train. As it appears you might use the slow to get there and the fast to get back, you must buy a high speed ticket (it's ok to use on the slow train but not vice versa). 

 

Southeastern Railway do offer assisted travel (for free) if you give them 24 hours notice: https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/more-travel-help/assisted-travel

 

Hope this helps! 

[Bob++]

See here https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stations/charing-cross/ for information about step-free access to Charing Cross

 

Canterbury East may be a problem, depending on which platform they use. 

 

All train services are wheelchair friendly and I strongly recommend that you call them on 0800 0223720 (free on a UK landline) the day before you travel. When we take the train we do this for my wife, who also can walk short distances, but uses a heavy electric wheelchair. They will provide a ramp and assistance for boarding and getting off if needed.  We find it works very well for the most part.

 

It's a little over half a mile from the station to the Cathedral; mostly a pleasant walk but that may be optimistic for you to push Mr Blue in his chair. There will be plenty of taxis if not and the staff at the Cathedral will soon whistle one up for the return journey. There is a charge for visitors - £12.50 with a £1 reduction for the over-65s.

 

If you do want to walk; here are directions:

Quote

*When exiting the station there is a footpath opposite the station that takes you over a footbridge (no steps) and crosses the main Canterbury Ring Road. Turn right at the end of the footpath onto a path that will take you around the city wall.

*Looking down to your left is the Dane John Gardens. The path comes to a fork at the end of the gardens, please take the left path that leads down into the gardens, and there you will see on your right the entrance gate to the gardens.

 *Please exit this way onto the zebra crossing to cross Watling Street on to St Georges Lane in front of you. Here you will walk the length of St Georges Lane, with the City bus station on your right-hand side.

 *When you come to the end of the bus station you will be at the top of the main High Street, near Fenwick department store. Please turn left, walk down the High Street and the third street on your right is Mercery Lane.

*Turn right in to Mercery Lane and ahead you will see the main Christ Church Gate to Canterbury Cathedral.

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Edited March 23, 2019 by Bob++

[Blue and Green]

Thank you both so much. It is assistance like this that makes it possible for us to keep traveling!