London on our Own from Dover

[sassycruiser]

Our cruise stops in Dover. We would like to do a day in London. I know the train trip is about 1.5 hours one way.

 

My question is - is there anyone who has experience with doing this? We are between the train and taking Celebrity's London on your Own. The Celebrity trip is $89.00 pp which I know is much more expensive than the train.

 

So questions:

 

How far is the cruise dock from the train terminal?

Is it difficult to get around in London from the train terminal?

Does the train go to an "ending" place where you transfer to underground or buses?

 

We are interested in touring the Tower of London.

 

Thank you for your assistance.

[Globaliser]

How far is the cruise dock from the train terminal?

Is it difficult to get around in London from the train terminal?

Does the train go to an "ending" place where you transfer to underground or buses?

 

We are interested in touring the Tower of London.

It's a mile or two - about £5 or so in a taxi.

 

Trains from Dover go to two stations in London: Charing Cross and Victoria. Charing Cross is right next to Trafalgar Square, and on the edge of Covent Garden. Victoria station is a bigger and busier station but is a bit further away from most things that tourists want to see. But it's easy (especially with no luggage) to get onto the Tube or to get buses at either station - they're both very much central London.

 

The trains to Charing Cross tend to be a little bit faster, but there's not much in it.

 

If you want the Tower of London, and you get a train to Charing Cross, follow the signs for Embankment Tube station (do not use Charing Cross Tube). This will take you outside the Tube station and down the hill towards the river. Embankment Tube is about 100 yards away, pretty much by the river. Get a Circle or District Line train running eastbound (they use the same platform). Almost all of these go to Tower Hill, which is right opposite the Tower of London.

 

If you get a train to Victoria, follow the signs for the Tube and get an eastbound Circle or District Line train from there. Do not go towards the Victoria Line trains, as once you get past the ticket barriers on the way towards those platforms, it's an awfully long walk to get to the Circle/District Line platforms.

[sailingkiwi]

In making up your mind about what option to take, you may like to consider two problems -

 

1-if you are visiting during a weekend, there may be works on the line and the train replaced with buses on certain parts of the journey. Normally works are advertised ahead of time, and you can find out by checking on the train company's website - http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php

 

2-there is always the possibility of trains breaking down and delays, which could cause late arrivals in both directions.

[handfordr]

There is a board as you leave the customs shed with fixed rates stated for the taxis. The fare to the station is currently 7 GBP, so you're paying $30 just to get to Dover train station and back to the ship, before the cost of the trains.

There is often quite a long snaking queue as well for the taxi's.

[sassycruiser]

It might turn out to be better to do the Celebrity trip. THank you everyone!