On Thu, 01 May 2003 03:37:59 +0000, Dave Kahn wrote:

"Jerry Neuburger" wrote in message y.com...

My wife and I will be coming to the UK to do a one month tour of southern
England. We'll be arriving at Heathrow on Sunday, June 28th at about 10 AM.
We'll have our bikes in bags. I'd like some local advise on getting to
Canterbury by train. Should we assemble our bikes at Heathrow or leave them
in their bags and haul them to Canterbury. I would really prefer to assemble
them at Heathrow since the 3'x4' bags weigh about 35 pounds each and don't
carry easily. I understand that we can catch a train from Heathrow to
Victoria Station and then another train to Canterbury. Will they take
assembled bikes on the trains? If so, which trains? Will there be a fee?

I thought of coach journeys, but http://www.gobycoach.com says that
coached go from Heathrow to London then London to Canterbury.
Anybody know about putting bike bags in coach luggage holds - which are
very large.
Victoria Coach Station would certainly be an easier place to change with
heavy luggage than a Tube journey.



Also, it might prove worth it to get a local minicab firm in Canterbury
send a people carrier (minivan) or estate car to meet you.
Do a web search on (say) www.yell.com or yahoo.co.uk for taxi firms in
Canterbury.
Phone them, giving your flight number. Ask for a quote for the journey,
and specify an estate car. Might be 50 pounds (I don't know)
This will save you a lot of wear and tear wehn you are tired.
The minicab driver will park his car in a Heathrow car park and wait for
you, holding a sign. They normally check landing times, you you are OK if
the flight lands late.

This leaves you the problem of then finding a place to leave the bike bags
in Canterbury.