Ground transportation to Dover, UK
 

Need to go from Heathrow to Dover to take a cruise. What's the best way for 8 people with baggages (3seniors, 3 adtls, and 2 chd). Have to be in cruise terminal before 2:00pm Pls help, ALTITA

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I don't think there is direct public transport from Heathrow to Dover - you would have to go in to London and out again, which would be very time-consuming and difficult with luggage. <BR><BR>I would contact a taxi shuttle service. I did a search on Google for Heathrow Dover transport and got several possible firms. Some have minivans with luggage trailers for large numbers of people, otherwise you may have to book 2 cars. <BR><BR>While I'm sure something could be arranged at Heathrow, I would recommend booking your transfer in advance. How long do you have to get to Dover (when does your flight get in)? It is quite a long way, as Heathrow is on the west side of London.

A text search in these pages under heathrow to london will show you ways to move fast to Victoria station in London. There you take trolleys, buy tickets, and wheel your luggage to the train that leaves every half hour for Dover and takes 100 minutes. I have just written a note on the journey in reverse. It reads thus.<BR><BR>Yesterday I happened upon a cheerful couple of Americans on the train from Dover to London, and I thought I might write a note on that journey. <BR><BR>When you disembark at Dover Western Docks you take a taxi a mile to Dover Priory railway station. There you unload all your bags and go to the ticket office. You buy tickets to London Victoria. I suggest you buy second class: see below. At the same window you ask for help in getting your bags over to the train. I asked station staff yesterday: they are happy to help in this way. In a year or less there will be lifts, but just now they lug your gear upstairs and down, poor souls. I think a tip would not be out of place.<BR><BR>On these country trains first class is a deal more spacious, and quieter, than first, and for a four pound (six dollar) supplement you can upgrade to first. To do this you ask the railman to put your bags in first, then find the train conductor, standing on the platform, and ask him to sell you, later, the supplementary ticket.<BR><BR>After 35 minutes through orchards and hop gardens you stop at Canterbury East station, and four minutes after that, on the left side of the train if you face forward, you have a quick view of Canterbury riding in majesty above the small city. Twenty more minutes, and you are at Chatham. Here it gets interesting. After a short tunnel you are at Rochester. On your left you see, in turn, the seventh century Rochester Cathedral, the Norman Rochester Castle, the back end of the biggest second hand bookshop in England (they say, and it may be true), a fine Victorian bridge, and the Medway, up which Admiral van Tromp sailed the Dutch navy in 1666, to give us a thorough defeat (his portrait, looking pleased, is in Greenwich).<BR><BR>Now an hour through the Green Belt and the suburbs, and into Victoria station. <BR><BR>Please write if I can help further. welcome to Europe.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR><BR>

Ben: Thanks for your reply, I'm sure I can use your tips. <BR>Ruth: Where can I get the info Google for Heathrow Dover transport you mention, I would like to book in advace if it is poss. By the way, we will be arriving Heathrow at 6:30am via AA and have to be in Dover by 2:00pm, hope it's enough time. Thanks again you are so nice...

What I meant was, using the search engine Google at http://www.google.com (or any other internet search facility that you use) type in the keywords: Heathrow Dover transport. This brought up a number of taxi and limousine services which could take you directly to the cruise terminal.<BR><BR>I didn't suggest any particular one, not having used any of them. You may find that the combined train fares for 8 people may be more than the taxi fares, but I don't have specific knowledge of this. The limousine companies would also know how much time you need to allow for this transfer.