Getting to Chatham

CAR SERVICES: There are a number of car services that you can book to get you from London to Chatham. If you GOOGLE “car service from London to Chatham” a variety of options will pop up. Car service can be quite pricey, but if you are traveling with other people you can split the cost among you. We do recommend that you book your car service ahead of time–and do some research to find the best priced–and best reviewed–services.

TRAIN: You can travel from Heathrow or Gatwick airports to various train stations in London, and then take a train directly to Chatham.

Take the London Underground from Heathrow Airport to London Victoria. You can take the Southeastern train or Gatwick Express train to London Victoria.

From a London mainline station:

Buy a ticket to Chatham from a ticket machine or the ticket office. Alternatively, you can also buy the ticket online and collect it from a machine. The person in the ticket office can help if you have any questions.

Journey possibilities:

London St. Pancras to Chatham in 40 mins on the High-Speed Train. There are also slower trains.
London Bridge to Chatham: 1hr 13 mins
London Victoria to Chatham: 46 mins
London Blackfriars to Chatham: 1hr 20 mins
More information can be found from the National Rail website.

Note:

Chatham Train station to the Historic Dockyard is:

8 minutes by car/taxi
20 minutes by bus
30 minutes’ walk.

A taxi from outside the train station will cost about £7.
Buses take contactless payment.

Useful Taxi Phone Numbers

ABC Cabs Kent: +44 (0) 1634 840840
Chatham Taxi: +44 (0) 1634 777666

DRIVING: Follow the A2 towards Rochester. Then, take Exit 1 from the A2 and head towards Chatham on the A230.

Parking at the Dockyard

Coming from the Medway Tunnel (A289) side, enter the Dockyard on Main Gate Road, pass the Mast Pond on the left, and you will find a large car park on the left.

More information here.

Chatham is a very small place. If you are booked into lodgings either within or very near to town centre, your hotel will be within walking distance of the train station. You may contact your hotel and ask specifically how to get to their location from the train station.

WHAT TO PACK: One never knows what the weather will be like in Chatham during July. Generally, it will be sunny and hot. We suggest that you visit www.weather.com a few days before traveling to get an idea of what clothing to pack. It never hurts to be prepared, so you might want to tuck a foldable umbrella in your suitcase. It is England, you know! Please also be aware that Chatham is a “walk-around” city–with brick and cobblestone streets. Bring comfortable walking shoes!

TRAVEL LIGHT: We always like to dress nicely for our conference events. But we have nothing planned that is overly formal–so there’s no need for tuxedos or gowns unless we happen to advertise a gala event. The airline can’t lose your luggage if they don’t have it! There are a variety of websites and online videos that provide tips on how to maximize the potential of your carry-on luggage. Have a look — so you can travel light!

CONFIRM YOUR LODGINGS: Chatham can be crowded in the summer and during conference time — lodges, inns, and hotels are solidly booked. Make sure to confirm your reservations just ahead of your trip. IF you are going to be arriving later than the usual check-in time at your hotel, remember to assure your hotel that you WILL be there. You don’t want your room(s) given away because your hotel didn’t think you would be there!

Getting to Chatham

Latest News and Speakers

Join Our Mailing List