WHERE TO LEAVE YOUR BAGS AND LUGGAGE IN LONDON
If we could all get around without bags and luggage, travel would be much easier. Travelling to London often means finding a “reliable babysitter” for our precious bags for a few hours before taking a flight or a train to head to the next destination, or back home. The good news is that there are several possibilities to store your luggage for a few hours; the bad news is it’s not always a cheap option. If you’re travelling on a budget, it’s therefore important to plan ahead.
HOTEL LUGGAGE DEPOSIT
Leaving your bags at the hotel/hostel reception is, most of the time, a viable option. It’s usually a free service that hotels and bed and breakfasts offer, but make sure to ask before booking. Unless the hotel’s storage room is locked and supervised, I wouldn’t leave valuable items, such as laptops or expensive devices, as left luggage; better safe than sorry.
HOTEL LATE CHECK OUT
In case you deem your valuables too precious to be left at the reception or in a common storage room, you may ask for late check out. Late check out is usually subject to availability and a supplement may be required. Some hotels may ask for payment of an extra night, some others will charge a little extra.
Travelodge in London, allow late check out up to 2pm if you pay a supplement of £10
FAMILY STAY THROUGH HOMESTAY:
The cheapest and safest option for your left luggage in London
When booking a room in London through AirBnB or HomeStay, you could ask your host family to keep your bags and valuables for a few hours. Hosts are usually friendly and attentive to your needs, and they will probably be willing to act as a luggage deposit for a few hours. If your flight or train is late in the evening, and you know you will need to leave your baggage somewhere before leaving London, be smart when booking your room; look for accommodation in an area that is convenient for London transport and the Tube, and, at the same time, on the route to the airport or train station that you need to head to.
You may have three/four hours to spare before heading to Heathrow or Gatwick Airport, and you may wish to get into the West End for the last shopping or sightseeing; you won’t want to spend too much time on the Tube or Bus to get back to your host family’s home and pick up your bags. Booking your room with a host-family somewhere in West London, such as in Chiswick or in the Earls Court area (zone 2) may be wise as Turnham Green and Earls Court Tube stations will give you easy access both to Heathrow Airport and the pick-up point that Easy Bus uses on the way to Gatwick Airport.
COUCHSURFING:
Leaving your bags and valuables with your host
Couchsurfing is widely used in London by people trying to spend a couple of nights for free in the big city . It’s a fantastic way to sleep somewhere without having to pay. Remember that you’re not paying and you are a guest. Leaving a bag with worthless items for some hours is fine: your host is probably going to agree. However, I personally wouldn’t impose on your host the responsibility of looking after valuable items and devices. You are neither a paying guest nor a friend.
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN LONDON
Your free luggage storage
Have you got friends and relatives living in London? You could visit them on the last day of your stay and politely ask if you can leave your bags and belongings for a few hours. That is, of course, an option, albeit one not always easy to arrange.
LEFT LUGGAGE FACILITIES IN LONDON
All major railway stations and airports in London have got their luggage storage services. You just have to work out the cheapest and most convenient option for you. They are private businesses and, if you are a budget traveller, they may be a bit expensive for your pockets.
The cheapest left luggage services in London are located at Victoria Coach Station, and at the London Science Museum.
Victoria Coach Station left luggage office:
Your cheapest luggage storage in London.
Victoria Coach Station: 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London, SW1W 9TP.
Victoria Coach Station left luggage office is open daily from 7am – 10.45 pm.
The current storage rates for your bags and suitcases at Victoria Coach Station are:
- Up to two hours: £2.50 per item (no weight consideration)
- 2-24 hours: £4 per item under 20kg
- 2-24 hours: £6 per item over 20kg
- Multiple days charged at daily rate as above (£4/£6 by weight)
Deposits left longer than 24 hours are charged in multiples of the full 24-hour rate per item.
Science Museum baggage storage
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD
Victoria Coach Station: 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London, SW1W 9TP.
A lot of London museums have a cloakroom where you can leave your belongings; however, they put limits on size and weight. One of the cheapest, which also accepts suitcases, is the Science Museum:
The cloakroom is located on the Lower Ground floor, and can be accessed via the stairway and glass lifts at the front of the building.
Current storage rates:
Coats, jackets, other clothing, umbrellas, folded prams/buggies, scooters: £1 per item.
Small bags: £2 per item.
Suitcases, unfolded prams/buggies: £4 per item.
Westfield Shopping Centres baggage storage
The Westfield Shopping Centers also offer luggage storage services:
Westfield London Shepherd’s Bush luggage storage:
Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush has a left-luggage office in the Middle Car Park near the Waitrose entrance. You can leave your baggage there and remember that you need to pick up your item(s) 30 minutes before the centre closes.
Current storage rates:
- £3 for a coat
- £5for a small bag/handbag
- £8 for a large suitcase
Westfield Stratford City luggage storage:
Current storage rates:
- Up to 4 hours: £5 per item (any size)
- Up to 24 hours: £10
You can check this link on for the cloakroom-service.
Left Luggage: Excess Baggage Company
You will find luggage storage service at the following stations:
- London Paddington Station
- London Kings Cross Station
- London Euston Station
- London Victoria Station
- London Liverpool Street Station
- London Waterloo Station
- London Charing Cross Station
Rate is £8.50 per item for the first 24 hours, and £5 for each extra hour. Open 7 days a week from 6 (7.00 am on Sunday) to 22.00
LEFT LUGGAGE AT LONDON AIRPORTS:
Luggage storage at London City Airport
Airwise – luggage storage service:
Current storage rate:
£5 per item – daily rate
London City Airport – luggage storage service:
Current storage rate:
£10 per item – 24hours.
Visit London City Airport’s Website.
London Gatwick Airport – Luggage Storage
Airwise – Left luggage service London Gatwick Airport:
Current storage rate:
£8.00 per item – 24hour rate
Excess Baggage – Left luggage service London Gatwick Airport
Current storage rates:
£6 per item/bag for 0–3 hours
£11 per item/bag for 3–24 hours
London Heathrow Airport – Luggage Storage
Left luggage with Airwise – London Heathrow Airport:
Current storage rate:
£8.00 per item – 24hour rate
Excess Baggage: London Heathrow Airport
Current storage rates:
£6 per item/bag for 0–3 hours
£11 per item/bag for 3–24 hours
London Stansted Airport – Luggage Storage
Airwise London Stansted Airport:
Current storage rate:
£8.75 per item – 24hour rate
London Stansted Airport left-luggage service:
Current storage rate:
£10 per item – 24hours.
SELF-STORAGE IN LONDON
Long term baggage storage
This is convenient if you need to store your bags for a week or longer, and prices are charged per square meter of storage space. Ask for a quote:
Safestore Self Storage Paddington
16 Paddington Green
London W2 1LG
Transport: Edgware Rd tube
Safestore Self Storage Earls Court
26 Seagrave Rd
London SW6 1RP
Transport: West Brompton tube
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