Ludolf Lehmann

Are there any other (and more reasonable) left luggage facilities in
London beside the ones at the various British Rail stations? They all
seem to belong to the same chain and charge £5 per item for a few
hours. I will arrive in Central London at 10am and would like to
remove my luggage (two small suitcases) around 5pm. Any hint
appreciated.

Ludolf

barney

In article <>,
(Ludolf Lehmann) wrote:

    > Are there any other (and more reasonable) left luggage facilities in
    > London beside the ones at the various British Rail stations?

I can't think of any. You could hand them in at a police station as lost
property and go back in disguise to claim them. ;)

David Horne

Ludolf Lehmann <> wrote:

    > Are there any other (and more reasonable) left luggage facilities in
    > London beside the ones at the various British Rail stations?

I think so- see below.

    > They all
    > seem to belong to the same chain and charge £5 per item for a few
    > hours.

It's a disgraceful price. It's amusing waiting in line sometimes at the
train stations' left luggage facilities, as visitors are _really_
shocked by the price.

    > I will arrive in Central London at 10am and would like to
    > remove my luggage (two small suitcases) around 5pm. Any hint
    > appreciated.

I've not used this facility- but I had a thought that a coach/bus
station might have cheaper facilities- this is the case in other parts
of the UK. Sure enough, this from the Victoria Coach Station website-

Left luggage office

The Left Luggage Office is located behind Gate 6, and is normally open
daily from 0700 to 2300. Charges per item are as follows:-

Deposits for less than 2 hours are charged at £1.00 per item for small
and large item, Extra Large items are £1.50.

For longer periods, as follows:

Small suitcases, rucksacks (without frames), holdalls, parcels, etc.

£2 for collection between 2 hours and 24 hours.
£2 per extra 24 hours or part of.

Large or heavy suitcases, large or framed rucksacks:-

£2.50 for collection between 2 hours and 24 hours, and £4.00 if items
are Extra Large.
£2.50 per extra 24 hours or part of, or £4.00 if items are Extra Large.

(http://www.tfl-vcs.co.uk/vcs/facilities_luggage.shtml)

So, that should cost you £4 instead of £10. Victoria Coach Station is
not far from Victoria Rail station and Tube- about 5 minutes.

Hope that works for you!

David

Ludolf Lehmann

(David Horne) wrote in message news:<1gbh6q0.fxe74v1xtk24gN%>...
    > Ludolf Lehmann <> wrote:
    > ...
    > (http://www.tfl-vcs.co.uk/vcs/facilities_luggage.shtml)
    >
    > So, that should cost you £4 instead of £10. Victoria Coach Station is
    > not far from Victoria Rail station and Tube- about 5 minutes.
    >
    > Hope that works for you!
    >
    > David

Thanks for this information, David, that's really helpful! I know with
tight security and the general price level in London that I can't
expect German prices (a large 24h locker at a railway station for this
luggage would be around £1,20), but there are defenitely more
entertaining opportunities in London to spend £10 beside of left
luggage facilities.

Ludolf

David Horne

Ludolf Lehmann <> wrote:

    > Thanks for this information, David, that's really helpful! I know with
    > tight security and the general price level in London that I can't
    > expect German prices (a large 24h locker at a railway station for this
    > luggage would be around £1,20),

The lockers at the main station in Cologne are very nifty- they
'transport' your luggage somewhere- maybe bombproof- not sure. That was
about the price you mention, and we managed to fit three large bags in
it. Germany always seemed very good for lockers at stations. At many
stations in the UK now that _had_ lockers they are 'temporarily' (read
indefinitely) closed.

Gare du Nord have lockers and you have to go through security. The UK
"per bag" policy is just being greedy- pure and simple.

The left luggage cost is just a scam, and most of it has been handed
over to a private company, that is raking in a lot of money. Still,
that's pretty much how privatisation works in the rail industry- look at
the cost the train operating companies are paying the leasing companies
for rolling stock.

I just passed the facility at Liverpool's main station today- it used to
be run by the local train company at £3 a bag. Now, the other company
has taken over, the facility is the same, but it now costs £4.50. Go
figure.

If someone _really_ wants to leave a bomb in a crowded part of London or
anywhere else- they'll do it whether there are 'extra security' measures
or not.

Another thought- doesn't the British Museum have a left luggage
facility? I know the Tate Modern does- and I think the latter is £1 an
item. I left a large bag there once while visiting the museum- and I
don't recall there being a time limit. This might suit you...

    > but there are defenitely more
    > entertaining opportunities in London to spend £10 beside of left
    > luggage facilities.

Indeed.

David