Left Luggage in London.

[alchemy]

Arriving on Eurostar at St Pancras on Saturday around 5pm and going to Sondheim Theatre before catching the 23.55 Flixbus to Edinburgh
My wife has a Mobility! Scooter.
I have some questions
Are there any step free routes, underground or overground or is taxi best option?
We need to leave two large suitcases between approximately 6 pm until around 11.00 pm.
Are there any suitable places for this near the Sondheim? And finally what's the best way from Sondheim theatre to Victoria Coach Station?
My knowledge of TfL tickets. Is non existent
Thanks for and help

 

[Haywain]

Are there any suitable places for this near the Sondheim?

Stasher.com might help.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Stasher have a deal with Premier Inn which can be quite useful - far more reputable than dodgy backstreet newsagents which seem to be the mainstay of such services. However do check the end times - while PIs have 24 hour receptions most Stasher offerings have an end time of 2300, which does suit you but do be sure to be on time and you will probably want to store the bags in an option close to the theatre to ensure you do get there for 2300 if the show end is close to that! In PI's case I suspect this might be for noise avoidance, but it is annoying that despite this service growing off the back of most gig venues now not permitting any bags to be taken in even to go in the cloakroom (following the Manchester attacks) it actually isn't suitable for going to most gigs as these tend to end around 2300 and most such services close at that time!

The other option is the official "Left Baggage Company" service at most major termini but it's more expensive, well over £10 per bag per day with typically no shorter options. They are reputable and reliable, though. Again though most of these close at 2300 even if the last train is much later so be on time to collect!

With regard to a mobility scooter this is going to be potentially complex particularly if a large one. From a bit of Googling you may be well advised to use TfL's "travel mentoring" service well in advance with details of the specific model of scooter and your intended journey(s) for the best advice. All buses and black cabs are wheelchair accessible (so I'd have suggested a black cab if she was in a normal manual or electric wheelchair) but access for mobility scooters can vary.

Travel mentoring

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[Dave W]

To your first question, you've a few options but most involve a walk or bus. St Pancras to Farringdon on the underground (or Thameslink) thence Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road, for a 10 minute walk through Soho is the rail option. Alternatively a 73/390 bus will take you to the same place with no changes (although you'll need to cross over the Euston Road). The route I can see with the least amount of walking appears to be a 46 from outside Kings Cross down to Clerkenwell Road / Rosebery Avenue, to pick up a 19 or 38 - both of these go down Shaftesbury Avenue. From Soho, the quickest stepfree way to Victoria is probably back on the 38 bus, which goes straight to the railway station - the coach station is about a 7-8 minute walk.

In London, the Citymapper app is your friend - and it has step-free options which are far superior to online journey planners (in my view).

In terms of tickets - buses are the cheapest - someone else better placed than I can advise on moving around the Capital as a visitor - contactless is second nature to me.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Contactless is the best way to pay when travelling on TfL services, yes. Anything else is more effort or faff. Cash is not appreciated in London in any context - assume you'll be paying by card for everything during your stay.

However I believe wheelchair users and scooter users travel free on buses in London and thus only the ambulant person would have to pay.

 

[Haywain]

far more reputable than dodgy backstreet newsagents

Are you using the term "dodgy" based on experience or just on appearance? I have used shops for left luggage a few times without any problems.

 

[DeverseSam]

There is an official left luggage place at Victoria Coach Station as well

 

[DeverseSam]

Cash is not appreciated in London in any context

Public toilets, taxis, cafés, barbers, tips..

 

[Bletchleyite]

Public toilets, taxis, cafés, barbers, tips..

All of those can be done by card in London. Many places will not even take cash any more. Cash is very close to not being a thing in London.

With regard to tipping make sure there isn't a service charge there first, there usually is because it's easier with a lot of tourists to set the expectation in that way and it's easier for contactless payment too. There is no need to double tip; it creates bad expectations.

I don't want to create another "should cash be abolished" type thread, but going to London one should expect to pay for most things, including TfL travel, by contactless payment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are you using the term "dodgy" based on experience or just on appearance? I have used shops for left luggage a few times without any problems.

I often have parcels delivered to corner shops rather than home for the convenience. I have seen the lack of security and care with which such things are stored and handled in a wide range of corner shops. I would therefore be quite reluctant to trust them with my luggage (it's OK with parcels because until collected it's the seller's responsibility to resolve any issue). Given that you can select Premier Inns on Stasher, why would you not go for that far more reputable option if there is one nearby, short of the closing time being a problem?

Obviously with London having a much higher crime rate than Bletchley, I would be even more reluctant to trust a corner shop when there's an option for a more professional operation like a well known chain hotel at a similar cost.

 

[Haywain]

Given that you can select Premier Inns on Stasher, why would you not go for that far more reputable option if there is one nearby, short of the closing time being a problem?

Because 'nearby' isn't necessarily convenient, and I've no reason to believe that the name makes it any more reputable than the shop.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Because 'nearby' isn't necessarily convenient, and I've no reason to believe that the name makes it any more reputable than the shop.

If you haven't noticed a difference in professionalism between a member of Premier Inn staff and a newsagent (despite both likely being on the minimum wage), then I'm very surprised (or you have a really good local newsagent!)

 

[Hadders]

Public toilets, taxis, cafés, barbers, tips..

London is as good as cashless. Even the 20p charge for public toilets in Kensington Gardens is contactless payment only.

 

[Haywain]

If you haven't noticed a difference in professionalism between a member of Premier Inn staff and a newsagent (despite both likely being on the minimum wage), then I'm very surprised (or you have a really good local newsagent!)

As I said, I'm basing my comments on actual experience. Whether I am called 'sir' or 'mate' doesn't bother me.