From Folkestone to London for a day trip

There are HOHO bus routes that stop by St Pancras station but not especially frequently - Big Bus and Golden Tours both stop at the stop on Midland Road near the station exit next to the entrance to the Thameslink platforms and opposite the Crick Institute.

But as a Londoner I should say that HOHO's are a waste of money and you should plan your own sightseeing itinerary using public bus services.

I would strongly suggest getting the train from Folkestone, as I would never recommend a tourist to drive into central London.

An alternative possibility is to get the train from Folkestone to London Charing Cross, which is slower but takes you right into the tourist district - Charing Cross station is just round the corner from Trafalgar Square.

Don't try to drive into London from Folkestone.

I just did it yesterday as a person who has to drive into London frequently. It added nearly 3 hours to my journey, one way.

There is extensive road works, for many miles, on the M20, and there is the absurd Brexit barrier almost the entire length of the M20, London-bound. That means for most of the journey the London-bound carriageway is restricted to 2 lanes (the shoulder and the near-side lane) with 50 mph speed averaging cameras for the full length of both the road works area and the Brexit Barrier area. Very frustrating to drive 20 miles or so slowly with exactly nothing happening the other side of the barrier, just waiting for the truck queues after Brexit.

Then there is the congestion charge in London.

And the ridiculous prices for parking in Central London - budget between £25 if you are very lucky and £50 or more if you aren't.

Parking at Folkestone West is fairly easy if you have any problems at Folkestone Central. Or take a bus to the station.

As others have said, no way should you consider driving in London - it will take far longer than the train and it will be more expensive to park the car and pay the fuel cost than the rail fares.

The faster trains run into St Pancras, which is probably not where you want to be and it could take you half an hour or more to get to where you do want to be. The slower trains to London Charing Cross will put you closer to where you are likely to want to be - such as Covent Garden, Westminster or the West End.

Take normal buses, not the HOHO buses.

Thank you all so much for responding. We found the Southeastern train from Folkestone to London Bridge takes about 1 .5 hours each way and all 3 of us total cost was 49 pounds. Off Peak times...Glad we don't have to drive :)

One more question, can you bring food and eat on the train?

Yes you can. Are you sure you want to be at London Bridge?

The train to London Bridge will continue to Charing Cross as well, unless you've picked a day when there's engineering work on the line between Charing Cross and London Bridge.

London Bridge is close to Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral, but otherwise Charing Cross is closer to tourist sites.

What I was getting at is, do you know that London Bridge is south of the river and fairly inconvenient to many places unless you want the Shard (I'm boycotting it) or Borough Market or as just said above, Southwark Cathedral.

I don't know if any of the HoHo buses go - as many taxis don't - south of the river.