I will be doing a off-peak Sunday day trip to Canterbury and Dover by train from London St Pancras (originating in Cambridge). I am looking at a early-morning to late-evening round-trip from Cambridge to Dover (1 ticket), then a mid-day round-trip from Dover to Canterbury (2nd ticket). Since Canterbury Cathedral is not open to visitors until 12:30 pm on Sundays and round-trips cost about the same as singles this seems to be the best option.
However, in the forum, I have seen references to "Go to Dover first, then stop off on your way back to London at Canterbury. You can do this on a off-peak return London-Dover. You can't do this in reverse, ie stopping off on the way to Dover as you can only break your journey on the return leg." My questions is how do you "stop off"? None of the station stops listed on the London-to-Dover or Cambridge-to-Dover routes are Canterbury West or East stations. So how do you actually "stop off?"
What am I missing???
Thanks, Fran
Posted by
2404 posts
Canterbury is not on any of the lines that link London with Dover.
I have just checked for travel today (Sunday) and walk on fares for CBG > London Kings Cross (KGX) (1 hour) are £16.60 return - any train as it is a Sunday (no commuters). You would have to make the short walk from Kings Cross to St.Pancras in order to catch the High Speed service to Dover (Priory) = DVP. Your best bet would be to make such a journey on a Saturday = no commuters so cheaper fares & engineering closures less likely.
You would then need to purchase a single from DVP > Canterbury East (CBE) with a walk on fare of £8.20 for the 30 minute trip.
When done with Canterbury, you depart Canterbury West (CBW) on the high speed service back to St.Pancras - so you would need a single ticket. (CBW > STP). An alternative might be to purchase a return from Dover to Canterbury & a return from STP > DVP. I would also check the price of a through return from Cambridge to Dover & then just add the Dover to Canterbury return.
At the moment, we have one big problem = the section of line on a ledge at the base of the white cliffs has been washed away in a storm & they are working to strengthen the sea defences before re-building the railway. This is another reason why you are finding it difficult to work out this journey. As a way around this, you could try buying a return from Cambridge to Canterbury plus a return from Canterbury to Dover as this route would avoid the storm damaged section.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/116877.aspx
Being as you are in Cambridge, I would suggest that you take the short rail joinery N to see Ely Cathedral.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
James is incorrect - there is a service that runs from London Victoria to Dover via Canterbury, but it is a slow service, not the HS1 express service. It takes c 2 hours and sometimes at the weekend runs out of Blackfriars / Cannon Street due to engineering work. HS1 is much quicker. Due to the sea wall works the James has mentioned, some services at the weekend are taking 3.5 hours due to bus replacements, so check before you book.
If you have a through ticket to Dover, you should be able to break your journey at Canterbury, but this will only be valid on "anytime" tickets, not if you have paid a cheaper fare for a specific train, as obviously if you break your journey, for part, you will not be on your allocated train. Ensure that in Canterbury you wave your ticket at the guard and DON'T put it in the barrier machine, as it will swallow it!.
You can break a journey on any leg to my knowledge, so long as you are on a standard return not a cheap off peak fare.
You need to work out your timing for the date you are proposing. HS1 is much quicker and therefore more expensive and doesn't go via Canterbury. southeasternrailway.co.uk is the website you need to use. You can go one way on HS1 and the other leg on Southeastern. It was a £4 supplement to the standard fare to use HS1 last year. I have found it is always best to ask at your local rail station, as these days, buying a ticket requires a PhD to fathom out best routes/prices etc!
Dover Castle is interesting, but the town itself is a dump, just be warned!
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5326 posts
Journey breaking is possible on most off-peak tickets as well as anytime - it is the advance type where it is definitely out.
Posted by
OP
League City, TX, USA
41 posts
Thanks everyone, the work on the line explains why routes included busing. I have what I need to make decisions. Fran
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32742 posts
You don't say why you want to visit Dover (agree with the above that the town is a dump, the cliffs are pretty decent, and the castle is unique) but if it is the cliffs you can find nicer white ones between Eastbourne and Brighton.
If it is for the castle or the ferry, the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head won't help.