Hitchhiking from Reigate
Hitchhiking to Reigate
Recent reviews mentioning Reigate
51.27315, 0.04278
Really hot day and lack of sleep. Took the ride to Maidstone (aiming for France/Belg) I wanted to avoid :-DSome space at the end to stop - it's not perfect, but technically cars could stop a little after the exit too but the pull off is not so wide. A lorry did stop saying he was going on the channel tunnel but that it was paid (not true...he was blocking traffic though so I didn't have time to discuss with him...).
Look out for Ken - the guy from Singapore who's been living on the services for several months. Quite the character. Won't accept anything of help...
―whisperingofthestars
51.30568, -0.40867
Heading towards Stroud, had a sign saying M4W. After 10 minutes got a lift to Cirencester. I stand next to the road by the picnic benches and the lorry park.―Wienerpolser
51.27186, 0.03574
Good spot, though at 7AM on a Monday it didn't seem like much traffic was going far on the M25. Had a sign for Cobham/M4. Two cars stopped and offered short lifts, then after an hour one took me to Cobham services.―Wienerpolser
51.38673, 0.19491
Heading towards Bristol. There's a space for cars to pull over. Got a lift onto the M25 in 10 minutes.―Wienerpolser
51.0038, 2.30409
This is my "waiting" time not including sleeping. I got there at around 11pm, sketchy time to arrive [no lorries/trucks will be stopping anyway in this area - I would say at least 100km away, maybe more due to the situation..].This makes it a bit tricky for people to trust you. When I was there, there was a small camp of paperless folk (you really understand your privileges being in this area).
If you stop here, you absolutely need to talk to people. While a lot of people can be damn rude, you should find someone eventually. I got a camper van (what?! They almost never stop...we'll...this was rented) going across to UK at Dunkerque...I explained them the process of needing to add me to their ticket, but we got to the office and they said that it was already fine. Does it depend on the company? This was DFDS.
Got a little nervous at passport control when they asked how we knew each other - you should do a better job than me - they're not the biggest fan of hitchers...but it would be ridiculous to go past ticket control and be kicked out there.
Careful not to get out at Dover - it sucks. Get out if you need to on the first services on the motorway, or M25 services :-)
―whisperingofthestars
51.30568, -0.40867
Waited 10 seconds with a sign saying M4 E, 3rd car that passed took me to Swindon.―Wienerpolser
51.18787, 3.10561
Waited about an hour, mostly outside the shop with a sign saying Calais>UK, and asking the few cars I saw with UK plates. Eventually an Irish guy offered me a lift, took me in the ferry and dropped me outside London.―Wienerpolser
50.84189, -0.15138
Me and a friend waited only 15mins at around 7:30am and got a lift going to London. We stood just before the petrol station. It worked well as people are slowing down because of the lights and can pull in to the petrol station easily if they want to pick you up. Staff also let us use the toilet there.―UkHitcher
51.27147, 0.03948
―Anonymous
51.28466, -0.15475
―Anonymous
51.27147, 0.03948
Motorway Services direction Eastward, especially good for direction Brighton―Anonymous
51.28466, -0.15475
It doesn't look like a great place as there's not much room to pull in but I've hitched twice from here and never waited more than a few mins. Good for getting to Brighton as it's just before the motorway (M23). Get the bus to Redhill and get off when you see the flyover. For more details see my blog: http://alongwayfromeden.blogspot.com/2008/01/i-missed-it-by-two-minutes.html―Anonymous
51.3931, -0.11538
Hopefully I have marked this spot right! To get to Brighton: Get the 109 bus from Brixton and get off when the bus starts going a different way from the 'Brighton' signs. This spot is on the M23, next to a row of shops with space for parking outside (great for people to pull into!) It's opposite a big pub too.―Anonymous
51.27343, 0.0388
To get to Clacket Lane Service Station from London get a train to Bromley (you can use an Oyster card: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14836.aspx), then bus 246 (timetable here: http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/246Sum.htm)Ask the driver to tell you when you get to Pilgrims Lane, then walk down Pilgrims Lane and Pilgrims Way to Clacket Lane Services. You can see where you're going on a map here: http://www.motorwayservices.info/clacket_lane_services_m25/googlemap Where it says "Clacket Wood" is the service station. There is also a street view of this area on google maps.
Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch to Brighton (Westbound) or Dover (Eastbound) and also fairly good for most other directions as it's a busy station. Best thing is to stand outside the main doors into the station and ask everyone that comes out if they are going your way ("excuse me, are you by any chance going to Bighton?")
To get from one side to the other walk down the country lane to the back of the station until you get to the bridge and cross to the other side (couple of km)
―Anonymous
51.27168, 0.03935
This is actually westbound ;-) - anyway, it's a good spot to get towards Brighton, Portsmouth, Gatwick, Heathrow, possibly Bristol, but NOT Birmingham or anywhere north of London.―Anonymous
51.3931, -0.11538
Good place for direction Brighton, theres a pub across the road, so on friday after 6PM, bit problem, cause drunk people are trying to help you :D You can just walk direction south with a sign. There suppose to be a gas station after big roundabout.. not sure, get car before.―Junkiee
51.27343, 0.0388
Asked many people at the parking lot and gas station to get to Maidstone/Folkestone. Everybody kept following the M25. After 2 hours somebody came to me and said he drives to Dover.―Anonymous
51.27343, 0.0388
Going eastwards (e.g. Dover) make sure you get a lift at least as far as Maidstone services―Joschi
51.27168, 0.03935
You can talk to the drivers in front of the restaurant. Got a ride in 1h to the M3 (southampton)―Fred57
51.15967, -0.15231
―Anonymous