Dates, prices and menus are as published by each venue (checked October 2026); entries marked “2025 dates” are last season’s and will be updated when 2026 dates are announced. Check the linked site before booking. We can take you door to door to any of these – Christmas fares.
Getting around Whitstable: parking, car hire, public transport & accessibility
Car parks in Canterbury – prices & opening hours (nearest researched hub to Whitstable: Canterbury)
- Canterbury West Station car park (APCOA)
Station Road West, Canterbury CT2
£10.50 per day (£11.00 Tue–Thu); £5.50 evening after 18:00; £39.60 weekly; Blue Badge free (register)
112 spaces, 3–4 Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Watling Street multi-storey (Canterbury CC, Band 1)
Watling Street CT1
£3.70 per hour (2024 band 1); 2026 order proposes £3.80/hr, £2 max 21:00–07:30, £30/24h max · 24h · prices & booking - Pound Lane (Canterbury CC, Band 1)
Pound Lane CT1, near Westgate
£3.70 per hour (2024); 2026 order proposes £3.80/hr · 24h · prices & booking - Holmans Meadow (Canterbury CC, Band 3)
Rhodaus Town CT1, near Canterbury East
£1.90 per hour · 24h · prices & booking
All car parks near Whitstable on Google Maps.
Car hire in Canterbury (nearest researched hub to Whitstable: Canterbury)
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canterbury
125–127 Northgate, Canterbury CT1 1BH
Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00; Sat 08:00–13:00; Sun closed · 01227 767000 · book
More car hire near Whitstable on Google Maps. Typical 2026 rates: economy car from about £35–£60 a day. Hiring just to reach the airport? Count the fuel, the airport car-park fee and the return of the car before comparing with a one-way fixed fare.
Public transport vs taxi from Whitstable to the airports
| Airport | Train / tube / bus | Our taxi |
|---|
| Heathrow | Southeastern Highspeed to Stratford International, walk to Stratford, Elizabeth line to Heathrow (direct T5 trains 2/h, or change Paddington)
130–150 min · 1–2 changes · Highspeed fare + Elizabeth line Z1–Heathrow £15.50 (2026, reported); walk-up Canterbury–London Highspeed via journey planner
first arrival approx 07:30, last departure approx 21:30 · timetable | – |
| Gatwick | Southeastern to Tonbridge, Southern to Redhill, change for Gatwick (or via London)
115 fastest · 1–2 changes · Advance from £24.50 (Trainline)
first arrival approx 06:45 (first dep 03:58), last departure 00:46 · timetable | – |
| Stansted | Highspeed to Stratford International, Stansted Express from Stratford
124 fastest · 2 changes · Advance from £36.20 (Trainline)
first arrival approx 07:00 (first dep 04:18), last departure 00:31 · timetable | – |
| Luton | Highspeed to St Pancras, Thameslink/EMR to Luton Airport Parkway, DART
93 fastest, ~120 typical · 1 change · Not published on Trainline; Highspeed + Thameslink; DART £4.90 if separate
first arrival approx 06:30 (first dep 04:18), last departure 23:48 · timetable | – |
| London City | Highspeed to Stratford International, DLR direct to London City Airport
85–95 min · 1 change · Highspeed fare + DLR PAYG
first arrival approx 06:45, last departure approx 22:30 · timetable | – |
Coach: National Express Canterbury Bus Station to Heathrow (some direct; most via London Victoria) – 147 fastest, ~210 average min, from £15 advance (typical £20–28) (book).
How to choose. Public transport wins on price for one traveller with hand luggage at 10am. A taxi usually wins when there are two or more of you (one fare for the car, not per person), when you have hold bags or a pushchair, for flights before the first train arrives or landings after the last one leaves, and when a change of train or a station without lifts would be a problem. Rail fares above are per adult; add £4–£6 per person for the DART/shuttle where shown, and remember engineering work most weekends.
Accessibility in Whitstable: step-free travel, assistance dogs & pets
| Station | Step-free access | Lifts | Assistance | Accessible toilets | Source |
|---|
Canterbury West
Southeastern | Full step-free access to all platforms (Category A, lifts) | Yes | Passenger Assist: book up to 2h ahead or turn-up-and-go (20 min); staffed Mon–Thu 05:00–23:30, Fri–Sat 05:00–01:30, Sun 07:00–00:30 | Platform 1 (stoma-friendly) — currently out of order (Oct 2026) | station page |
Step-free: Canterbury West step-free (Cat A); Canterbury East — check National Rail. Buses: Stagecoach South East (Canterbury city, Triangle, park & ride); low-floor accessible. Blue Badge parking: Free at station (APCOA registration); council car parks — see off-street order (no Blue Badge concession stated). Guide & assistance dogs: Assistance dogs accepted on all services on local public transport. Pets on public transport: Southeastern: up to 2 small dogs free, leashed; Stagecoach: pets usually allowed at driver's discretion, assistance dogs always.
Travelling with us: assistance dogs always travel free in every car, no notice needed (Equality Act 2010). Other dogs and pets are welcome by prior arrangement – tell us when you book so we send a suitable car and a driver who is happy to carry them. Folding wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters that fold go in the boot at no extra charge; if you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or extra time at pick-up, say so when booking and we will confirm availability before you pay. Rail step-free status changes when lifts are out of service – check the station page or book Passenger Assist (ideally 2 hours ahead); on TfL you can turn up and go.
Child-friendly Canterbury: places for children & family dining (nearest researched hub to Whitstable: Canterbury)
- Marlowe Theatre
Family shows, pantomime
tickets about £15–£45 · more - Howletts Wild Animal Park
Gorillas, elephants; family tickets
adult about £27, approx · more - The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Free museum with family trails · more - Kingsmead Leisure Centre
Swimming pools, family sessions
about £5–£15 a session · more - Wildwood Trust (Herne)
Native wildlife park, adventure play
adult about £17, approx · more
Family restaurants: wagamama Canterbury; PizzaExpress Canterbury.
Baby changing & feeding: Canterbury West: baby changing when staff present (Southeastern). Whitefriars shopping centre publishes facilities on its site.
Child seats: licensed private hire cars are exempt from the child-seat law when a seat is not available, but we would rather fit one – give us the children’s ages when you book and we will bring the right seat where we can (free, subject to availability), or you are welcome to bring your own. Pushchairs and travel cots go in the boot at no charge.
Car park, car hire, rail and accessibility details are as published by the operators and airports (seen October 2026) and from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) – check before you rely on them; TfL Journey Planner times are for a weekday 10:00 departure. Our fares are the fixed saloon price on the linked route page.
