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 Rochester: parking, car hire, public transport & accessibility
Car parks in Gravesend – prices & opening hours (nearest researched hub to Rochester: Gravesend)
- Gravesend Station car park (APCOA)
Rathmore Road, Gravesend DA11
£8.40 per day (£8.90 Tue–Thu); £3.50 evening after 18:00; £36.90 weekly; Blue Badge free (register)
94 spaces, 5 Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Parrock Street ANPR car park (Gravesham BC)
Parrock Street DA12 1ER
Mon–Fri £2/1h, £3/2h, £4/3h, £5/4h, £8.50 over 4h (max 24h); Sat 2h free then £2/3h, £3/4h, £8.50 over 4h; Sun free; Blue Badge 3h free · 24h; charges Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00
569 spaces, 30 Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Rathmore Road ANPR car park (Gravesham BC)
Rathmore Road, by station
Pay on exit; charges Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00 — see council page · 24h · prices & booking - Milton Place ANPR car park (Gravesham BC)
Milton Place, Gravesend
Pay on exit; charges Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00 · 24h · prices & booking
All car parks near Rochester on Google Maps.
Car hire in Gravesend (nearest researched hub to Rochester: Gravesend)
- Enterprise Car & Van Hire Gravesend
1–3 Pelham Road, Gravesend DA11 0HN
Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00; Sat 08:00–13:00; Sun closed · 01474 368762 · book - Hertz Ebbsfleet Valley
Ebbsfleet — see branch page
— · — · book
More car hire near Rochester 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 Rochester to the airports
| Airport | Train / tube / bus | Our taxi |
|---|
| Heathrow | Southeastern/Thameslink to Abbey Wood, Elizabeth line direct to Heathrow (alt: Highspeed to St Pancras, walk to Farringdon? — use Abbey Wood)
95–115 min · 1 change · Rail to Abbey Wood (contactless) + Elizabeth line Z1–Heathrow £15.50 (2026, reported)
first arrival approx 07:00, last departure approx 22:00 · timetable | – |
| Gatwick | Southeastern/Thameslink to London Bridge, Thameslink to Gatwick
82 fastest, ~90–140 typical · 1 change · Advance from £22.30 (Trainline)
first arrival approx 05:30 (first dep 03:29), last departure 01:51 · timetable | – |
| Stansted | Southeastern Highspeed to Stratford International, walk to Stratford, Stansted Express
98 fastest · 2 changes · Advance from £22.10 (Trainline)
first arrival approx 06:30, last departure 00:41 · timetable | – |
| Luton | Thameslink direct (Rainham–Luton service) to Luton Airport Parkway, DART (included in through ticket to 'London Luton Airport')
119 direct; 81 with 1 change · 0 changes · Advance from £10 (Trainline); DART £4.90 if separate
first arrival approx 06:00 (first dep 03:59), last departure 19:29 direct · timetable | – |
| London City | Southeastern Highspeed to Stratford International, DLR direct to London City Airport (alt: Southeastern to Woolwich Arsenal, DLR)
45–55 min · 1 change · Highspeed fare + DLR PAYG; or contactless to Woolwich + DLR
first arrival approx 06:15, last departure approx 23:15 · timetable | – |
Coach: National Express from Gravesend (various) — no direct airport coach listed; use Dartford/Bluewater Heathrow & Stansted services – — min, — (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 Rochester: step-free travel, assistance dogs & pets
| Station | Step-free access | Lifts | Assistance | Accessible toilets | Source |
|---|
Gravesend
Southeastern | Full step-free access to all platforms (Category A; platforms 0 and 2 direct from street entrances, lifts from overbridge) | Yes | Passenger Assist: book up to 2h ahead or turn-up-and-go (20 min); staff 24h | Yes, platforms 0 and 2 (stoma-friendly) during staffing hours | station page |
Step-free: Gravesend step-free (Cat A); Northfleet/Greenhithe check National Rail; Ebbsfleet International fully step-free. Buses: Arriva Kent Thameside and Fastrack (A/B); low-floor accessible. Blue Badge parking: Free at station (APCOA registration); 3h free in Gravesham BC car parks with badge. 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; Fastrack welcomes dogs, assistance dogs priority; Arriva: driver's discretion.
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 Gravesend: places for children & family dining (nearest researched hub to Rochester: Gravesend)
- Cyclopark
Play area, pump track, toddler trikes; free entry to park · more - Cascades Leisure Centre
Swimming pool, family sessions
about £5–£15 a session · more - The Woodville
Family shows and pantomime
tickets about £12–£30 · more - Gravesend Riverside Leisure Area / Fort Gardens
Free riverside play area · more - Shorne Woods Country Park (KCC)
Play areas, trails, café
free · more
Family restaurants: Harvester Gravesend (Chalk); Toby Carvery Gravesend.
Baby changing & feeding: Gravesend station: baby changing on platform 2 during staffing hours (Southeastern).
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.
