Travel
Gravesham is well connected to European, national and regional transport systems that give you fast travel to Gravesham from London and destinations in the South East and Kent.
By Rail
International Train Services from Ebbsfleet Station
Ebbsfleet Station provides fast, convenient access by international train services via Eurostar to and from Lille (1 hour), Paris (2 hours), Brussels (2 hours 15 minutes) and the wider European High Speed Network. Train times and service information can be found at www.eurostar.co.uk . Further information on Ebbsfleet Station can be found at http://www.ebbsfleetgateway.com .
High Speed 1 Train Services from Gravesend and Ebbsfleet Stations
High speed Southeastern Trains services provide fast and convenient access into London St Pancras from Ebbsfleet Station (17 minutes) and from Gravesend Rail Station (24 minutes). Ebbsfleet Station will be a 'gateway' to London 2012 via the Javelin shuttle service.
High speed Southeastern trains also ensure convenient access to and from other Kent visitor destinations. For more information visit www.southeasterntrains.co.uk .
Other mainline rail connections run from Higham, Gravesend and Northfleet into London Charing Cross; from Sole Street and Meopham into London Victoria and also from these stations to Rochester and to the east of Kent via the Stood Tunnel. To find out details of train times from any UK train station visit www.nationalrail.co.uk and use the on-line travel timetable, or telephone National Rail enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.
By Car
Gravesend is clearly signposted from the national motorway network - the M2, M20 and M25 - and hence to all destinations in Kent and south east England, including UK airports at London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stansted.
The recently improved A2, the A226 and A227 provide ease of access into Gravesend and Northfleet and into Meopham. The A2/M2 provides excellent road communications into Central London, to Canterbury (40 minutes), the Channel Tunnel, Kent Ports and Kent Coast (1 hour) and to the East of England and the North via the QEII Bridge/Dartford Crossing.
For Gravesend Town Centre from the M25, take junction 2 (A2) towards Canterbury. From the A2 take the A227 turn off and head towards Gravesend. The A227 (Wrotham Road) takes you directly into the Town Centre.
By road Gravesend is about an hour from central London and is signposted from the A2 and is only 4 miles from M25 junction 2.
Satnav postcode: DA11 0TB.
Where to Park in Gravesend Town Centre
Gravesend has a number of parking areas within easy reach of the Town Centre. People with mobility difficulties are well catered for in many of our car parks. A list of the car parks and the availability of spaces in each is automatically updated every 10 minutes on the front page of www.gravesham.gov.uk .
Gravesham Borough Council provides and maintains the public surface car parks to ensure a safe and sufficient parking service for the community and visitors to the area. Most of the car parks have the Park Mark showing their quality and service. Parking is free on Sundays in these surface car parks and also free after 6pm weekdays. Check the information notices in each car park for the charges and when they apply.
St George's Shopping Centre and Thamesgate Shopping Centre have multi storey car parks managed by them. St George's also has Park Mark status. If you have any problems associated with these car parks you should report this to the Centre Manager's office in each shopping centre.
Visit www.gravesham.gov.uk/parking for details of the parking charges in the area.
By Taxi
There are taxi ranks conveniently situated in Gravesend Town Centre in New Road close to the bus interchange and shops and at the Rathmore Road side of Gravesend railway station.
By Coach
Contact Gravesend's Visitor Information Centre at Towncentric for details for local coach services and for National Express tickets.
By Bus
Frequent local services to most nearby towns are run by Arriva Bus Services. Timetable information is available from their helpline on 0844 800 4411. Visit the Arriva website for more information www.arriva.co.uk.
Bus services, contact Traveline 0871 200 2233.
Fastrack buses provide fast and frequent services at 10 minute intervals between Gravesend Town Centre, Ebbsfleet Station, Bluewater Darenth Valley Hospital and Dartford Town Centre. For more information visit www.go-fastrack.co.uk.
By River
Gravesend's historic role as the gateway to the Port of London on the River Thames is reinforced by the presence of the Port Control Centre at Gravesend. Visit www.pla.co.uk for information on river traffic.
Plans are in development for a new pontoon and moorings on the river at Gravesend. These are expected to be in place by the end of 2011. For further information contact 01474 33 76 00.
A half hourly passenger ferry service from 6am to 7pm runs from the West Street jetty, Gravesend to Tilbury Riverside with bus and rail connections to Grays Railway Station, East London, the City and Southend. The Ferry operates from Monday to Saturday (except Bank Holidays). Taking the ferry is well worth the 10 minute trip just to see Gravesend waterfront from the river, but why not extend your visit to include Tilbury Fort (English Heritage) or the Worlds End Public House both a short walk from the jetty. Light motorcycles, bicycles, prams and dogs are carried free of charge subject to availability of space. The ferry is operated by the Lower Thames & Medway Passenger Boat Co Ltd, West Street Ferry Office Gravesend, Kent DA11 0BS. Telephone 07973 39 01 24 or contact Gravesend's Visitor Centre, Towncentric, for more information and timetable.
Invariably the historic London Cruise Terminal will have a visiting cruise liner in dock. For more information visit http://londoncruiseterminal.com .
By Foot
Begin or end your journey on foot at Gravesend on two national long distance walks.
The Weald Way
The Wealdway starts from Town Pier, Gravesend and finishes in Eastbourne, East Sussex. A 129 kilometre (80 mile) route.
Saxon Shore Way
Walk the Saxon Shore Way starting at the Town Pier, Gravesend, and following the ancient coastline of Kent for 230 kilometres (134 miles) following the bank of the River Thames and finishing in Rye, East Sussex. Named after the line of historic fortifications that defended the Kent coast at the end of the Roman era, it includes sights like Iron Age hill forts, churches, a cathedral, Martello towers, historic ports, and castles. There are also two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest and several Nature Reserves, said Explore Kent, the organisation responsible for its introduction. The route is also ideal for walking, cycling, horse riding and enjoying days out in the county.
The North Downs Way
Skirting the south eastern boundary of the borough, the North Downs Way is a national trail (227 kilometres, 142 miles,) starting at Farnham in Surrey and finishing at Dover, which takes in some of the finest aspects of the Kent Downs. When not on top of the scarp, the trail follows the Pilgrims Way - the legendary route that may have been used by Pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. There are many circular walks accessible from the trail and local railway stations, helping you to discover the local landscape, heritage and history of our downland villages.
By Cycle
National Cycle Route 1 runs through Gravesham between London and the Kent Coast. Visit Sustrans for more information.