Anna Lyon’s plan to run in a London half marathon offered the chance of a capital time in the city
Our son, Ben, was busy plotting his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition Section. This involves spending four days and three nights in the great outdoors, with eight hours of planned activity each day and at least 50% of that time on the move – in his case, in the glorious scenery of the Peak District.
Meantime, Harvey and I were sitting opposite, planning our trip with Lucy, our seven-year-old Cavachon. Our city break would combine some sightseeing in the capital with my participation in the London Landmarks Half Marathon.
With our training schedules and routes sorted, and gear packed, we waved Ben off on his adventure – his fully laden backpack would be his only home for the next few nights.
Heading for the city Harvey, Lucy and I were able to continue our burden-free travels in greater comfort, heading for Abbey Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite.
This pleasant site in south-east London feels surprisingly rural, with mature trees and spacious grounds creating something of a green oasis. But its unique selling point has to be the location, which is ideal for exploring the capital.
Abbey Wood Station is just a short walk away, meaning you can be in central London in around 20 minutes on the smart new Elizabeth Line.
If you plan to visit, though, it is worth noting that the campsite lies within a Low Emission Zone, so a fee might be charged, based on your vehicle’s age, emissions and weight. You can find out more at tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle.
You’ll also need to check whether Congestion Charges apply, at tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/congestion-charge-zone.
Negotiating the traffic Understandably, as Abbey Wood is a popular campsite, it imposes strict rules about arrival and departure times, and for us, the 1pm arrival meant joining the busy A12 Friday traffic. Listening to podcasts kept us diverted as we crawled through the Dartford Tunnel, having paid the £2.50 Dart Charge at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge. Bear in mind that the fee has to be paid by midnight the next day to avoid a possible fine. Our trip, further hampered by road closures, took two hours longer than we expected, but we eventually reached the campsite, driving along residential streets.
In future, we will be sure to check tfl.gov.uk/traffic/status and the Club website for essential i
