Left luggage: a cheeky trick
I was on one of my flying visits to London today, for a couple of work meetings. The trains from the north all go into Kings Cross St. Pancras; I have a nifty little money-saving tip that I’m going to share here, just in case it helps anyone else.
You see, when I get to Kings Cross I always pack away my laptop and swap my comfy boots for spiky heels. But this leaves me with a couple of extra bags that I don’t want to haul around all day long - and especially not when I’m balanced precariously on designer footwear! Kings Cross has a Left Luggage desk but it’s £6.50 per item per day, which is pretty steep in my book.
So this is what I do. I exit the station and pop into the lovely British Library, next door. There’s a locker room down the stairs, and it’s free to use. The lockers take luggage of all shapes and sizes; they take a pound coin as deposit, but you get that back when you open them again. The lockers are intended to be used by the readers, but even if you aren’t a registered reader (which I am *flutters eyelashes*), the locker room is in a public part of the building and technically, it’s open to all. So you shouldn’t feel too naughty!
This ploy saved me £13.00 today; not quite enough to offset the stupendously stupendous price of my train ticket, but hey ho.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
What a great tip, I don’t know if I’d be brave enough to leave my laptop though… that badboy is rarely allowed out of my sight!
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I know exactly what you mean - I’m crazy protective over mine too. But I’m perfectly happy to leave it in a British Library locker - partly because the place has such a peaceful, cosy “safe” feel to it. And partly because nobody expects you to leave a laptop in one of the lockers: the readers who use the lockers tend to take their laptops in with them!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Hi - I came via FruGal’s site and wanted to say thanks for this tip. Sometimes I travel down from oop north for a workshop and I have mightily resented paying the King’s Cross fee.
Sparkly
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
@Sparkly: Yay! I was worried that this tip might be a bit “niche” - so I’m really happy that it has helped someone.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:48 am
THANK YOU!!!
This will be a great tip for me :0)
Frugal Trenchess last blog post..I’m Back & Gratitude!
September 9th, 2008 at 5:52 am
I agree with your post. Which is not something I will usually do!
I enjoy reading a post that will make one think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
September 12th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
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