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
[...] like to stretch the boundaries, but I’m really careful not to cross the line. This is because I have learned that when you [...]
July 17th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Great tip!! Although… are the lockers big enough to take a rucksack and a (small) tent? I’ll be killing time in London en route to a festival so as long as it’s big enough for a rucksack!
July 19th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
@Iain: yep, reckon you could squeeze a rucksack into one of the larger lockers – you may have to give it a good shove though!
- Miss T.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Hmm, change of plan – any tips for similar facilities near Liverpool Street station??
Iain
July 29th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Sorry Iain – I don’t! I normally end up lugging my bags around when I go via Liverpool Street. Grumble.
- Miss T.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Thanks, this a great idea.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Wonderful tip! I am heading to Edinburgh today to surprise my boyfriend so this is perfect as I will have a large suitcase of work stuff with me… thanks a million and fingers crossed! x x
November 4th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I see….so this is the reason why one can never find a free locker in the BL! I agree that £6.50 is a bit steep but how about leaving them for those of us who actually go there to do work? Might want to think about that next time….
November 4th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
@Graham Can you really never find a free locker in the BL? Whenever I am there, irrespective of the time of day, there are scores of them!
Besides, if the lockers are all full, you can always leave your coat/bag in the manned, secure cloakroom…
- Miss T.
March 4th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Hello, do you know until what time you can access the library’s lockers at night?
Apart from the enormous amount of money needed to leave you luggage at Kings’ cross Left Luggage (it’s 8 £ now!) they close at 11 p.m. and since I’m going to a gig on Friday night I might as well be running late…
Thanks!