London Luggage Storage
LondonBackpackers.net guide to storing your bags
In the log files of a website, you can see what people are searching for to find your site. I have noticed that a lot of people are searching for luggage storage in London. As a backpaker myself, I have previously wanted this service too, so I thought I would do some research and find out what options there are to store your bags or backpack.
So, you are looking for a place to leave your heavy bags while you do some lightweight travelling. Well, storing your bags somewhere has traditionally been quite difficult. You could leave them with a friend, but first you need one of them in London. Hostels have luggage storage facilities usually, but they are normally for short term, say 1 day.(Otherwise the bags would pile up quickly!) In the past, traveller friendly companies have offered to store your bags for free, but they soon found their entire offices full of bags, and those bags made it impossible for them to move offices...so they stoppped this practice. Train and Bus stations often have baggage storage facilities, but these are short term too, and will cost you probably £4 per day or more.
Probably, the best option to store your bags somewhere in London is a professional storage company. This isn't as expensive as you might believe. The best solution I have found, is ABC storage, who have 3 good locations in London. Particularily their Southwark location is good for backpackers, who don't have too much to store. They have lockers that are one metre square for £35 per 4 weeks, or 1.5m for £45. This works out to as £8.75-£11.25 per week. Perfect. Probably even better if there are a couple of you to share the locker. (I wonder if you can get away with sleeping in them....)
ABC storage have 24 hour access to your locker too, so thats pretty impressive. You need a padlock(I guess you should make it a good one) and the first 4 weeks payment PLUS a deposit of another 4 weeks payment. They have video CCTV surveillance, smoke and fire detection and extensive intruder alarm systems, all monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You hold the only key to your unit and every visitor to the facility is asked to quote a PIN number. You can stay as long as you like, there’s no minimum store period and you can vacate without giving notice. When you leave, the charges will be adjusted accordingly and you will be refunded any advance payment you have made for days you haven’t used. Frankly I find all this pretty impressive. They even give you a freephone number 0800 015 0896..(+44 20 7232 5690 outside the UK)...you can look at their website by going to www.abcselfstore.co.uk.
Hmm, by the way I have written this you would think I am working for this company. I'm not. I haven't included lots of different other links because, quite frankly, you probably will not get a better and cheaper option to store your bags in London. I haven't used this service myself, and cannot make any guarantees at all, so it is up to you to check out their website and make a judgement for yourself. Let me know how it works out. Email me at stu AT londonbackpackers.net (I haven't written it properly because email addresses on web pages produce spam...and I hate spam!)
stu
londonbackpackers.net