Shell
A relatively good starting spot since it's easy to reach with the overground from London proper. However not too many cars stop at the gas station and they are not stopping for a thumb. I did find a ride that was able to take me at least a bit further on the highway in the direction of Dover for higher chances to find someone to take me further.This was around 10 am in mid August.
rating: 2/5, wait: 20 min 💬, ride: 9 km ↘
―thebeekeeper, October 2024
I live in London and have used this spot a few times, in fact it's where I started my first-ever hitchhiking trip. Never had to wait more than 20 mins with an "M20" sign (I've always been here around 9-11am). This is the ideal spot to start hitchhiking towards Dover/Europe in my opinion!
rating: 5/5, wait: 15 min, ride: 54 km ↘
―i_have_jelly_babies, August 2023
Scored a ride very quickly with a sign for Maidstone. Ended up helping a couple workers deliver sofas in London for a few hours before getting where I wanted to go, good fun and great spot. Just smile and look friendly as us English are sceptical.
rating: 5/5, wait: 4 min, ride: 41 km ↘
―That_sid_guy, January 2023
Been their on the 05/03/2016 and waited 55 min for a ride to dover ! So i guess not bad for a first hitchik !
―Marouan ben, March 2016
i've waited 15min to get a lift with a "maidstone services" sign on a saturday...
―Anonymous, December 2014
5 minutes with a Maidstone sign on a Sunday. Great stop, much place for cars.
―Valeska, October 2014
A friendly lorry stopped for the two of us in the middle of the road after twenty minutes of holding a MAIDSTONE M20 sign.
―Makuc, August 2014
Two of us waited an hour in the morning, petrol station quiet and not really heading to m20 but someone stopped on the road at our sign.
―Anonymous, July 2013
Did sign + asking people on a sundy between 8:20 – 10:00 – took me a pretty long while to get away there, mostly local people stopping, got a ride with people going fishing to Dover…
―Ottilie, June 2013
I find this spot pretty cool - I waited with my girlfriend no more than 30 minutes to get picked up.
―KKoyot, April 2013
Arrived before dusk¸ while there are clearly people leaving for Europe it doesn't work well for some reason and even finding a lift until Maidstone services is quite hard - ended up taking a lift to a Junction before Maidstone and making it from there by walking on the motorway and getting picked up by Transport Police!
―Atopia, October 2012
waited for dover ride for two hours as well!
london takes time
―Anonymous, June 2012
Two of us needed to wait for about an hour and a half to get a lift. The petrol station staff were brilliant and tried to help at all times (their advice was not necessarily useful, though- don't go to the place with "many cars" up the road that the guy might recommend)
―Upi4kumaterinu, April 2012
two hours i long... i tried this spot twice, and waited 1h30, and 45min. It's too long too. I'll try another spot next time.
―Anonymous, December 2011
I tried it on a Friday at 7.40 am and got a ride literally just as I stood up with a sign saying "M20". Got a ride to Maidstone services.
―Ignas, June 2011
Steve and Ben pass by the gas station every week day between 3-5pm and they pick up every hitchhiker they find in their way.
They don't go straight to Dover but they can drop you in a lorry park where it's easy to get a ride.
―Anonymous, March 2011
Good spot to leave London in direction of Dover
rating: 3/5
―Anonymous
gas station on the corner of Court rd and Sidcup rd, leads to the m20, had a ride within 10 minutes
rating: 4/5
―Anonymous
I asked 20 cars to find one going on the M20 (Dover).
rating: 5/5
―Anonymous
This is an awesome spot. Only waited two hours with a sign that read "Dover". My first hitching experience as an American was wonderful :)
rating: 4/5
―Anonymous