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Major city · United Kingdom

Gillingham, KentGillingham

Use Gillingham station for the 45–65 min train to London, but sleep in Rochester or Chatham: one night here at most.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Gillingham is one of the three Medway Towns, with Rochester and Chatham, on the River Medway in north Kent. It is a working town with a football club, a military-engineering museum and a dry ski slope, not a sightseeing base. Trains reach London in 45–65 minutes, so most travellers sleep in Rochester or Chatham and pass through Gillingham, or use it as a cheap bed for a London or Kent trip.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (cold, wet, short days)
Airports
LGW · STN · LHR · LCY
Nights
1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Gillingham, Kent999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Gillingham, Kent, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • BeerPint of draught beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Metro or bus rideBus ride in the Medway Towns£2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Museum or sight ticketRoyal Engineers Museum, adult annual ticket£17.50 (≈ US$25)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room£90 (≈ US$120)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, chain hotel, a night, per room£85 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedDouble room, chain hotel, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £140 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Royal Engineers MuseumGillingham FC (the Gills)Medway Towns riversideFast trains to London
Airports
LGW London Gatwick (About 1 h 15 min by train to Gillingham via London or Redhill.) · STN London Stansted (About 1 h 45 min by train via London.) · LHR London Heathrow (About 2 h by train via central London.) · LCY London City (About 1 h 15 min by train via London.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  5. May

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (23°C (73°F)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest May (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Gillingham, Kent: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C (46°F)

2°C (36°F)

12 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

Mar

11°C (52°F)

4°C (39°F)

10 rd

Apr

14°C (57°F)

5°C (41°F)

9 rd

May

18°C (64°F)

8°C (46°F)

8 rd

Jun

21°C (70°F)

11°C (52°F)

8 rd

Jul

23°C (73°F)

13°C (55°F)

8 rd

Aug

23°C (73°F)

13°C (55°F)

8 rd

Sep

20°C (68°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

8°C (46°F)

11 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

Dec

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Local buses run under Arriva Medway Towns and Nu-Venture; the three towns are close enough to link by train or bus in 5–15 minutes. Gillingham station is the main rail stop for the area, with Southeastern services to London Charing Cross and Victoria, and the Javelin high-speed service from St Pancras. A car helps for the ski slope and out-of-town hotels; parking in the centre is limited.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Rochester

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Train or bus from Gillingham, 5–10 min

Cathedral, castle and the Dickens connection; the best half-day in the Medway Towns.

Chatham

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Train or bus from Gillingham, 5–10 min

Historic dockyard; allow most of a day.

Canterburygo

Door to door: About 1 h

Train via Faversham or the A2 by car, about 51 km (32 mi)

Cathedral and old streets; a full day.

Londongo

Door to door: 45–65 min by train

Southeastern to Charing Cross or Victoria, or Javelin from St Pancras

Easy day trip; book off-peak for the cheapest fare.

Dovergo

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Train via Faversham or the A2 by car

Castle and cliffs; check train times.

Margate

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Train via Faversham, check the connection

Beach and Turner gallery; a long half-day.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Gillingham station and High Street

Cheapest beds and the fastest walk to the London train; the High Street is pedestrianised between the station and the library.

Rochester and Chatham

Better base for sights, food and the riverside; 5–10 min by train or bus from Gillingham.

Gillingham Business Park (ME8)

Chain hotels with parking; only useful with a car.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, chain hotel1 × 1 night × £85£85
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
Train London → Gillingham, off-peak return2 × £30£60
Bus day ticket, Medway Towns2 × £6£12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£34
Trip total≈ £186 per person per day, bed included£371≈ US$500

2026 estimate in pounds; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips£9–14 (≈ US$12–19)
Pub main meal£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Pint of draught beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus ride in the Medway Towns£2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
Train Gillingham → London, off-peak return£25–40 (≈ US$35–55)
Royal Engineers Museum, adult annual ticket£17.50 (≈ US$25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Gillingham is a normal working town and is safe by day; the centre can feel rough after dark around the High Street and station, so keep to lit streets and use licensed taxis.
  • Buy a ticket to Gillingham in Kent, not Gillingham in Dorset: the two are often confused at ticket machines.
  • The Javelin high-speed service from St Pancras carries a supplement unless you start outside the London area; check before you board.
  • The Royal Engineers Museum closes on Mondays; check opening days before you travel.
  • Late-night trains from London thin out after about 23:00; check the last service back.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Gillingham, KentGillingham

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Gillingham; most are in London. The US Embassy is in London (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Gillingham → London Charing Cross: about 60–65 min, off-peak return £25–40 (≈ US$35–55)
  • Gillingham → London St Pancras, Javelin: about 45 min, supplement applies
  • Gillingham → Rochester: 5–10 min by train or bus

Say or show

  • Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry
  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

English is the only language you need here.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gillingham, Kent. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (cold, wet, short days) · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LGW and STN: last trains, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters for the Medway Towns: Gillingham High Street, Rochester, Chatham dockyard.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs for the Royal Engineers Museum and Gillingham FC fixtures.
  4. Hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources