Rainham still has the feel of a riverside village, with a Norman church, a Georgian merchant's house and a small green, even though the A13 roars past a few hundred metres away. To the south, the marshes stretch down to the Thames, and the Dartford Crossing is a few minutes east. That makes Rainham one of the best starting points in London for a day out in Essex or Kent. Minibus hire Rainham customers book is mostly day trips, to Southend and the Kent coast and over the crossing to Bluewater, along with nature days, family events and school trips.
Rainham sits in the south of Havering, on the c2c line, between Dagenham, Hornchurch, Wennington and the river. From our base in SE1, it's about fifty minutes to an hour outside the rush hour, along the A13.
Minibus hire Rainham for day trips to Southend
Southend seafront, with its pier, Adventure Island and the beaches at Westcliff and Thorpe Bay, is about thirty-five to forty-five minutes from Rainham outside the rush hour, along the A13. Leigh-on-Sea, with its cockle sheds and fish restaurants, is on the way. Families, senior clubs, youth groups and birthday parties book us for days at the coast. Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world, has a train out to the end, and a group can ride out and walk back.
The driver drops near the seafront, waits or goes off, and returns at the agreed time. On sunny summer weekends and bank holidays, the A13 and the roads into Southend are slow, so we'll plan an early start. Minibus hire Rainham groups book for a seaside day usually leaves by nine to beat the traffic.
Kent outings over the Dartford Crossing
The Dartford Crossing is about ten to fifteen minutes from Rainham, and on the far side, Bluewater is about twenty-five minutes away, Chatham Historic Dockyard about forty-five, Leeds Castle about fifty and the Kent coast at Margate and Whitstable about an hour and a quarter. Lakeside, in Thurrock, is about ten minutes without crossing the river. For a family day at Bluewater, the driver drops at the coach area and comes back at a time you choose.
The Dartford Crossing charge is paid online or by account, and if your trip crosses the river at Dartford, it goes on the quote. The crossing can back up badly at peak times and after an incident, so for timed visits we'll leave a margin.
Rainham Marshes and nature days
Rainham Marshes, an RSPB reserve on the riverbank between Rainham and Purfleet, has boardwalks, bird hides, a visitor centre and views of the river, and it's one of the best places near London to see wading birds and water voles. The visitor centre has a café with views over the marshes, and the riverside path continues to Purfleet. The Ingrebourne Valley and Hornchurch Country Park, to the north, have more walks, wetlands and the remains of a wartime airfield.
Schools, nature clubs and walking groups book us for days on the marshes. The driver drops at the visitor centre car park and returns at the agreed time, and the boardwalks are flat and suit pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Rainham Hall and the village
Rainham Hall, an elegant Georgian house built for a merchant captain called John Harle in 1729, is run by the National Trust and opens to visitors, with a café and garden. The Norman church of St Helen and St Giles stands opposite. Local history groups and schools book us for visits, and the house has changing exhibitions about the people who lived there.
Families book us for weddings, christenings, anniversaries and big birthdays, with guests collected from homes across Rainham, South Hornchurch and Wennington, and taken to venues in Havering and Essex. Venues in the Essex countryside, a short drive east, host many Rainham receptions, and a minibus saves guests the drive home on dark lanes.
Airports and the A13
Southend Airport is about thirty-five to forty-five minutes from Rainham outside the rush hour, via the A13 and the A127. London City is about twenty-five minutes, Stansted about forty-five minutes via the M25 and the M11, and Gatwick about an hour, over the crossing and down the M25. For early Southend flights, the A13 and the A127 are clear before six.
The A13 and Wennington Road
The A13 is Rainham's main link, and it's fast outside the rush hour and slow during it, with queues at the Wennington and Ferry Lane junctions. The village roads, Broadway and Wennington Road in particular, are narrow with parked cars, and the level crossing by Rainham station can hold traffic. Pickups happen at agreed points near the village, and for early starts we'll allow time for the A13.
For minibus hire in Rainham, call 020 7183 0567.