Welling High Street follows Watling Street, the Roman road from London to Dover, and the town grew up as a stopping place for travellers heading into Kent. Today the travellers are mostly schoolchildren, because Welling and its neighbours have several of the most sought-after grammar schools in south-east London, along with primaries and secondaries that draw pupils from across Bexley and Greenwich. Minibus hire Welling customers book is mostly school runs and fixtures, park days, family events and runs to Gatwick.
Welling sits in the west of Bexley borough, close to the Greenwich boundary, between Bexleyheath, Eltham, Blackfen and East Wickham, with the A207 running through it and the A2 to the south. From our base in SE1, it's about forty to fifty minutes outside the rush hour, out along the A2.
Minibus hire Welling for school runs
Welling's primaries and secondaries, Welling School, Bexley Grammar School and the schools of East Wickham and Falconwood book us for regular runs as well as trips. Weekly swimming lessons, transfers between school sites, after-school clubs and runs for pupils who travel to specialist schools all suit a minibus.
A regular run keeps the same stops, times and seat numbers through the term, with changes made as timetables shift. For pupils with additional needs, the seating and the escort arrangements are agreed with the school before the first run, and parents get the details too. Many primaries run holiday clubs in the summer, and a minibus suits trips to farms, pools and parks during the holidays.
Grammar school fixtures
The grammar schools in and around Welling and Bexleyheath play a full programme of rugby, football, hockey, netball and cricket against schools across Kent and south London, and they travel to county and national competitions. Fixtures on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons are the busiest. Rugby is especially strong, and fixtures against schools in Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Maidstone mean longer runs. Bexley Grammar School's large sixth form also books us for university open days.
Teams travel with their kit and staff, and the driver waits for the result, however long the match runs. For a busy Saturday, we can run more than one vehicle to different venues, each timed to its own kick-off. Minibus hire Welling schools book for a term of fixtures can be set up in one go, with the dates and venues sent through in advance.
Danson Park and family days
Danson Park, right on the eastern edge of Welling, has a large lake used for sailing and rowing, the Georgian Danson House, a walled garden and wide lawns, and it hosts summer events and fun runs. The lake's watersports centre runs taster sessions for schools, and the playground and café are busy on summer afternoons. Nurseries, schools, childminders and families book us for days in the park, from picnics to sports days. East Wickham Open Space and Oxleas Wood, a short drive further west, have ancient woodland, a café at the top of the hill and views across London to Canary Wharf.
For a school sports day or a family picnic, the driver drops at the gate and returns at the agreed time.
Welling United and local sport
Welling United, the long-established non-league football club, plays at Park View Road, and supporters' groups and junior clubs book us for match days and away trips. Park View Road is a compact ground, and the crowd leaves quickly, so the pickup can be soon after the final whistle. Local cricket, football, rugby and athletics clubs book us for fixtures, county championships and tournaments across Kent and south London.
Gatwick and the A2
Gatwick is about forty-five to fifty-five minutes from Welling outside the morning rush hour, via the A2, the A20 and the M25. London City is about twenty-five to thirty-five minutes, through the Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel, and Stansted about an hour, over the Dartford Crossing. Tunnel and crossing charges, where they apply, are added to the quote. Families heading off in the summer holidays often book the return run at the same time.
For a family holiday, a minibus from the door with space for the cases avoids the train from Welling and a change at London Bridge.
The High Street and the A207
Welling High Street, the A207, is busy with buses and shoppers, with limited stopping and a lot of traffic at school times. The Falconwood junction on the A2 and the Black Prince interchange to the east are slow at peak times. The residential streets are long rows of semis with parked cars and driveways. Bellegrove Road, at the western end, and Welling Corner are slow at school times. Pickups happen at the school or on side roads, and for early starts we'll allow time for the A2.
For minibus hire in Welling, call 020 7183 0567.