where can i get a bike box in central london/ v.near Gatwick airport?

cheap as chips preferred.

Try evans in gatwick.

Yep, just ask nicely at any LBS and they should be happy to give you one.

Also, worth asking for the fork spacers that new bikes come with, IMO.

the fork spacers?

i got a bike bag. but im hertfordshire

Yep. When a new bike is delivered, there’s no wheel in the fork. This means that the fork is more prone to crushing from sideways loads. As a result, manufacturers put a spacer in the dropouts. It’s just a bit of plastic, but really helps.

if you can’t get any dropout savers (or whatever they’re called) i just cut a piece of cardboard and roll it up into a tube, then put that in the rear dropout or forks. try crushing a tube of cardboard from each end?