Re what you can take on trains,
if you actually read the national rail conditions of carriage on what can and can't be taken on a train, you'd find many a passenger shouldn't be travelling with what they are.
When I was more actively into archery, I found it amusing that the TFL limits were less strict than the national rail one, so you can take a bow that is upto 2m long on the underground, but you'll have to chop it down to 1.83m when you get on the train...
Not that anyone cares. I travelled with 7ft spears and shields and all sorts and noone cared. ditto 2.26m long ikea stuff...
J