Crossing London on an advanced tickets

[shires666]

For Example, I wish to travel from Wakefield Westgate to Maidstone for a price of £33 according to national rail. Would this ticket mean I must use the specified East coast service to Kings Cross and then make my way to Maidstone using trains/tube I'm not tied to? Or do I have to follow the itinerary the journey planner gives me for the connections

 

[Deerfold]

On advance tickets (there's no "d") you must catch and reserved trains as specified and otherwise you can catch any unreservable trains, so in this case, yes, you can catch a later train to Maidstone.

I'm not sure you'd need to get the tube as you should be able to get a connection from St Pancras.

 

[Eagle]

I'm not sure you'd need to get the tube as you should be able to get a connection from St Pancras.

There are only a few direct trains a day between St Pancras and Maidstone West. Othertimes you have to change again at Strood.

 

[island]

You must use the specified train from Wakefield Westgt to London Kings X but you can use any reasonable connecting train onwards. Note that there is a restriction on using Advance tickets on Southeastern high speed services from St Pancakes between 1600 and 1859 inclusive on weekdays.

Bear in mind that break of journey isn't permitted on Advance tickets.

 

[Deerfold]

There are only a few direct trains a day between St Pancras and Maidstone West. Othertimes you have to change again at Strood.

But at most times quicker than going to Victoria.
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Note that there is a restriction on using Advance tickets on Southeastern high speed services from St Pancakes between 1600 and 1859 inclusive on weekdays.

Bear in mind that break of journey isn't permitted on Advance tickets.

Ah yes, hadn't spotted that. Did a journey from Yorkshire to London recently using HS1 but was rather earlier than that and I had an itinerary for the trip I was doing just in case.

 

[MKD]

Don't forget that you have an alternative route to London if you're prepared to hop across Wakefield to Kirkgate where you can get a few Grand Central trains a day from there to Kings Cross from as little as £10 with an Advance ticket, eg leaving you £23 from that potential £33 budget which would pay for an Anytime Day Single to Maidstone.
Tried it myself for the first time in the Spring (after a visit to the Hepworth) and very good value.