Brighton to Ash Vale via Kings Cross

[coastwallker]

I wonder if someone can advise on the best way to do this trip which will combine two journeys next Wednesday 26th February.

I am travelling with my two year old grandson from Peterborough to Ash Vale via Kings Cross. We plan to cross London on the bus (as little'n is keen to ride on a red bus). I have an Oyster card for that bit.

My son is coming up from Brighton to meet us at KX and will then travel to Ash Vale with us. He will stay the night and go back to Brighton next day.

We both have Network Cards (I presume I don't have to pay for the two year old?). I will have a return ticket from Ash Vale to Peterborough with a split at Huntingdon to take advantage of the Network Card and will leave Peterborough at 11.46 using FCC. My son will leave Brighton after 10.

My thoughts are that my son can get a period return from Brighton to Ash Vale via Clapham Junction, break the journey at Clapham and buy a ticket across to Kings Cross. We will then get a single from Waterloo to Clapham Junction, making sure we are on a train that stops there.

Does that work or is there a better way of doing it?

Many thanks in advice for your advice.

 

[James Wake]

I would personally agree that a Brighton to Ash Vale ticket not via London would be best, but to break the journey at East Croydon, and have a single from East Croydon to St Pancras, which is next door to Kings Cross. What ticket would be used on the bus for your son? Then yes, a Waterloo to Clapham single would be fine, only a couple of quid I believe with a Railcard. You can get to Ash Vale via Ascot or Aldershot, all Reading trains that serve Ascot stop at Clapham Junction. If someone else knows better, please feel free to differ from my option.

And yes two year olds are free of charge on the railways. From the age of five he will need a ticket.

 

[coastwallker]

I hadn't thought about changing at East Croydon - thank you for that idea.
My son will just pay for the bus on the day.

 

[Deerfold]

And yes two year olds are free of charge on the railways. From the age of five he will need a ticket.

Note that on London Underground and London Overground services accompanied children under 11 do not need a ticket.
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I hadn't thought about changing at East Croydon - thank you for that idea.
My son will just pay for the bus on the day.

Will that be with Oyster - it's much cheaper than the 2.40 bus fare.

 

[coastwallker]

No he doesn't have an Oyster card as he rarely visits London.
One of those times when paying cash for the bus is the way to do it.

 

[MikeWh]

No he doesn't have an Oyster card as he rarely visits London.
One of those times when paying cash for the bus is the way to do it.

What about a contactless credit card? Same price as Oyster as long as you don't use it 4 or more times in a day.

 

[coastwallker]

What about a contactless credit card? Same price as Oyster as long as you don't use it 4 or more times in a day.

He doesn't have a credit card at all - very low income and sensibly because of that only living with cash.

By the way your Oyster explanation site is brilliant. I found it very confusing at first but I think I have got the hang of it now.

 

[andrewkeith5]

He doesn't have a credit card at all - very low income and sensibly because of that only living with cash.

By the way your Oyster explanation site is brilliant. I found it very confusing at first but I think I have got the hang of it now.

Contactless is available on Debit Cards too, I do wish people would stop saying "contactless credit card" when "contactless card" is more than sufficient! Well worth checking as it is very useful to have.

 

[coastwallker]

I'll check it out. Maybe he has got one of those. Thank you