Leicester - London Bridge Day Return

[themeone]

Would London Thameslink be available as a destination for this journey, or should I book it to London Underground Zone 1? No further travel in the Oyster zones will be needed, just one return trip St Pancras - London Bridge.

 

[signed]

Leicester - St Pancras or London Bridge - St Pancras?

If the latter, why not use contactless?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Don't think through fares are offered from Leicester to/from London Thameslink.

 

[themeone]

Don't think through fares are offered from Leicester to/from London Thameslink.

That was my impression from the journey planners I tried, but just wanted to double check.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Don't think through fares are offered from Leicester to/from London Thameslink.

They are, but it's only Season Tickets (including Flexi Seasons) once you get North of Bedford and they're only offered as far as Derby and Nottingham.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

They are, but it's only Season Tickets (including Flexi Seasons) once you get North of Bedford and they're only offered as far as Derby and Nottingham.

Indeed. OP was, of course, enquiring about a day return. Buying a season ticket would be a tad expensive for just the one return journey. So, what is the cheapest way of flexibly making the journey? A (time-restricted) Super Off Peak Return from Leicester to/from London Terminals at £81.30 and then something suitable onwards from London St. Pancras to/from London Bridge?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Indeed. OP was, of course, enquiring about a day return. Buying a season ticket would be a tad expensive for just the one return journey. So, what is the cheapest way of flexibly making the journey? A (time-restricted) Super Off Peak Return from Leicester to/from London Terminals at £81.30 and then something suitable onwards from London St. Pancras to/from London Bridge?

Without looking as I'm on my phone not in front of a computer, potentially a split involving Bedford, though that would mean changing from an Intercity to a connect at Kettering.

That said, I think most such useful splits got killed off after Stagecoach took over from NatEx back in the day.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Without looking as I'm on my phone not in front of a computer, potentially a split involving Bedford, though that would mean changing from an Intercity to a connect at Kettering.

Not sure Bedford works too well. Not much from Leicester stops there. How about a Super Off Peak Return from Leicester to/from somewhere like Sth Bermondsey at £84.80? Route ✠via London.

 

[Nottingham59]

I don't know about Leicester, but in the past I've found that from Nottingham the best option to London Bridge and back is either

• a Super Off-Peak return to London Bridge, or
• an off-peak return to Kettering and then a one-day off-peak Travelcard to London. (All the Nottingham trains call at Kettering, but not all Sheffields)

But I've not researched this recently and prices do change

 

[Haywain]

a Super Off-Peak return to London Bridge,

You can't get that, you would need a ticket to Zone U1.

 

[Kite159]

Not sure Bedford works too well. Not much from Leicester stops there. How about a Super Off Peak Return from Leicester to/from somewhere like Sth Bermondsey at £84.80? Route ✠via London.

Or even buying it to New Cross or New Cross Gate for the same price to give cross London validity for less than a Leicester - U1.

 

[marshlinker]

If you're happy to change to/ from a Connect service at Kettering (about 20-30 mins longer inc change):
Off Peak Day Return Leicester to Kettering £17.60 plus
Off peak Day Return Kettering to Bedford £18.80 plus
Off Peak Day Return Bedford to Croydon Stations Route +any permitted £38.40
Total £74.80
Sat/Sun/BH substitute:
Super Off Peak Day Return Bedford to Croydon Stations £28.20
Total £64.60

 

[themeone]

Many thanks, all. Some great ideas.

 

[MrJeeves]

Super Off Peak Day Return Bedford to Croydon Stations £28.20

On Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays, a Super Off-Peak Day Return to "London Thameslink" would save a bit more at £21.90.

 

[Haywain]

On Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays, a Super Off-Peak Day Return to "London Thameslink" would save a bit more at £21.90.

Even on a weekday, a Super Off Peak Day Return to London Thameslink (£31.40) would be cheaper than the East Croydon ticket and with very similar time restrictions. To avoid the afternoon restrictions an Off Peak Day Return to London Thameslink would be required at £39.50.