Help needed for overnight stay

[Mark K]

hi there,

First off, what a great forum, lots of helpful information here!

My girlfirend and I will be traveling from Luton to Trafalgar Square soon and would like to know what sort of ticket would suit us best?

We will be leaving on a Friday (off peak) and returning home on Saturday afternoon, is there a ticket that can cover two days which includes use of the underground? We are staying at a hotel in London so would need to catch the underground from St.Pancras to Charing Cross and walk the rest of the way as its only a 10 min walk from there.

I've had a look on quite a few ticket sites and all they tell me is how to buy a single or return on the same day ticket. Buying two singles for each way seems silly and im sure there's another way of doing it.

Any help would be appreciated!

Mark

 

[bengolding]

There definitely is an Anytime return from Luton Airport Parkway to London Zone 1 or 2 (Trainline says it is £27.60 for both), the return is valid for 1 month to cater for air travellers. This enables you to go out on Friday and return back on Saturday with one ticket - cheaper than buying 2 singles from Luton to London and back. You only then need to buy singles from Luton to Luton Airport Parkway and back - make sure you do this otherwise you may be liable for a penalty fare.

 

[Mark K]

Thanks for the quick response Ben,

I'm quite happy to go from Luton parkway and return there too as i will be getting a taxi from home anyway. Do i just need to ask for an anytime return including zone 1 in London at the ticket booth then?

Any idea how much this sort of ticket would cost?

 

[Mojo]

I note that you said you'd like to use the Underground - I presume you're after something that can be used for unlimited journeys, rather than just a single journey from St Pancras to Charing + (for Trafalgar Square)?

 

[Mark K]

It would be nice to have one ticket that covers the underground as well as the overground journey. Similar to a day pass return I guess? Probably asking for too much now

If its not possible then just something that will cover the underground from St.Pancras to Charing Cross and back again.

 

[bengolding]

Yes, at Luton Airport Parkway you should ask for an Anytime (Open) Return to London Zone 1 or 2, which costs £27.60 per person. If you want to get travelcards in London, you can just get the Anytime Return to London without the underground which is cheaper at £20.50. Make sure the ticket clerk doesn't confuse this ticket with the Anytime Day Return, which you don't want.

 

[clagmonster]

The ticket you want is a saver return to Luton or Luton Airport Parkway to London Thameslink (valid as far as London Bridge), priced at £20.50. Both outward and return portions are valid departing after 09:30 on weekdays with the exception of trains that pass through St Pancras between 17:30-18:30. At weekends the ticket is unresticted. From St Pancras, you can then use the tube, which is £4 for a single journey or £7.50 for a zone 1-6 day travelcard (tickets for less zones are available). The Oyster single fare within zone 1 is £1.60.
Alternatively, you can get an open return from Luton Airport Pw (but not Luton) to Zone U12* Londn for £27.60. This ticket is completely unrestricted.

 

[Mark K]

Forgive my naivity but whats Zone U12* stand for?!

 

[bengolding]

Zone U12* means the ticket is valid for a single journey on the underground to any station within London zone 2. If you just get the Anytime Return to London at £20.50, another poster has said that is valid to London Bridge from where it is a short leisurely walk along the river to Trafalgar Square.

 

[Mark K]

Thanks for your help guys its much appreciated, i think i'll opt for the Anytime Open Return to Zone 1 for £27.60 as this covers me for the underground too. That way I can just hop onto the underground as soon as i get off at St Pancras.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

... valid to London Bridge from where it is a short leisurely walk along the river to Trafalgar Square.

:? It's a couple of miles or so from London Bridge to Trafalgar Square along the South bank of the Thames, so you would need to allow at least 40 minutes for a "leisurely" walk.

 

[F Great Eastern]

You can get one of these for 10 quid single as well:
http://www.mobitix.thetrainline.com/fcc/advancePurchase.aspx

You don't have to travel from the Airport, you can just get on/off at Parkway.