Options for London-Cheltenham-Blackpool-Mansfield-London

[bennunn]

My wife and I are keen football fans but don't drive - and an intensive programme of pre-season friendlies has left us with something of a poser.

For some reason, probably known only to Steven Pressley four games have been arranged in five days in four different parts of the country!

Three of them are at grounds I haven't visited so not going isn't an option! Week off already booked!

On Tuesday July 23 we're playing Cheltentham (evening), followed by Fleetwood on Wednesday 24.

Thursday 25 is (for now!) a day off for the players, then we're at Mansfield Town on the Friday evening. (We're also playing Oxford on the Saturday, but I've already been to that ground so not really bothered about it).

We live in Lewisham and as we'll be away for a few nights we'll have luggage with us. Here's my current thinking:

Tuesday - single advance tickets out to Birmingham New St. Check into hotel. Train to Cheltenham Spa for the game (day returns), then back to Brum.

Wednesday - travel from Brum to Blackpool via Preston (probably advance singles again). Stay 2 nights in Blackpool using tram to get to Fleetwood.

Thursday - free day in Blackpool, go to pleasure beach etc.

Friday - set off earlyish from Blackpool. Long, tortuous journey to Mansfield somehow probably advance singles again. Stay in Mansfield (or possibly Nottingham?) Maybe use Nottingham tram to get around?

Saturday - back to London from Mansfield / Nottingham (advance single?)

Are there better options? Are we getting into 'rover' territory?

We don't mind travelling first class *if* the price differential isn't huge and it includes complimentary refreshments.

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks!

 

[soil]

For first class you will want advance tickets. You could do London - Birmingham - Blackpool - Manchester - Sheffield - London on a London - Blackpool off-peak return (£86) (add in BHM - Cheltenham CDR, SHF - Mansfield, and Mansfield - Nottingham singles).

But you may find Advance tickets cheaper. I had a quick look, looks like London - Birmingham £6, Birmingham - Blackpool £19, Blackpool - Sheffield £11, Nottingham - London £12, so only around £48 all-in, which is a fair saving.

 

[bb21]

Advance singles are probably your best bet, if you can get decent prices. For four/five days' leisurely travelling, it is not really worth getting an All Line Rover, and there isn't a regional rover that will cover such a vast area you are visiting.

The Heart of England Rover (3-in-7 version / 7-day version) might be of interest, however you will need to sort out travels between Crewe/Chester and Blackpool, between Nottingham and Mansfield, and to/from London.

 

[paul@skegby.org.]

I live in Mansfield and make the journey to/from Blackpool about 3 time a year.
I often do Chesterfield to Manchester then Manchester to Blackpool, sometimes splitting at Preston works.

I use the bus to travel from Mansfield to Chesterfield, bus is approx every 30min with a journey of 45mins, Fare is £3.70 sgl.

In Mansfield the bus & rail station are side by side, and the football ground "Mansfield One Call Stadium" is across the road 5mins walk.

The bus station in Chesterfield is about 15mins walk away.

There's an hotel adjacent to the railway station too, but have no idea what it like.

 

[Sacro]

Friday - set off earlyish from Blackpool. Long, tortuous journey to Mansfield somehow probably advance singles again. Stay in Mansfield (or possibly Nottingham?) Maybe use Nottingham tram to get around?

Saturday - back to London from Mansfield / Nottingham (advance single?)

Enjoy your bus ride! Mansfield has no trains that week due to Nottingham being shut.

I think the bus to Chesterfield is probably your best option. The bus to Sheffield takes around 2 hours. That or perhaps a (service) bus to Nottingham

 

[Yew]

I think the bus to Chesterfield is probably your best option. The bus to Sheffield takes around 2 hours. That or perhaps a (service) bus to Nottingham

That would be my suggestion, I have a friend who goes to Sheffield regularly and this is what he does?

 

[ashworth]

Blackpool to Mansfield is a long tortuous journey even when Nottingham station is open! I also do a similar journey return (Hucknall to Blackpool) about 3 times a year to visit friends.
I did the journey last week and it took me just over 4 hours each way!

With the Nottingham-Mansfield-Worksop rail line being closed that week I also would suggest getting the bus from Chesterfield to Mansfield. For cheap Advance Purchase fares split at Manchester.
Don't completely rule out the 53 bus from Sheffield to Mansfield which actually takes 1hr 35 min but it is very infrequent. The main advantage of this is cheap Advance Fares from Blackpool to Sheffield and also the the bus station at Sheffield being more convenient for the rail station than the one at Chesterfield.

Another alternative is Blackpool to Alfreton (again Advance Singles splitting at Manchester). There is a bus every 30 minutes to Mansfield from on the main road adjacent to Alfreton station. Journey time is about 40 minutes.

Getting back from Mansfield to London Advance singles are often same price as from Nottingham although it will be 2 rail replacement buses to Nottingham then to East Midlands Parkway that week. Again getting the bus form Mansfield to Chesterfield or even to Derby or Newark Northgate may be a better alternative

 

[johnnychips]

There is coach NX312 dep Blackpool 1230 arr Sheffield 1555 on Fri 26th July. Then NX 310 at 1700 to Mansfield arr 1805. £46 for two. There is a nice pub next to the Interchange in Sheffield, very old, whose name escapes me, if you want some snap. Actually the cafe just above the coach departures is good as well.

I just tried and it isn't cheaper to split your NX tickets at Sheffield! The 53 bus is not convenient off this connection.