Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Nagme

Could anyone assist us in tracking down the best way to travel from Milton Keynes to London this Wednesday?

I've been on Virgin and London Midland a few weeks ago but didn't book anything as I'm trying to hold out for the free Family and Friends 2 month Railcard, yet to arrive...

I went on the TFL website today to look at driving to Cockfosters and a one day tube ticket (what zone is C'fosters in?), but I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the options though, and I'm struggling to work out the cheapest way to do it.
Parking at MK central bus station could be anywhere between £5 and £9, Not sure of parking costs at Cockfosters.

We're two adults, one 5yr old, don't have an oyster card, and were planning on a visit to the Natural History Museum, then a bit of sightseeing, hopefully on an open top bus.

TIA

Edited to add: Just checked prices for open top buses, I think we'll just be doing the museum and a few tube stops to see Big Ben etc.

miller

One suggestion is to drive to Luton Airport Parkway (cheap parking after 10am I think) and combine it with this offer:
http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/come-back-may

These are the buses from South Kensington (for the museums)
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/southkensington-2236.pdf

You can use your Travelcard on most London Buses - if you walk to the Royal Albert Hall from the Natural History Museum I think the number 9 bus is still operated by the old routemasters. Hop on that to Trafalgar Sq. say for free.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/royalalberthall-12445.pdf

thelawnet

Nagme wrote: »

Could anyone assist us in tracking down the best way to travel from Milton Keynes to London this Wednesday?

You could get a Milton Keynes - London Virgin Only Travelcard.

£30.20 for 2 adults + 1 child with railcard.

Valid on Virgin trains to London (not London Midland) then all tube/bus in London.

The first permitted train is the 09:47, arriving London 10:23.

On the way back, you cannot return between 16:45 and 19:00.

No need to book, any train within the permitted times is allowed

wealdroam

Nagme wrote: »

Not sure of parking costs at Cockfosters.

Parking a Cockfosters tube station costs £5 per day. See here.

Another tube station to consider driving to is Stanmore... just over a mile from M1 junction 4. Same price.

Both carparks will be pretty full on a weekday though.

Remember, you wont be able to get the F&F Railcard discount on the travelcards if bought from a tube station.

dzug1

Problem is OP doesn't have the railcard - unless it arrives today

The 5YO will travel free in the TfL zones on most services so a travelcard from MK may not be the best of ideas, particularly if the railcard is not forthcoming

Nagme

thelawnet wrote: »

You could get a Milton Keynes - London Virgin Only Travelcard.

£30.20 for 2 adults + 1 child with railcard.

Valid on Virgin trains to London (not London Midland) then all tube/bus in London.

The first permitted train is the 09:47, arriving London 10:23.

On the way back, you cannot return between 16:45 and 19:00.

No need to book, any train within the permitted times is allowed

Thanks lawnet, this looks like our best bet if the F&F railcard turns up. One more question - will it be the same price if we purchase it at the station?

Nagme

wealdroam wrote: »

Parking a Cockfosters tube station costs £5 per day. See here .

Another tube station to consider driving to is Stanmore... just over a mile from M1 junction 4. Same price.

Both carparks will be pretty full on a weekday though.

Remember, you wont be able to get the F&F Railcard discount on the travelcards if bought from a tube station.

I'll show Stanmore to DH - this may be a good option if the railcard doesn't arrive in time.

Currently waiting for the postman....

thelawnet

dzug1 wrote: »

Problem is OP doesn't have the railcard - unless it arrives today

The 5YO will travel free in the TfL zones on most services so a travelcard from MK may not be the best of ideas, particularly if the railcard is not forthcoming

Yes good point didn't register about the child being 5.

In that case you can ask at the ticket office to get an Off Peak Day Return Virgin Trains Only, £2.75 with railcard discount, for the child, and the Virgin Trains Only Off Peak Day Travelcard £13.20 each with railcard discount for the adults.

If the railcard doesn't turn up, then I doubt anyone would say anything if you just bought 2 adult travelcards @ £20 each, and then no ticket for the 5 year old, but I obviously wouldn't condone that....

thelawnet

Nagme wrote: »

Thanks lawnet, this looks like our best bet if the F&F railcard turns up. One more question - will it be the same price if we purchase it at the station?

Yes, same price.

Nagme

The railcard arrived today :j, so we're catching the train from MK - I found the £30.20 family travelcard, lawnet posted about, so I will book via TCB to get a little commission hopefully as well.
We're showing DS Big Ben and the London Eye, the Natural History museum, and of course there's the train and tube journeys which is also another first for him - very exciting.

Thank you for helping me narrow down the myriad of options - as a non regular train user, it's as confusing as energy prices.