London help needed

[Deleted User]

We went to London recently and booked ourselves seats on the 'quiet coach' of the train - it was great! No mobiles going off etc. You can still use electronic stuff, you just have to switch the volume off, so my daughter still played her nintendo . Generally these coaches don't get so crowded either.

We also priced up the Oyster cards but for me it was cheaper to buy daily travel passes (underground and buses) at £5.60 each for zones 1&2 after 9.30am. My daughter is 10 so travels free .

Have fun!

kingfisherblue

aureol212 wrote: »

sorry Kingfisherblue, shouldn't have added the bit about Winter Wonderland..

I think stick to your original plan, and like you said, you can save up and come back again and there is always plenty to see

Have a fab time when you come down and don't forget to "wave" to us MSE Londoners.

Don't worry about the Winter Wonderland - it gives me the excuse to go again next year! And the MSE Londoners (and anybody not from London who has posted) have been fab, really helpful and friendly.

h.cowell - thanks for the tip about 'quiet coaches' - I didn't know they existed. My kids enjoy reading, looking out of the window, etc (and for some reason, my ten year old will probably visit the loo every half hour - he's fascinated with toilets when we're out ). Do quiet coaches have tables? That would be really helpful if they do.

Also thanks for the information about Oyster cards - definitely worth checking out first.

shebrett

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1171.aspx

your son should be able to travel for free on london buses in his wheelchair...link above

Aesop

kingfisherblue wrote: »

h.cowell - thanks for the tip about 'quiet coaches' - I didn't know they existed. My kids enjoy reading, looking out of the window, etc (and for some reason, my ten year old will probably visit the loo every half hour - he's fascinated with toilets when we're out ). Do quiet coaches have tables? That would be really helpful if they do.
.

what a wonderful thread. so much helpful information from so many different people.

Forgot about the quiet coaches. Yes, they do have tables but when you book your tickets, make sure you request one, as they may split you up into two sets of two seats.

p00hsticks

kingfisherblue wrote: »

h.cowell - thanks for the tip about 'quiet coaches' - I didn't know they existed. My kids enjoy reading, looking out of the window, etc (and for some reason, my ten year old will probably visit the loo every half hour - he's fascinated with toilets when we're out ). Do quiet coaches have tables? That would be really helpful if they do.

I'm not sure what train company you'd use from St Helens, but if they are Virgin pendolinos then they have wheelchair spaces in some of the carriages so that you can have a wheelchair on one side of a table and two seats on the opposite side - I don't think there are wheelchair spaces in the quiet coach though....

kingfisherblue

aureol212 wrote: »

what a wonderful thread. so much helpful information from so many different people.

I have to agree - I've just read a thread on the benefits board where people were trying to help, and the OP was downright rude. It's great to see such a friendly thread with everyone offering information and links to help me.

A big thank you :T

susan070571

Hi Kingfisher, I too am from St Helens, we go to London every year with our children, 8 and 10. When you book the train use the trainline best fare finder, you can get a single fare from liverpool to london or wigan to london for£11 per adult, if you have a family railcard as well you will save a fortune. We usually manage to go 2 adults and 2 children for about £35. return, you just pay seperately for the st helens to wigan or liverpool part. If you try to book just st helens to london it will cost you an awful lot more.
PS the bestfare finder is in gadgets and tools section.

zenmaster

kingfisherblue wrote: »

We're definitely keen to visit the Science Museum

If you are definitely going to the Science Museum you might like to consider this -

If you want to leave luggage at the railway station on your last day it will cost £8 per item. However, there is a baggage depository at the Science Museum with a charge of £1 per item, "unlimited" items for £3. So, make the Science Museum trip on your last day and save a fortune on left luggage.

If you are using the train 2 for 1 vouchers there is one available for the Imax at the Science Museum. We saw the "Deep Sea" film. It's pretty good (not great) and probably worth it for £3.50 each.

kingfisherblue

Hi Susan, very useful information - thank you. My son has a disabled person's bus pass, so I wouldn't have to pay his fare to Liverpool and it's not too expensive for myself, daughter and youngest son. It's actually cheaper to buy a return to Liverpool than getting the bus into St. Helens and back.

Zenmaster, what a brilliant idea. I hadn't even thought about leaving our luggage somewhere (I've never planned this type of trip before, only caravan/chalet type holidays, where we've always had the car). Thank you for the info on leaving luggage - my youngest is ten and definitely wants to visit the Science Museum. Hopefully we won't have too much to carry, but there will be some stuff, including medication and extra nappies (can't be too careful!)

Thank you both for very helpful posts :T

candjsmum

We have just returned from yet another fab week in London. Not sure if you shop at Tesco and get their reward vouchers but we done Madame Tussauds, Tower of London and ate at Pizza express and Bella Italia courtesy of Tesco vouchers making it a cheaper week than would be normally. It only costs £7 of tesco vouchers per person for a madame tussauds ticket. Also if you have a family and friends railcard you show the person at the desk when purchasing tube tickets, 9if you are going to use this) and it saves you a bit. It cost £5 each for myself and oh and £1 for each of the kids as they are 11 and 14. It is a fair walk from the eye to Madame Tussauds and we queued for quite a while to get into Tussauds. It was also heaving so you may want to bear this in mind if taking a wheelchair.
Hope this helps.
Nicky
:beer: