Train fare advice to Ideal Home Show please.

littlewren

Hi,

I am going to the Ideal Home Show one day next week, travelling from Biggleswade to Earl's Court & the 'cheapest' fare I can find is £31 return! The journey is only 40-45 minutes, it's unbelievable.

Is there any way of finding a cheaper fare? I don't hold out much hope though.

Livingthedream

An Off Peak Travel Card Biggleswade to London Zone 1-6 is £24 valid after 09:00 but not valid 17:00 to 19:00 on the return.

wealdroam

Can get it down to £22 for an Off Peak Day Return Biggleswade to West Brompton.

West Brompton is just across the road from the exhibition centre.

littlewren

Livingthedream wrote: »

An Off Peak Travel Card Biggleswade to London Zone 1-6 is £24 valid after 09:00 but not valid 17:00 to 19:00 on the return.

Thankyou, this would be no good though as we would probably want to return during those times.

littlewren

wealdroam wrote: »

Can get it down to £22 for an Off Peak Day Return Biggleswade to West Brompton.

West Brompton is just across the road from the exhibition centre.

Thankyou wealdroam, I just tried West Brompton, but the journey time is so much longer, nearly 3 hours with one option, compared to about an hour usually! (including tubes) and there are more changes & more hanging around at Highbury & Islington - we usually go to King's X, then one tube and that's it. I would want to avoid changing too many times, is there any way around this please?

Thanks very much.

wealdroam

littlewren wrote: »

Hi,

I am going to the Ideal Home Show one day next week, travelling from Biggleswade to Earl's Court & the 'cheapest' fare I can find is £31 return! The journey is only 40-45 minutes, it's unbelievable.

Is there any way of finding a cheaper fare? I don't hold out much hope though.

Can you get to Milton Keynes?

An Off Peak Day Return from there to West Brompton is only £16.90 on a direct train every hour, no changes, to West Brompton.

To get that £16.90 fare, you must book via Southern Railway website. Otherwise it's £19.00.

littlewren

wealdroam wrote: »

Can you get to Milton Keynes?

An Off Peak Day Return from there to West Brompton is only £16.90 on a direct train every hour, no changes, to West Brompton.

To get that £16.90 fare, you must book via Southern Railway website. Otherwise it's £19.00.

Unfortunately it would take about an hour to get to Milton Keynes and then we'd have to find somewhere to park for the day, so that's out too, but thankyou.

dzug1

Biggleswade to Hadley Wood off peak return £12
Zones 1-6 off peak travelcard £8

The trains must stop at Hadley Wood (which will mean a slower journey and a change) but there is no evening restriction on this arrangement if they do

pmm1981

My suggestion would be
Biggleswade-Kings Cross Day Return
Off Peak £17 (outward 1st train 0918, return not valid between 1622-1922 departures)
Anytime £26 (any train)
Oyster card zone 1 single £1.90 x 2 = £3.80

With flexibility coming back you can do it for £20.80 if you have an oyster card.
If you must return during the PM peak it'll be £29.80 if you have an oyster card.

Livingthedream

As the Ideal Home Show finishes on the 27th, another way to avoid the evening restrictions (and morning peak) is to travel on Saturday 26th or Sunday 27th as the Off Peak Travelcard is valid all day then.

Altarf

Livingthedream wrote: »

An Off Peak Travel Card Biggleswade to London Zone 1-6 is £24 valid after 09:00 but not valid 17:00 to 19:00 on the return.

Actually the restriction is between 16:30 and 19:00, so the last train you could catch before the restriction is the 15:36 or you have to wait until 19:10.

dzug1 wrote: »

Biggleswade to Hadley Wood off peak return £12
Zones 1-6 off peak travelcard £8

The trains must stop at Hadley Wood (which will mean a slower journey and a change) but there is no evening restriction on this arrangement if they do

No direct trains from Biggleswade stop at Hadley Wood, and on the evening return you would need to change at both Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage.

Livingthedream wrote: »

As the Ideal Home Show finishes on the 27th, another way to avoid the evening restrictions (and morning peak) is to travel on Saturday 26th or Sunday 27th as the Off Peak Travelcard is valid all day then.

At the weekend FCC do a 'Super Off-Peak' ticket which is £13 for a day return from Biggleswade to London.