Commuting to London from Luton

Arii1986

Hi Guys,

I have recently been offered a new graduate job in Covent Garden (London).

Problem is I live in Luton, so I can either drive or catch the train. What is the cheapest way to travel? Would really appreciate the advice.

Just to add, a monthly travel card from Luton to st pancreas with zones 1-6 is 406. But a travel card to st pancreas without would be 280. would it be cheaper to just buy a travel card from Luton to st pancreas and then use oyster for the month?

kizkiz

Going on those prices it would be cheaper to drive, but only if your job includes parking. (and congestion charge)
It would also take you forever to get there and back if you'll be working 9-5

Have you considered train to st pancras and then walk to covent garden?
It's only 2 miles, so won't take more than 10 minutes

Arii1986

Wow, didn't know it was so close! Thank you, that's really helpful.

No, unfortunately there's no parking. Train it is I guess.

AnythingButChardonnay

kizkiz wrote: »

It's only 2 miles, so won't take more than 10 minutes

You 'walk' at 12 mph?

TadleyBaggie

kizkiz wrote: »

Have you considered train to st pancras and then walk to covent garden?
It's only 2 miles, so won't take more than 10 minutes

Only if the OP can walk at 12MPH! In reality 4MPH is a brisk walk so 2 miles would more likely take 30 minutes.

Swipe

Buy a fold up bicycle. It would only take 10mins then to do 2 miles.

rdwarr

I would do the Travelcard to St Pancras then use a PAYG Oyster for a bus down to Holborn. The tube at Kings X is impossible at certain times of the morning anyway but buses are OK. Walk when it's a nice day but I'd avoid a folding bike; Thameslink services are crowded enough and it would take a while to pay for itself.

I currently have a Season ticket from Stevenage to Kings X. I then have a PAYG Oyster with auto-topup. I work in Southwark so do the bus in the morning and the tube coming home. It's much cheaper this way than with a Travelcard.

Arii1986

rdwarr wrote: »

I would do the Travelcard to St Pancras then use a PAYG Oyster for a bus down to Holborn. The tube at Kings X is impossible at certain times of the morning anyway but buses are OK. Walk when it's a nice day but I'd avoid a folding bike; Thameslink services are crowded enough and it would take a while to pay for itself.

I currently have a Season ticket from Stevenage to Kings X. I then have a PAYG Oyster with auto-topup. I work in Southwark so do the bus in the morning and the tube coming home. It's much cheaper this way than with a Travelcard.

And then I assume tube it from Holborn to Covent Garden?

How much would I likely be spending a week on the oyster?

yorkie2

Arii1986 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I have recently been offered a new graduate job in Covent Garden (London).

Congratulations

Arii1986 wrote: »

Problem is I live in Luton, so I can either drive or catch the train. What is the cheapest way to travel? Would really appreciate the advice.

Train will be cheapest, and certainly quickest!

Arii1986 wrote: »

Just to add, a monthly travel card from Luton to st pancreas with zones 1-6 is 406.

That is the price of a Travelcard Season valid for 1 calendar month from Luton to London Zones 1-6.

If you work 5 days a week and do not usually travel at weekends, then it rarely makes sense to buy a calendar month season, and instead buy a Season to start on a Monday and finish on a Friday, lasting typically 5 weeks (varying for bank holidays, annual leave etc) e.g. a Season to start tomorrow for 5 weeks would cost £447.60 (01 month 03 days) this would be slightly cheaper on months with 31 days.

Arii1986 wrote: »

But a travel card to st pancreas without would be 280. would it be cheaper to just buy a travel card from Luton to st pancreas and then use oyster for the month?

That's not a Travelcard, and you can't buy a Season to St Pancras only. There is a Season to London Thameslink, which includes St Pancras but also would take you to City Thameslink, which is a little nearer to Covent Garden (around 1 mile - so perhaps walkable). A 1 month Season from Luton to London Thameslink is £326.40

You're better off asking for this at a dedicated Fares, Tickets & Routeing forum, where silly suggestions such as:

kizkiz wrote: »

Have you considered train to st pancras and then walk to covent garden?
It's only 2 miles, so won't take more than 10 minutes

would be removed, and accurate, sensible advice given consistently.

Arii1986 wrote: »

And then I assume tube it from Holborn to Covent Garden?

How much would I likely be spending a week on the oyster?

Oyster PAYG fares in Central London are:
£1.30 per bus boarded;
£1.90 per single rail journey wholly in Zone 1 (for other fares, see Single fares finder)

Arii1986

Egads i'm such a noob

Yes, you are right about the season ticket.

yorkie2

Another option...

A 1 month Season from Luton to West Hampstead Stns is £280.80, and a 1 month Travelcard Season for Zones 1-2 is £106.00. Total = £386.80, a saving of around £60 per month. This combination would be valid on trains that call at West Hampstead (not valid on trains that run non-stop St Albans - St Pancras not calling at West Hampstead). On the plus side, the trains that call at West Hampstead are less busy from Luton (in fact, most of them start from Luton) so you will be much more likely to get a seat on these trains, than the faster trains.

Walk to the front of the train, as the exit at West Hampstead (WHP) is near the front, and go up the steps to the road, it is a short 2 minute walk between the Thameslink (FCC) and Jubilee (LU) line platforms. Change at Green Park for Covent Garden. This would avoid changing at King's Cross.

You could try the tube from West Hampstead for a month, and try walking from City Thameslink for a month, and see which you prefer. If you can buy an Annual Season, the best time to buy is just before the fares go up in early January, you get around 2 months of travel 'free' (compared to the monthly cost) and an Annual season also acts as a Gold Card. Some employers assist with the purchase of such tickets by offering loans deducted from your wages, it may be worth asking your employer if they run such a scheme.