Travelling to a wedding

[Deleted User]

I live in Aberdeen and I've been invited to a wedding in Essex. I'm trying to work out the best way to travel there and would like to know which option MSE travellers would use.

The closest airport to the wedding venue is London Stansted. However, you cannot fly direct from Aberdeen to London Stansted, I would have to fly from Dundee or Edinburgh. I've discounted the Dundee option because of the only return flight on a Sunday is 19:00 meaning I won't get back home until after 10pm and will have to kill a lot of time between checking out and going to the airport.

Another option is to fly Aberdeen to Norwich but I've also discounted that due to the return flight times.

The final option is to fly Aberdeen to London City Airport.

I think regardless of whether I fly to London Stansted or London City I will need to hire a car because the venue is a castle/stately home type place in a small village and when I looked at public transport options it was going to take at least 2 hours with 3+ changes. I haven't found accommodation closer than 5 miles to the venue yet either. The venue does have its own accommodation but not enough for everyone so it has been reserved for family which is fair enough.

Easyjet flights from Edinburgh to London Stansted will be circa £82 + £53.50 for the train to Edinburgh + £8.50 for the tram out to the airport. I suppose I could drive down but by the time I've paid for diesel and parking the train and tram will probably be cheaper.

British Airways flights to London City will be circa £140 and I need to factor in either getting taxis to the airport (anything from £30 to £40+ depending on the weird and wonderful route the driver takes) or driving myself out to the airpot and paying for parking £45 (cheapest I could find).

I'm veering towards the London City option because the Edinburgh option is starting to feel a bit planes, trains and automobiles, and will require some annual leave.

What would you do?

dacouch

When are you flying?

Have you looked at momonda and skyscanner

martinthebandit

Well personally I wouldn’t fly, I would drive.

[Deleted User]

dacouch wrote: »

When are you flying?

Have you looked at momonda and skyscanner

I’m flying in March. I’ve checked Skyscanner and the best options are the ones listed above. I also looked at trains but it would take over 15 hours each way and I would still need a car (hire or taxi) to get to the venue.

[Deleted User]

martinthebandit wrote: »

Well personally I wouldn’t fly, I would drive.

It’s over 9 hours each way and that’s assuming I get a clear run. If I had someone to share the driving with I might but not on my own.

peachyprice

LCY without a doubt, it's a lovely small airport, with hand luggage only you're out of the airport in 5 mins from landing, 10 if you have a checked bag, car hire is just along the road and it's only 10 mins to the A13 through to Essex.

Coming home you can arrive at the airport as late as 45 mins before your flight because it's so small. It's my favourite London airport.

If you don't want to drive it's only 15 mins on the DLR to Stratford for train connections to most Essex towns.

prosaver

maybe should tell how much its going to cost?

[Deleted User]

prosaver wrote: »

maybe should tell how much its going to cost?

I put the costs in the OP or do you mean how much it would cost to drive?

Edit: To drive would be approx £162.

519 miles each way. My car could achieve 35mpg providing I get a good clear run. £1.20 a litre for diesel.

sheramber

Lover_of_Lycra wrote: »

I’m flying in March. I’ve checked Skyscanner and the best options are the ones listed above. I also looked at trains but it would take over 15 hours each way and I would still need a car (hire or taxi) to get to the venue.

You could use the Sleeper Train from Aberdeen.

[Deleted User]

sheramber wrote: »

You could use the Sleeper Train from Aberdeen.

I could get the sleeper train down from Aberdeen. That would take over 10 hours just to get to London Kings Cross and I would still need to get out to Essex. If I want to sleep in a bed then the sleeper train is much more expensive than flying. If I just sleep in a large chair the sleeper train is the same cost as flying.

When I finally arrived in Essex I would want to get showered and changed before attending the wedding. Guests are invited to arrive from 1:15pm with the ceremony starting at 2pm. Most hotels and B&B have a check-in time of 2pm which would be too late for me.

It was an option I had looked at previously because I've always fancied getting the sleeper train down to London.

susancs

The cheapest option would be megabus £5-£7 each way from Aberdeen bus station to London Victoria coach station in March . Then get pick up transport to near the venue or your accommodation and then taxi (uber with the discount for a first time user on the app if you haven't used them before) to the venue. If you go overnight you may well have a row of seats to sleep on (a friend of mine goes to and from London and Edinburgh by Megabus and says it is often half empty).
https://uk.megabus.com/

Plenty of cheap Travelodges in Essex area if you want to arrive a day before the wedding and stay the night before and night of the wedding. it would involve you taking a days annual leave probably on the Friday to do that and travelling during the day rather than after work. You can also pay £10 to check in from noon in Travelodge hotels.

If you give an idea of where the venue is, can help look up public transport to near it from London.