Super Off-Peak Day Travel Card or Separate Train & Tube Tickets?

[ans-vls]

Four of us and three kids (one under 5) are planning a day trip to London at the beginning of January (on a Saturday).

We're travelling from Swindon and plan to probably do Science Museum and Harrods.

We already have a Friends & Family Railcard.

I'm trying to work out what our best ticket option is and am struggling to get my head around it. Options seem to be:

(i) 2 x singles (SWI-PAD/PAD-SWI) plus whatever tube tickets are needed on the day to get around

(ii) 2 x singles with Zone 1 (SWI-LDN Z1/LDN Z1-SWI)

(iii) Super off-peak day travel card

The latter seems to be much more expensive, but realise that it is probably the most flexible.

If I understand it correctly, option (ii) will only allow us to travel to a destination within Zone 1 but won't allow travel around Zone 1 during the day.

Any thoughts on best option??

Thanks in advance.

ANS-VLS

 

[LexyBoy]

(i) 2 x singles (SWI-PAD/PAD-SWI) plus whatever tube tickets are needed on the day to get around

I assume you mean Advance singles, in which case this is likely to be the cheapest option - I can see tickets for the 8th (for example) for £45 for all of you, return. Get Oyster cards (you'll need to go to the ticket office for child rate ones) or paper Travelcards at Paddington tube station for your travel in London. Can't remember the exact costs, but somewhere around £25 for all of you.

(iii) Super off-peak day travel card

Indeed the more flexible option, in that you can take any train. This can be made cheaper by buying Groupsave tickets (assuming you're travelling together) - 4 adults for the price of 2 - and two child rate tickets. This would be £135 if I'm not mistaken. So about £35 more for more flexibility and the convenience of not having to queue at Paddington tube station.

--
Edit: Actually nationalrail.co.uk gives £81.60 total for off-peak return to Paddington - so probably cheaper than the £135 I gave for Travelcards (I don't know how to check Travelcards on NRE!

 

[ans-vls]

With our F&F railcard I get:

£22.70+£22.70 for option (i). Any tube tickets (or a Z1 travelcard) we might use would be extra.

£31.80+£31.80 for option (ii) which will get us to Sth Kensington (for science museum) and back from Knightsbridge (for Harrods). Any additional journeys would be extra cost.

£135.90 for option (iii) with nothing else to pay.

I think I'm starting to answer my own question. Provided we don't intend to do lots of other journeys to get around London, option (ii) is probably our best bet.

ANS

 

[LexyBoy]

Definitely best then if you're happy to be fixed on those trains. S Ken to Knightsbridge is not far on the bus which would save a few bob, and be more fun IMO.

 

[MikeWh]

Get Oyster cards (you'll need to go to the ticket office for child rate ones)

Sorry, you need to apply at a London area Post Office for a child rate Oystercard as it needs a photo attached. There is also a fee to be paid now. This is definitely not suitable for a one day sightseeing trip.

 

[bnm]

Using GroupSave 4 and a split at Didcot (4 adults for the price of 2 plus up to 4 children (aged 5-15) for £1 each) I've found a total price of £67.80 including Travelcards.

Swindon-Didcot, Off Peak Day Return, 4 adults @£4.45 + 2 Children @£1 each. Total £19.80.

Didcot-London Zones 1-6 Off Peak Day Travelcard, 4 adults @£11.50 + 2 children @£1. Total £48.00.

Your under 5 is totally free.

This will work out cheaper than your option (i) once your TfL fares are added. Near total flexibility with no 'peak' restrictions being a Saturday, and unlimited use of public transport in London. Only provisos are to ensure you catch trains to/from Paddington that call at Didcot and that you travel throughout as a group.

EDIT: You'll need to buy these tickets at a staffed station. Booking engines either do not sell GroupSave or the ones that do, do not sell GroupSave including Travelcards!