DeeGee
Member
I'm thinking about taking my boy (6) on a daytrip to London at May half term, ostensibly to go to the Science Museum and maybe the London Eye. We'd like to have a decent amount of time in the morning, as he's a morning person and begins to flag after lunch. Therefore it looks like I can get the 0910 from AYL, which appears to be OK for an Off-Peak return.
Ideally, I'd like to take HS1 from Strood into St Pancras, then use Underground to Bankside and Kensington.
We have family and Friends Railcard.
I've found a total fare of £20.60 for an Anytime Return AYL-STP, and I figured I'd just use Oyster PAYG. As I understand it, the boy travels free on the Underground and buses if he's with me and I'm paying.
National Rail also shows me a fare described as "Anytime" and "Plus Highspeed" for the same service for £36.40. This is considerably cheaper than the Anytime fare for the service before - so I don't really understand what it is.
What I'm wondering is:
Realistically, is it cheaper for me to get a Day Travelcard, and for the boy to get a return to STP, travelling for free with me on TfL? Is that even permitted?
How do the ticket gates work in such an instance? I touch in (if contactless) or put my ticket in, can we both go through the gate together? Or are we required to use the manned gate?
What is the difference between the £36.40 Anytime and the £64.20 Anytime? If I could get on an earlier train for less than £40 then I'd be up for that.
Am I restricted on the return if I get the Off-Peak? We'd like to leave when the boy's fractious, rather than having to wait until late. Or are the passenger loadings likely to preclude such a thing during the afternoon peak? I have 'fond' memories of standing all the way to Tunbridge Wells in Connex days! I wouldn't want to put the boy off train travel because of that.
Ideally, I'd like to take HS1 from Strood into St Pancras, then use Underground to Bankside and Kensington.
We have family and Friends Railcard.
I've found a total fare of £20.60 for an Anytime Return AYL-STP, and I figured I'd just use Oyster PAYG. As I understand it, the boy travels free on the Underground and buses if he's with me and I'm paying.
National Rail also shows me a fare described as "Anytime" and "Plus Highspeed" for the same service for £36.40. This is considerably cheaper than the Anytime fare for the service before - so I don't really understand what it is.
What I'm wondering is:
Realistically, is it cheaper for me to get a Day Travelcard, and for the boy to get a return to STP, travelling for free with me on TfL? Is that even permitted?
How do the ticket gates work in such an instance? I touch in (if contactless) or put my ticket in, can we both go through the gate together? Or are we required to use the manned gate?
What is the difference between the £36.40 Anytime and the £64.20 Anytime? If I could get on an earlier train for less than £40 then I'd be up for that.
Am I restricted on the return if I get the Off-Peak? We'd like to leave when the boy's fractious, rather than having to wait until late. Or are the passenger loadings likely to preclude such a thing during the afternoon peak? I have 'fond' memories of standing all the way to Tunbridge Wells in Connex days! I wouldn't want to put the boy off train travel because of that.