Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Timings of Public transport in London

Search

Timings of Public transport in London

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 06:34 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Timings of Public transport in London

Please clarify on the following points:

1. We are planning to purchase off-peak day travel passes in London for using public transport. We are going there for three full days plus half day of arrival at London. Is it adviseable to purchase off-peak travel passes.

2. It is valid for how many hours a day.

3. Uptil what time of the night does the tube, buses, trams, etc run in London. This is important for us because we have to use public transport between 0300 am to 0330 am to reach the Airport. Is the tube/bus/tram service slow during night time?
Motumotu is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 06:41 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don’t buy off-peak tickets.

The only restriction in central London is that you can’t use them before 9.30 am. However the saving is wiped out if you use it for longer than a few days.

Buy a standard travel card and you can use it anytime.

There is no tube service after about midnight (it varies from line to line) after that it’s all night buses which run all night (and your card is valid on them).
Cholmondley_Warner is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 06:43 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here is info on the Oyster Cards that should help you:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/2732.aspx

And first and last train info: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1129.aspx

You will not be able to use public transport to get to the airport at those times.

Try www.justairports.com for a car service.
jamikins is online now  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 06:44 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is there a night bus that runs to the airport?
jamikins is online now  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 06:49 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Which airport - there's lots.
Cholmondley_Warner is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 06:50 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you haven't found it yet, use the tube website to plan your journeys. You just need origin, destination and time of day. There are 24 hour bus lines (but not the tube which runs only from about 5 am to about midnight). http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...T2?language=en


And here are the details of off peak travel card hours and restrictions from a different page that same website (the general address for all information is http://www.tfl.gov.uk):

Off-Peak Day Travelcards can be used from 09:30 Monday to Friday or all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays on the day of validity and for any journey that starts before 04:30 on the following day.
laurie_ann is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 07:44 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From your other thread, you'll be going to Stansted. It might be better to stay at an airport hotel for that last night.

There are airport bus services (not covered by your TfL pass) running through the night - check the links on that other thread. To get to the Baker St start point for those buses, you could theoretically use your pass on the N74 from Earls Court, but night buses usually run only every half hour, and I wouldn't use one to meet a deadline.
PatrickLondon is online now  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 07:51 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And it's a long way to Stansted.
Cholmondley_Warner is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 09:05 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you are using Stansted, here is a link to the page on their website with descriptions and links of various transportation options. http://tinyurl.com/4ddn73 (The other London airports have similar websites.) There is a train and various buses but check through their websites as to hours of operation and whether they are part of London public transportation or not.
laurie_ann is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 10:50 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We will go to Stansted Airport from Baker Street early morning by using Easy Bus. But to go to Baker Street from Earls Court, we need public transport. Suggestion of PatrickLondon is useful on this point. But is there any other alternative so that we have two options handy. My other question is as follows:

Is the day ticket valid for 24 hours from the time it is used for the first time or it is expired at 12 mid night irrespective of the time of the day it is validated?
Motumotu is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 11:21 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
<<< We will go to Stansted Airport from Baker Street early morning by using Easy Bus. But to go to Baker Street from Earls Court, we need public transport. >>>

Why not go to Victoria instead and use one of the coach services from there?

The day ticket BTW expires at 4:30am - ie early in the day after the date on the ticket
alanRow is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 11:22 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And the link published earlier - http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk - will tell you how to get from point A to point B at any time of the day or night.
alanRow is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 01:41 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Using tfl journey planner it told me if you were doing this tomorrow you could get bus N74 from Earls Court (Stop C) to Baker Street and then the Route Express A6 bus to Stansted(the second bus is not part of tfl). That first bus leaves at 3:07 and takes about 15 minutes. That second bus leaves at 3:40 and takes about 70 minutes. Are you sure you don't want to stay somewhere closer to Stansted that last night? Sounds painful to me.
laurie_ann is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2010, 04:24 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,873
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
IMO staying in Earls court before an early AM flight out of Stansted makes no sense at all.

You get no benefit from that hotel night in London since you'll have to be up and packed by about 0200. Plus the airlines out of Stansted are VERY strict about check in time. Even a minute late can make your tickets useless.

I'd check out of the Earls Court hotel that day. They will hold your luggage for you. Or you could check the bags at a train station. Spend the day exploring more of London, collect your bags and then take the train (or bus) to Stansted after dinner and check in to a hotel at the airport.
janisj is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2010, 12:56 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can anybody tell how much are the taxi charges from Earls Court to Baker Street and from Earls Court to Stansted Airport.
Motumotu is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2010, 12:58 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A car service would be cheaper than a taxi I believe. We've used www.justairports.com many times and been happy with it. On their website you can see their rates from the postal code of your hotel.
jamikins is online now  
Old Feb 18th, 2010, 12:58 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can anybody else confirm the following views of alanrow above
"The day ticket BTW expires at 4:30am - ie early in the day after the date on the ticket"
Motumotu is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2010, 01:01 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you just want a cab to Baker Street can you ask your hotel to check out the prices?
jamikins is online now  
Old Feb 18th, 2010, 01:03 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Motumotu - all of the information you are asking for the travel card is found on the tfl website we have posted above:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1055.aspx

Scroll to the bottom and it states:
Anytime Day Travelcards
Can be used all day Monday to Friday, on the day of validity, and for any journey that starts before 04:30 the following day. On public holidays it is cheaper to buy an Off-Peak Day Travelcard.

Off-Peak Day Travelcards
Can be used from 09:30 Monday to Friday or all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays on the day of validity and for any journey that starts before 04:30 on the following day.
jamikins is online now  
Old Feb 18th, 2010, 01:26 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks to all of u for the good info. You seems to be London Expert. I want to take advantage of your expertise furthermore. Please clarify on the following points:

1. Are there Radio taxis in london which run during night also? If so, what are their contact nos.

2. How can we go to Greenwich Observatory and Prime Meridian? Is it worth going there? Is it a tourist spot? How much time is required for the visit including travel time? Searching on internet did not help.
Motumotu is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -