jdurham

I need to get from Polgate (specifically Herstmonceux Castle) to St Pancras. I have searched on my own but wanted to double check the easiest route and estimated cost. Travelling out on a Friday morning and returning Sunday at noonish. Thanks for your expertise!

PalenQ

You have checked www.nationalrail.co.uk for rail info?

Fastest way seems Polegate to either Hayward's Heath or East Croydon and change at either of them to direct trains to St Pancras.

www.nationalrail.co.uk will have all the various fares.

Check www.seat61.com for great insight on British trains.

Southam

Using Google Maps I found service on the Southern railway from Polegate to Victoria in London. Then take the Tube to your St Pancras destination. Train ride is about 80 minutes, costing 5 pounds one-way in November. https://ticket.southernrailway.com/search

PatrickLondon

Yes, you could, southam, but that's going somewhat out of the way, when you can stay within the national rail system by changing to a direct train to St Pancras International as PQ suggests.

PalenQ

About 80 mins all by train - changing to tube at Victoria can mean very packed tubes -I'd rather go all by train.

jdurham

Aweosme. Thanks so much everyone.

PalenQ

Where are you going from St Pancras? Paris? Brussels? UK?

curious!

jdurham

My daughter is from Canada at University in U.K. They decided to spend one day/night in London (her friend needs to see it) and then train to Bruges and Ghent.

jdurham

And thanks for all if the advice

jdurham

I will tell them to take national rail system the whole way. I'm seeing 35 pounds/pp one way. Does that sound right? Seems high to me.

PatrickLondon

Try searching on a journey via Blackfriars, or separate single tickets from Polegate to Haywards Heath or East Croydon, and from either of those via Blackfriars to St Pancras.

PalenQ

35 pounds one way sounds very high - 4 pounds southam's way.

PalenQ

Yes even for November it's about 35 quid each way - 5 pounds Southam mentions so reasearch that way!

janisj

Southam's route has you negotiating very congested tube stations/stairs at Victoria and Kings Cross if that is an issue.

jdurham

Southam's suggestion is not ideal as I was hoping for the easist route for these teenagers to navigate. In saying this I think they really want to save money so I will go through the route with them (facetime!) and hope they can navigate Victoria San. I will remind them to just keep asking people. Thank you all
Btw. I presume the return on Sunday would be the same,,,

PatrickLondon

If you try the separate single tickets on National Rail, it seemed to me to come out around £18, no great difference from train and tube. Bear in mind that it can make a difference if you don't want to commit to a specific time of train, and that it can be cheaper and more flexible to look for an off-peak ticket. There really is no substitute for working through the different options on the National Rail website.

For Sunday travel, keep checking for possible maintenance works on all of these services.

jdurham

PatrickLondon- thanks so much. Unfor -They are specific about their times as they want to get there and back as soon as possible. Also we have to convert pounds to Canadian $ which makes a considerable difference to these uni students ! Thanks again. I presume i might seek out uk travel advice again as she is there until April!

CarrieAnn40

If she's over here for a while and likely to use the trains, then she could look into an 18-25 Railcard (national coverage) or a Network Card (covers the south east) if she is older which cost about £30 and give 1/3 off train travel outside rush hour, after about 10am but may be earlier from Polgate, and subject to a minimum spend (might be £7).

If Polgate Station has a ticket office the staff will discuss the best routes / fares. Normally I'd expect that to be a 30 day open return. If she buys in advance she needs to ensure the correct outwards date

jdurham

Thanks. I assume she just purchases this ticket at Polgate on the day she leaves?
And returning on the Sunday when they are coming back from Brussels to St Pancras--the same? (ie just buy their ticket on that day )

PalenQ

the best routes / fares. Normally I'd expect that to be a 30 day open return. If she buys in advance she needs to ensure the correct outwards date>

sounds like buying a return ticket with open return is best?