What is the best way to get from Ashford to London? I assume it will the be the train, but what type of ticket should I get? Do I need to reserve while still at home, or can I buy a ticket on that day? What type of price should I expect to pay? Thanks

Try qjump.co.uk I believe there are two Ashfords, one in Kent and one somewhere else so pick the correct one. I would expect that you can just go to the train station, buy your ticket and board the next train. If you are returning the same day be sure to see if you can get a "Cheap Day Return" ticket as this can save you some money. Your train ticket can also be combined with a travelcard for the London Underground at a savings over separate purchases.

We need more info from you:

Not only WHICH Ashford - there are actually 3 (at least) Ashfords - one in Kent, one in Surrey, and one up north in the Peak District.

How will you have gotten to Ashford in the first place? By train, car, or ? If you mean the ashford in Kent - are you by any chance arriving from the Continent on the Eurostar?

If you are talking about Ashford in Kent, a day return is just under £20 (absolute rip-off!) and you can buy the ticket directly before you travel. A single won't be much cheaper, I'm afraid. Trains go to either Victoria or Charing Cross stations and the Victoria line tends to be quicker (however if you're travelling on a Sunday there are often engineering works so trains only run on the Charing Cross line). As previously suggested, check on either qjump.co.uk or thetrainline.com

One note, however, as someone who grew up in Ashford (Kent) and whose parents still live there, I'd suggest that you take the first train out!! Ha ha! There ain't a lot going on there!

Thanks for the advice. Yes I will be arriving from Paris on the Eurostar.

I did something similar. Came in from Brussels on the Eurostar stopped for a day and a night to visit friends in Ashford Kent and then took British Rail to Victoria. This was 2 years ago and I can't remember how much it cost me but I do remember that it was a weekday evening, that I was the only passenger in the rail car for most of the trip to London, that I had to really listen out to the stations as they were called out and when I got to Victoria, that I had to slide open the window above the door lock and open the door from the outside in order to let myself out. Not easy to do if you're not expecting to do this, are loaded with luggage and have a limited amount of time to get off before the train leaves again.

My bro-in-law lives in Ashford, so we make this trip on most visits to England.

To check train times and ticket purchase options, I recommend a visit to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/, and follow the "Planning your journey" path. It's very helpful. (By the way, that's where I found out that Ashford Kent is Ashford International in railspeak.)

On that route, I don't think there's much advantage in buying ahead -- and nothing like the savings you can get for longer train trips that offer "Apex" fares.

OK - are you staying over in Ashford or somewhere else in Kent?

if not, why don't you just book your Eurostar ticket from Paris all the way to London.