day trips from London
May 17th, 2006 | 06:43 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
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day trips from London
We are looking into day trips from London on our next visit in late Oct. or early November ( gets dark early). However, it looks like you spend a LOT of time on the bus versus what you see. Any thoughts or comments? Any particular trips more worthwhile or less bus time? We have been to Oxford, Cambridge, and Shakespeare home. Pretty open to anything else.
May 17th, 2006 | 07:43 AM
#3
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,641
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Investigate the LondonPlus railpass if doing more than one day trip - the pass starts with two days of unlimited train travel in about a 100-mile radius of London, including Cambridge, Oxford, Salisbury (Stonehenge) and will take you nearly to Stratford which you can buy a cheap supplemental ticket fromn where the pass leaves off.
In November the pass would cost just $53 p.p. for two days of unlimited travel out of an 8-day period. After the first two adults subsequent adults pay only 50% of what the first two pay - thus two couples traveling together could get four passes for $106! And kids 15 and under get a free pass to match what the adults buy. Thus really a bargain for groups and families - also can be used on trains to Gatwick Airport (but not Heathrow) - compare prices in UK at stations or online at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Passes are only sold i believe by RailEurope and not in the UK - for current prices (also comes in 4- and 7-day versions) i'd consult BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com), a RailEurope agent who i've always dealt with and they also don't charge RE's $15 mailing fees. (Note prices for the pass in October are 25% higher as November pass prices are in the Off Peak period where all British rail passes sold thru RailEurope are discounted 25% (thru the end of February). Trains to me are much better than buses - more comfortable, can get up and walk around, better toilet facilities and are usually significantly quicker. No need for a bus tour to places like you're going as trains run at least hourly right to the town centres.
In November the pass would cost just $53 p.p. for two days of unlimited travel out of an 8-day period. After the first two adults subsequent adults pay only 50% of what the first two pay - thus two couples traveling together could get four passes for $106! And kids 15 and under get a free pass to match what the adults buy. Thus really a bargain for groups and families - also can be used on trains to Gatwick Airport (but not Heathrow) - compare prices in UK at stations or online at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Passes are only sold i believe by RailEurope and not in the UK - for current prices (also comes in 4- and 7-day versions) i'd consult BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com), a RailEurope agent who i've always dealt with and they also don't charge RE's $15 mailing fees. (Note prices for the pass in October are 25% higher as November pass prices are in the Off Peak period where all British rail passes sold thru RailEurope are discounted 25% (thru the end of February). Trains to me are much better than buses - more comfortable, can get up and walk around, better toilet facilities and are usually significantly quicker. No need for a bus tour to places like you're going as trains run at least hourly right to the town centres.
May 17th, 2006 | 08:02 AM
#5
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
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You can also range all over the southeast for £10 (four for £20) with a Southern Railway DaySave pass. Details here:
http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=122
http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=122
