London Train Station
 

We will be arriving at LGW and will take the train into London. Can you tell me exactly where the train station is located and what is the name of it? Also, is the BritRail Flexipass good on that train? Thanks

Read my message and it isn't clear even to me! I want to know in what part of London does the train arrive. I assume the train station is conveniently located at the airport.

Dear Gayle: The train from Gatwick goes right into Victoria Station--a more central location you cannot imagine. I am not sure that British Rail honors the Flexipass on this run. The fare is about $12US as I recall but you can check with BritRail here on the 'Net. I hope you have a wonderful trip. Joan

A couple of comments on the previous response. 1. While the Gatwick Express does indeed go to Victoria Station, there are trains from LGW that go to other stations, viz, Thameslink trains to Kings Cross Thameslink and other stops. So, where you want to end up in London may influence which train you take. 2. I am pretty sure that you can use the flex pass; the question is whether you would want to use up a days use on a trip with a fare of less than 10 pounds.

Dear Ms Potter, <BR> <BR>As well as trains four times an hour to Victoria and to Kings Cross Thameslink, there are trains hourly to Kensington Olympia, for Earls Court and Kensington. Also, if you take a Thameslink train and change trains (but stay on platform 6) at London Bridge you come into Charing Cross, good for the Strand and West End. <BR> <BR>If' you'll tel me where your hotel or hostel is I'll be glad to choose you a route there by train and bus. <BR> <BR>Welcome to London <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR> <BR>

This is for Ben Haines who so kindly offered to guide me from Gatwick to my hotel in London. <BR> <BR>We will be staying at the Travel Inn at County Hall. I have tried to read my teeny, tiny map and it looks like we can go to Waterloo Station. Which direction do we go from there? Thanks for all your help.

<BR> <BR>Dear Ms Potter, <BR> <BR>Yes, indeed, the nearest station is Waterloo, but it's still ten minutes walk from the Travel Inn. Your best route might be by rail from Gatwick to Victoria, either the Gatwick Express nonstop or Connex South Central with stops, a pound cheaper and five minutes longer. Then take a trolley, walk out of the front of the station, find the bus stop for the bus number 211, ask the driver to call out County Hall, and leave the bus at the first stop after Westminster Bridge. You're very near the hotel door. <BR> <BR>There is another route via London Bridge, but the connecting bus P11 stops in a small road down below the southern wall of the station, and you'd have trouble finding it and getting luggage down to it. <BR> <BR>Please write again if I can help further. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR>

<BR>Hi <BR>I would never contradict Ben Haines's always expert advice, but since you mentioned "we" and there is more than one of you, I'd go to the station nearest my hotel (Waterloo) and get a taxi from there. Since it's a ten-minute ride, it would be worth it. Unless your luggage is all on your back, that on and off the bus idea and walking even a short distance to the hotel can be terribly difficult with heavy luggage. <BR>Just a thought.

Thanks Ben & Elaine for your suggestions. We will consider both, but I imagine that much of it will depend on the shape we are in when we arrive there since we leave Phoenix AZ at noon on Sun., and arrive London Mon. We might need a ride!

Hi Gayle: <BR> <BR>I don't want to contradict either Ben or Elaine :) but we arrived at Waterloo station and walked to the Travel Inn County Hall just a few months ago, and it was one of the shortest distances we walked on the entire trip! It seemed a much shorter distance than the one from the hotel, across the bridge and down to the Westminster tube station every day! Unless you are really bringing a lot of luggage, I would suggest just walking. And yes, the Flexipass is valid on the train from Gatwick.

Note to Lynn, <BR> <BR>Thanks for the info, tell me more about the Travel Inn @ County Hall. Any suggestions? How is the food there? Thanks

Gayle, <BR> <BR>I have taken the Gatwick Express and it was an enjoyable ride. However, I have to admit that I did get turned around a bit at the airport trying to find the Express. Perhaps it was just from lack of sleep or being nervous about getting on the wrong train, but I did think the signs to the Express were a bit unclear. We did make it on the Express after asking directions. Once we arrived at Victoria station we decided to take a taxi to Knightsbridge instead of the tube. The taxi only cost 4 pounds and I thought it was easier then lugging my luggage around. Have a great trip. <BR> <BR>Tammy

<BR>Try the following URL to give you an idea of the distance between Waterloo and County Hall. Very walkable, but it depends how much luggage you have. <BR> <BR>http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap...dge,+SE1&~&~&~ <BR> <BR>Enjoy your time in London <BR> <BR>Kevin

Kevin: thanks for the website (now bookmarked). It just helped me find a little, teeny, tiny street with a recommended pub...

Kevin, great web site. Thanks

Hi Gayle: <BR> <BR>I couldn't tell you about the food at Travel Inn because we never ate there! I'm sure there is probably a restaurant on site, as Travel Inn seems to cater to a large number of business travelers, but we bought scones at the grocery store and had them with tea and coffee in our room every morning. We don't visit restaurants very often, but that's just us. <BR> <BR>As far as other suggestions about Travel Inn, did you have any specific questions? I'm not quite sure what kind of information you're looking for!

Hi Lynn, <BR> <BR>Scones from a grocery store - now that's my kind of breakfast. Tell me where the grocery store is and the name of it. We are keen on "dining out" so hints on quick snacks/take out, etc. would be helpful.

Lynn, <BR> <BR>Read my message and I made an error - we aren't keen on "dining out." Thanks for your help.