Easterdawn

I am comming to UK in a few weeks, will be landing at Gatwick early in am from Canada. I will have 1 large, 1 medium case and a small dog in a crate. I need to get the train from Gatwick to Kilmaurs (20 miles from Glasgow) and I am concerned about how I will be able to juggle all this by myself. Can someone give me information on how and where I would go to get on the train or would it be better to take a cab to the train station that would be the one to take me to Kilmaurs.

Also does anyone know of an inexpensive hotel near the Airport. I do know that there is a Yotel near there that rent by the hour. Also know about the Gatwick Express, just concerned about hauling everything by myself. Any inofrmation would be appreciated.

flanneruk

Personally I'd fly to Glasgow, or (if there's a flight) to Prestwick, if the carrier will allow a dog.

Otherwise it's a bummer. There are no direct trains: you need to get a train from London to either Carlisle or Glasgow Central and change there. Getting a cab from Gatwick is horrendously expensive and takes forever.

The least painful solution involves several changes roundabout. Train from Gatwick to Reading: change (same platform) at Reading to either Glasgow or Carlisle (the easiest way of doing which is to change at Stafford. The booking engine I'll give you in a minute will tell you to change at Birmingham New Street. DON'T. Stafford is a same-platform change: B'ham involves chaotic platfdorms and narrow escalators). Change at Carlise or Glasgow.

The dog travels free and doesn't need to be a cage. He'll love the trains (their carpets are impregnated with decades of junk food) and fellow travellers will ooh and aah him to death.

www.nationalrail.co.uk. Use advanced search and don't believe them if they tell you to do something else

Some people might suggest the First Capital Connect train from Gatwick to London St Pancras, then the train to Edinburgh. Reject this suggestion: it's a truly horrible tramp for almost half a mile through St Pancras and across the road to Kings Cross for Edinburgh. The FCC arrival platform is usually devoid of baggage trolleys, and St Pancras hasdn't seen a porter since The 39 Steps was written. It didn't have one then either, which is why the film wasn't shot there.

jamikins

Hi there,

We brought our dogs over here when we moved from Canada...I am sure you have researched the process and followed it. You cant just bring the dog in a crate. It will have to be approved by DEFRA before it is released to you at the airport. This took the better part of the day for ours so you may want to take that into consideration. (you have gone through all the processes to ensure you dog can get into the UK right?? Chipping, rabies blood tests 6 months after shot, deworking etc within 24 hours before landing in the UK)?

Assuming all that is ok I think the best bet is to get an airport transfer to Euston station. We use www.justairports.com and they will give you a quote. (note you have to change trains in Glasgow).

The other options will require lugging everything up and down stairs to trains etc. I'd just pay for the transfer.

Hope this helps!

jamikins

flanneruk, good suggestion about Reading! That would definitely be the most affordable option!

Easterdawn

Thank you for the information. I have been in touch with Defra in regards to what we need to do etc. Also she has been microchipped for Europe and we are just waiting out the 6 months now after her blood test. I was told by my friend in Kilmaurs that I can change trains in Carlise instead of Glasgow.

The reason we are going to Gatwick, London, instead of Glasgow is that the difference in ticket costs for myself and my dog is about $2000.00. Just a little concerned as I said about lugging everything about by myself. She is a little Shitzu and her crate is quite small but still with 2 suitcases etc.it will be a challenge.

jamikins

Glad to hear you have things under control with your pup! Just leave lots of time for going through DEFRA.

Sounds like you can also change at Carlisle as well.

Good luck with your move!

flanneruk

Once you've got her out of the Animal Reception Centre, why lumber yourself with a crate? After at least 10 hrs cooped up, she's going to want to run round anyway, and she'll be a lot easier to manage just on a lead.

Don't forget the anti-tick injection no less than 24 hrs, and no more than 48, before landing in Britain.

janisj

OK - You will have to schlepp the large and medium bags plus watch over the pooch. That will be a heck of a lot of hassle.. My suggestion will cost you extra $$/££ but IMO totally worth it in your situation.

So I'd invest the extra money to ship ahead the contents of your larger suitcase and only bring a carryon sized rollaboard or a small-ish checked bag. A rollaboard or 24 incher will be a LOT more manageable for your trek through multiple train stations, up and down stairs, etc.

Easterdawn

I think I might try to get everything into 1 large and small carry on. Can anyone tell me what kind of toime fram for getting my pup out of the animal reception area. We fly in at 0930am after a 6 hour flight, I would like to pre-book train ticket, but if this is going to be a long day might stay overnight an d train it in the morning. Any idea of inexpensive hotel near Gatwick.

janisj

"<i>I think I might try to get everything into 1 large and small carry on. </i>"

First - fill both suitcases and put the dog in a crate. Then walk 2 blocks schlepping everything and go up and down maybe 6 - 8 steps. Then take the dog out of the crate and w/ him on a lead, do the same walk w/ the suitcases, finishing w/ going through a narrow doorway and up two more steps (to simulate getting on the train). Once you see the hassle involved - shipping some of your stuff ahead may look like a bargain

Easterdawn

Thanks for the information everyone, sorry have another question, does the differencein the price of first class rain travel make much of a difference?

TheFlannerpooch

The Boss often takes me on trains. The journey always involves a few hundred yards walk to the railway station, and one or two changes of train.

He puts me on a lead (I'd like to see him try locking me up in a cage), pulls a roller suitcase and puts briefcase-style stuff into a backpack. It's really no hassle (the Gatwick-Reading train is flush with the platform, and it's just a one-step jump onto long distance trains). The first time I went on a train, he thinks he had to persuade me to get on. But once I discovered how nice train floors smell, I just walk on.

Sometimes we have to go up and down stairs to change trains. He's too lazy to drag the roller case up stairs, so he always makes me get on an excalator. I don't like them much, and the rules are that he's supposed to carry me.

We both think that's daft, so I make a bit of a fuss then walk onto them anyway. No-one minds - though there's always a lift somewhere if you can find it.

Easterdawn

Thanks for this it made me laugh, which was very much needed. My problem is that my girl is just 6 months old and still gets scared when she is confronted with a lot of people, she actually likes her crate and feels secure in it.

rogeruktm

Just curious. By packing a lot and taking a pet makes me assume that you are going for a long period of time like several months. Right?

jamikins

As for timeframe, I would assume most of the day. Ours landed in the morning and we didnt see them until 5pm. It really depends how many planes/animals land that day etc...oh this may be too late for you, but we were told not to fly with the dogs on weekends or monday and friday as these are the busiest days and more delays were likely. We flew ours in on a Tues and still took most of the day.

Hope this helps!
J

Easterdawn

Yes, we are actually leaving Canada for good, I am comming over first with one dog and my husband a few months later with the other one. We are planning on flying on a Tuesday, arriving on a Wednesday. We were wondering if booking a hotel near the airport would be a good idea. Then I could start off early the next day instead of trying to do it allon one day.

Can you tell me what kind of shape they were in when you finally got to see them, and does someone take care of them when they are their?

jamikins

Hi there,

I think we were more stressed than they were hahaha!

Glad to hear you are travelling mid week!

I would definitely consider a hotel...if you dont get them till 5pm that will make for a VERY long day for you and the pup.

They were definitely freaked out (very skittish and nervous) but nothing serious. In a few hours they calmed down and by the next day they were fine. The funniest thing was how jetlagged they were! They slept all day and were up all night for about 3-4 days!

I would recommend bringing a bag of their food with you as the food is different here (unless you are on pedigree or some grocery store brand). Then you can gradually put them onto the new food. We use James Wellbeloved here.

Also our vet recommended we sleep with some tea towels before we left and then put them in the crate with them for travel so they could smell us and that woudl calm them down. We also brought all their favorite toys with us so they would help them get adjusted.

Hahahaha...I sound like an overprotective mother, but they are my babies! And they are just fine now...like true British pugs.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Easterdawn

Hi,

I called a phone number in UK in regards to bringing dog food with me. I was told that I could not bring any dog food with us and that I would have to get some once we are there. Unfortunately we feed an organic dog food called Prairie and I am sure they do not have this in UK.

Like yourself they are our babies expecially the little one, the other dog is a Siberian Husky 9yrs old. The Shitzu is only 7 mths and I worry about her especially. I would be doing all the things that you did re toys etc, plus we have gotten them used to drinking from water bottles(the type that hang on rabbit cages). We plan to freeze the water bottles and they can at least keep themselves hydrated, was told that this would be acceptable. Again thank you everyone who has answered my question they have been very helpful.

jamikins

Hi there,

We checked with DEFRA and they said you were allowed as long as it was dry (kibble). We brought a bag in our suitcase and it was fine.

Easterdawn

Thanks, did you come recently, as I know that here in Canada we cannot take any meat dog food dry or otherwise to the states. If it was recently I will just put small bag in my suitcase