Train from London to Dover
 

It looks like the fastest train is from St. Pancras to Dover. Is this correct? Is it a lot more expensive than other trains? Is there a nice hotel (4 star) close to the station.

Leaving from London Victoria is scheduled for about 10 minutes longer than from St Pancras, but there is no change involved. From St Pancras it shows 1 change. Now, the change may very likely be "the front 4 cars are going one direction out of one of the stations along the way and the back 4 cars are going another direction, get on the right car" and no actual movement on your part.

Asking for fares for tomorrow, the trains leaving from Victoria are a few pounds cheaper. The trains from St Pancras leave near the top of the hour and from Victoria in the middle of the hour. St Pancras saves 10-15 minutes time on the train and Victoria saves 3-4 pounds each. That's a wash to me so I would simply choose based on which station was easiest to get to. Please check both locations for your specific times and dates as the fare differences could change from what I just pulled up for tomorrow as an example.

When I went from London to Dover (via a stop in Canterbury) in December I left from Victoria station, not St Pancras. I don't remember anything right near the train station in Dover to be honest. There weren't any taxis when I was there, but I only waited for about 2 minutes.

That doesn't make sense I_R -- the train from Victoria that takes only a little extra time connects to the fast train from St. Pancras. The no-change train from Victoria takes about 35 minutes longer than the fast train from St. Pancras.

I've just checked in my idoodah ap and it says St P is the most frequent a d quickest. Bookin ahead wi get you considerably cheaper prices. No changes needed. One hr seven mins

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was looking for a hotel near the St Pancras station. Perhaps I am confused about the trains. I thought there was a high speed train that ran from St. Pancras to Dover without a change in a little over an hour?

You are right. Platform12

Okay so I'm an idiot. :) The trains I listed were the only ones I saw, sorry!

Yep, that's why I-R's post was confusing.

Now I'm wondering what an idoodah is.

Iowa not an idiot at all. It's really confusing

How much do you want to spend?

There is really no need to stay near St Pancras -- There are massive numbers of hotels w/i a short cab or tube ride from the station. You can stay in any (nicer) neighborhood.

What is your budget and how long will you be in London?

Just spending the night before going to Dover. Anyone familiar with Hotel Megaro?

ttt

Hotel Megaro


http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_England.html

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was looking for a hotel near the St Pancras station>

There is a Best Western - may not be 4-star but is in an imposing location - smack between Kings X and St Pancras stations - practically in both stations. It was undergoing a thorough renovation that i suppose is complete - was once a railway hotel of renown.

Trains from St Pancras to Kent go over the high-speed route of the Chunnel (Eurostar) trains to Ashford International i believe where you'd have to change to get a train to Dover Priory station.

cheaper and nearly as quick to leave from Victoria, where the old boat-trains once departed.

O for gosh sakes, the "i believe . . . you'd have to change" answer is just wrong.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/timetable/times

There's a 7:10, 8:10, 9:12, 10:12 from St. Pancras Domestic DIRECT to Dover Priory that takes 69-71 minutes. No changes. About 40-45 minutes faster than the train from Victoria. Just as Fashionista and I have said above.

I stand corrected - my info was dated - from last fall when the service began. Can you join the train at Stratford - if so you can take the Jubilee Line there quickly from central London.

Yes you can join the train at Stratford International - part of the Stratford Tube station - or a dedicated section of it

And there are direct trains from also Waterloo-East and this may be better located to reach for many than St Pancras - the trains from St Pancras are about 30 minutes faster but if you factor in getting to St Pancras from a typical hotel location you may be better off going to Victoria or Waterloo-East and hopping the slower, and cheaper, train.