Transport in London/England in July
 

Any ideas/suggestions for train/bus travel pass for a family of 5 (2Adults, 3 Children) for southeast England/London during the olympics... (car rental is too expensive) Is it better to pay for each trip as needed or get a travel pass for a certain amount of time?.. and would we buy this in US before we leave, or UK when we arrive? Thanks in advance!

Where exactly are you going? Is this just for Olympic venues or will you be traveling further afield.

I doubt if there's one single pass - and without more details of your plans (where you are going, how long you are staying) it's impossible even to recommend which of several possible passes are available - and in any case a pass may not be the best option.

I agree with alan but it's likely you will need individual train tickets for travel outside of London. Bear in mind these are usually less expensive if booked and paid for in advance rather than on the day.

Here's a link to transport options for Olympic venues
http://www.london2012.com/mm/Documen...012-venues.pdf

will be traveling into london for sightseeing/olympics from heathfield (south east?) also to cambridge for a few days and windsor for a few days.. would also like to go to paris.. thank you for your help!

Not only are train tickets cheaper if bought in advance, they are cheaper outside commuter hours. Lots and lots of options.

You can find prices and timetables at www.nationalrail.co.uk

First: there's no passas well as outside. Why Americans persist in thinking there is (nowhere in America or any other major European country offers such a preposterous concept) is one of life's great mysteries. Is there some imbecile American travel "expert" propagating this myth?

You get (at least you do if you buy them here) a 9-zone free Transport for London pass for each day you've bought an Olympic ticket - each one valid only for that day. I can't imagine foreign agents aren't offering the same pass - but your best travel options to and from Heathfield depend on whether you've already got those tickets (remember: you can't really buy Olympic tickets here if you don't live here, though final arrangements for unsold tickets - there aren't many for the London events - haven't been announced).

If you've got the Olympic passes, you need a daily train ticket to the nearest TfL station for each day you're planning to go to the Games. The ticket staff at Heathfield will explain the best options for other days.

There's no point in buying train tickets to Windsor or Cambridge in advance: they're as cheap bought on the day. Tickets to Paris MUST be bought as far in advance as possible. You're already dangerously late.

<b> What I originally typed </b>

First: there's no pass offering all you can eat travel within Greater London as well as outside. Why Americans persist in thinking there is (nowhere in America or any other major European country offers such a preposterous concept) is one of life's great mysteries. Is there some imbecile American travel "expert" propagating this myth?

You get (at least you do if you buy them here) a 9-zone free Transport for London pass for each day you've bought an Olympic ticket - each one valid only for that day. I can't imagine foreign agents aren't offering the same pass - but your best travel options to and from Heathfield depend on whether you've already got those tickets (remember: you can't really buy Olympic tickets here if you don't live here, though final arrangements for unsold tickets - there aren't many for the London events - haven't been announced).

If you've got the Olympic passes, you need a daily train ticket to the nearest TfL station for each day you're planning to go to the Games. The ticket staff at Heathfield will explain the best options for other days.

There's no point in buying train tickets to Windsor or Cambridge in advance: they're as cheap bought on the day. Tickets to Paris MUST be bought as far in advance as possible. You're already dangerously late

Flanner has given you info re the Olympics transport and that you don't need to buy Windsor or Cambridge tickets ahead of time.

The comment about Paris is important to note. It is VERY late to be booking Eurostar tix for this month. The trains are likely full . . . and if they aren't, the cheap seats will have sold out long ago.

Are you visiting relatives/friends? If not, Heathfield (assuming you mean the one in Sussex) is more than a bit inconvenient for visiting London, attending the Olympics. First of all there is no station in Heathfield. Nearest station is Buxted which is 6 or 7 miles away. From there to Cambridge is a 3 hour journey w/ 2 changes.

Windsor is 2.5 hours w/ two changes.

And for London, it is over an hour just to London Bridge, w/ various sorts of public transport from there

None of these will be easy journeys for a family of 5.

It is in a lovely part of the country - but a base for touring London and the Olympics . . . not so much

(Or could it be some other Heathfield?)

No, It is in Sussex.. We are staying with family there, and so using it as a base.. We will also stay a few nights with friends in London. It will not be easy, but we have a few weeks, so have 'down time' built in. Thank you for your advice and help..

dmcq: Oh that makes sense. I took your OP to mean you were planning on daily trips into London and such during a typical week-long visit. Staying in Sussex is a great base for seeing all the castles/gardens/'stuff' in the southeast. And w/ friends in London you can use that for a base for the Olympics events.

And being there a few weeks will give you lots of options/flexibility.