soods

I had asked the hotel in London (Kensington area) where we are staying, for the train station to catch a train to Bath. They said from Victoria Station. We had also asked the B&B owner in Bath, and they said Paddington Station. Does anyone know which station is the closest to the Kensington Area, and do we need to buy our tickets ahead of time? Also is there a train number for us to make sure it's the correct train?

Thanks for your help!

janisj

The closest station doesn't matter. Trains to Bath leave from Paddington . . .

soods

Wouldn't you think the Hotel in London would know that?! So is there a number for the train and should I buy the tickets ahead of time?

Also, should we buy a visitor oyster travel card or just the regular oyster card? One comes prefilled and I assume the other you put what you want dollar wise on it.

soods

One last question...Can my husband and I share one oyster card or do we need one per person?

jamikins

You cannot share oysters, every person needs their own!

jamikins

The earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper they are I believe. There is no reason to buy an oyster in advance...just buy it when you get to London.

danon

The tickets to Bath are very expensive, as PP said get them on line early.

indy_dad

www.nationalrail.co.uk in general or for this trip

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/

you want Bath Spa and purchase ahead of time (currently available to early July) to save money

Havana128

Trains don't have numbers they have times. Trains to Bath go from Paddington. The hotelier was talking about tube stations.

Gordon_R

<i>Wouldn't you think the Hotel in London would know that?!</i>

No, no necessarily. It's much more likely that people in Bath would know how to get to London than the other way round. Bear in mind also that many staff in London hotels are themselves recent arrivals from other parts of the world who have no better idea than tourists about the rest of the UK.

Smeagol

Try this website, I use it regulary to get cheaper train tickets. Www.thetrainline.com.

soods

jamikins..just so you know, I wrote to the Oyster card and they said that you CAN share a card. You can't share a travel card. As long as it's a pay as you go, multiple people can use one card.

Thanks everyone!

jamikins

How can you share if you are travelling at the same time? Yes, I can give my oyster to my friend to use for the day, but if two of you are travelling together you each need a card to get through the turnstiles.

janisj

Sods: NO - you cannot share an Oyster!!

Now, if you asked 'can two people use the same oyster?' The answer wold be yes. But if you asked 'Can two people use the same oyster FOR THE SAME JOURNEY?' - the answer is no . . .

janisj

Oops - that should have been soods

sofarsogood

LOL... Freudian slip perchance?...

ribeirasacra

How to purchase cheaper rail tickets on UK rail system.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/vide...-tickets-video

PalenQ

soods - are you taking any other trains in SE England? If taking one more longish day trip then look at the London Plus railpass that lets you hop any train anytime throughout SE England but also to Bristol and Bath and places like Stratford-on-Avon, Salisbury (Stonehenge), Canterubry, Cambridge, etc and also gives you a round-trip ticket on the Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted Airport express trains.

I find flexibility is nice when doing a day trip - some discounted tickets preclude you from leaving I think before 9:30am on week days or may have black out times returning - the pass lets you hop a returning train when you are ready to return - discounted tickets often require a specific train and cannot often be changed.

Anyway for lots of great info on British trains and passes I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com - click on the latter's commercial link to Rail Europe to check on current pass prices.

julia_t

As jamikins and janisj say, you cannot share an Oyster Card on the same journey.

I do 'share' my Oyster card from time to time with one or other of my children, but only if we are not in London at the same time.

If you do try to scan it twice, it doesn't work the second time.

soods

Thanks...they didn't specify! We are taking two one way train trips. From London to Bath and from York to Edinburgh. Any advise for those trips?