Our Greater London Megathread

jimmii · 15-03-2016 2:29pm

As long as they have a passport I don't see why not I was flying solo since I was younger than that.

irish_goat · 15-03-2016 2:30pm

Yes.

grogi · 15-03-2016 2:30pm

TheFitz13 wrote: »

Can a 17 year old fly to London and back alone? My 17 year old wants to go to London with his friends for the day, he is just 3 weeks short of being 18. The airline they are booking with is Ryanair.

If only reading T&C would be easier...

Ryanair does not carry unaccompanied minors under 16 years. Children under the age of 16 years must always be accompanied by a passenger over 16 years. Escort and special facilities are not available.

Simply Red · 15-03-2016 2:31pm

Yes, I believe the minimum age to travel alone is 16

spurious · 15-03-2016 2:40pm

Sometimes the restrictions are not to do with the airline. I know my friend had to wait til he was 18 for her son to travel alone.

For Latvia: When travelling to Belarus, Russia and other non-Schengen countries, including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom, in addition to a valid travel document - a passport or a Latvian citizen’s identity card – other travel documents indicated in the Regulation must be presented: a notarised permission of the child’s independent departure from the state, the authorisation for the departure of the child from the State accompanied by an authorised person, etc.

London should be fine though.

Gatica · 16-03-2016 9:52am

Yep, I'd imagine it would depend on 2 factors, departing country and airline. If it's Ryanair, then I would check their website - as grogi already pointed out, that's ok with them.

JimboJones99 · 21-03-2016 12:42pm

Hi,

I am heading to London for the first time in a few weeks. We are staying for a weekend in the Marylebone area.

I was just wondering if someone would mind giving me a quick guide for dummies on the Oyster card.

Information like
-Where do I get the card? (Flying into Stansted)
-How it works?
-Can I use it on all forms of transport? (Specifically train from Stansted to Tottenham Hale and then tube from there to Oxford Circus station)
-How much money should I put on it? (Don't plan on leaving Central London

Thanks

Fred Swanson · 21-03-2016 1:29pm

This post has been deleted.

JimboJones99 · 21-03-2016 1:44pm

Thanks very much, that's a great help.

LXFlyer · 21-03-2016 2:34pm

Current oyster rail map here:
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf

54and56 · 21-03-2016 3:20pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I'm heading over with the family (wife + two kids aged 11 and 15) on Thursday for the weekend staying in the Travelodge Hotel in Covent Garden and will be travelling around London from Clapham in the South to Palmers Green in the North for a few days . I have an Oyster card so I can top that up on arrival and take advantage of the £8 cap per day but I assume daily travel cards will work best for the others?

Also, we're travelling home from Gatiwck Sunday lunchtime so my default plan was to just get a taxi to Victoria and then a train (not the Gatwick Express) to Gatwick which for the four of us costs £58 on www.thetrainline.co.uk but I noticed the non Gatwick Express Thameslink train routes via Blackfriars where I'd have to change train so I'd be better off just getting a less expensive cab to Blackfriars and the train from there which is a shorter direct journey to Gatwick and only costs £23.70 for the four of us. Am I missing something or getting something wrong?

LXFlyer · 21-03-2016 3:30pm

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

I'm heading over with the family (wife + two kids aged 11 and 15) on Thursday for the weekend staying in the Travelodge Hotel in Covent Garden and will be travelling around London from Clapham in the South to Palmers Green in the North for a few days . I have an Oyster card so I can top that up on arrival and take advantage of the £8 cap per day but I assume daily travel cards will work best for the others?

Also, we're travelling home from Gatiwck Sunday lunchtime so my default plan was to just get a taxi to Victoria and then a train (not the Gatwick Express) to Gatwick which for the four of us costs £58 on www.thetrainline.co.uk but I noticed the non Gatwick Express Thameslink train routes via Blackfriars where I'd have to change train so I'd be better off just getting a less expensive cab to Blackfriars and the train from there which is a shorter direct journey to Gatwick and only costs £23.70 for the four of us. Am I missing something or getting something wrong?

First off - NEVER EVER use www.thetrainline.co.uk as it charges extra.

Use any rail operating company website to book tickets as there are no additional charges.

Before I can answer your rail query - are you flying into and out of Gatwick? Different ticketing options are better depending upon whether you need a single or return ticket.

Fred Swanson · 21-03-2016 3:34pm

This post has been deleted.

Vic_08 · 21-03-2016 3:35pm

JimboJones99 wrote: »

Hi,

I am heading to London for the first time in a few weeks. We are staying for a weekend in the Marylebone area.

I was just wondering if someone would mind giving me a quick guide for dummies on the Oyster card.

Information like
-Where do I get the card? (Flying into Stansted)
-How it works?
-Can I use it on all forms of transport? (Specifically train from Stansted to Tottenham Hale and then tube from there to Oxford Circus station)
-How much money should I put on it? (Don't plan on leaving Central London

Thanks

Buy your Stansted Express tickets to/from Tottenham Hale (or Liverpool St which would be better for Marylebone, Met/Circle to Baker St) as far in advance as possible from https://www.stanstedexpress.com/ to get the cheapest fares available, if the cheapest fare rates are already gone there is a "Duo" fare for 2 people travelling together.

You can get oyster when you get off the train, the rail ticket office should have them. Otherwise they can be bought from the ticket machines in the Underground station, the Underground ticket offices are now closed but there should be staff around the station to give assistance with the machines if necessary.

shrapnel222 · 21-03-2016 3:37pm

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

I'm heading over with the family (wife + two kids aged 11 and 15) on Thursday for the weekend staying in the Travelodge Hotel in Covent Garden and will be travelling around London from Clapham in the South to Palmers Green in the North for a few days . I have an Oyster card so I can top that up on arrival and take advantage of the £8 cap per day but I assume daily travel cards will work best for the others?

Also, we're travelling home from Gatiwck Sunday lunchtime so my default plan was to just get a taxi to Victoria and then a train (not the Gatwick Express) to Gatwick which for the four of us costs £58 on www.thetrainline.co.uk but I noticed the non Gatwick Express Thameslink train routes via Blackfriars where I'd have to change train so I'd be better off just getting a less expensive cab to Blackfriars and the train from there which is a shorter direct journey to Gatwick and only costs £23.70 for the four of us. Am I missing something or getting something wrong?

correct re oyster for you and travelcards for the others.

if you're in covent garden, just get a cab or take the tube to london bridge, where you have direct trains which take 30-40 minutes to Gatwick for £28 for all 4 of you. You can also get the £23 one, but that takes twice as long and has one change. check trainline for the times.

Edit: just checked there and there are direct ones although slightly slower from blackfriars so it's definitely a good option also. no need to go to london bridge then :-)

54and56 · 21-03-2016 4:27pm

lxflyer wrote: »

First off - NEVER EVER use www.thetrainline.co.uk as it charges extra.

Don't worry, I won't be using the Trainline to book tickets, I just used it to aggregate the fare options.

lxflyer wrote: »

Before I can answer your rail query - are you flying into and out of Gatwick? Different ticketing options are better depending upon whether you need a single or return ticket.

Arriving into City Airport Thursday lunchtime and want to get the Thames Clipper to Blackfriars just to see the city from the river etc but returning from Gatwick Sunday afternoon.

Vic_08 · 21-03-2016 4:28pm

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

I'm heading over with the family (wife + two kids aged 11 and 15) on Thursday for the weekend staying in the Travelodge Hotel in Covent Garden and will be travelling around London from Clapham in the South to Palmers Green in the North for a few days . I have an Oyster card so I can top that up on arrival and take advantage of the £8 cap per day but I assume daily travel cards will work best for the others?

Also, we're travelling home from Gatiwck Sunday lunchtime so my default plan was to just get a taxi to Victoria and then a train (not the Gatwick Express) to Gatwick which for the four of us costs £58 on www.thetrainline.co.uk but I noticed the non Gatwick Express Thameslink train routes via Blackfriars where I'd have to change train so I'd be better off just getting a less expensive cab to Blackfriars and the train from there which is a shorter direct journey to Gatwick and only costs £23.70 for the four of us. Am I missing something or getting something wrong?

There is engineering work between Victoria and Gatwick over Easter so no trains are running, the via Blackfriars journeys that is coming up includes a Underground transfer, pointless to get a cab to Victoria.

Price I am getting for 2 Adults, 2 Children Blackfriars-Gatwick is £19.55 for singles (3 adult with groupsave discount and 1 child).

Or £13.60 (2 Adult 2 Child off-peak day returns) with the Railcard I mentioned in a previous post.

As above do not use trainline.com as they charge an extra fee, the trains on that route are run by Thameslink so http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/ is the best site to use. Those tickets can also be bought at a station ticket office before travel at the same price.

LXFlyer · 21-03-2016 5:10pm

I would concur with the above.

For info, Oyster is now valid to/from Gatwick but should only be used over paper tickets for single journeys during weekdays when the super off-peak tickets are not available and when you've not got a group.

Oyster fare from Blackfriars on the Sunday to Gatwick would be £8 for adults and £2.25 for children aged 11-15.

From any Zone 1 underground station via Blackfriars the oyster fare is £10.20 for adults and £2.25 for children.

In your case - the groupsave option or railcard option above is best.

54and56 · 21-03-2016 5:42pm

Vic_08 wrote: »

Or £13.60 (2 Adult 2 Child off-peak day returns) with the Railcard I mentioned in a previous post.

Thanks Vic_08, I do recall the Family and Friends Railcard for £30 you mentioned previously. If instead of using my Oyster card I ended up buying 2 adult and 2 child off peak travel cards each day for three days that would normally cost £108.60 and if I buy the Family and Friends Railcard for £30 that would entitle me to a discount of £36.20 off the travelcards + £6.80 off the £20.40 2 adult and 2 child tickets from Blackfriars to Gatwick giving me a net saving of £13 Vs not using the Family and Friends Railcard. It's not mega but better in my pocket than someone else's and it'll pay for a few beers or a pizza or whatever so thanks again.

54and56 · 21-03-2016 5:56pm

lxflyer wrote: »

From any Zone 1 underground station via Blackfriars the oyster fare is £10.20 for adults and £2.25 for children.

In your case - the groupsave option or railcard option above is best.

Thanks LX, so I can purchase a combined Underground and Thameslink ticket from Covent Garden Tube station to Gatwick?

LXFlyer · 21-03-2016 7:18pm

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Thanks LX, so I can purchase a combined Underground and Thameslink ticket from Covent Garden Tube station to Gatwick?

Well you can tag on/off using Oyster yes as per above.

54and56 · 22-03-2016 4:33pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Well you can tag on/off using Oyster yes as per above.

Cool, but for the others on daily travel cards I'd probably just have to purchase a single ticket to Blackfriars and then their Thameslink tickets to Gatwick?

domini · 26-03-2016 1:47pm

What is the best London hop on/off service that also gives you free river cruise?

54and56 · 27-03-2016 9:33pm

Just back from our weekend in London and it was a great success.

Highlights:-

Emirates Air Line
Sky Garden
Westminster Walking Tour (Free Walking Tour)
Natural History Museum
Chinatown
Harrods Foodhall

I was planning to get the Family and Friends Railcard on arrival but they don't sell them at DLR stations so that was a bit of a bummer but the daily travel cards worked really well and we made heavy use of the Tube. Blackfriars to Gatwick was a fantastic way to get there, I'd always used the Victoria Express previously but for leisure travel when saving 20 minutes isn't important the Blackfriars option is brilliant.

All in all we had a great time. The Covent Garden Travelodge is big, clean and functional. It doesn't have any frills but you get what you pay for.

Thanks for all the help and tips I got here, I really appreciate it.

Cheers.

Hanley · 29-03-2016 9:14pm

So I know you don't need a passport to travel between Ireland and the UK.

But I also know it's all Ryanair will accept.

The only info I can find on their site is a "valid" passport, and as mine expires in May 2016 I would consider it valid in April 2016.

I've heard of some 6 month rule before, but think it only applies to countries that require visas.

Can anyone tell me if I'm ok to fly on my current passport?

(...and anyone who's travelled in a similar predicament to me - it would be especially nice to hear from you!)

Thank y'all very much.

toadfly · 29-03-2016 9:18pm

You won't have any problems.

artanevilla · 29-03-2016 9:20pm

As long as you're travelling both ways while your passport is in date you'll be perfectly fine.

Hanley · 29-03-2016 9:46pm

Excellent. Thank you both very much. I appreciate both replies.

fredchest · 30-03-2016 2:04pm

hi,
anyone recommend a reasonably priced accom near Liverpool St Station, London....

tx
j

Strumms · 30-03-2016 3:34pm

The Ibis on Commercial St is about a 10minute walk away from Liverpool St station close to some good shops and pubs including the infamous and rather good Ten Bells as well as the Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane. Stayed there once and found it fine like any typical Ibis hotel really.

The other one in that area slightly closer is the Travelodge on Harrow Place about a 3 minute walk to Liverpool St Station. Stayed there back in November and found it fine.

Our Greater London Megathread

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