ASHFORD (KENT) to london

[olivyaya]

Hello there !
I hope this is the right place to post in.
I am writing from France. We will be visiting Ashford, KENT (not SURREY) this summer and would like to go to London.
I was told that when travelling from Ashford I will need a travelcard covering London zones 1-6 as I will be passing through all six zones.
Is this correct from Ashford International station ????
Is the station considered as zone 6 despite oustide Greater London ?

Thank you for your kind help !
Olivier

 

[telstarbox]

Are you visiting more than one place in London?

Ashford International (AFK) is outside Zone 6 but you can get a 'Day Travelcard' which includes travel between Ashford and London, plus unlimited train, Tube, bus and DLR travel in Zones 1-6.

There are 'normal' and 'High Speed 1' trains from Ashford to London. You need a 'plus High Speed' ticket to use the High Speed 1' trains.

 

[olivyaya]

Thank you for your kind and quick answer !
We are willing to go to London once or twice, maybe more... 1 day each time (morning to evening).
How much is a 'Day Travelcard' you are talking about ? Where can I buy them from ?

Are you visiting more than one place in London?

Ashford International (AFK) is outside Zone 6 but you can get a 'Day Travelcard' which includes travel between Ashford and London, plus unlimited train, Tube, bus and DLR travel in Zones 1-6.

There are 'normal' and 'High Speed 1' trains from Ashford to London. You need a 'plus High Speed' ticket to use the High Speed 1' trains.

 

[yorksrob]

Or you could get the stopper to Charing Cross. Takes longer, but is cheaper and you can get a beer on the trolley.

 

[Bushy]

Hi Olivier and welcome.

If you want to use buses and trains within London you should buy a Travelcard. If you are only travelling to the terminus station (Charing Cross, Victoria, London Bridge or St. Pancras) then buy Ashford to London Termini.
You have the option of travelling

• by the older Mainline routes
  • via Tonbridge to London Bridge or Charing Cross (journey time c. 1h 19m Return Fare from £ 21.30) or
  • via Maidstone East to Victoria (journey time c. 1h 21m Return Fare from £ 21.30)
  alternatively
• you can travel by High Speed to St. Pancras (journey time c. 38m Return Fare from £ 31.50

A travel card is an extra £ 8.50 but without the travelcard a single tube journey is £ 4.50.

You can check fares and train times on http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/. Enter 'AFK' for Ashford and 'London All Stations' to bring up all of the options.

If you know the date and time you want to travel and where you intend to go in London, the fares experts on here will help.

Regards

Bushy

 

[island]

I don't think that £8.50 is always the correct price for the Travelcard add-on. Travelcard from Ashford Intl to London Zones 1-6 route PLUS HIGH SPEED costs £35 as compared to £31.50 for the normal off-peak day return.

 

[JamesRowden]

There is also the route to London along the coast via Eastbourne/Brighton for £16.90 which takes nearly 3hrs each way but would allow you to break your journey at any point (to have a look around the towns along the route). The route is also valid on the more expensive tickets.

 

[yorksrob]

There is also the route to London along the coast via Eastbourne/Brighton for £16.90 which takes nearly 3hrs each way but would allow you to break your journey at any point (to have a look around the towns along the route). The route is also valid on the more expensive tickets.

It is a very enjoyable route. Stopped off at Eastbourne and Lewes once

 

[MikeWh]

A travel card is an extra £ 8.50 but without the travelcard a single tube journey is £ 4.50

A paper zones 1-6 travelcard is £8.90, but from outside the zones it is usually cheaper to get a combined return to London and travelcard together.

£8.50 is the 2012 price, or the Oyster cap.

 

[island]

A paper zones 1-6 travelcard is £8.90, but from outside the zones it is usually cheaper to get a combined return to London and travelcard together.

£8.50 is the 2012 price, or the Oyster cap.

In this instance £8.50 was partially correct as it's the difference between a super off-peak day return and an off-peak day Travelcard for route NOT VALID ON HS1.

 

[olivyaya]

Thank you all for your kind help !
I am going to study it all... and come back to you in case of further info !

Have a nice week-end !
Olivier

 

[clagmonster]

A few questions from me: How old are you and your travelling companions? How many people will be travelling on each day. How many times do you intend to visit London? When travelling with your companions, will you always stay together?

 

[olivyaya]

A few questions from me: How old are you and your travelling companions? How many people will be travelling on each day. How many times do you intend to visit London? When travelling with your companions, will you always stay together?

We will be 2 adults, 2 seniors, 2 children (under15).
From what I can seen, train is AWFULLY expensive during the week ! Why is that ?
Ashford is just 90km away from London !

 

[clagmonster]

During the peak commuting times, cheaper tickets are not valid, so you can save a bit by setting out later during the week. If you travel at times at which off-peak tickets are valid, you will be eligible for Groupsave discounted fares. This means that for the group, the four adults travel for the price of 2 and the 2 children travel for £1.00 each. See:
http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/groupsave-discount/

Essentially your fare options are as follows:
Via Haywards Heath (ie changing trains at Lewes):
Super off peak day return, arriving at London Terminals after 10:54 and not leaving London Terminals between 16:15 and 19:15 inclusive: £8.45 per adult with Groupsave4 discount (so £35.80 for the group)
Off peak day return, arriving at London Terminals after 09:49: £14.75 per adult with Groupsave4 discount (so £61.00 for the group)
Anytime Day return: £55.10 per adult, £27.55 per child, so £220.40 for the group

On the 'classic' lines into London:
Super off peak day return, leaving Ashford after 09:59: £10.65 per adult with Groupsave4 discount (so £44.60 for the group)
Off peak day return, arriving at London Terminals after 09:59: £13.15 per adult with Groupsave4 discount (so £54.60 for the group)
Anytime Day return: £51.30 per adult, £25.65 per child, so £256.50 for the group

On the High Speed line:
Off peak day return, arriving at London Terminals after 09:59: £15.75 per adult with Groupsave4 discount (so £65.00 for the group)
Anytime Day return: £61.50 per adult, £30.75 per child, so £307.50 for the group

Note that with Groupsave discounted fares, the group must travel together at all times.

If you require travel on the Underground, Docklands Light Rail, British Rail or bus services within London, you will be best off buying an inclusive Travelcard for a few pounds more than the fares quoted above.

 

[olivyaya]

Thank you clagmonster !!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I have made a test on http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
They say we can buy the train tickets with or without a travel card.

Does this travel card include all day journeys on London underground and buses ? If it does, will we get 6 individual travel cards or a group one ?
Thank you once again for your help !

 

[maniacmartin]

You will get individual tickets, however as this price includes the GroupSave discount, you must still travel together at all times for the tickets to be valid.

As these are no "Advance" tickets, you can buy them on the day of travel from the station for the same price.

 

[island]

Yes, it includes all journeys on London buses and trams, and all journeys on London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, and National Rail within zones 1-6. Each passenger will get an individual ticket but the passengers will all need to stay together.

 

[telstarbox]

The official TfL website is the best one for planning journeys within London, and includes the Tube (Underground), buses, DLR and trams. It is in French too.

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user_current/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=fr

 

[olivyaya]

THANK YOU ALL for your kind and great **** help !

 

[olivyaya]

HELLO TO ALL !

We are back from the UK and had a lovely stay in KENT and had nice visits in London !

I would like to thank you all for your much appreciated help !

Kind regards,
Olivier

 

[bb21]

Nice to know that you've enjoyed your trip. You are most welcome.

 

[cjp]

HELLO TO ALL !

We are back from the UK and had a lovely stay in KENT and had nice visits in London !

I would like to thank you all for your much appreciated help !

Kind regards,
Olivier

Just Curious . . . which route and tickets did you choose?