Hello-I think I may purchase a F&F discount card for our London-York trip next year as it seems it will save us (2 adults, 2 kids) $ on a RT from London to York, and we may also use it to go from London to Cambridge or other nearby places. I know I can purchase advance tickets without actually having the railcard in hand as I plan to buy it (probably at Kings Cross) when we get there. My main question is-do we need passport photos? I have seen both yes and no answers. Has anyone done this recently and can verify?
We arrive at LHR at 7 am on a Monday morning and the plan is to take the tube (Picadilly line?) into London and hop the train to York. Will leave plenty of time in between plane arrival and train departure (4-5 hours?), maybe can grab a lunch (suggestions for good food near Kings Cross?) I fully realize if our plane is significantly delayed, we could miss the train. Gotta have at least a little faith, I suppose.
Thanks!
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
This is the form
https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Family%20%26%20Freinds%20Railcard%20application%20form.pdf
no photo required
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
Some Railcards require a photo. Some don't. Family and Friends doesn't... Just have the pink card with you whenever your ticket is checked.
What kind of food? Fast food? Sit down? Fancy? Ethnic? It is there within a 10 minute walk of Kings Cross. But you gotta say.
Posted by
OP
Nashville, TN, USA
444 posts
Thanks! No photos :)
Thanks Nigel, I should have been more specific. Probably a decent but not fancy sit down, pub type place? Kids are not fans of most ethnic cuisines, so we may save that for a different time when we can do takeaway and bring to our apartment. Maybe something that is typically British? Kids love fish n chips at our Irish pubs here in Nashville...?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
Well that lets out world class Indian.
Some pretty decent fish and chips at Rock and Sole Plaice 5 minutes or so walk from Covent Garden tube (3 stops before Kings Cross on the Piccadilly). https://www.rockandsoleplaice.com/
I don't know of a decent traditional pub near Kings Cross, but others may do.
Food in St Pancras station across the street from Kings Cross: https://stpancras.com/eat-and-drink
In Kings Cross: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/station-retail-directory/?station=755&station-filter=09132ea386
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Yep, too bad the kids haven’t yet developed adventurous palates as I know Nigel was thinking of Dishoom. Fabulous food in an intriguing setting.
The whole neighborhood around Kings Cross has drastically evolved from my first visit there in the early 90’s. Was rather bleak and sketchy. Now there are Gastropubs and the St Martins campus and the Gas Towers condos, etc., etc., etc.
The Young’s Gastropub the Fellow should meet your childrens fish and chips desire. Not cheap by the way but gastropubs rarely are.
And the restaurants inside St Pancras/Kings Cross are fine
Posted by
OP
Nashville, TN, USA
444 posts
Thanks Nigel and Claudia-I do appreciate the recs. We will be staying On Covent Garden for a week, so maybe we will try the Rock and Sole Plaice while we are there, and find something closer to Kings Cross on arrival day. And I have actually started cooking some Indian style dishes and slowly warming them up to other cuisines. They do enjoy naan lol. Maybe by May, they will be more adventurous. I love Indian food, so we will definitely be getting some while on that side of the pond! Is Dishoom the place you all like? I feel like I have seen folks mention it.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Yes, Dishoom.
It’s a chain but my location is the one adjacent to the St Martins campus behind St Pancras station.
Went there 3 times Last November. It was new and the ambience and food couldn’t have been better!