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Help with booking Gatwick Express

Posted by (Calgary, AB, Canada) on

Hi everyone, I've been looking at booking the Gatwick Express online ahead of time. I just wanted to double check that I am reading the small print correctly. It seems to me that I can save considerably by booking 3 adult anytime return tickets with a websaver deal. I get a total of 61 pounds for the return. We would be able to travel at off peak hours, leaving Gatwick around 11 am and London around 9:30. And Victoria is our closest station, so not looking at Thameslink.

What I was just not entirely convinced of was that I could take "any" train during those off peak hours. Because when I go on the website it asks me to select a specific train.

On a side note, I believe I could then use this ticket for the 2 for 1 deals, but had read somewhere it has to have a certain logo. If I print at home does anyone know if that is a problem?

Thanks in advance for all your help and patience!

Posted by
4684 posts

When you use most UK rail booking sites it will ask you to select a specific train and then offer you the different prices available for that train. Only "advance" fares are generally restricted to specific services. "Anytime" means "anytime" and you may also be able to get off peak tickets as well. I'm not sure if 0930 counts as an off-peak departure from London though - often the off-peak period starts at 1000.

The 2 for 1 deals are available if you have a paper Travelcard purchased from a railway and not an underground station. You can get one from the railway ticket office at Victoria, but make sure you use the railway one and not the TfL Visitors Centre which is also above ground on the station.

Posted by
4529 posts

The 61 pounds for the return ticket is mostly, if not entirely, a "groupsave" fare that is not a discount particular to the internet-- it is also available once you get there. I'm not sure what the "10% discount" is all about, maybe that is an internet discount?

You could choose the pick up tickets there option if you are worried about the logo on the print at home tickets.

I can't answer your leaving Gatwick take any train question.

Posted by
32212 posts

Lisa,

I was there last year and had to buy a ticket for the Gatwick Express. As I recall, I just took a short walk to the station one evening after supper, and bought the ticket there (on the night prior to travel, probably from a Kiosk, but can't remember).

Posted by
2779 posts

The Southern Rail train from Gatwick to London Victoria takes only 2 minutes longer than the Express, runs pretty much every 20 minutes and is only £8 one-way (off-peak) if paid by Oyster and I believe only around £10 if bought online.

Posted by
4529 posts

As Andreas said, go to southernrailways.com and you can get a groupsave ticket one-way for 30 pounds that says "anytime" on it.

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