We are thinking of staying in Winchester for 2 nights as our last stop in England before our flight home. Would the train or a bus work better and is this a reasonable plan? Our flight is at around 4:20 in the afternoon.
Thanks!
Posted by
Cornwall
378 posts
Train to Reading takes about 40 minutes, then bus or Elizabeth Line to LHR. Or National Express Coach takes an hour.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8134 posts
So long as it is not a Sunday my winner would be National Express bus. It runs every 2 hours in round terms- there is one at 1020, arrives Heathrow Central Bus Station (T2/3) at 1130 and T5 at 1200.
Next is 1220, but better early than late.
The flip side is that it leaves from St Catherines (Winchester East) Park and Ride- which has no Sunday bus service.
It is not quite clear how you ticket one way from the city- https://www.winchester.gov.uk/parking/parkandride/parking-and-charges
So maybe just take a taxi. Saves changing onto the Rail Air Coach or routing through London.
Posted by
OP
518 posts
We are traveling on a Tuesday. We are staying pretty close to the tran station.
Would changing at Woking then on to Heathrow be a good option?
It is June 4 if that matters as far as strikes may be concerned.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8134 posts
As far as strikes we won't know until Tuesday 21 May whether that day is affected or not.
Yes you could do Woking Rail Air, or you could do the Flightline route 730 from Basingstoke if flying from Terminal 5-https://images.reading-buses.co.uk/downloads/flightline_730_731_times.pdf
and costs £4 to Heathrow.
As far as train tickets there are no advance fares Winchester to Woking- so no benefit to buying early. There are advance fares to Basingstoke but only £3 difference between the advance fare and the walk up fare.
So you can play the long game and wait and see, holding National Express in reserve in case of a rail strike.