I'm working on my "instructions to self" for our trip in August, rechecking all the websites etc. We are going from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station because it is right by our hotel, and I want to get our National Rail 7-day Travelcards to use with the 2-for-1s right before or after we check in. I've researched it all I can and think I'm seeing conflicting information about whether or not you can currently buy NR tickets at Victoria or if I need to find the next closest station. Does anyone know? And do they have to be purchased from an agent, a machine, or either? Thanks.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
Last July we bought our National Rail travelcards at Victoria Station. We waited in a short line (perhaps 10 to 15 minutes) and bought the cards from an agent at a ticket window. It was relatively easy to find, and there was one line with ropes that fed into a number of windows. The agents were very helpful. Cross this off of your "worry" list, it'll be easy to do!
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
Here is a map of Victoria Station. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/VIC/stationOverview.xhtml There are no ticket facilities at Victoria Underground station at the moment not Victoria Mainline station which is the one you want.
Posted by
Northbrook, Illinois, USA
310 posts
Hi Dellinda, I think you are ahead of me in planning your trip so I hope you don't mind my asking a question regarding the NR 7Day cards. Are they for all of UK or can you buy them for just London and surrounding areas? We are planning a November trip and I would like to have a transportation pass that allows my husband and I to hop on and off the tube and the buses. Is the travelcard what I want or is the Oyster Card? Can I buy the cards at Heathrow when we land (or b/4) so as to use them on way into town? Thanks! Marie
Posted by
OP
Lubbock, TX, USA
113 posts
Marie, I'm not an expert...many others here are who are the ones I've learned from. But I'll tell you what I think I know. Travelcards and Oyster both work on tube and buses. We are buying the National Rail Travelcards (7 day) because we can take advantage of some 2-for-1 admissions around London. You and your travel partner must each buy the NRT at a mainline train station, not at the airport, tube stations, or online. You will buy the paper Travelcard with the NR blue logo on it. See http://www.londontoolkit.com/ for good general information on all things transportation, http://www.nationalrail.co.uk for NR, and www.daysoutguide.co.uk for information on the discount admissions vouchers. Currently most of the discount vouchers are good through October, and before they were good through April; I waited to see if they would be continued, and they were. You go to the days out site, register, and print the vouchers you're interested in (there may be blanks at the train station also), take the voucher and your NRT for each of you, and pay the one admission fee. Depending on what you want to visit it should at least save you the cost of the NRT. Since you can't buy the NRT at the airport or tube station you'll need to get from Heathrow to wherever you're going another way. Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect are available as is National Express Coach which is what we're doing. It's slower but cheaper and goes within a block of our hotel, so it made the most sense for us. Many do the Heathrow Express because it's fast, even if expensive. Figure out where you're going, how much you want to spend, and how much your time is worth and decide. You may want to try to end up close to a train station to buy the NRT before you go any farther. Since my last attempt at a post was lost I'm going to copy this, post, and follow up with some other information.
Posted by
OP
Lubbock, TX, USA
113 posts
Marie, I couldn't get back on the site for a while! Here is a link to an older post that I learned from. Hope it will help you. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=62872