I've seen many posts about getting to London via Heathrow, Gatwick, etc.. but we will be flying in around 9pm into Luton. Anyone have suggestions about the cheapest way to get to London from there? Specifically, our 'home base' will be in Homsey/Crouch End/Haringey area. I have no idea if it is 2nd ring, 3rd ring, etc.. We don't have enough time now to buy an Oyster card beforehand, so would you recommend purchasing at Luton airport (and is that even possible? I don't know if they have a train station there where I can buy tickets or not, but I assume so?). We'll be there for 6 days, so I assume an Oyster card is our best bet, right?
I also read a post that told of visitors being able to turn in their oyster cards for the 3 pound refund at the end of the trip at Paddington Station. If the end of our trip is Luton, will we be able to turn it in there, as well, or only at Paddington? If only at Paddington, will it be cheaper to keep the cards so we can get the discounts on the ride from London out to Luton again?
I'm trying not to stress about it, so any help would be appreciated! :)
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
For Luton, you can use the train or bus. To take a train, you must first take a 5 minute shuttle bus run to the station....for the bus into London, it's right at the terminal. Click here for a good description of the various options.
Posted by
Durham, UK
55 posts
Hi Susan,
Luton is considerably further out than Heathrow and about the same as Gatwick. This means that it is outside of the fare zones for London, so you cannot use an Oyster card to get there.
There is a frequent train service from Luton Airport Parkway, which is about a 5 minute bus journey from the airport. The buses are dedicated tram-type vehicles and run very often. I believe a charge of £1 was recently levied, per passenger.
From the railway station, you can buy a ticket to London, as well as a travelcard (which is actually just on the same ticket and will cost a little more). Crouch End is easily accessibly from outside St. Pancras, which is where many trains from Luton terminate. The number 91 bus goes directly, about every 6-10 minutes.
Come out of the station, through the Underground station "Kings Cross St. Pancras", and exit at the Kings Cross exit. There will be a large plaza and the 91 stops at the bus stop immediately to your right.
I'd suggest buying your Oyster card on your second day, to save you hassle.
Mark
Posted by
London
291 posts
As said above Oyster doesn't reach out to Luton, so for the Luton - Central London transfer you'll need to purchase tickets separately.
As also said above its a choice between fast and relatively expensive train or slower, cheaper bus.
The bus goes nearer to Paddington than the train.
Confusingly with the bus service there are 3 different operators all selling their tickets for the same bus service, and all sell at different prices.
The cheapest option is easyBus and they have a kiosk in the arrival Terminal. You can also purchase tickets online at their web site and they'll probbaly be cheaper still there.
The other operators are Green Line and Terravision both of which have kiosks next to easyBus.
Again confusingly whoever you bought the ticket from you will travel on either a Green Line or easyBus liveried vehicle.
If you get off the bus at Baker Street stop, you can purchase your Oyster Card at the Underground Station its just two stations to Paddington from here.
By train you have to get a shuttle bus to the nearest train station outside the passenger terminal at the bottom of the hill from the airport.
Posted by
OP
GA
11 posts
Hi, taking your recommendations, I searched for the easyjet bus to/from Luton, but since I'm going to Crouch End, none of the stops of that bus land me near my destination. I wouldn't want to go all the way down to Paddington initially, since I'd have to take a metro to a bus stop for bus 91, etc.. Ideally, the easyjet bus would run somewhere near Crouch End, but the closest seems to be Brent Cross or Finchley Road, and then take a taxi to my destination. But then I wouldn't have the Oyster card for the next day.
If I take the train, I can go to Euston or King's Cross station and take the 91 bus from those stops. But of course, yes, the train is more expensive.
Is Paddington Station the ONLY place where I can turn in my Oyster card to refund the deposit, or can I do that at another station? Paddington is out of the way for my routes via either train or bus back to Luton on the return route.
Mark, you wrote that I can buy the travelcard at the Luton railway station-- I assume you mean Oyster card, as I've read that many times they're called the same? Will I be able to buy that at 10pm, or only during certain daytime hours?
I'm still confused, but thanks everyone for your help in making this a little clearer! :)
Posted by
London
291 posts
Sorry overlooked your destination was Hornsey not Paddington. Train is the most convenient to Kings Cross / St Pancras then onto Hornsey.
You can hand in your Oyster Card for a refund of the deposit at any Underground Station.
If you are staying 6 days, a 7 Day Travelcard is for most people cheaper than an Oyster Card used for 6 consecutive days.
Posted by
OP
GA
11 posts
Thanks Bob! Can I buy the travelcards at Luton rail station or St. Pancras?
Posted by
OP
GA
11 posts
Also, since I would be buying the Travelcards at a Rail Station, I would qualify for the 2 for 1 deal, right? I'm not sure what 'DLR' trains are, but I assume that Luton Rail Station or St. Pancras/King's Cross are not DLR?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Susan,
To qualify for 2-for-1 offers, buy paper travelcards bearing the National Rail logo at National Rail stations. I can't say for sure if they're sold at the Luton Airport Parkway station, but they certainly are at St. Pancras.
DLR = Docklands Light Railway. The trains run above ground and will take you as far as Greenwich (and other places on the east side of London).