I have written to GWR but have not heard a response. I am trying to travel from Cardiff (cardiff central CDF) to london. Going to an area East of the Tower of London. (if it helps, the two tube stations closest are Tower Hill and Wapping)
When I go to the GWR site, I can choose a destination of WPE. The first time I put it in, it said 58 pounds. I did it a few minutes later and it said 18 pounds.
I just want to make sure that wapping (WPE) is really where I want to go. The train makes 3 changes. It never actually states London so Im hoping its correct. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Posted by
Maryland, USA
533 posts
WPE is indeed where you want to go. You can see the station information here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/WPE/details.html
It looks like you're changing at Paddington, London Bridge, and New Cross Gate. You can see all of those stations on the map here: https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track?intcmp=40400
But if, as you say, Tower Hill is just as close to where you want to go, why not just get a train ticket to Paddington and then take the tube? It's a one-seat ride on the Circle Line, which seems like it would be easier.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2597 posts
From Cardiff the train will terminate at London Paddington, but what you need is a ticket that will also allow you to continue your journey by tube/DLR to your final destination i.e. Tower Hill, Wapping or wherever. Tower Hill is in Zone 1, Wapping is in Zone 2 so you need to be clear on which station you want.
So on the GWR site you need to choose Zone U1 London (not travelcard) as the destination for Tower Hill (or Zone U12 for Wapping).
This explains about buying to tickets for London destinations https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/rail-travel/your-ticket/train-ticket-options/travelling-to-london/
So don’t choose Wapping as your destination – choose the Zone. As to the different price make sure it’s an Advance ticket as they are the cheap ones.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
I looked at this on the National Rail website ( use the "details" button to see the route- there are several options). It is a pretty convoluted journey they offer at the £19 price---Cardiff to Paddington in London, then by Tube to London Bridge Station, and train again from there to New Cross Gate and then to Wapping. 3 1/2 hours and three changes.
I would instead just buy a ticket to Paddington Station ( Advance Fare of £18, journey time 2 hours) and then use the Circle or District tube line straight to Tower Hill with no transfers. You should be there much faster. You will need to buy a separate ticket for the tube when you get to Paddington.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5457 posts
Wapping is no longer a tube station as such - it is now served only by Overground trains and therefore is technically a National Rail station, even if it doesn't look like one. So it is possible to buy a National Rail ticket to it, not a zonal one, using a cross-London jouney between termini.
None of this trivia changes the fact that it would be easier to take the Circle to Tower Hill instead.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The simplest route from Paddington to Wapping is from Paddington to Whitechapel on the Hammersmith and City Line (Underground) and then Overground from Whitechapel to Wapping.
Tower Hill and Wapping are quite some distance apart, so check on the map which is closest.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
67 posts
Thank you so much for those who wrote with such great advice! I am now the proud owner of two train tickets from Cardiff Central to Paddington. We are buying the 7 day travel cards (will be there a week) and will make our way from Paddington by bus/tube.
Thanks again!!