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Old May 7th 04, 07:13 AM posted to uk.transport.london
Andrew P Smith Andrew P Smith is offline
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First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Aug 2003
Posts: 192
Default travelling in london for tourists/travelcard

In article , S. Sen
writes
Hi,


Hello!

My wife and I will be travelling to London from Philadelphia and plan
to make extensive use of the public transportation system while there.
We will be there for 7 days. We will be staying at Leatherhead, Surrey
which I understand is Zone 6. Thus, we would be coming into the city
proper each day and going back fairly late in the evening.


Leatherhead is outside the zones as I understand it although I may be
wrong.

I would be most grateful if anyone would answer these questions for us...

1. What kind of pass should we get? After scouting around, it seems it
is the weekly travelcard allowing travel across all 6 zones?
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...s-period.shtml


You will need to travel in to London on the train to one of the London
terminus points then use the 'tube' (subway) from there or busses etc.
The station most local to you can sell you a weekly travel card and they
should be able to issue a photocard too - take along passport sized
photographs of yourselves.

Don't expect the ticket to be cheap although if you travel in to London
after the morning peak period (which I think ends at 9.30am the ticket
will be substantially cheaper.


2. If the above is true, how do I get a 'photocard', as the site
mentioned above says we need for a weekly travelcard? It is too late
for me to get a visitor travelcard mailed to us - we are leaving in 24
hours. Is one issued on the spot? Can non UK residents get it? Is there
a office at Heathrow issuing such photocards and travelcards?


See above.

3. If weekly travelcard is not an option, what is our best bet?


You can buy tickets each day but be prepared to queue at the ticket
office. Make sure you ask for the right kind of ticket. To confuse
things further there are a number of train operating companies in
Britain and more than one may serve Leatherhead station - make sure you
travel with the right company or your ticket may not be valid.


4. Is public transportation fairly safe? Late in the evening?


Yes and no. Things get a little more dodgy the later you travel,
especially on Friday and Saturday night when everyone has been out
partying etc. Try to avoid the last train back if possible.

Many thanks.



HTH
--
Andrew
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