Great Western Coffee Shop

On my infrequent visits to London, I normally travel at the weekend or in the middle of the day so simply buy Super Off-Peaks.  I know absolutely nothing about the weekday fares.

I need to travel to London on Wednesday 8th December.  The event I'm attending at South Kensington starts at 12:30 but I don't know what time I'll be finishing (likely to be between 3pm and 4:30pm).

Quite fortunately, I happen to have no lectures on that day, so I can travel out at any time in the morning, provided it gets me there in time.

The ticket restrictions in NFM07 have freaked me out - they are probably the most confusing restrictions I've seen.  Plus there's the "no HST during certain times" rule, which I can't remember.

Advance tickets on the return are too expensive, so I'll be looking at walk-up fares.

Can someone with a little more knowledge help me out with which ticket to purchase.  I'll be travelling from Redland.  Does splitting somewhere on the way (possibly Didcot) make the fare cheaper or ease the restrictions?

Thanks in advance

As you don't seem to be too time-constrained, the slower route via Salisbury might be an option. Waterloo might even work out more convenient for South Ken, albeit with a change at Embankment, compared to a direct Circle Line trip from Paddington. (Also some options with change at Clapham Junction to the West London Line, but again not direct to South Kensington).

Avantix offers an Off-Peak Day Return from Redland to London via Salisbury for ^28.10 (no Railcard, haven't checked Underground/Travelcard). Valid on anything arriving at London after 10am, and no peak restrictions. I don't know what time the morning direct service from Bristol arrives at Waterloo, but it might suit your schedule.

Ooh, hadn't thought of that option.

I had planned to be on foot in London.  Only about 1.5 miles from Paddington.  Quite a bit further from Waterloo, but the fare is much cheaper (^18.55 with railcard), so a few tube fares on the Oyster card could be reasonable.

I could easily take the Pompey service (and get my 158 fix) then hop over to a Waterloo service at Salisbury.  Although the journey is at least 3 hours - which isn't great.

I've just noticed yet another crazy fare for my hall of fame.  CDR (route WMN/SAL) from Redland to London Terminals is ^28.10 (fare set by FGW), whereas Temple Meads to London Terminals is ^37.60 (fare set by SWT).  Both have restriction C4.  Both allow break of journey.  You honestly couldn't make it up.

If you were happy to walk from Paddington, what about Kensington Olympia? I've no idea how far it is on foot from South K, but I believe a ticket to London Terminals would permit you to go there. If you catch a Waterloo train that stops at Clapham  you could change there for Olympia, and miss out the Underground altogether if it's within your walking range.

I think about half the Salisbury-Waterloos stop at Clapham, but in the up direction when using the route during the day I seem to remember the Pompeys connecting me onto ones that don't.

Kensington Olympia isn't part of London Terminals anymore.  The fares to there are pricier than London Terminals.

Save a few more pennies, buy the Waterloo via Salisbury CDR from Shirehampton, not Redland. Only ^27.10 (^17.90 with railcard)

You can of course split at Bristol and Didcot with: SDR Redland - Temple Meads ^2.00 (^1.00); CDR Temple Meads - Didcot ^18.80 (^12.40); CDR Didcot to Paddington ^20.00 (^13.20).

TOTAL: ^40.80 (^26.60).

More expensive but you do then have the option of taking the 0930 BRI-PAD straight through on the way up. You will need to take a non-express out of PAD on the return it you are travelling between 1600-1900 though.

Looks like the train may end up losing out to the coach (which is a shame as I don't like travelling by coach).

Megabus are ^5.00 for a return, National Express ^12 but with free wifi.

Lets just hope the fares stay the same whilst I make my final arrangements for the day.

Is there really free wi-fi on NatEx between Bristol and London? They've kept that quiet - can't find any info on the NatEx website.

Some of the NX coaches that travel down the M4 have a large advert on the back advertising free wi-fi on board this coach.  Perhaps I've wrongly assumed this includes all their coaches?

The 010 coaches from CBG-VIC have wifi on board, and is advertised on the NX website.
I dont know about the 040's

^7 wifi surely  :P

I suppose, but otherwise I'd have to buy some internet for the dongle.  Cheapest is ^10 for 1GB to use within 1 month (unless anyone can suggest an operator who allows single days to be bought on PAYG).

3 charge ^2.00 for 500MB of Data, but that only lasts one day ;)

Thank you - I'm actually on 3 but didn't know about this - all those ^10 topups I've been making just to get one or two days access ::) ;D

Might as well be Megabus now.  Just hope the prices stay the same until the date when I book.

I've pulled myself back onto the train idea.  This is what I'll be buying:
Redland - Bristol Temple Meads (SDR) ^1.00
Bristol Temple Meads - Didcot (CDR) ^12.40 (after 0915 morning and no evening restriction)
Didcot - LONDON ZONES 1-6 (ODT) ^15.20 (valid after 1915 on the return)

Total is ^28.60, compared to ^32.20 for a Redland - London SSR.

The travelcard only added ^2 onto the price, which is much cheaper than using my Oyster card.

Main reason for using the train was the flexibility in being able to choose my return time, rather than being tied to a specific service.  Will probably end up wandering round London for the afternoon (unless I can get to PAD before 4pm) - I'm sure there must be a Spoons near Paddington!

You can still leave Paddington at any time. You are just limited to non express services and then a change at Didcot.

That's brilliant :D Just checked the list and you are correct, it is only HST services that are restricted.

If it ties in with your finishing time then the 1622 to Oxford is the fastest of the available trains in the evening peak. If on time at Didcot (1708) you've got 4 minutes to connect with the 1712 to Temple Meads. Gives you half hour to kill at Temple Meads before the 1848 down to Redland.

Miss that 1712 then it's the 1742 from Didcot, which arrives at Temple Meads at 1844. Just 4 minutes here to make the Redland connection. Not easy if the Avonmouth train is over on Platform 1!

I have made both these connection options in the past, but have also just missed them. If that happens then I just cut my losses and take the bus home from Temple Meads! Either that or kill an hour or so in Wetherspoons waiting for the next SVB Line train at 1933.

Thanks again BNM.  I'll note those timings down for when I actually travel.