Great Western Coffee Shop

Not sure if this is the Right place, but have a cheeky question.

    I have a lady and her boyfriend I know through work coming over to the UK from Germany to visit London. They are flying into Gatwick on a Thursday, staying in Wembley and returning on Sunday.

     I^m guessing their best bet would be to get Thameslink form Gatwick to Kings cross and change for the Met?

Also what would be the best option ticket wise when they are over? This is the bit I^m really not sure about.

Many thanks in advance,

Simon.

A single with Zone 2 valid on FCC only. Then a visitors Oystercard until they return, I reckon.

Get them to change at Farringdon - probably easier than KX.

The cheapest way of doing this is to go "via Clapham Junction, not London".  What that means is they'd have to take a Southern service from Gatwick to Clapham Junction, then change to a train that takes them towards Wembley avoiding London terminals.  This is ^10.10 in the outward direction and ^10.50 on the return.  Tickets are valid anytime.

Another possibility to to change at Kensington Olympia for the tube:
Gatwick Airport - Clapham Junction (Not London): ^19.80 Anytime Return
LONDON ZONES 1-4 Off-Peak Travelcard: ^7.30
Total: ^27.10
This fare would also be valid through London Victoria, or pretty much anywhere in Zones 1-4 provided you travel on a valid route towards Clapham Junction before changing to the travelcard at the Zone 4 boundary.

Standard Anytime Return (SOR) Valid anytime. And perversely cheaper than the Off Peak Return (SVR)!!!

Gatwick Airport to Wembley Central SOR (Route: CLAPHM J NOT LDN) ^20.20

Change at East Croydon where the interchange is likely to be the same or cross platform. Journey Planners will have you changing at Clapham Junction, but I wouldn't recommend that for a foreign visitor. The onward train will be destination Milton Keynes.

No need to go into central London or use the tube with this routeing. Journey time approx 1h 15mins.

Of course if your friends plan on travelling around London by public transport when there, then a Travelcard maybe an option with Boundary Zone extensions to get them from/to the Gatwick.

A 1 Day Zones 1-4 Off Peak Travelcard (sufficient for most sightseeing and vaild to/from Wembley) is ^7.30

The Boundary Zone add-on fare would be ^7.50 from Gatwick to Boundary Zone 4 and ^7.70 From Boundary Zone 4 to Gatwick.

With the combination of a Travelcard and Boundary Zone 4 fare they are free to take any permitted route across London to/from Wembley.

I believe this combination is probably better value (as long as your friends don't need pre 0930 travel) than the Visitor Oyster Card for a couple of reasons. Firstly to get to and from Gatwick would require a more expensive fare than the Boundary Zone add on and secondly Oyster Fares are subject to an afternoon peak between 1600-1900, paper travelcards are not. Finally there's a ^3 activation fee on a Visitor Oyster.

 

I will pass the info on, and thank you all for your help.  ;D