Travelling in London from/to airport by train?
Posted by whatisTHAT146@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Hi all. I’m travelling to London soon to do a Europe tour with a group. Unfortunately the tour doesn’t include our transfers from/to the airport. What’s the best website to buy train tickets for Heathrow-Stratford and Stratford-Gatwick? The websites I have found are South Western Railway, National Rail, and Trainline. Any other recommendations/advice?
klymers@reddit
Stratford or Stratford-upon-Avon?
whatisTHAT146@reddit (OP)
Stratford.
klymers@reddit
Neither journey requires a ticket. If you have a contactless card or Google Pay/Apple Wallet then you just tap your card/phone.
Each person travelling must have their own card, but a phone and physical card for the same card number count as separate payment methods.
Make sure you tap out the same way you tap in.
llynglas@reddit
If multiple people have the same card loaded on individual phones, can each use it?
klymers@reddit
Honestly, in theory yes, but I've never done it or known anyone to do it so I don't know if it works out in practice. I don't see why it shouldn't work but I cannot say with 100% confidence.
llynglas@reddit
Thx.
shleeples@reddit
Using contactless seems to be a lot cheaper than buying tickets. I live in Essex and travel into and around London all the time. I never buy tickets. I always use contactless.
whatisTHAT146@reddit (OP)
I was reading online that contactless is generally cheaper. We would just have the disadvantage of transaction fees using our debit/credit card.
Vernacian@reddit
Would you not incur the same transaction fees buying a paper ticket from a machine or website?
Rookie_42@reddit
The problem would be multiple small transactions. Generally a much more efficient expense way of exchanging currencies.
But using a bank like Revolute is the way forward.
Extension_Sun_377@reddit
Doesn't the tube charge a flat fee once you've reached a certain amount, as they have a cap? I'm sure it's only appeared on my statement in the past as one transaction, not multiple?
Extension_Sun_377@reddit
Yes, just checked, they calculate it at the end of the day and charge once
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/pay-as-you-go-caps
Rookie_42@reddit
Good point! Perhaps you could respond directly to OP with that info, as they may well find it useful. 👍
Extension_Sun_377@reddit
It does however only charge you one flat fee a day, not every time you tap it.
Conscious-Rope7515@reddit
With contactless, if you're travelling within (roughly) Greater London all your journeys on a given day are centrally aggregated, you pay up to the relevant cap and nothing more, and it's all taken in one transaction in the small hours of the following day. So only one transaction fee, if you have to pay any at all.
To avoid any fees, you've already been recommended Revolut. I think you also have access in Oz to Wise, which is what I use and can strongly recommend. Much better exchange rates than with a conventional card, and no transaction fees. You can get a virtual card for your phone pretty much immediately.
whatisTHAT146@reddit (OP)
I have heard of Wise but never used it before. I’ll look into it.
Rookie_42@reddit
Depending how long before you travel, you should definitely look at Revolut and similar and just use that for all your travel needs in London.
whatisTHAT146@reddit (OP)
I’m from Australia. Never heard of either of those options but will look into it.
Rookie_42@reddit
My apologies… I don’t know why I was thinking US… I thought I’d seen that in the thread, I suppose.
Either way - yeah… you should be able to find a non-fee card somewhere. As you’re in Australia, there’s a good chance just looking for a local bank (country local, not state or town local), you can find an Aussie provider who can provide a fee-free card for each of you.
As others have mentioned… if using debit/credit cards on London transport, you’ll need individual cards per traveller. You can’t tap two people in on the same physical card. It can be the same account (card numbers are still different).
shleeples@reddit
The fees are a bummer. Have you considered Revolut? I use it as my main back. I just exchange money on the app, and there aren’t any fees while using abroad. It’s really quite good. I travel to the US often and I exchange my gbp for usd and use my card with everything.
TestAwkward9422@reddit
Can I be nosey and ask if you tap in/out at a mainline Essex station or the Elizabeth Line at Shenfield please ?
(I travel from Chelmsford and always buy a ticket)
shleeples@reddit
Hey! My closest is Debden, it’s on the central line. I just tap in and out there. But I’ve tapped in/out from both Gatwick and Heathrow to Stratford then changed to get to Debden :) I hope this helps?
TestAwkward9422@reddit
Thank you, it’s certainly an option for me.
qualityvote2@reddit
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kentguy2024@reddit
No need to purchase tickets if you have contactless cards - Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Stratford. Jubilee line from Stratford to London Bridge and Thameslink to Gatwick.
If you do need tickets as your not all carrying contactless cards then any site except train line as you pay a fee.
whatisTHAT146@reddit (OP)
Username checks out. We need to order Oyster cards before we leave home anyway for everyday travel around the city.
kentguy2024@reddit
If you have contactless cards then you can use them for travelling across the tube network - you don’t need Oyster cards. If you don’t have contactless and are buying Oyster cards then you can use them between Heathrow and Stratford and Stratford and Gatwick.
VitaObscure@reddit
Just use a contactless bank or credit card, you don't need an oyster card.
Agathabites@reddit
Use a contactless bank card - tap in at beginning of journey - tap out at destination.