Dohmacc

53 minutes ago, sddsddean said:

As long as you are off the ship by 9am, you will have plenty of time. Usually no immigration, no customs, just walk through the baggage hall and pick up your stuff and that’s it. Even if you take 20 minutes to walk to the station, you will still have plenty of time.

 

Simon

Good to know about the immigration/customs!

If we were to miss our train, are we able to apply the cost of our advanced purchase tickets to walk-up tickets? 

On 6/24/2024 at 12:41 AM, sddsddean said:

 

 

As this is a Wednesday, I would wait until at least 0930 for the train. Fewer commuters and cheaper fares kick in at 0930.

 

 

 

If we do not do the express debarkation (ie walk off with luggage), the posted debarkation time is 8am with expectations all passengers are off by 9am. 

Considering luggage pickup, customs, the cab ride to the train station, navigating the station /platforms with two slow walking kids.. do you think the 10am train departure is pretty makeable, doable but kind of hectic rushed, or cutting it too close?

Alternatively, it sounds like the 930 has fewer commuters, but is the 0900 train still pretty crowded with commuters? I just want to make sure I have space for the two large luggage!

Thanks!

8 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

LNER is a completely different train operating company. However, if it's selling tickets at the same price and description as the SWR website, then you will get the same SWR tickets as if you'd bought them from SWR. LNER is just basically selling them as an agent for SWR. The ticket format and ticket data are standardised across all of the National Rail TOCs, so there's no issue with interoperability of the ticket.

 

All of the main TOCs will sell tickets for all of the other main TOCs. I think that there are a handful of edge-case exceptions where a TOC will only sell its cheapest tickets (or special tickets) itself, and you can't get them via another TOC. But if a TOC is selling a ticket for another TOC's train that's the same price and description as the operating TOC, it'll be the same ticket.

 

FWIW, I am currently buying almost all of my pre-purchased tickets through LNER, whichever TOC is operating the train.

 

 

Thank you for the clarification! Yes, it appears to be the same ticket. The LNER schedule indicates it's from SouthWestern Railway (attached image) so I'll purchase them there.

FYI in case anyone in the future comes across this thread, the SWR website allows me to input my US address and even select United States, but then when trying to confirm the account creation, it says that I need a UK address.

On 6/24/2024 at 12:41 AM, sddsddean said:

As long as its not chucking it down with rain, you can definately walk to the station in 15mins.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/50.9023768,-1.4177698/50.9078733,-1.4152397/@50.9065335,-1.4164141,1395m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e2?entry=ttu

Just be careful walking out of the port...not dangerous, but lots of cars and trucks about delivering to the ships. All road crossings are traffic light controlled. You want to head for the north side of the station...thats the side the London trains go from. Uber would probably be £10-£15, but you may want a large one, so might have to wait...by which time you could have walked it!

 

As this is a Wednesday, I would wait until at least 0930 for the train. Fewer commuters and cheaper fares kick in at 0930.

 

 

 

 

 

I've decided to book the 10am train from Southampton to Waterloo, but when I go to the Southwestern Railway website to buy tickets, it asks me to make an account but requires a UK address to make the account. I selected the e-ticket delivery method.

I found that I'm able to check out as a Guest on the LNER website for what seems to be the seem train? Are these lines Southwestern Rail and LNER the same operator so buying the LNER tickets should be fine?

Thank you for the help and sorry if this question is obvious..

21 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

We had no problems buying on the day, but that was a long time ago. 

But word is that on busy days the line for tickets can be long & slow, so you just might want to buy in advance.

Price is £30 whether you buy on the day, or in advance on the official Royal Collection website, or with your tour tickets.

Timing isn't significant unless you want to pay extra (£20?) to climb the tower - and you're unlikely to have time to do that.

 

JB 🙂

Thanks!

On 6/25/2024 at 1:47 PM, phabric said:

Yes, we were on our own at each site to see at our own pace and were given a time to return to the bus.  The guide talked all the time about what we were to see on the bus between each of the different stops.  The only time he didn’t talk was from Windsor when the London hotel people were switch to the small van and there was not much to see/talk about going on the highway.  Once we were in the London area, he did point out some places of interest.

 

I took International Friends after a cruise from Dover, that guide mentioned that they were not allowed to be a guide inside the different attractions but he talked about what we were going to see.  I took a Princess, Rome post cruise excursion and the guide was not allowed in the attraction, she talked about the attraction before we entered on our own and met up with her at a certain time.

 

On your other thread, about not purchasing Windsor tickets through them. When I was at Windsor (one time with International Friends and Princess post cruise tour), there was a line to purchase non group tour tickets.  We went through the group entrance and only waited a few minutes mainly waiting to go through the security screening.  The guide adjusted our return time once our people started to go through.  I was able to see what I wanted to see, have an ice cream cone and get back to the bus on time.

 

 

Thanks!

On 6/24/2024 at 8:54 AM, John Bull said:

 

 

 

 

But don't buy Windsor Castle tickets. 

You can choose to buy at the gate or instead DIY wandering around this interesting town.

And if there's a delay in arriving at Windsor the time lost is knocked off the free time in Windsor - which may mean that paying to go into the castle might be a lot less worth-while.

 

 

JB 🙂

Great advice about the Windsor tickets! It seems like these are readily accessible to purchase walk-up at the Castle (ie no timed entries or limited tickets per day)?

On 6/24/2024 at 9:17 AM, phabric said:

I purchased tickets for Stonehenge and Windsor through them.

 

I took International Friends from Southampton to my London hotel.

 

- Pickup was at our Princess dock, around 8-8:30am, not sure of the actual time.

 

- Salibury - we were let out outside the gates and were given a time to return to the bus.   I had enough time to see what I wanted to see.  Guide said, you can pick up something to eat as we were not stopping anywhere for lunch.

 

- Stonehenge - we were given our ticket and told a time to return to the bus.  Bathrooms were near bus parking lot.  Took the shuttle bus to the stones. At the shuttle bus drop off, there is a Visitor Center,gift store, bathrooms, small food cafe with seats.  I bought a sausage roll and a drink there.

 

- Windsor - we parked at the train station.  There is an elevator to the upper floor.  The guide walked us pasted a few stores, across the street to the group entrance and was given our ticket and time to return to the bus.  You go through security screening like at an airport screening - belt off, conveyer belt for other items.  Near entrance, can pick up free audio set.

 

When we return to the bus, guide said they had moved the passengers for the London hotels drop off, my luggage had been moved over to a small van as the large coaches are not allowed in London.

 

They dropped us off at the door of my London hotel (Premier Inn Waterloo).  We arrived around 5-5:30pm, I can’t remember the actual time.

 

I think this is great way to see another part of Britain and then being dropped off at the door of my London hotel.

 

I have taken them after cruise out of Dover to my London hotel.

 

www.internationalfriends.co.uk

 

Thank you for the detailed report of your experience with International Friends! It sounds like for the 3 sites, once you arrive, you're on your own (ie audio walking tour, not live guided tour), and just told to meet back at the bus at a designated time?

7 hours ago, sddsddean said:

As long as its not chucking it down with rain, you can definately walk to the station in 15mins.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/50.9023768,-1.4177698/50.9078733,-1.4152397/@50.9065335,-1.4164141,1395m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e2?entry=ttu

Just be careful walking out of the port...not dangerous, but lots of cars and trucks about delivering to the ships. All road crossings are traffic light controlled. You want to head for the north side of the station...thats the side the London trains go from. Uber would probably be £10-£15, but you may want a large one, so might have to wait...by which time you could have walked it!

 

As this is a Wednesday, I would wait until at least 0930 for the train. Fewer commuters and cheaper fares kick in at 0930.

 

You should have no problem getting seats. Technically, Southampton is not a terminus as through trains carry on to the south west, but lots of trains do terminate at Southampton. Bear in mind walk up tickets are a lot more expensive than pre booked. You should be able to pre book 12 weeks out.

 

These are essentially commuter trains, so no real luggage storage, but don't worry. You will find plenty of room to get a '2 facing 2' seat and have room for luggage beside you. There are overhead racks for lighter items. Also, our platforms are almost level with the doors, so you won't have to climb up into the train.

 

Can't help with International Friends...sorry.

 

Simon

 

 

 

 

Thank you! I didn't consider the rain (again, from Southern California), but I realize now I should have. 

For the 2 facing 2 seats, it sounds like there will be plenty of seating at the start so I can put the luggage beside me, but will that become an issue as passengers get on and look for seating? Or would this route during non-commuter hours be generally empty the entire trip?

The conductors on the commuter trains here sometimes enforce their no luggage on seats policy as the cars fill up with passengers..

44 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

@Dohmacc

Simon's pretty well said it all but to add.....

 

If you choose to go by taxi (its a short distance, compared to taking a taxi from the rank at the terminal, the savings by phoning Uber will be minimal if any  and unworthy of the fuss and the wait).

Ask the driver to drop you at Platform 1, the London-bound side of the station (Blechynden Terrace)

But if you walk to the station, (easy enough) use the nearest entrance the station and the station's elevators to get to the other side - it's a very long walk round to enter the station from the other side.

 

And, to emphasise, walk-up tickets are much more expensive than Advance tickets - £54 pp instead of under £20 pp

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Your journey is SOU to WAT

 

---------------------------------------------------

International Friends' cruise tour-transfers are dedicated to a ship, they pick up from that cruise terminal. They service most ships (generally not UK ships like P&O or small ships), check on their website whether they service yours.  If they do it's easy, the coach will be waiting for you at Horizon.

In the unlikely event that your ship isn't serviced, check the port website for those ships arriving on your date which are serviced.  https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/ 

You can book as if you were on that ship, but you have to make your own way to that cruise terminal.  Berth 101 (City cruise terminal) is next-door down-stream,  Berth 106 (Mayflower terminal) is a 10-minute walk up-stream, berth 46 (Ocean terminal) is a 10 minute taxi ride berth 38/39QE 11 terminal) is a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride.

 

The first part of the tour-transfer is on "A" roads, yes some turns but not excessive), beyond Stonehenge it's almost all divided highway & very easy.

 

If you're prone to carsickness avoid seats at the back, especially beyond the rear wheels.

 

JB 🙂

 

Thank you! Good to know regular taxis are readily available at the cruise terminals. And thank you for the info for International Friends. They do service our ship (Disney), but looking at their packages, I notice that two of their tours have the same cost:

A) Southampton to London via Stonehenge (112.5 Best Rate Adult)

B) Salisbury, Stonehenge, Windsor to London (112.5 Best Rate Adult)

From what I can tell, the B tour does NOT include admission price to Stonehenge, but the A does... So I guess that explains why A and B cost the same, despite B going to 2 more sites?

It seems like A stops longer in Stonehenge also (2 hours vs. 90 minutes)... 

Just from a value perspective, I'd lean toward B... but do you think the longer Stonehenge time is worth it and/or the additional stops in Salisbury and Windsor would be to short/rushed, not to be worth it?

32 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

You'd probably do just as well to get a proper taxi from the rank at Waterloo. IME, there are usually some cabs waiting there because so many people get off the train and need a cab, or a steady stream of cabs coming past immediately after they've dropped off a previous fare. When black cabs are that convenient, and the journey is so short, why bother with the hassle and delay of an Uber?

Thank you for the info about the taxi situation! Here, we rarely see actual cabs anymore, but it sounds like finding an official (black cab) taxi seems easy enough throughout London? Is the pricing competitive/similar to Uber rates?

Thank you all for prompt and detailed responses!

Hi! So glad I came across this thread and I appreciate all of the info provided. 

Like many of the previous posters, I'm trying to figure out the best option for getting from Southampton (post-cruise) to London (specifically Novotel London Bridge hotel). We are a family of 4 with two kids under 10. We will have two 30" roller luggage and we rarely ride commuter trains (we are from Southern California).

After reading this thread, I'm leaning toward: train (advanced purchase South Western railway to Waterloo) then Uber to hotel but I had a couple of quick questions:

- I've checked the Southampton Port schedule, and it looks like we'll be disembarking at the Horizon Cruise terminal. That looks to be a 15 minute walk to the Southampton Central train station, but is this an easy walk with kids/luggage (not uphill, paved sidewalks, etc.) How much would an Uber cost from Horizon to the train station?

- The disembark time is scheduled for 8am, and we do not plan to get off the ship early. Factoring in the disembark process, travel time to train station, random delays b/c of kids, general ignorance of the train station/system.. what time train departure would you recommend we target? 

- If we don't do advanced purchase for tickets and walk-up instead, are seats generally available (we're arriving on a Wednesday)? Since it's a terminus, I'm guessing it should be pretty easy to secure tickets and seats together, but just wanted to make sure.

- Is luggage stored in areas in the train cars, or underneath the cars, somewhere else? I'm guessing many passengers boarding in Southampton will have luggage from their cruises, so I'm wondering how convenient/accessible luggage storage will be on the train.

Also, after coming across this read and learning about International Friends post-cruise tour, we're also looking into this as well! Thank you for mentioning it! Quick questions about:

- Do they pick up from all of the cruise terminals, or would we need to go from the Horizon terminal to whichever one they are located at?

- Is the drive from Southampton to Stonehenge and then Stonehenge to London very windy (frequent turns, not atmospheric wind), mountainy, etc? I often get carsick on large coaches (the tour coach looks like a standard large bus) with those road conditions.

Thanks for all of your help!