Greetings from across the pond...

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not renting a
car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest / easiest /
cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?



As I see it from my computer in the US:


Option 1: Gatwick Express Train to Victoria Stn ($20) to Euston Stn (few
bucks), train to Liverpool ($162RT), walk to hotel ($0).



Option 2: Gatwick Airport to London City Airport ($??), VLM Airlines to
John Lennon Airport in Liverpool (~$160RT), Lennon Apt to Centre City
Liverpool via cab or train ($??).

VLM goes London to Liverpool but only via City Airport, which looks to be a
bit away from our arrival at Gatwick. Bus service Gatwick to City Airport??
A cab for 3 looks to be expensive for this distance. Price (air vs. train,
above) is about the same for the RT, travel time cut in half, BUT would have
to cab/train from Lennon Apt to Centre City Liverpool.

Is this scenario doable?



Option 3: ?? Is there a bus service to get from Gatwick to Liverpool?




Help! I need somebody....Help! Not just anybody!
YOU..................thanks in advance,

Mike

"Mike" typed



Option 3: ?? Is there a bus service to get from Gatwick to Liverpool?

I don't know. There's almost definitely a coach from Victoria Coach
Station in London, to Liverpool. Victoria Coach Station is right by the
rail station, so you could arrive there by train (Gatwick Express costs
more than the regular trains, by the way) or by bus. This option would
be the slowest and the cheapest.

I think there are a few trains from Gatwick Airport to Watford Junction,
from which you could get a Liverpool train. This would spare you a trek
across London.

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

Mike wrote:
Greetings from across the pond...

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not
renting a car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest
/ easiest / cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?



As I see it from my computer in the US:


Option 1: Gatwick Express Train to Victoria Stn ($20) to Euston Stn
(few bucks), train to Liverpool ($162RT), walk to hotel ($0).



Depending on time of travel from Gatwick there are trains to Watford where
you can change into a train direct to Liverpool which avoids the
underground.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ may help some more. Re tickets, check out the
"Britpass" which has to be purchased before arrival in the UK. I don't know
the options on it or if it will be cost effective.

Brimstone wrote:
Mike wrote:
Greetings from across the pond...

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not
renting a car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest
/ easiest / cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?



As I see it from my computer in the US:


Option 1: Gatwick Express Train to Victoria Stn ($20) to Euston Stn
(few bucks), train to Liverpool ($162RT), walk to hotel ($0).



Depending on time of travel from Gatwick there are trains to Watford
where you can change into a train direct to Liverpool which avoids the
underground.

Sorry, misread that, change again at Crewe.


http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ may help some more. Re tickets, check
out the "Britpass" which has to be purchased before arrival in the
UK. I don't know the options on it or if it will be cost effective.

http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/pa...ecutive_pass.h
tm

Mike wrote to uk.transport.london on Tue, 28 Jun 2005:

Greetings from across the pond...

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not renting a
car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest / easiest /
cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?

Option 1 is probably the easiest; it is a direct Underground ride from
Victoria to Euston for the equivalent of $3.00, but this does have the
disadvantage that you wouldn't actually *see* anything of London! A
taxi would cost significantly more and probably take a great deal
longer, but you would at least get to see a few sights en route! Do be
aware that the Underground doesn't run at night (after 01.00 am).


Option 3: ?? Is there a bus service to get from Gatwick to Liverpool?


Not a direct one, as far as I know, but you can book a through fa

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm and follow the instructions.
There will be a wait, either at the London terminal or in Birmingham,
and the journey will take around 6 hours, so you might prefer your
Option 1.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 23 May 2005

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:39:55 -0400, "Mike"
wrote:

Option 1: Gatwick Express Train to Victoria Stn ($20) to Euston Stn (few
bucks), train to Liverpool ($162RT), walk to hotel ($0).

Assuming you are travelling off-peak, $162 seems very high from a
return from Euston to Liverpool. It would be no more, as I recall,
than GBP60, paid on the day (Saver Return). Check out
www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney, which will tell you what fares
are available. You can, as others have stated, get a through fare
from Gatwick to Liverpool.

In the peak it is *vastly* higher - gbp162 is more like it.

For coach travel you want www.nationalexpress.co.uk, or the Megabus
(www.megabus.com) is likely to be cheaper if less flexible for
timetabling.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

Depending on time of travel from Gatwick there are trains to Watford
where you can change into a train direct to Liverpool which avoids the
underground.

Sorry, misread that, change again at Crewe.

Time of travel doesn't matter too much, the service to Watford
Junction runs hourly all day, every day. It's only at night that it
doesn't run.


http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ may help some more. Re tickets, check
out the "Britpass" which has to be purchased before arrival in the
UK. I don't know the options on it or if it will be cost effective.

http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/pa...ecutive_pass.h
tm

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:39:55 -0400, "Mike"
wrote:

Greetings from across the pond...

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not renting a
car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest / easiest /
cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?

Easiest is to take a Virgin Train at 0946 to Birmingham New Street,
and then a train from there to Liverpool Lime Street. Takes 5
hrs.42mins. Can also be done by taking a train to Reading, thence to
Birmingham and thence to Liverpool, in 5hrs.25mins.

Next easiest is to take a Southern Train at xx37 to Watford Junction,
and then a Virgin Train to Liverpool. Probably the quickest option at
just under 4 hours.

Coach involves a change at London or Birmingham, and takes between 7
and 8 hours, but will be the cheapest option, you will have a seat,
and walking will be minimal.
--
Terry Harper
Website Coordinator, The Omnibus Society
http://www.omnibussoc.org

"Mike" wrote:

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not renting a
car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest / easiest /
cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?


If you're serious about flying part of the way, you'd be far better off
getting a plane from Gatwick to Manchester. Both British Airways and Jet2
fly on this route; there are hourly direct trains from Manchester Airport to
Liverpool city centre.

Personally, I think that train all the way would be a much more pleasant
option - especially if you decide to change at Watford Junction. Many train
operators offer good deals for longer journeys, provided that you book in
advance and buy a ticket that is only valid for use on their services.
Hence, it is often cheaper to book each leg of the journey separately,
rather than buy a (more-flexible, any-operator) through ticket.

Booking at least 14 days in advance means that you should be able to buy a
single from London (or Watford Junction) to Liverpool for less than US$20.
See www.virgintrains.co.uk for details. You can then just buy your ticket
for the short Gatwick to London / Watford Junction leg on the day.

Be warned, though - invariably, the bargain fares that rail, airline and
coach companies offer require you to book in advance to travel at set times,
and to keep to those times. Should your flight from the US be delayed, you
may have to pay again - and be charged a much higher "walk-on" fare
(although you may find that your travel insurance covers this).



Enjoy your stay!

MetroGnome

In message , Mike
writes

Greetings from across the pond...

Heading from Gatwick Airport to Liverpool in a few weeks. Not renting a
car. Followed by a week in London. What's the [ quickest / easiest /
cheapest ] way of getting from Gatwick to Liverpool?

I doubt that anyone is going to have the time to give you full details
of all three of "quickest, easiest and cheapest" - the cheapest is
likely to be the longest, and so on.

I would certainly consider flying on from Gatwick to Manchester, which
takes about an hour (so is undoubtedly the quickest route). From
Manchester Airport there are good and quick train and coach services
into Liverpool - if there are two or three of you with luggage, a taxi
is another possibility (about 50 pounds).

--
Paul Terry