London transportation help sought...

[TonyB]

Not sure if this is the right sub forum for this request, but if not, I apologize.

I just arrived in London on business yesterday, and I'll be here two weeks. From what I've seen so far, there is so much to see! It's pricey, especially with the US dollar's valuation these days, but that's fine.

My wife (a Taiwanese national, and not US citizen yet), just got her visa approved, and will be coming to join me on Wed morning. She will also fly into Heathrow airport. On the weekends, I have a hotel that is very centrally located to so many interesting places. During the week though, I need to be out in the Croydon area, and that is where my wife will need to navigate to. A taxi would be a little over 100 USD, so I'm trying to avoid that scenario. There are so many choices out here for public transportation! Anyone have a more economical way for her to get to Croydon?

I appreciate your time, thank you.

[Minnie Mouse]

Is your wife coming to Croydon directly from Heathrow?

[Harpo]

From LHR the only sensible way is via central London.

Get to Victoria tube station, which is an interchange for the mainline to Croydon.
Go to East Croydon (it's better located for the hotels) rather than West Croydon.

East Croydon is served by local trains - probably two an hour & 9 stations - or fast trains to Brighton, again probably two an hour, with EC being either the first or second stop.

Check this web site out - it's probably all you'll need.
Home | Transport for London

[TonyB]

Thanks for the fast reply.

She arrives at Heathrow at 9:30 am on Wed, and will need to get to Croydon, where I'm working and have a hotel booked during the week days. So yes, she will need to come directly to Croydon after arriving. Any input would be most appreciated.

[Minnie Mouse]

Quote: Originally Posted by Harpo (original)

From LHR the only sensible way is via central London.

Get to Victoria tube station, which is an interchange for the mainline to Croydon.
Go to East Croydon (it's better located for the hotels) rather than West Croydon.

East Croydon is served by local trains - probably two an hour - or fast trains to Brighton, again probably two an hour, with EC being either the first or second stop.

Check this web site out - it's probably all you'll need.
Home | Transport for London

This sounds good to me....and Harpo would know!

[TonyB]

Harpo, that helps a lot!

The hotel I was going to stay at just had a crane fall on it!!!

BBC NEWS | England | London | Driver injured in crane collapse

The address of this hotel is very near where I'll be working:

7 Altyre Road
Croydon SU GB SU CR9 5AA

Is this indeed East Croydon?

Today I caught the Heathrow Express to Paddington. I caught this train downstairs at LHR. How should my wife get to the Victoria tube station? Sounds like from there she can get the East Croydon train; assuming I want East, given the above address.

THANK YOU!

[Harpo]

Quote: Originally Posted by TonyB (original)

Harpo, that helps a lot!

The hotel I was going to stay at just had a crane fall on it!!!

BBC NEWS | England | London | Driver injured in crane collapse

The address of this hotel is very near where I'll be working:

7 Altyre Road
Croydon SU GB SU CR9 5AA

Is this indeed East Croydon?

Today I caught the Heathrow Express to Paddington. I caught this train downstairs at LHR. How should my wife get to the Victoria tube station? Sounds like from there she can get the East Croydon train; assuming I want East, given the above address.

THANK YOU!

Heard about that crane accident - not good news!

Your hotel is in the shadow of EC station.
Turn left out of the station then first right. Probably too close to take a taxi.

Ignore the SU bit of the postcode - never seen it before - it's probably short for Surrey.

To get from LHR to Victoria, take the Piccadilly Line to Earls Court, change to the District Line for Victoria (4 stops).

Upstairs to the mainline station, and the Croydon trains will depart from platforms to the right hand side.

We don't live there any more, so can't send a reception party.

But if you're visiting Oxford...

[TonyB]

Awesome! Yes, the SU is for Surrey, so I was told...

Because I'm running on no sleep, please allow me to summarize:

- From LHR take the Picadilly line, and get off at Earl's Court.

- At this location, catch the District line to Victoria (4 stops later)

- Go upstairs to the mainline station to get an East Croydon train, on the right hand side
==============

I feel remarkably better already. Thank you so much! A couple clarifying questions that obviously reveal my ignorance here....

1. Does one catch the Picadilly line at LHR in the same area where I caught the Heathrow Express? I seem to recall that line, but I'm not sure now. I can better relate as I just did this, and makes explaining to my wife a bit easier.

2. I purchased my ticket for the Heathrow Express at a counter, and I think was 15 or so pounds. Must my wife purchase these tickets separately after each stop, or can she buy all three (LHR->Earl's Court, Earl's Court ->Victoria and Victoria->East Croydon) at the airport? If so, I'm hoping not only through a machine, as that would be fairly hard with her limited English abilties; and the pressure of trying to go fast with people waiting behind her...

3. I'm hoping to have her exchange US dollars to pounds at SFO so she'll have one less thing to worry about upon arrival. Given this three train trek, about how many pounds should she have to cover these expenses? And with whatever this figure might be, is there some type of weekly or monthly pass for about the same price? If so, it might then be prudent to get that instead, especially since a trip back to the airport will be necessary in two weeks.

Thank you once again. I appreciate the gesture to help if you (Harpo) were still in the area!

[DaFlake]

Hehe... Told ya!

[Harpo]

Quote: Originally Posted by TonyB (original)

I feel remarkably better already. Thank you so much! A couple clarifying questions that obviously reveal my ignorance here....

1. Does one catch the Picadilly line at LHR in the same area where I caught the Heathrow Express? I seem to recall that line, but I'm not sure now. I can better relate as I just did this, and makes explaining to my wife a bit easier.

Not sure, I have no reason to use that line, but I suspect the two services share the same track at LHR but diverge soon after.

Quote:

2. I purchased my ticket for the Heathrow Express at a counter, and I think was 15 or so pounds. Must my wife purchase these tickets separately after each stop, or can she buy all three (LHR->Earl's Court, Earl's Court ->Victoria and Victoria->East Croydon) at the airport? If so, I'm hoping not only through a machine, as that would be fairly hard with her limited English abilties; and the pressure of trying to go fast with people waiting behind her...

One ticket for the tube system (to Victoria), another for the mainline to Croydon.

Quote:

3. I'm hoping to have her exchange US dollars to pounds at SFO so she'll have one less thing to worry about upon arrival. Given this three train trek, about how many pounds should she have to cover these expenses? And with whatever this figure might be, is there some type of weekly or monthly pass for about the same price? If so, it might then be prudent to get that instead, especially since a trip back to the airport will be necessary in two weeks.

Sorry Tony, no idea about fares but thirty UKP should do the job, and buy a drink and a paper.
'Season tickets' will be available for both 1 week and 1 month duration. Cannot give a cost though. Transport in the UK is expensive - which is why we all use cars!

[TonyB]

Thank you Harpo. I just got back from a sight-seeing walk, and had a heck of a time! The weather is so nice. The forecast was like for rain nearly every day. I've been fortunate thus far... I counted about 20 MINI's zipping around!

I appreciate the clarification also. I will see to it then that she buys a subway train from LHR to VIC, which will entail that she gets off the Picadilly line at Earl's Court, then on the District line to take her to Victoria, where she will get off. I understand now that this can be purchased together with one ticket. She'll then by a ticket on the main line for East Croydon which she will catch upstairs...

Oh, must she buy the ticket through a machine, or is there a counter where she can talk with someone?

I will sumarize this for her, and maybe have some of it in Chinese also... Thanks again for helping. Work will be very stressful this upcoming week, and the last thing I need is for my wife to get lost! I appreciate the assistance very much.

[Poppa Bear]

Not too bad for a 'Merican from Nederlands!! Enjoy your trip!

Cheers!!

[Zato]

Tell the wife to go to platforms 16-19. This is where all the trains to East Croydon run from.

and walk from East Croydon to the Hotel.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/#t=l&map=51.37309,-0.09104|16|4&loc=GB:51.37309:-0.09104:16|CR9%205AA|CR9%205AA

[TonyB]

Ok, just when I thought I had everything down pat, I get some info that has me thinking of another option. While carrying luggage through Sutton, trying to find a hotel, I asked a fella for directions. During our conversation I mention my wife's situation, and he says that if I want my wife to go directly to the hotel here in Sutton, to take a single bus! From Heathrow, at stop 20, catch bus X26. Can someone confirm? I'll start searching for bus websites now...

[TonyB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zato (original)

Tell the wife to go to platforms 16-19. This is where all the trains to East Croydon run from.

and walk from East Croydon to the Hotel.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/#t=l&map=51.37309,-0.09104|16|4&loc=GB:51.37309:-0.09104:16|CR9%205AA|CR9%205AA

Zato, thank you for the platform information! She might take the bus instead straight to the hotel in Sutton, if that is indeed true. I Otherwise feel quite confident with the tube and mainline directions that have been provided here...