Best way to get to national gallery by train ? Confused.

[KeepPortlandWeird]

Arriving St Pancras and want to get to the National Gallery.

Is it possible to book a train day return for two (adult and 14 year old) that includes some kind of ticket to get on the tube too?

Trainline.com is very confusing, still can’t even figure out if their quote is the day return price or two singles .

Local station ticket office is closed due to staff shortage so no help there.

Last time I was in London we used a Oyster card but I recall that being a bit dear, as we didn’t travel about much.

The Train app is good, and will filter out the best deals.

You can use your bank card to tap through on the underground, and it will cap out at a certain amount ( can't remember how much)

You can buy either a peak or off peak travel card that includes train, bus and tube , the National is right on Trafalgar square so a few tube options such as Leicester Square or Westminster and walk down Whitehall.

Just use your contact less debit card on the Tube. Easiest route is pucadilly line to Leicester Square and then walk up the road to the NG

Don’t have contactless debit card.

Just trying to avoid too much hanging around ticket offices as it’s my daughter’s first time in London and the crowds are going to give her some anxiety.

When you choose your train option it’ll give you a screen where you can choose a travel card option so your ticket includes the tube and bus.

Get the 91 bus. You might be able to add your non contactless debit cards to your Apple/android wallet.

1 day travel card is £13.90/9.10 for an adult zone 1-4 depending peak/off peak. Don’t know what it is for a 11-15 year old as my kids all have Oysters.

Oysters or contactless would be cheaper.

@Fluffypastelslippers I don’t have contactless cards or a smartphone.

[quote KeepPortlandWeird]@Fluffypastelslippers I don’t have contactless cards or a smartphone.[/quote]
Buy a travel card at the station

[quote KeepPortlandWeird]@Fluffypastelslippers I don’t have contactless cards or a smartphone.[/quote]

Sorry, bit of an assumption that you had smartphone!

I would just get oyster cards. A member of staff will be able to apply a visitor discount for your DD. Oyster can be bought at a machine easily and also refunded when you are leaving.

The bus is £1.55 - tube £2.40

Depending on where you're coming from, could you buy a One Day Travelcard to London (which would include real fare to St Pancras & all travel within London zones)?

Otherwise best to stick to your Oyster cards.

Like others I would say get a travel card. If the tube from St Pancras to national gallery and back again is definitely going to be the only tube or bus journey you'll be doing in London you could also check the cost of a return to London underground zone 1. That will get you to the national gallery and back go St Pancras but you wouldn't be able to travel round London on it like you would with a travel card.

If you're literally just going to go to the national gallery and back, it's cheaper to buy tickets at the station. But not if you don't have a contactless card. Cash is double the price.

If you have a bank account, then surely you have a contactless card?

If you get a One Day Travelcard to London from your home town it will include your there and back train journey and unlimited travel on underground and buses too. You should be able get them from the machine at your home station if the ticket office is closed.
One ticket each. Best way to do it rather than faffing around getting Oyster cards (good if you are in London for longer but for a day trip a One Day Travelcard is better).

It’s a bit limiting to to go to St Pancras - Leicester Square and back - wouldn’t your DD like to explore London a bit?

I mean just buying a ticket as the pp suggested rather than a travelcard.

OP the Oyster is cheaper than a cash payment

If you already have an Oystercard, you can top it up online. Does your DD have one? That will mean less hanging around stations.

@TatianaBis it’s specifically just a daytrip for this gallery mum and daughter time.

Whole family trip with husband and son planned for next spring for a couple of days.

I’ve finally managed to figure out Trainline website now and it’s ending up costing only £29 day return for the two us. Total. Pretty good considering we live an hour outside of London. I was imagining it being £100 or more!

My parents were LT staff and as kids we used to travel all over the tube for free with the staff privilege ticket. Can’t believe how unfamiliar London is to me now.