London travel questions (Luton airport and tube)

[NeverTalksToStrangers2]

I'm flying into and out of Luton airport next month for a weekend. 2 adults, 2 kids.

Is the train easiest to get into the city?
If I prebook train tickets but our flight is delayed, what happens?! It's not cheap (roughly £60-£100 return (big difference in price on some trains) without a rail card, which I may get but it's not massively worth my while as I live in NI).

Is the train likely to be any/much more expensive on the day?

The last time we were in London my kids were able to use the tube for free. They are now 14 and 12. What is our easiest way to pay for them on the tube? We're only staying 2 nights so a prepaid railcard might not be worth it?

Thanks in advance!

It's been rebranded the Luton Airport Express and is now significantly cheaper than Thameslink.

It's not cheaper. I was bemused by the above so just checked for OP's date and time and they're the same price @BlowDryRat

No. It's the 16th-18th.

Yeah. It's a mixture of prices. What I really want to know is are the prices going to be the same on the day or am I better off pre-booking?

Don’t stay in Hammersmith, it’s quite far out. Dalston has lots going on. They usually shut Arsenal station on match days anyway. Get the overground to Highbury and Islington and walk from there or get a bus.

Thameslink prices don't change, in that there's no differential if you book in advance. Like I say, it's a commuter line so it's basically a turn up and pay service (though you can book in advance). There's peak, off peak and super off peak, but that's all.

Thanks. Good to know.

@saraclara you threw me there! I had a look on the National Rail journey planner. These are the ticket prices I'm getting for two adults and two DC on the OP's dates:

Outbound:

• EM: £18.30
• TL: £26.45

Inbound:

• EM: £8.10
• TL: £36.65

Wow! So £2 each basically, on the return journey? That's madness!

I put the wrong dates in I'm afraid. Sorry to confuse. I put next Saturday in, and only the outbound, so advance options didn't come up.

Highbury & Islington to Emirates is about a 10-15 minute walk amongst thousands of other Arsenal fans. Allow enough time for the big Arsenal shop…..Dalston is not far. Overground is easier than tube to navigate.

Train from Luton to st pan is fast and easy - don’t get on a bus! The Dart is on your left as you come out of the airport - so easy 👍

Thanks everyone.

I don't get the train into London often but when I do, I always go EM because the fare's so much better. It definitely didn't use to be that way!

Unfortunately EM just whizzes through my home station.

In OP's position I'd definitely get EM at the end of the stay then. But I'd be nervous about advanced booking a certain departure time that's after landing at an airport. Even a sight delay could mean missing it and losing the money. It's stress I can do without..

This is a good idea. Might do that.

Update... I managed to snap up a cancellation at king's Cross premier inn, so we are very much more central now.

The last time I was in London I had wanted to eat at Dishoom but never got around to it. I've tried to get a reservation for that weekend and it's a bit tricky.

If the match at Emirates is at 2 and so likely over by 4, would we be able to get back to Kings Cross for a reservation at dishoom for 4:45? Am I insane for thinking it's possible?!

I don't know how long it takes to exit a crowded stadium and onto the tube/train at the same time as tens of thousands of others - that's what takes time.

Although sometimes people do leave early to beat the crowd, especially if their team are losing, but obviously that might be a bit of a let down if you're winning and miss the post match cheering and banter?

But the rail journey itself is quite short - any time I travel down to London, passing the Emirates means that we're very nearly there.

But you say that only two of you are going to the match - so can the other two of you get to the restaurant on time, then they can tell them that the other two will be there shortly, you'll hopefully get there within a few minutes. You could even look online at the menu, so they could order for you if the restaurant staff start getting twitchy.

Dishoom is definitely worth a try if you haven't been before, but it was a bit of a surprise when I went, like eating dinner in a nightclub (very low lighting, loud music), but I've been a couple of other places like that since, so maybe it's a thing now?

Dishoom is about 10 min walk from the station so factor that in

Probably not to be honest, getting onto the tube can take a while, although it's only 10 mins once you're on. If you don't mind queuing then you can just wait for a table. It's nice that one, worth waiting for.

Thanks folks. I probably will try to make it and send hubby and ds ahead of us and get them to order for us if we're close to making it at that time. Do the queues outside always be bad that early? It's December don't forget, lol. I searched Google for a pic of the queue and been horrified. 😂

If there's a queue then our table will be filled quickly by another party I suppose.