How do I get the tube in London?

[sunshineandstarsgirl]

My family friend lives nearly 90 minutes from London. I want to visit her this month. I live near Manchester. I need to catch a tube from London Euston to London St Pancras International. And then a train to her place. To be honest, I have no idea what a tube is. How do I catch a tube from London Euston to London St Pancras International? I haven't travelled much in my life.
I will be going alone on this trip.

Yes, it is Southeastern

Where does your friend live? 90 minutes from London is very far and not London. Why can’t you go straight from Manchester to their town?

Just seen, Ashford. You’re going to travel for nearly 6 hours by train to get to Ashford?? Blimey.

@tellmesomethingtrue - it’s 3.5 hours from Manchester to Ashford.

Yes. And bring a jerk. Many questions asked here and be found elsewhere but; sometimes, people need reassurance. Also, Google maps would not have told her that walking is actually easier.

Only that it does. But no need to call me a jerk.

Yes @MumOnBus YABU.
Your username suggests that you are familiar with and therefore more likely confident with the use of public transport. Not everyone is, we all had to learn once. New experiences can be bloody scary for some people and knowing exactly what to expect from others who have already done it can make a huge difference to confidence to try new things. Comments like yours and the earlier one by @Growuppeople (who needs to take their own advice and grow up) just knock people down.

And no need for you to have asked your question. See how that works?

More people like @POTC on mumsnet please.
also just in life in general 😁

Aww, thank you 😊
You have no idea how much I needed to hear that right now!

OP if you find you're wearing fabulous shoes and/or have a big suitcase just take a black cab from the rank outside Euston.
Won't be more than £10

Obtuse.

Ah sorry, just seen this! I agree. Can’t believe how ridiculous some people are. And nasty.

I didn't mean to be disrespectful or horrible. Sorry to read that it is how it came across to several of you. I do not think I am a jerk so let me explain where I am coming from. Despite my username, I have no idea about the buses in London (I am not a Londoner), and just scrolling through the long responses got me curious enough to open Google Maps.
Perhaps I am a "visual learner" if that term is still a thing these days, but it just took a glance of that to make sense of the long explanations on this thread.
I get that some people need lots of assurance here, so I apologise for not realising that the OP needed assurance rather than directions.
Insomnia makes people less empathetic than they would be with a full night sleep... perhaps even turn them into jerks!

OP which Ashford?

Thank you for posting @sunshineandstarsgirl I never knew that! I'd always go to the underground from Euston unless I needed the other Euston underground - come out of main one, turn right, cross the road...

That's my knowledge done!

Turn left for St Pancras. Huh.

Precisely, op was sensible to ask on MN imo, Google maps can’t give advice based on personal experience, also finding out it’s easier to walk it, add in some general reassurance, I’d prefer to ask
this kind of thing on here as well.

We’re all different don’t forget, op might not be a pro on the London transport system yet but why should she or anyone be?! Someone who is an experienced tube user probably lacks in other areas that op is experienced with.

@sunshineandstarsgirl are you going to Ashfors international (Kent)? If so your trains might be upstairs, via the escalators next to M&S

@sunshineandstarsgirl Hey op I don’t live too far from Ashford in Kent myself and know Southeastern trains and stations on that line. If you need any help with the journey planning please feel free to let me know here or by pm and I’ll help in any way I can

Maps are one thing, but if you're not used to travelling on the underground even which direction you're heading can be confusing.

I travelled from France to Southend to London with my daughter... Was still unsure NSEW? Ah fuck it let this one go whilst I gather my head. She thought we'd missed the train. No there'll be another one along
... Oh here it is! Get on and push through! Quite the learning curve for a then 7 year old.

For reassurance OP. My aunt lives near Manchester. She'd never even been to London, but 10 years ago, after being widowed at the age of 70, started travelling from Manchester to Euston, then getting the tube across town to Victoria and travels onto Chichester to visit my dad. She still does it twice a year at 80 with her suitcase (and in heels - we've tried to tell her to wear sensible shoes!)
London isn't as complicated or scary as it may seem. Just make sure you have the right ticket, this seems to be my aunt's only downfall - getting on the train too early or too late and being charged extra.

I don’t think Google maps would accurately reflect the simplicity of walking against the comparative complexity of going one stop on the tube when you’ve never used the tube.
And it’s also given posters a chance to show off their encyclopaedic knowledge of the London transport system.

Although I agree with your comments, I have to admit being baffled by OP’s initial statement that they have no idea what the tube actually is. Even if they have never been on the tube and don’t understand how to navigate it, which is entirely possible, surely they have seen pictures of it or seen it on TV over the course of their life?