Help with London transport

[User415373]

Hi,
I'm travelling to London on the national express next Friday and arriving at Victoria Coach station. I need to get to my accommodation in Blackheath from there.
I've put the journey into Google but there are train, tube and bus options and I don't know what is best or easiest.
Please can someone help me navigate the journey? I'll need to make the same journey back in the Monday so hoping I can do the same thing in reverse!

Download the Citymapper app and it will give you all the options in a very easy format, including telling you what platform, stop etc that you need and how to get there

Train from Victoria Station looks quickest and easiest. No changes, much quicker than bus.

What time? There are direct trains between London Victoria train station (which is close to the coach station and well signposted) and Blackheath so it should be an easy journey. You can just tap in and out with a credit/debit card, no need to buy a paper ticket.

Definitely a train straight from Victoria - Blackheath is lovely - have a great time

Bus will take hours and the tube really doesn't cover SE London. Train is the only real option (SE Londoner here).

There's no tube in Blackheath and the bus will take forever. There is direct train from Victoria to Blackheath every 30 mins or so.

There are also trains to Blackheath from Charing Cross or Cannon Street mainline stations, but you would have to get the tube from Victoria - fairly easy, just get with the District line or Circle line going east to either Embankment or Cannon Street tube stations and then walk to the main line station.

But I would stick with Victoria - as it is an easy walk from the coach station.

The rail network in London accepts contactless payments so you don't need to buy a separate ticket.

You can get a direct train from Victoria station which is a short walk away. That’s definitely the easiest way. Come out of the coach station and turn left, walk down Buckingham palace road and Victoria station will be on the right hand side. There’s a side door into the station so you don’t have to walk the whole way to the front. If you go in that door and turn left when you get into the station, you’re on the main concourse so can easily see trains to Blackheath.

you can tap and pay at the gate with a debit/credit card - no need to buy a ticket from a machine.

Just adding to other people's info that make sure you get a direct train to Blackheath because they also show trains that take longer and you need to change once. No need to do that.
What time do you get into Victoria Coach? Train is five minutes walk away, really easy. Straight up Buckingham Palace Road, signposted or anyone will direct you and there is an enquiry desk in the coach station who can direct you too.

Excellent, thanks everyone! I can't look that far ahead on the city mapper app but I've looked at this Friday. So I'm guessing it's the second option, the train to Gravesend?
My coach gets in at 13:35

As a Londoner, I find Google maps far easier to use than City Mapper!

Yes - direct Southeastern train from Victoria train station which is short walk from the coach station.
Keep checking on the day though as local London trains are often delayed or cancelled. Be prepared to change your plans if necessary!

Yep - that's correct.

A Nerd writes...

Easiest is the direct train from Victoria. The trains for Blackheath leave at 03 and 33 past the hour and generally depart from platforms 7 and 8 at Victoria - this is in the group of platforms on the far side of the station if you are coming into the railway station from the coach station.

(I get these trains fairly regularly to Denmark Hill which is 3 stops before Blakcheath)

Hi anyone on this thread!
I'm on my way to London now and the train above just isn't showing as an option on the city mapper app. Is that because it's likely cancelled, are replacement bus services a thing or is it a case of finding another way?

There will be a train. Just get to Victoria and look on the departure boards.

I just put your route into Citymapper and it is showing the train from Victoria as the first option. Don’t worry, the trains seem fine.

I checked national rail as well and it looks fine to me as well so don’t worry!

How are you doing @User415373 are you safely in Blackheath yet?