Help with London travel

[CarmonEileen]

Hi everyone, I am taking DD and her friend to see Six the musical in February, we will be travelling from South Yorks to Kings Cross. It's a matinee performance so I'd like some help if anyone could possibly spare me some time.
I'd like to take the girls to Leicester Sq and then on to Covent Garden for something to eat before the show. I am absolutely clueless so please could you tell me what I need to buy tube ticket wise and how on earth I get from Kings Cross to Leicester Sq and then on to Covent Garden, I have looked and the Vaudeville isn't too far from there. We will also need to get back to Kings Cross for return train home.
If you made it this far Thank you 😊

Piccadilly line from Kings Cross to Leicester Square, then just walk to Covent Garden! It's all within a 5-10 minute walk and faster than getting back on the tube.

Piccadilly line back to Kings Cross again or the number 91 bus.

If you have contactless cards, you just tap in/out on the tube and bus.

Download the tube route planner onto your phone.

Iirc Six is on the Strand, near Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square. All within easy walking distance of Covent Garden. You can tap in/out of stations using a bank card or buy a day travelcard at the machine.

Download citymapper app. It will give you route options including walking, bus, tube and cab.

Leicester Square isn't much to look at - I'd get the Piccadilly line to Covent Garden, go for lunch and mooch around the market area. Book somewhere for lunch to make life easy.
What time do you plan to arrive at Kings Cross?

Crikey, I didn't expect so much help so quickly! Thank you so much. I will download the route map app. Oh, that's easy then just using contactless, can I do this as a 'family' or does it need to be done individually?
Dd doesn't know about it as its a surprise for her 16th birthday but I thought they might like to go to M&M World, maybe I can scrap that idea.
I haven't yet purchased train tickets as they are not available on Trainline but I'm aiming to get to KC at around 12, the show I'd at 4. Is this enough time to mooch and do lunch or do you think I should aim for earlier?
Sorry for so many questions, I want this to be a brilliant day for her and her friend.

Yes those timings should work.

You'll know your daughter but M&Ms world is just a big shop really. It wouldn't have interested me at 16.

Brilliant, thank you so much. She will find out early January on her birthday so I could ask if there is anywhere she would particularly like to go, you're probably right though, she's not fussed by chocolate, so likely won't even want to go there!
Really appreciate your help, 💐

I would buy your train tickets directly from the train operating company, not Trainline. You should get WiFi on the train and ability to move train times etc.
Plus train departure updates etc.

Do be aware that it can be quicker to walk between some tube stops than take the tube! Covent garden is jolly to walk around.

You will probably need to book a table at a restaurant to eat at, as they can be very busy around show times.

Definitely use the city mapper app. And Google maps is really good too.

You need one contactless card per person on the tube, and use the same card to tap out as you used to tap in.

Lots of shops they will like in Covent Garden, go up Neal Street and into all the side streets and market areas around there, and then back down to the piazza and covered markets there.

Six is good fun.

Fabulous, thanks for that. I'm sure once she knows she will have a look at restaurants around Covent Garden and chose somewhere lovely! I will download City Mapper too. Thank you 😊

Oh, that is good to know, thanks for the heads up. I will make sure I send some money over to DD's friend before we go.Thank you so much for that info, I am so excited already.
We saw Six at the Lyceum in Sheffield in April and she absolutely loved it, and asked if we could maybe do London at some point, so this really will be a dream come true for her. Front row too, she's a lucky young lady!

Might it be worth booking a triple room in a Premier Inn or similar so you can have much of Sunday to mooch?

If you get the citimappper app you can look in advance at routes etc including costs. If she's not been in London much buses can be good as you see a Lot more

I'd echo the PP who recommended booking direct with the rail company, or through the National Rail site. Good idea too to have a look at www tfl.gov.uk, the Transport for London site, or use their app for full details of tickets, tube maps etc.