2016 TT-Forums Meet [THIS WEEK - please sign up!]

[Nawdic]

I'm still hoping to attend, though unable to confirm as yet. Give me a few days for that... I'll probably have to buy a standard, full-price off-peak ticket rather than trying for an advance at this late stage.

Advances are generally available up to 48hrs before departure depending on availability. I managed to get one sooner than that for a trip to Wales before now.

Edit: - Just done a quick search using your location - Batley to Kings X Advance open return is about £60 cheaper than the equivalent standard "Super Off Peak" fare. (£106 compared to £171).

[61653]

I'm still hoping to attend, though unable to confirm as yet. Give me a few days for that... I'll probably have to buy a standard, full-price off-peak ticket rather than trying for an advance at this late stage.

Advances are generally available up to 48hrs before departure depending on availability. I managed to get one sooner than that for a trip to Wales before now.

Edit: - Just done a quick search using your location - Batley to Kings X Advance open return is about £60 cheaper than the equivalent standard "Super Off Peak" fare. (£106 compared to £171).

Advance Open return? Isn't that an oxymoron?

With the last London meet, I came down on the overnight megabus and returned that evening on MegabusPlus. However I lived in Huddersfield then so it was more practical. My thinking is that if I have the flexibility of a non-advance I can make a bit more of the weekend- I'll book into the Generator Hostel in Bloomsbury so my accommodation won't be too expensive.

[Pilot]

I'll book into the Generator Hostel in Bloomsbury

Are they any good in the UK? I stayed in their Berlin Mitte Hostel last year, and that was pretty decent, though had rather expensive beer! (4 Euros for a pint (well half litre) of Carlsberg!)

[61653]

I'll book into the Generator Hostel in Bloomsbury

Are they any good in the UK? I stayed in their Berlin Mitte Hostel last year, and that was pretty decent, though had rather expensive beer! (4 Euros for a pint (well half litre) of Carlsberg!)

It's where I've stayed every other time I've stayed over in London, and it's decent enough... however they're fully booked for the weekend of the meet so I'll be breaking new ground...

Just booked tickets and accommodation, super-off-peak Doncaster to London was £69.90- I have a zones 2 to 5 Mcard so I'll just need a South Elmsall to Doncaster single (£2.90) on the Friday afternoon and a Doncaster to Wakefield Westgate single on the Sunday evening- I'll have to get the bus as there's less stoppers and no way to avoid Leeds by train on Sundays. I'll update my status on the wiki shortly.

My accommodation is 2 nights at the Smart Hyde Park View (£19.99 per night, but like the Generator they have free breakfast and WiFi).

[61653]

Would an Oyster card be worth picking up for whilst I was there?

That reminds me, i've not used my Oyster for 4-5 years now. Assumably that'll have either been deactivated or just broke by now.

Do Oystercards get deactivated after a while? I've got a PAYG one from a couple of years ago, pretty sure there's still some money on it. If it's no longer active I might just use my contactless card assuming the cap is the same. That'll mean my Mcard won't confuse the ticket gates like it did last time I was down there!

[Pilot]

Would an Oyster card be worth picking up for whilst I was there?

That reminds me, i've not used my Oyster for 4-5 years now. Assumably that'll have either been deactivated or just broke by now.

Do Oystercards get deactivated after a while?

I believe so, I've had a look on the interwebs, and it appears to be about 2 years for it to get deactivated, though I'm not sure as to how true this information is.

[Redirect Left]

I do recall reading somewhere that a deactivated oyster can be reactivated simply by putting more credit on it, and you can somehow get credit off of it.

As it turns out, i've lost that card anyway over the 4-5 years i last used it.

[61653]

Thanks, both. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it either way.

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Does anyone in London walk? From what I can see, STP to {the meet location} is readily walkable, no more than 2-3000 metres. I might do that to avoid paying extra / having to talk to someone RE: oysters & rail cards

[Pilot]

Does anyone in London walk? From what I can see, STP to {the meet location} is readily walkable, no more than 2-3000 metres. I might do that to avoid paying extra / having to talk to someone RE: oysters & rail cards

45-50 Minute walk across London. I mean, you'll be quite fortunate in that you probably won't bump into any one and say anything, as most people down there walk with there head down, trying to avoid eye contact at all times!

Having had a look on Google Maps it's about 2.5 miles, so a 4,000 metre walk

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Hm. I came up with about 2,000 (as the crow flies). Considering I have walked from Manchester City Centre to Huddersfield centre because I missed the last bus, not because I was running late, but because it was crowded and walking was the least anxiety causing incident, I think 4000 metres is still acceptable

[Pilot]

Here's the Google Maps directions that it's 4,000m, but there may be little back streets that this doesn't include! Clicky Here

I too will probably be walking, as I'm only going to be about half a mile away if I leave from my Hotel.

[Dave]

Hm. Distances in London can be fairly deceptive. It doesn't feel like that far but you forget how long some of the roads are.

I fancy it'd be 40 minutes, me.

Down Grays Inn Road, along Holborn, down onto Farringdon Road then over Blackfriars Bridge.

Maybe an hour, tops. Fair crack though.

[61653]

Hm. I came up with about 2,000 (as the crow flies). Considering I have walked from Manchester City Centre to Huddersfield centre because I missed the last bus, not because I was running late, but because it was crowded and walking was the least anxiety causing incident, I think 4000 metres is still acceptable

It's a shame you don't drink, as that earns you a pint from me even at London prices!

I remember having to cycle (and this was 2001, pre-London embracing the two-wheeled self-propelled personal rapid transit system!) from Kings Cross to Waterloo with a heavy rucksack and holdall. I'm not a confident cyclist and was even less so then, and it was pretty tough going. It was early November so it was dark, though I did have decent lights. It probably didn't help that my bike was a pretty basic steel-framed MTB either though.

I'll be lazy on the day, as my hostel is way out west by Hyde Park- besides, one of my favourite things about London is the transport, crowded though it is.

[Redirect Left]

Hm. I came up with about 2,000 (as the crow flies). Considering I have walked from Manchester City Centre to Huddersfield centre because I missed the last bus, not because I was running late, but because it was crowded and walking was the least anxiety causing incident, I think 4000 metres is still acceptable

It's a shame you don't drink, as that earns you a pint from me even at London prices!

not sure why, but you could buy me something not alcoholic

Im not entirely sure how much cash to carry on me for the day either. Assuming I have two meals (1 at meet venue at least) and regular drinks for hydration, any one able to come up with a rough guesstimate? Too spoiled by North prices

[Pilot]

Im not entirely sure how much cash to carry on me for the day either. Assuming I have two meals (1 at meet venue at least) and regular drinks for hydration, any one able to come up with a rough guesstimate? Too spoiled by North prices

At least double and a bit more?

[Nawdic]

Im not entirely sure how much cash to carry on me for the day either. Assuming I have two meals (1 at meet venue at least) and regular drinks for hydration, any one able to come up with a rough guesstimate? Too spoiled by North prices

Being in the city minimum you need is £20. If you go for a decent burger its roughly £7.50, plus drinks and sides etc...

[JamieLei]

Hm. I came up with about 2,000 (as the crow flies). Considering I have walked from Manchester City Centre to Huddersfield centre because I missed the last bus, not because I was running late, but because it was crowded and walking was the least anxiety causing incident, I think 4000 metres is still acceptable

It's a shame you don't drink, as that earns you a pint from me even at London prices!

not sure why, but you could buy me something not alcoholic

Im not entirely sure how much cash to carry on me for the day either. Assuming I have two meals (1 at meet venue at least) and regular drinks for hydration, any one able to come up with a rough guesstimate? Too spoiled by North prices

Ideal way to do it is to use Thameslink from St Pancras to Blackfriars; it's a straight train to Platform A.
Alternatively, meet up with me at St Pancras; I'll be passing through anyway.

Finally if you don't want to use your Oyster card, see if you have a contactless payment card (either debit or credit is fine) and use that instead. Simply use it the same way you would an Oyster card.

[Redirect Left]

Finally if you don't want to use your Oyster card, see if you have a contactless payment card (either debit or credit is fine) and use that instead. Simply use it the same way you would an Oyster card.

I do not have a contactless card. I'd end up whipping it out all the time and spending a heap

[Dave]

Have a look at the menu at Thirsty Bear. It's all on the web.