please empty your brain below
The bluebells are a bit later up here in the high Dales. What is more bizarre to my until recently southern eyes is that they are not woodland plants here ... growing on open hillsides en mass (would add a pic if I could).

Putters | 02.05.21 - 7:27 a.m. | #

Perhaps a Network-Railcard might pay off.

MK | 02.05.21 - 7:45 a.m. | #

Not quite, but you’ll even be eligible soon for a Senior Railcard (over 60). which will get you to nationwide and with less time restrictions

Al__S | 02.05.21 - 8:28 a.m. | #

On a personal note, if I smell bluebells I think of England. We visited Kew gardens a week before we left for good.

Michael | 02.05.21 - 8:52 a.m. | #

Bluebells are out in the Novo Cemetery, which is walking distance for you!

Vicki | 02.05.21 - 9:22 a.m. | #

There are people who buy the cheapest Gold Card possible - something like a journey from Ryde St Johns Rd to Ryde Esplanade - in order to obtain discounts across the network, which is worthwhile if you do lots of travelling. The Gold Card beats the Network Railcard as (a) there's no minimum fare on weekdays, and (b) discounts also apply to tube fares.

Vectisian | 02.05.21 - 9:26 a.m. | #

The cheapest guaranteed Gold Card is currently Hatton - Lapworth, at £176 per year.

Some people have been able to get a "part-time" season ticket between Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids, at a cost of £156, issued as a Gold Card but this is something of a grey area as it also qualifies to be issued as a Devon and Cornwall Gold Card.

Barry S | 02.05.21 - 9:40 a.m. | #

If you went to a ticket office and got a Cheap Day Return from Boundary Zone 3 to Tring with gold card, then it would set you back just £9.35... Assuming Boundary Zone tickets still exist, and you could find a ticket office that knows how to sell you one...

Henry | 02.05.21 - 9:49 a.m. | #

....or you could find a staffed ticket office open in “TfL Land”.

Kim | 02.05.21 - 10:43 a.m. | #

Anyone going to Gt Yarmouth this bank holiday Monday for a day trip would be screwed :-)
Yet again, no direct trains from Liverpool St to Norwich, meaning a journey time of between 3hr 40 and 4h15. Unless desperate, I would never travel to / from GY on weekends or bank holidays.

Brighton from East Croydon is good for the spur of the moment “I want to go to the seaside / somewhere different to have a coffee / shop” decision, especially on the faster Southern trains which only take about 45 mins.

rogmi | 02.05.21 - 10:52 a.m. | #

Bluebells can be found in Oxleas Wood which is a short walk from Falconwood station. In zone 4.
It may not be acres of them but they're there, and it's certainly affordable. Also, while you're there, walk through the woodland to the top (ish) of Shooters Hill and if it's a weekend the cafe will be open for takeaways. There's also a small cafe at Severndroog Castle but with more limited opening times. I believe the castle and viewing platform is still closed for visitors but when we're back to normal it's worth a look. Especially on a clear day.

K. | 02.05.21 - 11:03 a.m. | #

When I used to visit Bournemouth (admittedly not for the past 3-4 years), then I always got a ticket from Boundary Zone 6. I tried to aim for the faster trains which meant getting the train t Clapham Junction or, better still, travelling up to Waterloo to pick up the train from there, thus ensuring I always got a seat.
The Freedom pass covered as far as zone 6, which meant that any travel up to that point was free. That, combined with a priv card, made an off peak return to Bournemouth quite reasonable. I've yet to get a Border ticket when travelling to Gt Yarmouth from Liverpool St.

rogmi | 02.05.21 - 11:03 a.m. | #

That may explain why certain seaside destinations get so busy.
Though when you also factor in the cost for even just a family or 4 (never mind the 7 that we are!!) travelling by train quickly becomes completely unrealistic!

Cornish Cockney | 02.05.21 - 11:05 a.m. | #

A Network Railcard is a useful investment costing £30 but cannot be used before 10am on weekdays and has a £13 discounted minimum fare on weekdays.

A cheap Annual Goldcard (as noted above Hatton to Lapworth is currently the cheapest) gives discount over a far wider area, discounted tickets are valid from 9.30am on weekdays and there is no minimum fare. An Annual Goldcard can also be loaded onto an Oyster card (but not contactless) to give a 34% discount on off-peak PAYG fares. You also benefit from discounted PAYG daily caps.

A Goldcard holder can also purchase a railcard for a friend for £10 and so if you know a friend who still has an Annual Season ticket then it might be worth asking them if they can purchase a Network Railcard for £10 for you

Hadders | 02.05.21 - 11:43 a.m. | #

Long-term readers may like to know that this is the 9th time we've had the 'cheapest Gold Card' discussion in the comments :)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 02.05.21 - 12:26 p.m. | #

You'd expect Southend to be the cheapest seaside trip as it's the nearest place to London. 40 miles is about the same distance away as Reading is on the other side of London

Mikey C | 02.05.21 - 12:27 p.m. | #

Another excellent place for bluebells is Chalet Wood in Wanstead Park (nearest station Wanstead, Central Line, Zone 4). Probably cheapest of all the places for you to get to.

Alan S | 02.05.21 - 1:41 p.m. | #

Thanks for the suggestion. I went to Sevenoaks this morning and there was a good display in Scathes Wood. £10.80 for me on the train.

Jimmy | 02.05.21 - 2:05 p.m. | #

Where do you think you'll venture to first DG, when you feel comfortable (out side of Greater London)?

R2 | 02.05.21 - 2:37 p.m. | #

Even with the weekday minimum fare (and the south east geographic limit), I'm a fan of the Network Railcard.

I also like that it works on rail/ferry tickets to the Isle of Wight !

ADS | Homepage | 02.05.21 - 3:11 p.m. | #

We should also not forget GroupSave tickets for those travelling with friends & family - or alternatively various rail companies do "kids for a quid" and "Kids for £2" tickets eg Southeastern, Southern and some like Northern do Kids go free on certain dates...

Rob | 02.05.21 - 4:25 p.m. | #

Railcards - the weekdays time restriction doesn't apply if you buy online through a Train Operator's website (you can still nominate your local station to pick up the ticket, even if that's on another franchise or the Overground). I have a Senior card and I've legitimately travelled out of London at 0700 on a weekday.

The normal earliest time to start travel if using a 'walk-up' fare is 0930.

Joel | 02.05.21 - 4:31 p.m. | #

Joel - what you say isn’t quite correct. It doesn’t matter where you purchase tickets from the restrictions are the same. Different railcards have different restrictions.

For example: A Senior Railcard can be used to obtain a discount at anytime (subject to the general time restrictions applicable to the ticket) unless the journey is wholly in the Network Railcard Area in which case a discount can only be obtained from the time when the Off Peak Day Return ticket becomes valid.

Hadders | 02.05.21 - 5:02 p.m. | #

You can get to Box Hill on 465 bus so it’s free to 60+ Oyster card holders and cheaper than your quoted price for everyone.

dg writes: Indeed, but a heck of a lot slower.

Mr Jif | Homepage | 02.05.21 - 5:15 p.m. | #

Instead of all the Railcard discounts I would just cut the fares by 33% so everyone benefits.

Andrew Jarman | 02.05.21 - 6:05 p.m. | #

If rail travel didn't feel like a real con to anyone without an encyclopedic knowledge of how fares work, and how to get a good value fare, more people might use them.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 02.05.21 - 6:33 p.m. | #

That looks like Emmett’s Garden?

Jenikya | Homepage | 03.05.21 - 9:49 a.m. | #

A nicer walk (IMO) than Box Hill, though admittedly without the awesome view at the top, is Banstead Wood. Short walk from Chipstead(Z6). I do like Box Hill as well, but the experience of schlepping up there from the train station leaves a lot to be desired.

Chz | 03.05.21 - 9:58 a.m. | #

Good to see Cardiff in pride of place!

cau1khead | 03.05.21 - 10:14 a.m. | #

Plenty of bluebells in Highgate Woods

Johnny Topaz | 03.05.21 - 5:34 p.m. | #











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