TRIP REPORT: How to get home? Coach or Trains across London?

How to get home? Coach or Trains across London?
Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore

With my good self landed at Gatwick Airport, I only had one more issue to solve – how was I planning to get home? To a coach, or the trains and a London crossing?

In this adventure

Exiting the aircraft, the idea I had was simple – keep moving as reasonably fast as possible. I wanted to get to Euston station before 21:00 – otherwise, trains get very expensive, very quickly.

And no, I didn’t want to grab a coach home.

Heading through the airport, there was a trek towards immigration. Thankfully by the time I reached the main hall, there wasn’t a passenger soul there – other than our flight.

Including this helpful sign.

This explains a lot.

As such, I was welcomed back to the UK by a Border Agent and sent on my way. From there, it was a matter of finding the luggage belt—again, this is a new terminal to me, so I didn’t know my way around.

Locating the belt – I went past it for a comfort break. By the time I came back to the belt, the first bags were appearing. Opening the Find My app, I could see the bag was in Gatwick (so had made it to the United Kingdom).

A few minutes later, the bag came out onto the carousel.

You made it. Congratulations. Only one wheel missing too.

As I headed to the exit, I spotted a National Express ticket machine that wanted £45 for a single trip to Birmingham. Considering that it would be nearly a 5-hour journey (without the wait times), and I could travel home cheaper on the train, I skipped past the machine and through customs, to the public area.

Once in the public area, it was time to play “find the train station”. Although I did chuckle at first sight that greets you when you exit the secure area.

Nothing like a Greggs after a flight.

Thankfully, Gatwick South Terminal is directly connected to the train station. As such, I followed the signs.

Like Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport has a premium train service (Gatwick Express) and a more “local” service that makes calls along the route (Thameslink and Southern).

Being the budget-minded person I fake being, I therefore had a choice of Southern Trains or Thameslink. Whilst Thameslink might have been quicker, I would have to fight across the Kings Cross/St Pancras complex – not what I want to do at night. I therefore chose the Southern Service that would drop me at London Victoria, which would be a simple change to the Victoria Line and Euston station.

Thameslink Class 700 heading off to London Bridge and Beyond.

There was a 10-minute wait for the train – I was happy with that, as it gave me a chance to cool down.

Eventually, the Southern service arrived. I headed aboard – with most of the passengers waiting on the platform.

Gatwick Airport to London Victoria
Southern Railway
Class 377, Standard Class- £11.80 (including underground travel) via Contactless payments

Boarding the train, it filled up quickly. I therefore tried to find a spot where I could hand onto my bag and me, without blocking the alise.

With ease, the train pulled out, with it planning to make only two stops – East Croydon and Clapham Junction. Thus, this would be a reasonably quick run to London Victoria.

Whilst the Gatwick Express is non-stop (and takes around 31 minutes), it does cost £23 without any discounts. The Southern Service takes around 36 minutes, for under half the price.

With the seating differences between the trains minimal, for this sort of journey, I’ll take the cheap option.

And yes – there was a ticket inspection. As my ticket was “on” Oyster, I ran my phone through the validator the guard had. Once it blipped green, they moved on to the next person.

Arriving at London Victoria, it was a case of exiting the train and heading up the platform to the exit. There was slightly more of a hike than I wanted, as the train had stopped in front of another train that was on the platform.

But at least I was near the barriers to the main station.

Once through the barrier, it was the classic case of following the signs through the train shed and into the Underground station.

The Victoria Station train shed.

Blipping my phone again, I cleared the barrier and followed the signs for one of the cross-London shortcuts – the Victoria line.

To the Victoria line

Again, the deities were on my side – as I descended on the platform a Victoria Line train was waiting. Going South to North through London took around 10 minutes.

Getting off at Euston, it was time to deal with the maze that is this Underground station – and also buy a train ticket at the same time.

Yes, I do leave it late – normally because I don’t know when I’m going to hit a train station in a lot of cases.

With a £20 single ticket Birmingham brought on the Uber App (and more importantly, the eticket making it to the Wallet screen), I headed for the platform and to the train.

Down we go.

Well, almost. I was done over by the West Cornish Pasty company who saw me coming for £10 for a pasty and a bottle of water.

Not worth it. I should have got a Greggs at Gatwick.

London Euston to Birmingham New Street
London North Western Railway
Class 350/4
£20, Super Off-Peak Single

Heading to the platform, an eight-car train was formed for the journey to Birmingham that evening. However, positioning would be important – with the rear four cars going as far as Northampton only, and the front four cars going to Birmingham.

Thus, I had an extended hike down the platform to a suitable carriage for the place where I wanted to get off the train.

Much further to go

Once in, I found a space for the bag and myself – with two seats together. It would do for the run home.

The train pulled out on time and began its late evening journey. It’s a mixture of a journey – serving some commuter towns between London and Milton Keynes, then turning into a stopping service to Northampton.

The annoying thing about this service is the extended stop in Northampton – that’s used for both timing purposes (to make up time for the journey), and to meet a fast train from London.

So, yes, I could have taken a faster train from Euston for the price, but that would mean fun at Rugby Station in the middle of the night. And no, I’m not prepared for those fun and games and risk a late-night Uber. Or I could have paid one and a half times the amount for a fast Avanti service (although £33 for a single ticket is a lot).

With the train on the move again at Northampton, a few people had moved up the train, adding noise to the peaceful environment.

Oh well, at least there weren’t any delays.

From Northampton, the train continued to Rugby, Coventry, and Birmingham International (with lots of local stops on the way).

Eventually, the train pulled into Birmingham New Street. For me, there was one more connection to make – and that was dealing with a local cab company for the ride home.

Thankfully, black cabs are easy enough to find at this hub, so I was out into a taxi pretty quickly, even if the driver took a longer route to the flat than I would have liked.

15 minutes later, I was at the front door of the flat, with a solid adventure under my belt.

Finally:

Sometimes, Simple isn’t needed.

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How to get home? Coach or Trains across London? Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore

Finally:

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How to get home? Coach or Trains across London?
Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore