London

Overview Travel Summary

The capital city of Great Britain, London, is one Distance by road: of the major cities of the world and can be 178 km (111 miles) reached from Warwick University in under two hours. With the exception of the vast number of tourist attractions that can be visited in the city, Fastest travel time: London is a popular destination for onward international travel from one of its five airports. Coach - 145 minutes London can only be practically be accessed by Train - 69 minutes either a national coach or rail service.

The following guide provides an overview of how to plan a journey by coach or train to the centre of London. If considering travelling within London or to one of the London airports, one should consult the Travelling within London and London Airports sections in association with this section.

Journey by Train

London can be reached through two direct train routes from Coventry and Leamington Spa respectively. Each route is predominantly operated by a single train company. Virgin Trains (www.virgintrains.com.uk) provides direct services from Coventry to London Euston whilst Chiltern Trains (www.chilternrailways.co.uk) provides direct services from Leamington Spa to London Marylebone.

The times and prices for each service vary considerably dependant on the time of travel and when the ticket is purchased. The following table provides a summary of variation in ticket pricing and journey times.

Service Route Travelling Time Frequency of Service Provider Min Max Chiltern Leamington Spa - 72 mins 144 mins 3 per hour between 0600 and Trains London Marylebone 2330 Virgin Trains Coventry 69 mins 106 mins 2 per hour between 0600 and - London Euston 2330

The information provided above should only be used as a guide. Timetables can frequently vary and it is advisable to check the website of the service provider when planning the travel. Tickets should be purchased as far in advance as possible to avoid excessive fares. Tickets for each service can be purchased by credit card from the website of the service provider. The National Rail website (www.nationalrail.co.uk) should first be used to identify the most suitable train service.

Journey by Coach

It is generally cheaper and more convenient to travel to London by coach however coach journeys can frequently run over schedule due to traffic in the London area. Two coach companies, Megabus (www.megabus.com) and National Express (www.nationalexpress.com), provide services from local destinations to central London. The route for each of these services is as follows. Cannon Park Shopping Centre MegaBus London

London Victoria Coventry Pool National Express Marble Arch Meadow Bus (Park Lane) Station Note - The Cannon Park Shopping Centre is the location of the nearest Tesco and is within five minutes walk of the University of Warwick. The Tesco section of this guide should be referred to for direction to Cannon Park.

The following table provides an overview of the fares and times for each service.

Service Route Travelling Time Frequency of Service Provider (scheduled) National Coventry Bus Station – 10 per day departing between 0330 an Express London Victoria 165 mins 2200 Megabus Cannon Park – London 145 mins 8 per day departing between 0600 and Victoria 2000

Tickets are generally cheaper if booked in advance through the ticketing section of the service provider’s websites.

London Route Comparison

The following provides a summary of the route alternatives for travelling to central London.

Travel Service Travel Time Advantages Disadvantages Means Provider Train Chiltern 72 – 144 mins  Cheaper train service  Extended travel time of  Most frequent service some services  Peak purchases can prove expensive Virgin 69 - 106 mins  Fastest of all routes  Expense Coach National 145 mins  Low cost  Traffic delays can Express extend journey times Megabus 165 mins  Local departure point  Traffic delays can extend  Low cost journey times  Local departure point

Top Tips

The following should be considered when planning travel to central London.

 Always try to book tickets in advance of travel.

 Allow for delays when travelling by coach.

 Explore all fare options – two single tickets may well prove cheaper than a return.

 If travelling by train, aim to travel outside of the following peak hours: o Arriving in London 1615 – 1900 o Departing London 0700 -1000

 Take advantage of special offers.

 Consider transit time to departure point from university and onward journey in London.