firefly9 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Okay, so I know there's bits and pieces dotted around everywhere about how to get to the hotel, but I'm a bit useless and hate travelling on my own to somewhere I've never been so need telling again . I'm 18 and pretty much hate trains/coaches, but will get one if necessary. I'm coming from Edinburgh, so does anyone have any tips on how to get from Edinburgh to the hotel? Previously, I've only flown to Heathrow so I have no idea if buses/trains run from there to Bedford, or whether I should fly to a different airport. I'd prefer to fly rather than take the train but any help would be greatly appreciated! Also, if there is anyone else going from Scotland it would be great to hear from you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmi Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Don't expect I'll be able to afford this con, but in case I can, this is useful for me too: http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/AirTransport says Air Transport Air : Direct rail link to Luton (30 minutes) and Gatwick (90 minutes). Heathrow, Birmingham and East Midlands International Airports are all within 90 minutes’ driving time. Stansted Airport 60 minutes. http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/RailTransport Rail Transport Rail: Thameslink service to London King’s Cross (50 minutes). Through services to Gatwick (90 minutes), Brighton (150 minutes). Northbound trains to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. Services to West Midlands, Lancashire and Scotland via Bletchley (no Sunday service Bedford/Bletchley). National Rail enquiries 0345 484950. To plan your journey by train please click here. Looking at trains, Ed-Bed by train involves either 2 or 3 changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enty Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Okay, so I know there's bits and pieces dotted around everywhere about how to get to the hotel, but I'm a bit useless and hate travelling on my own to somewhere I've never been so need telling again . I'm 18 and pretty much hate trains/coaches, but will get one if necessary. I'm coming from Edinburgh, so does anyone have any tips on how to get from Edinburgh to the hotel? Previously, I've only flown to Heathrow so I have no idea if buses/trains run from there to Bedford, or whether I should fly to a different airport. I'd prefer to fly rather than take the train but any help would be greatly appreciated! Also, if there is anyone else going from Scotland it would be great to hear from you! We are traveling overnight on the sleeper from Inverness. But if you prefer to fly wouldnt you be best to get a flight to Luton as its closest to Bedford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MojoeDark Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Am from Scotland I will just be driving down. It really is the cheapist way for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyT Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 OK, I'm feeling generous. My understanding is that (sl)Easyjet fly from Edinburgh to Luton. From Luton Airport, you get a shuttlebus to Luton Airport Parkway Station - http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/content/2/193/by-rail.html seems to suggest that if you have a valid railticket in your hand at the airport, then the shuttlebus is free, otherwise it's £1.50 single of £3 open return. From Luton Airport Parkway Station (code LTN) you get a train to Bedford station (that's Bedford's main station, code BDM, not Bedford St Johns (BSJ)). Whilst BSJ is nearer the hotel (0.41 miles v 0.82miles), there are no direct trains. According to www.thetrainline.com you can get a direct train from LTN to BDM with a journey time of 28 minutes; getting a train from LTN to BSJ takes about 45 minutes and involves changing at BDM and waiting 10-25 minutes anyway. (The trainline.com website only holds details up to 3 months in advance, so I've checked using a date of 30/1/09, rather than the con date which is currently too far into the future. However, I would suggest that my findings will be generally similar for the con date - on a Friday afternoon there seem to be about 5 or 6 trains an hour from LTN to BDM; however, there only seem to be about two trains an hour from BDM to BSJ - would seem sensible to get off at BDM and either walk or cab it to the Park Inn If 0.82 miles from BDM to the Park is too far to walk, or it's chucking it down with rain, then BDM does have a taxi-rank , according to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/BDM.html - by contrast, BSJ doesn't, according to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/bsj/details.html If you wish to see these stations on a map, I suggest that you either use maps.google.co.uk - the postcode for BDM is MK40 1DR, the postcode for BSJ is MK42 9BT, and the postcode for the Park Inn is MK42 0AR. Alternately, if you go to http://www.bedford.parkinn.co.uk/ and click on "Location" (just under where it says "Park Inn Bedford" in large type) and then on the resulting page click on "Get Directions", you can enter a starting location postcode (i.e. the station postcode) and get a map and driving directions - which in this case seem to be similar as for walking. OK, that's enough spoonfeeding; how you get from your house to Edinburgh Airport, and from there to Luton Airport is up to you to figure out but you could do a lot worse than going to http://www.easyjet.co.uk/en/book/index.asp (looks like you can currently do it for about £61 return - assuming no checked bags and you don't take their travel insurance. Beware, you have to be careful to change from their default value of 1 checked bag (£12) and buying travel insurance (£6.50) and have to update - twice in the case of the travel insurance. Just be careful what you have included on your bill before you click to go to the next step. (I'm not advocating flying without travel insurance - could be well worth having, but if you already have separate travelinsurance like I do, then no point in paying for another lot!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliekemp Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Hi I live in Luton! As TommyT said - the best way really is to fly down to luton airport and get the shuttle bus(Its purple and really long! You cant miss it!) from the airport to Luton airport parkway(Hopefully by Feb' all the road works will be sorted- so it will only take 5mins on the bus!) Then get the First Capital Connect train to Bedford- Google'First capital connect' and it will take you to the website which will have time tables and train routes! I think Bedford is only 4 or 5 stops away from the station and i doesnt take long 25 mins max! Not sure about how to get to the hotel from the station thou! Hope that helps- if you need anymore help with Luton - let me know! Julie x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scifiwhore Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I'm getting the train from Stirling to the con and will have to change via Edinburgh or Glasgow. If you can't find another way to get down there and end up having to get the train I'd be happy to meet up with ya so you atleast have a buddy on the train :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly9 Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Wow, thanks for all the great responses. Looks like Luton is the way to go I'm getting the train from Stirling to the con and will have to change via Edinburgh or Glasgow. If you can't find another way to get down there and end up having to get the train I'd be happy to meet up with ya so you atleast have a buddy on the train :) Thanks! I'll certainly keep that in mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selby Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 haha and you say I do alot of cons . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystic_aleisha Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Heya there firefly9 I know I'm just posting almost for my first time and this thread was started a while ago but it has also been helpful to me so thanks :) I'm also travelling down to the con from edinburgh as it's my lovely hometown, so will be nice to see you there and I now am so delighted to learn there is another fangirl that lives in edinburgh and loves the same things im also into Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MojoeDark Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 If someone is looking for a life down i have 2 spaces left in my car. Live in the Dumfries area. Let me know if anyones intrested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly9 Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 haha and you say I do alot of cons . Shush you Heya there firefly9 I know I'm just posting almost for my first time and this thread was started a while ago but it has also been helpful to me so thanks :) I'm also travelling down to the con from edinburgh as it's my lovely hometown, so will be nice to see you there and I now am so delighted to learn there is another fangirl that lives in edinburgh and loves the same things im also into Yeah, it's surprising how many fans actually live near me! I've met a whole crowd of Scottish fans who love different shows I'm still not sure if I can go yet, work are giving me hassle about the time off. I may need to shift switch with someone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystic_aleisha Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Oh well hope you can find someone to switch with would be shame if you had to miss it from work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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