Amsterdam to London

While on holiday in Amsterdam in October, we are thinking of going to London for five days before returning to Amsterdam to catch our return flight. What is the cheapest means of travel to London? - Roja







Probably the most convenient way to travel between the two cities is by air - but only if you can find a cheap ticket. Although fares as low as 39 Euros are advertised by budget carriers, you should be able to get one for around 90 Euros return. Airlines flying this route include easyJet, British Airways, KLM and CityJet. Try www.skyscanner.net for low fares. There are two main options besides air travel. The first is by train. Catch the high-speed Thalys train from Amsterdam to Brussels and then the Eurostar to London. The journey can take as little as four hours 16 minutes. This compares very favourably to air travel, which takes around four hours if you take travelling time to and from the airports to the city centres into account. The fare between London and Amsterdam by Eurostar and Thalys high-speed train is offered from 123 Euros return (www.eurostar.com or www.nshispeed.nl).The second is take the overnight ferry. Take a train from Amsterdam to Hoek van Holland, then Stena Line's ferry to Harwich. From there you take the train to central London. You have to purchase cabins on the night ferry, but this saves you the cost of a hotel in London. The train/ferry fare can be as low as 97 Euros return, while the cabin costs 37 Euros per trip in a single cabin and 103 Euros for a five-bunk cabin. Cabins are optional on the day ferry, ranging from 18.50 Euros for a single and 53 Euros for a five-berth (www.dutchflyer.co.uk). You need to remember that you will have to get a visa to visit Britain. (8 July 2012)