Leon to London - best route home?

[FionaClarke]

I'm looking for an affordable route home from Leon to London in late September. Bus to Bilbao and then fly to London looks like the best bet, even though the bus gets me in too late to fly home the same day so I would need to find a hostel for overnight. I've also found flights, (Iberia/BA) changing planes in Barcelona. Does anyone have other suggestions?

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Have you considered sailing with Brittany Ferries? Their online system does not show prices for foot passengers sailing from Bilbao but it does for Santander and when i did a quick check - I don't know your times or dates - I found a one-way ticket from Santander to Portsmouth for £65. You also have to pay for either a cabin (approx. £85) or reclining seat (£10).

 

[whariwharangi]

Leon ALSA bus or Renfe train to Madrid is probably the better choice. Some ALSA buses go to Madrid Airport. Train tracks were recently upgraded to high speed; AVE service has 2:10 travel time.

Leon ALSA bus or Renfe train to Oviedo and ALSA bus onward to Asturias airport is about the same travel time as Madrid if you factor in transfer times from Madrid train to airport.

 

[FionaClarke]

Have you considered sailing with Brittany Ferries? Their online system does not show prices for foot passengers sailing from Bilbao but it does for Santander and when i did a quick check - I don't know your times or dates - I found a one-way ticket from Santander to Portsmouth for £65. You also have to pay for either a cabin (approx. £85) or reclining seat (£10).

Thanks for this. 7am Bus to Leon would get me there in time for an evening sailing.

 

[FionaClarke]

Leon ALSA bus or Renfe train to Madrid is probably the better choice. Some ALSA buses go to Madrid Airport. Train tracks were recently upgraded to high speed; AVE service has 2:10 travel time.

Leon ALSA bus or Renfe train to Oviedo and ALSA bus onward to Asturias airport is about the same travel time as Madrid if you factor in transfer times from Madrid train to airport.

Brilliant! The bus takes 4 hours and is direct - departures start early morning. Thank you. I think this is my best option.

Also - there are direct buses from Madrid airport to Burgos. Price each way EUR25-35. And that means that I can get a cheap return flight lon-mad.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I caught a coach last year from Leon to London. Cost me 80 Euros including ferry price. I thought it was a bargain!

Davey

 

[Castilian]

Train tracks were recently upgraded to high speed

Not exactly. The old tracks (Iberian gauge, standard speed) are still in service. New high speed tracks (standard gauge) were recently inaugurated and are in service too. Therefore, depending on the train you catch, it'll use the old tracks (MD trains, the trenhotel) or the new ones (Alvia trains, AVE trains, AV City trains).

P.S.: I won't comment about the OP question because I think previous posts covered all the main options so she just have to decide which one works better for her.

 

[Patch]

Hi,
I have booked my brother bus from Leon to Madrid and then the plane to London (Luton)but managed to do it all on the same day, but it was for June? It was by far the cheapest option, especially if you pay for flight a few months in advance together with outward journey.

 

[FionaClarke]

Inspired by the replies, I've done a bit more research and realised that I can do the Meseta at my own pace, and if I speed up I can still get to Madrid airport with one bus. Here are the morning buses for Thursday 22 September, in case it inspires anyone else to do something similar: The cost is between EUR20 and EUR41, depending on the route and time.

Leon to Madrid T4:
5.30 - 10.30
8.15 - 12.30
10.30 - 14.45

Astorga to Madrid T4
9.15 - 13.30
9.30 - 15.45
10.20 - 15.25

Ponferrada to Madrid T4:
8.30- 13.30
9.30- 15.25
10.40- 15.45

 

[tyrrek]

You can fly from Asturias to Gatwick (Vueling) and Stansted (Easyjet).