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Breaks by rail.

Let the rails guide you on a relaxing and eco-friendly getaway by opting for rail and hotel breaks for your next UK short break. Explore the picturesque landscapes of the UK as you travel effortlessly along by rail, revelling in the stress-free journey that awaits.

Our rail breaks in UK offer the convenience of city-centre access, flexible travel schedules, and pocket-friendly ticket choices, making your getaway a breeze. Say goodbye to driving woes and congestion charges and say hello to British rail breaks, your ticket to an eco-friendly adventure.

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With 30 locations to choose from, our rail and hotel breaks promise a captivating mix of experiences, whether you crave seaside serenity, historical intrigue, or urban exploration.

Explore the vibrant coastal charm of Brighton, where an iconic pier and lively atmosphere make for a delightful getaway. For history enthusiasts, our city breaks to York by train will transport you back in time. Experience the musical heartbeat of Liverpool, home to The Beatles or discover the cultural vibrancy of Glasgow, where art, history, and modernity meet – choose city rail breaks for a great little blend of travel and accommodation.

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The Man in Seat 61

A beginner's guide to

Train travel in britain.

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, 20+ operators, one network.

Click here for the best map of the UK train network

Here is a quick guide to train travel in Britain .  Since 1995, Britain's rail network has been run by over 20 private train companies, but they work together as National Rail with co-ordinated fares & ticketing.  You can find train times & fares for all train operators all on one website, you can buy a train ticket between any two stations, tickets are normally valid on any operator's trains.

A typical inter-city train

Trains come in many different types & company colours, but they all work together as National Rail.  This is an LNER Azuma train, used on the East Coast Main Line linking London-York-Newcastle-Edinburgh.  You'll find seating plans for key British trains on the seat numbering plans page .

How to check train times & fares

To check train times & fares , use the National Rail website www.nationalrail.co.uk .  This is provided by RDG (Rail Delivery Group) on behalf of all train operators, and it shows train times & fares for all routes and all operators. RDG was formerly (perhaps more accurately) called the Association of Train Operating Companies.

Pro tip:   You can look up fares & restrictions at www.brfares.com although this is an online version of rail industry fares manuals so takes some getting to grips with.  However, I use it to see the range of fares available between two points without using a journey planner.

To check train times & fares by phone , call National Rail Enquiries on 0345 7 48 49 50, if you are located outside the UK call +44 20 7278 5240.  Lines open 24 hours a day, calls from UK phones are charged at local rates.

Is your train on time?   Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains and enter the name of your station to see a live online departure board showing train arrivals & departures in the next hour or two, and whether they are on time or not.

Pro tip: If you want a really detailed version with planned train formations and rolling stock type, try www.realtimetrains.co.uk .

Maps of the rail network

Map of the national rail network :  Click here for the best national rail map .  This is the map which used to be included in the big printed Great Britain National Timetable, and in my opinion it's the still best map of the network, sufficiently schematic to see the lines, sufficiently geographic to see where they go.  The map is sadly no longer available on the National Rail website, where none of the replacement maps are as good.

Other maps :  There are other train network maps listed on www.nationalrail.co.uk/ passenger_services/maps , including maps of the London area rail network, the London & Southeast rail network, and rail networks in other major cities.

I also recommend rail fare expert Barry Doe's UK rail map which shows which train operator runs where, www.barrydoe.co.uk/railmap52.pdf .

Station plans:   You can find a plan of most stations showing layout, platforms & facilities at www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations .

How to buy tickets

Buy train tickets for any train journey in Britain at tfw.wales .

Transport for Wales is one of the 20+ British train operators and they sell tickets for all routes, all trains (except sleepers ), all operators, and charge the official price with no added booking fee.

You'll be offered a mobile ticket for many journeys, simply show the barcode on your phone, tablet or laptop.

Or you can collect tickets from the self-service machines at any main station.  You'll need the original credit or debit card with you as ID, if you have any problems you can also collect from the staffed ticket office.

Or they will post tickets to any UK address for a fee, with guaranteed next day delivery by 1pm.

Overseas users:   If you have any problems getting tfw.wales to accept your credit card, buy from www.thetrainline.com instead.

Tip:   There's no need to find the 'right' train operator website , or to compare prices on different sites as all train operator websites including tfw.wales sell tickets for all British trains at exactly the same prices from exactly the same National Rail fares database.

Tip:   There are 3 types of fare, Anytime, Off-Peak & Advance.  Anytime fares are good for any train.  Off-Peak fares are good for any train outside Monday-Friday peak periods.  Advance fares are only good for the specific train you book with limited or no changes or refunds allowed.  For a more detailed explanation, see my quick guide to the 3 types of train ticket .

Tip:   Avoid booking fees by using a train operator website such as tfw.wales as they don't charge a booking fee.  Most independent third-party ticket retailers add a small booking fee on top of the ticket price, including www.thetrainline.com , www.raileasy.com , www.mytrainticket.co.uk & www.redspottedhanky.com .  For example www.thetrainline.com charges around £1.50 booking fee.  There are a few exceptions, for example trainsplit.com doesn't charge any fee, but will share any saving if a split ticket saves you money, and new independent retailer railsmartr.co.uk also charges no fee.

Tip:   Train ticket booking normally open 8-12 weeks ahead , beware of trying to book too far ahead as explained here .  90% of all British train tickets are bought less than a month before travel.  But here's a good idea:  Sign up for a free email 'ticket alert' when ticket booking opens for the specific route you want, allowing you to snap up those cheap fares as soon as they are released (It's worth trying later in the day if you don't immediately see any cheap deals available).  To sign up for an alert, go to www.thetrainline.com , click Tools & Apps top right, then click Ticket alert.  Some other train companies also offer this service.

Tip:   Choose your exact seat from a plan.   A few operators allow you to choose a specific seat from a seat plan, but only if you use their own site to book their own trains.  Although I personally prefer the booking engine used by tfw.wales , independent split ticketing website trainsplit.com lets you choose an exact seat on most LNER, Avanti West Coast, Cross Country & East Midlands Trains services, all on one site - plus it charges no booking fee, and it checks to see if split tickets could save you money, too.

You'll find seating plans for some key British trains on the seat numbering plans page .

Tip:   Upgrade to first class using Seatfrog :  If you buy a standard class ticket for LNER (London-York-Edinburgh), GWR (London-Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Devon, Cornwall) or Cross-Country you can bid for a budget upgrade to first class.  See how it works and download the Seatfrog app .

The National Rail website www.nationalrail.co.uk doesn't sell tickets itself, but after answering your enquiry it will offer you a choice of ticket selling websites, with the operator most relevant to your journey at the top of the list.

To buy train tickets by phone , call any train operator telesales line.  They all sell the same tickets at the same prices, for example, Avanti West Coast on 0345 528 0253.

Tips for finding the cheapest tickets

Book longer-distance trips in advance.  Advance fares are the cheapest ticket for medium & long-distance journeys.  The price varies like budget air fares, the earlier you book, the cheaper they're likely to be.  Buy tickets for any route in Britain at tfw.wales or any other train operator website.  You can also buy at www.thetrainline.com , but they add a small booking fee.

Advance fares are only good for the specific train you book, no refunds, limited or no changes to travel plans.  If you want flexibility, you need to buy an Off-Peak fare or Anytime fare .

Even booking the night before can save money:   Bookings for Advance tickets theoretically close at 18:59 the day before travel.  But in practice they remove any remaining Advance fares at 23:59 on many routes, and one or two operators now even sell them on the day, so it's worth trying even if you've just missed the deadline!

Avoid busy days & times:   Advance fares vary in price from train to train & day to day just like budget airline fares, so hunt for the cheapest train.  Wednesday lunchtime is usually cheaper than Friday or Sunday afternoon.

Sign up for a ticket alert :   Advance fares normally go on sale 8-12 weeks ahead, the exact period varies.  If bookings aren't yet open for your date of travel, sign up for an automatic ticket alert at www.thetrainline.com/ticketalert (please let me know if that link stops working) and they'll email you the moment train ticket booking opens.  But don't fall into the 'trap' explained above by buying an expensive Anytime or Off-Peak ticket before cheap Advance fares go on sale.

Beware of booking too far ahead

Don't fall into the trap!   There are several weeks at the extremity of the booking horizon when expensive Anytime & Off-Peak fares go on sale but before cheap Advance fares go on sale.  This 'trap' catches out many overseas visitors to the UK, desperate to book train trips months ahead.  To see how far ahead booking for major operators is currently open, see www.thetrainline.com/ticketalert .

Anytime & Off-Peak fares go on sale 12 weeks out, even if reservations have not yet opened, because these fares can be sold without a seat reservation.  They have a fixed price & unlimited availability, they cannot sell out.  There's no advantage in buying these in advance.

Advance fares are much cheaper, but can only go on sale when reservations open, usually 8 to 10 weeks out (it varies) because availability at each price level is controlled by the reservation system.  To secure a cheap price, you need to buy these Advance fares in advance.

So if the cheapest price you see when booking your London-York trip 10 weeks out is £100+, don't think "Oh no, all the cheap tickets have sold out!", just wait a few weeks until Advance fares magically appear from £23 upwards.  Got that?  Great!

Cheaper fares on slower routes

London to Exeter, Plymouth, Bath, Bristol, Newport & Cardiff:   There are cheaper fares on the slower route from London Waterloo via Salisbury, compared to the main route from London Paddington.

London to Liverpool, Manchester, Crewe, Preston and so on:   There are cheaper fares using slower London & North Western trains rather than the fast Avanti West Coast expresses.

Split-ticketing

How to check if split-ticketing will save you money:

Go to trainsplit.com and use their journey planner.  You then click to buy all the tickets online as one transaction, as easily as buying one ticket.  There's no booking fee unless they make you a saving, then they take a small fee out of the saving.

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Railcards :  Save money if you're under 26, over 60, a family, or disabled

- if you're under 26, there's a 16-25 Railcard .

- if you're aged 26-30 (= under 31 years old) there's now a 26-30 Railcard .

- if you're over 60 there's a Senior Railcard .

- if you're a family or group of friends with at least one child, there's a Family & Friends Railcard .

- if you travel as a duo, there's now a Two Together Railcard for 2 named people of any age who travel together.

- if you have certain types of disability there's a Disabled Person's Railcard .

And no, you don't need to be British or live in the UK to buy a railcard, see the overseas visitors paragraph below !

Alternatively, you can buy a 3-year Railcard for £70 which saves money over 3 x 1-year cards.

A railcard can pay for itself in just one or two long-distance train journeys.  For example, an Off-Peak return London-Manchester costs around £98, so it's £64 return with a railcard, that's a £34 saving straight away.

Disabled Person's Railcard

You can buy a UK national railcard even if you live outside the UK, as long as you meet the criteria for age or for a family group or two people travelling together.  You don't need to be a British citizen or live in the UK to qualify.

The easiest option is to buy online & download a digital railcard onto the National Rail Railcard App on your iPhone or Android phone. Just click the link for the railcard you want and follow the instructions:

www.senior-railcard.co.uk , www.16-25railcard.co.uk , www.family-railcard.co.uk , www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk , www.network-railcard.co.uk .

Tip:   The railcard lasts 1 year from the date you buy it.  You can buy tickets online with the railcard discount applied before you buy the railcard, because you don't need the railcard number to buy a discounted ticket.  So it makes sense to only buy the railcard close to the date you plan to first use it.

Tip:   If system refuses to accept your non-UK postcode the first time you enter your address, no problem, just use this UK one: EC1A 4HD, it makes no difference.  At the payment stage you can select your correct nationality then enter the correct postcode for your billing address.

Tip:   If it says invalid passport number there's advice on how to fix this in the railcard website FAQ, it involves entering everything exactly as it's written in your passport.  Persevere, it should accept almost any current machine-readable passport.

Tip:   If it won't accept a U.S. passport number, start typing the numbers and letters at the bottom of your U.S. passport's photo page. When you get to 30 characters, the system should accept it, even without the remaining numbers and letters.

After buying your railcard (or even before you buy it) you can buy railcard-discounted tickets online at any National Rail authorised sales site such as tfw.wales .

General train travel information:  www.nationalrail.co.uk

As well as online train times and fares, www.nationalrail.co.uk has:

Are the trains running on time?  Are there engineering works?

Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains , enter the name of your station to see a 'live departure board' showing train arrivals & departures in the next hour or two, and whether they are on time or not.

Advanced users may find the website www.realtimetrains.co.uk useful.  If you look up a train and click for the detailed version, it shows rail mileages.  It holds actual on-time performance data for the past 7 days.  You can check the progress of a train that's currently running, and it even shows the booked rolling stock type and train formation.

Train company websites

Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk , scroll right to the bottom and click 'Train Operating Companies' for each train company's website address, postal address & phone numbers.

First or Standard class?

Most leisure travellers go standard class, with first class used by businessmen.  But if you pre-book you can find some great first class deals.  First class fares on inter-city trains run by Avanti West Coast, LNER and East Midlands Trains include light meals & drinks, at least on Mondays-Fridays.  GWR & Cross-Country first class includes complimentary tea & coffee on their inter-city routes.  However, your default assumption on other routes should be that first class simple means nicer seats and more room.

This is 1st class (above left) and standard class (above right) on a Pendolino from London to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, the Lake District, Carlisle and Glasgow, run by Avanti West Coast.  As you can see, in standard class there are 2+2 seats across the car width, in first class it's 1+2, so there's more elbow room, more legroom, and there are tables for two and solo seats (below left).  Avanti West Coast is unique in offering a middle class between standard and first called Standard Premium, which uses exactly the same seating as 1st class but without any food or drink included.

Food included in 1st class on LNER, Avanti West Coast & East Midlands Trains:   Below right, a light meal and wine served on an LNER Azuma train from London to Edinburgh, included in the fare.  Avanti West Coast & East Midlands Trains offer a similar 1st class food & drink service.  Another good reason for taking train not plane between London and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester or Newcastle!

London Underground & Bus information

tfl.gov.uk   for London Underground, bus, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink and other London transport information.

tfl.gov.uk/modes/tube   for London Underground information.

Need a bus at the other end?

www.traveline.info allows you to check local bus times across the UK, or you can call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.  Traveline is a national initiative to make local travel information available on a single number nationwide.  All call centres open 08:00-20:00, some open longer.

There is a system called PLUSBUS, where for £2-£3 more than the normal train fare you can add unlimited bus travel within your origin and/or destination city.  So for example, instead of buying a normal return from London to Manchester for (say) £98, you can buy a return to Manchester Plusbus for just £3 or so more and get exactly the same train ticket but with unlimited free bus travel within central Manchester for the day added on.  See www.plusbus.info for details of the 200 towns and cities in which PLUSBUS operates, or just ask when you buy your train ticket.

Need a ferry at the other end?

For ferries to France , Spain , Belgium , Denmark , Norway & Sweden , see the relevant country page.

To Orkney & the Shetland Isles

Northlink Ferries ( www.northlinkferries.co.uk ) sail from Scrabster near Thurso to Stromness at Scapa Flow on the Orkneys, and from Aberdeen to Lerwick on the Shetland Islands.  Aberdeen-Shetland has a daily overnight service, the ships are little gems, with cosy cabins, lounges, bar, restaurant, and an excellent premium lounge called the Magnus Lounge which is well worth the small extra charge.  All cabins have en suite toilet & shower, premium cabins include access to the Magnus Lounge.  Northlink's terminal in Aberdeen is in central Aberdeen, an easy 5-10 minute walk from Aberdeen station.

Taking your bike ?

Most trains carry bicycles, sometimes for free, sometimes for a small fee with advance reservation required.  

See www.atob.org.uk/rail-ferry-zone for a summary of the bike arrangements on every train operator, although it may not be 100% up to date.

Details can also be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk/on-the-train/train-travel-with-bicycles   and on individual train company websites. 

For information on taking your bike on Eurostar & other European trains, see the Taking your bike to Europe by train page .

Only a few operators will carry tandems, for advice on train travel with tandems see tandem-club.org.uk .

Rail Rovers :  Unlimited train travel for anyone

Rail Rovers give unlimited travel over all or selected parts of the British rail network and can be bought by anyone, including UK residents, see www.nationalrail.co.uk/.../rangers_and_rovers .  There are rail rovers covering the whole network or just certain areas.  The All-Line Rail Rover gives unlimited travel over the whole British national rail network.

2024 All Line Rail Rover prices:

7-day standard class All-Line Rail Rover £598 (child under 16 half price, 34% off for 16-25/senior/two together/forces/disabled railcard holders)

14-day standard class All-Line Rail Rover £908 (child under 16 half price, 34% off for 16-25/senior/two together/forces/disabled railcard holders)

7-day 1st class All-Line Rail Rover £908 (child under 16 half price, 34% off for senior/two together/forces/disabled railcard holders)

14-day 1st class All-Line Rail Rover £1,387 (child under 16 half price, 34% off for senior/disabled/two together railcard holders)

How to buy a rail rover

You can check current prices & buy online at tickets.gwr.com/..../roversandrangers .  Alternatively, you can buy Rail Rovers from any railway station or train operator telesales line.  You can only buy one from stations within 3 days of the date you want them to start.  If you have any trouble buying a rail rover, ask them to look in section G of their fares manual.

Travel restrictions

The All-Line rover used to be valid on all national rail trains without time restrictions but some restrictions were introduced in 2011  to stop business travellers using it on certain key business routes.  No restrictions apply on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, but on Mondays to Fridays the All-Line Rail Rover is not valid for boarding or alighting train services operated by Avanti West Coast, LNER, East Midlands Trains or Arriva CrossCountry at the following stations before 10:00:

London Euston

London Kings Cross

London St Pancras International

Birmingham New Street

Luton Airport Parkway

Milton Keynes Central

Watford Junction

There are no restrictions on these companies' trains at other stations or on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, or on other companies' trains at any station on any day.  So it's no problem using a Great Western train getting in to London before 10:00, or a ScotRail sleeper arriving at London Euston before 10:00.

All-Line Rail Rovers are also valid on the Ffestiniog Railway, and on Caledonian sleepers (seated cars free, sleepers if you pay the berth supplement).  They are not valid on Eurostar, Heathrow Express, Heathrow Connect, London Underground or Docklands, heritage railways (except Ffestiniog Railways) or shipping services.  For information on rail rovers covering other areas call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.

If you buy a rover using a 2-Together railcard, you also can't use the pass before 09:30 Monday-Fridays.

BritRail passes: Unlimited train travel for overseas visitors

If you live overseas and plan to visit the UK, you can buy a 'BritRail' pass which gives unlimited train travel on all 20+ British train operators for various periods.  It's now available as a mobile pass that you can buy & download to your phone.

BritRail prices, information & buy online

BritRail pass or point-to-point tickets?

A pass is only worth it if you're going to make a number of long-distance train trips around Britain, so don't bother with a BritRail pass if all you're going to do is make one long-distance trip, or a number of relatively short trips.  For longer distances, a BritRail pass typically works out about the same as a normal Off-Peak flexible ticket bought on the day of travel, it's more expensive than the cheaper Advance tickets, but is far cheaper than the Anytime tickets needed to travel in the Monday-Friday business peaks, see the 30-second guide to UK rail fares .  So if you want to make early starts on Monday-Fridays and have complete all-day flexibility, a BritRail pass is a great idea, but if you're prepared to avoid the Monday-Friday morning & afternoon business peaks, and especially if you book cheap tickets in advance at tfw.wales (no booking fee!) on a no-refunds, no-changes-to-travel-plans basis, ordinary point-to-point tickets will be the same or cheaper than a pass.  Before investing in a BritRail pass, check that normal tickets wouldn't be cheaper for what you plan to do, using tfw.wales or www.nationalrail.co.uk .

How to make BritRail seat reservations online

Seat reservation are optional on all British trains (except overnight sleeper trains).  So you don't have to have one, and indeed can't make one anyway on many local/rural/urban/suburban routes.  But they are a good idea on long-distance routes, especially at busy times.

Do not pay £££ (or $$$) to make seat reservations through an agency.  There's a well-hidden way to make stand-alone seat reservations for free to go with a pass.

Go to www.gwr.com and register for an account.  Sign in & click My account .  Then click Bookings .  Then click the Make a seat/bike reservation box. 

Run an enquiry and select a train.  It will look as if you need to select a fare, select any fare in the right class, it doesn't matter which, continue and make the reservation.  It says you won't be charged and indeed you'll get the free stand-alone seat reservation without needing to enter any payment details.

Even though it's GWR, this works for any train/route/operator where seat reservations are available including LNER, Avanti, Cross-Country, TransPennine & GWR.  Please let me know if this process changes, or ceases to work.

Tip for seat reservations on LNER trains:   If you want a seat reservation on an LNER train (for example, between London & York, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh) you can also use www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/make-a-reservation , up to 5 minutes before the train leaves its starting station.  The advantage over using gwr.com is that you can choose an exact seat from a seating plan on LNER trains if you make a reservation this way.  You'll need to register for an LNER account during the process, but no payment is necessary, it's free just like gwr.com.  However, gwr.com can reserve seats on any operator, this LNER system can only make reservations on LNER trains.

Or make reservations in person

Simply ask at any staffed station any time up to about 2h before departure, or ideally the day before.  There are always places available, even on the day.

A simple guide to train fares

Anytime, Off-Peak & Advance...  They say train fares are complicated.  But for all practical purposes, there are now just 3 types of fare making it as simple as 1, 2 3.  All the train companies now use the same 3 names for the same 3 types of ticket.  Always confirm the exact restrictions and conditions when you buy your ticket. 

Which train operators & routes can you use ?

People get hung up on there being 20+ different train operators, but it's actually pretty simple.  The government requires train operators to work together as a network, so:

Why are there several 'Anytime' & 'Off-Peak' tickets for my journey, all with different prices?  Unfortunately, online ticket systems don't usually show the ticket routing.  So you might see two 'Anytime' fares from (say) London to Hull, one apparently valid on all the trains, the other only valid on a handful of trains and cheaper than the first one.  The reason is simple, in this case the first one is the 'route any permitted' anytime fare, the other is a cheaper 'route Hull Trains only' anytime fare only valid on Hull Trains' own services.  Similarly, you may find two Anytime or Off-Peak tickets between London & (say) Birmingham, one valid on all trains, the other only on some of the trains.  In this case it's because there are two sets of fares to Birmingham, one set being the 'route any permitted' fares valid on all routes & operators, the second being cheaper 'route High Wycombe' fares valid on all operators but only on the slower route via High Wycombe.  This would be obvious, rather than confusing, if the online systems stated the ticket routing for each fare they showed, but they don't.  The choice between (on the one hand) slower but cheaper and (on the other hand) faster, more frequent but more expensive, is up to you.

Breaking your journey ('stopovers'):  With an Off-Peak ticket you can take an interesting or scenic route and change trains as much as you like without leaving the station, as long as you stay within the time restrictions which apply to your ticket and stick to one of the permitted routes (see below).  However, you can only break your journey (i.e. stop off and leave the station) on the return leg of an Off-Peak return, not on the outward leg of an Off-Peak return, and not at all on an Off-Peak one-way ticket.  With an Anytime one-way or return ticket, there are no time restrictions and you can break your journey anywhere you like along any of the permitted routes.

How are fares set?  Here comes the science bit...  Behind the scenes, fare setting works like this:  Every origin-destination pair (known as a 'flow') is allocated to a particular train operator who has the right and the obligation to set the fares.  This operator is known as the 'Lead Operator' for that flow.  Once the Lead Operator has set the fares, every other operator serving any part of that flow (known as the 'Secondary Operators') are legally obliged to accept those fares for travel on their trains.  As I've said, Advance fares are by definition only valid on one train operator's trains, and both Lead Operators and Secondary Operators are allowed to set Advance fares for their own trains.  In addition Secondary Operators are allowed to set other (more flexible) fare types for their own trains, although only a few choose to do so.  For example, you'll see 'anytime' & 'off-peak' fares from London to Hull routed 'Hull Trains only' set by Secondary Operator Hull Trains, in addition to the main London to Hull 'route any permitted' anytime & off-peak fares set by Lead Operator LNER.  However, Lead Operators are not permitted to set fares which are only valid on their own trains, other than Advance fares, temporary fares & first class fares.  Revenue from the fares set by Lead Operators is shared between all operators serving that route, based on a computer system called ORCATS which models the proportion of passenger miles travelled on each operator.

What are the permitted routes?

The 'permitted routes' for a given origin & destination are set out in a document called the National Routeing Guide.  Don't worry about getting hold of a copy, even ticket clerks can't understand it half the time, just accept that it exists, and its contents have been incorporated into the various journey planning systems such as those used on nationalrail.co.uk, thetrainline.com & raileasy.com.  To give you a flavour of how flexible the permitted routes are:

London Terminals, London R1256, London zone U1...?

BritRail Passes

BritRail provides international visitors to the UK with the freedom to keep to a flexible schedule while traveling throughout British rail’s extensive national network. BritRail’s range of rail passes offers unlimited train trips on each travel day as you journey across England, Scotland and Wales. Choose the BritRail pass that best suits your itinerary and hop on and off the train at exciting destinations like Edinburgh, London and Cardiff! What better way to visit Britain’s historic castles and countless landmarks than by train?

Discover the M-Passes

As the digital answer to rail travel, the M-Pass facilitates seamless travel by downloading your pass to your phone. With flexible and consecutive options to choose from, the M-Pass is easily scanned at the train station to start your journey. Once your purchase has been completed, an email will be sent with your activation code. For consecutive M-Passes you must select your first day of use and flexible M-Passes will select their intended dates of use. Flexible M-Pass holders get the added bonus of one free seat reservation for their trip!

Select your pass

Britrail pass, britrail england pass.

BritRail London Plus Pass

BritRail South West Pass

BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass

Popular Passes

The best way to explore England, Scotland and Wales is with a BritRail pass, allowing for unlimited train travel on Britain’s National Rail Network! Journey to popular cities throughout Britain while enjoying scenic views of England’s rolling hills, Scottish highlands and Welsh National Parks.

If you’re visiting England, your best bet to travel around the nine distinct regions of this beautiful country is by train. Enjoy coastal destinations like Brighton and vibrant cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool & beyond!

The BritRail South West Pass will bring you to cities in England such as London, Bath, Oxford, and popular destinations along the coast from Plymouth to Penzance! You can also visit Swansea and Cardiff in Wales making this the perfect pass to discover the southwestern region of Britain today!

Travelling the UK with a BritRail Pass

The Train Hacker

Saving You Money on Train Travel

Train Discount Codes 2024: Cheap Tickets & Rail Passes

Save money on rail travel with the latest offers and train discounts. I’ve found the latest promotions on train tickets, rail passes and holidays in Britain, Europe and worldwide.

Let’s dive straight in!

Train Discounts 2024 and Deals: Quick Links

• Britain : Train Tickets, Railcards, Sleeper Trains, Airport Trains & Rail Passes
• Europe : Rail Passes, Train Tickets, Tours & Holidays
• Japan : JR Pass, Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets & Tours
• Worldwide : Rail Tours & Holidays

Britain: Cheaper Train Tickets, Railcards and Rail Passes

Get the latest 2024 train ticket codes and deals on rail travel in Britain, including sleeper and airport trains, Railcards and more.

Cheap train tickets in Britain

Save big with split train tickets.

• 1/3 OFF Railcard Offers
• Sleeper Trains: Berths from £50 London to Cornwall & Scotland
• London Airport Trains: 75% OFF Advance Tickets
• 2for1 Attractions: Save Money on Days Out by Train
• BritRail Pass: 20% OFF Rail Passes in Britain
• Steam Train Experiences in Britain

Get cheaper train tickets in Britain when you follow these steps.

1. Avoid booking fees and card charges

Don’t pay unnecessary booking fees and card charges! Most (if not all) train ticket websites have hidden costs you don’t need to pay.

Buy your tickets from tfw.wales with no fees or charges . They offer train tickets throughout Britain and cheaper fare deals.

2. Book tickets in advance

Book your journey up to 12 weeks in advance for the biggest savings. Advance tickets are the cheapest, but they’re only available on the specific train you’ve booked.

3. Travel at off-peak times

Travelling at off-peak times is more affordable than travelling at any time of day. Off-Peak tickets are available on weekends at any time and outside of morning peak travel times, Monday to Friday from 10am-10.30am onwards (some London trains do not offer Off-Peak tickets during afternoon peak travel times). Book Train Tickets >>

Split ticketing exploits loopholes in Britain’s confusing train ticket system to give you massive savings on fares.

In a nutshell, you book your tickets like usual and get multiple tickets instead of one. In most cases, you don’t need to change trains.

Raileasy offers one of the best split ticket services. Unlike most sellers, you don’t need the hassle of downloading an app to benefit from cheaper fares.

Raileasy Split Tickets

• Split ticketing on Britain’s trains
• Huge savings on trail journeys
• Automatically finds the lowest fares

Raileasy Split Tickets >>

1/3 OFF Railcard offers

Getting a Railcard must be at the top of everyone’s list to save money on train tickets in Britain.

You can get huge savings with 1/3 OFF adult and 60% OFF child tickets. Check out these National Railcards:

• 16-17 Saver Railcard – 50% OFF tickets and season tickets for 16 and 17-year-olds
• 16-25 Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for young adults aged 16 to 25, and mature students
• 26-30 Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for people aged 26 to 30
• Disabled Persons Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for people with disabilities and one travelling companion
• Family & Friends Railcard – 1/3 OFF adult and 60% OFF child train tickets
• Network Railcard – 1/3 OFF adult and 60% OFF child train tickets travelling in London and the South East
• Senior Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for people aged 60 and over
• Two Together Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for two people travelling together

Sleeper trains from £25.50

Britain has two sleeper train services connecting London to destinations in Scotland and Cornwall. They’re two of the most popular places to visit in the UK and renowned for their beauty.

Caledonian Sleeper: London to Scotland from £50

• London to/from Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Scottish Highlands (Fort William & Inverness) & Aberdeen
• Sleeper berths from £90 & seats from £50
• Railcard & other discounts available

Caledonian Sleeper Offers >>

Discover more about London to Scotland night train services and get the latest Caledonian Sleeper discounts .

Night Riviera: London to Cornwall from £25.50

• London to/from Penzance, Truro, Cornwall & South West England Sleeper berths from £84 (for two) & seats from £25.50
• 50% OFF kids discount on Sleeper Advance fares

GWR Night Riviera Offers >>

Save Up to 75% on London Airport Trains

Travel hassle-free after your flight to London and book your onward train journey in advance. With savings up to 75%, it’s a smarter way to go.

Up to 75% OFF Heathrow Express: Heathrow Airport to London

The Heathrow Rail link connects Heathrow Airport to London Paddington Station. Trains run every five minutes and the journey time to London Paddington from each terminal is:

• Terminals 2 & 3 – 15 mins
• Terminal 5 – 21 mins
• Terminal 4 – take the connecting train to terminals 2 & 3

Save up to 75% when you buy tickets online in advance. And take advantage of their train discount codes, and children under 15 travel FREE.

Plus, there are no booking fees or card charges.

75% OFF Heathrow Express

• Exclusive online offer
• Book 90 days in advance for the cheapest fares
• The earlier you book, the more you save!
• Kids travel FREE!

75% OFF Heathrow Express >>

25% OFF for Two Adults

• For two adults travelling together
• Save money with Duo Saver tickets
• Discount code: DUOSAVER

25% OFF Heathrow Express >>

1/3 OFF Group Saver

• Save money with groups of 3+ adults
• Buy direct for the best prices
• Discount code: 3RDOFF

1/3 OFF Heathrow Express >>

Tip: The Heathrow Express is fast and efficient, but London is a big city with many transport options and costs. The new Elizabeth Line or other trains, tube (underground) or buses may be better for you. Also, airport taxis from London Heathrow are excellent value for small groups.

The London Travel Planner will help you plan your journey.

10% OFF Gatwick Express: Gatwick Airport to London Victoria

The Gatwick Express Express takes 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport Station to London Victoria Station. Trains run regular, and it’s the fastest service.

Book online and get 10% OFF , and you’ll find more ways to save.

Tip: The Gatwick Express has more luggage storage than standard trains. However, there are cheaper ways to travel to London Victoria on regular trains that take from 32 minutes.

And depending on your final destination, regular trains cost less and are often quicker. For example, Gatwick Airport to London Bridge takes 28 minutes. Travelling to London Waterloo requires one change at Clapham Junction.

Buy tickets for regular trains with no booking fees or credit charges. Or, an airport taxi from Gatwick Airport may be better for small groups.

Stansted Express: Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street

The Stansted Express is the fastest way to travel from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street. Trains take 45 minutes and leave every 15 minutes.

Get up to 60% OFF when you buy tickets in advance with fares from £7.

Stansted Express: 60% OFF Advance Tickets

• Exclusive online offers
• Save with WebDuo for two people
• EXTRA 33% OFF for groups

60% OFF Stansted Express >>

Britain: Save money on days out by train with 2for1 attraction offers

If you travel by train, forget getting tickets to top attractions in Britain anywhere else Days Out Guide. With 2for1 on attractions in Britain, you’ll save a fortune on days out, especially with families.

How about getting 2for1 entry to London attractions like the London Eye, ZSL London Zoo, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon? And 2for1 offers in Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Brighton and the rest of Britain?

Days Out Guide: 2for1 Attractions in Britain

• Cheaper days out by train
• 2for1 attractions when you travel by train
• 2for1 London attractions
• Huge savings on days out in Britain

Days Out Guide: 2for1 Deals >>

Britain: 50% OFF BritRail passes and FREE kids

Save money on BritRail passes with discounts for young adults, over-60s and families, and FREE kids travel. BritRail offers a range of passes in 2024 to suit your travel needs.

All Britain or by area? : Choose from all of Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), England, London and South East England, South West England or Scotland.

Consecutive or flexible?: Choose from up to 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, 22 days and 1 month consecutive days. Or, up to 2, 3, 4 or 8 days in 1 month, or 15 days in 2 months flexi passes.

Travel class? Choose from Standard or First class travel.

Britrail Passes: Up to 50% OFF

• Cheapest BritRail passes
• 20% OFF Youth (aged 16 to 25)
• 15% OFF Senior (aged 60 or over) passes
• FREE & 50% OFF child passes
• 20% OFF for groups of 3 to 9 people

Britrail Pass offers >>

Note: BritRail Passes are for non-UK residents only.

Britain: Steam Train Experience Days

Give your loved one the perfect gift with a steam train experience day in Britain this year. Choose from:

• Luxurious days out with fine dining on the British Pullman or Northern Belle
• The ultimate experience, ride the footplate and fire the engine
• Behind the-scenes railways days
• Cream teas while riding a steam train

Buyagift: Steam Train Experiences

• Sale Offers
• Steam train experience days in Britain
• Ride the footplate

Buyagift Steam Experience Days >>

Red Letter Days: Steam Train Experiences

• Steam train experience days throughout Britain
• Drive a steam train & behind the scenes

Red Letter Days Steam Experience Days >>

Europe: Rail Passes, Train Tickets, Tours and Holidays

Travelling to Europe by train? Save money with discount codes, promotions and deals for travel in 2024.

Europe: Rail Passes

Rail passes in Europe are a great way to explore the Continent. With unlimited train travel, they’re an excellent choice for freedom-seekers and often work out cheaper than tickets. Eurail now offers a much simpler selection of passes with all Europe or one-country options.

Interrail is for European residents and Eurail for non-European residents .

25% OFF Interrail Passes

• 23% OFF Youth & 10% OFF Senior Interrail passes
• FREE travel for kids
• Explore 40,000 destinations in 31 countries
• Travel up to 11 months later

25% OFF Interrail >>

25% OFF Eurail Passes

• Unlimited train travel in 31 countries
• FREE kids travel
• Travel up till 11 months later

Eurail Offers >>

Find out more about Interrail and Eurail rail passes.

Europe: Cheap Train Tickets – Rail Europe v Trainline v Klook

Rail Europe (formerly Loco2) , Trainline and Klook sell train tickets in Europe. All ticket providers offer up-to-date deals. In my research, I’ve found prices vary greatly depending on the journey!

And of course, then there are booking fees:

Rail Europe (formerly Loco2) : £4.95, €5.95 or $5.95 depending on the currency you book in. There are no booking fees on spending under £15/€15/$15. The fee is only charged once per order.

Trainline : No booking fees for journeys with SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, Eurostar, Thalys, Trenitalia, Thello, Italo, Renfe, OUIGO, and OUIBUS. Booking fees apply for trips with SBB, SNCB, NS, ÖBB, DSB & ČD; however, Trainline does not tell you how much they are!

Klook : No booking fees.

But unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward as ticket prices and journeys differ significantly. You’ll have to compare the overall costs if you’re looking for cheap train tickets in Europe.

I recommend you try Rail Europe (formerly Loco2) first and compare it against Trainline and Klook .

Europe: Rail tours and holidays

Enjoy the romance of Europe by rail on a tour or holiday in 2024/2025. Grab yourself a deal with these discounts.

Tour Radar: 20% OFF Europe Rail Tours

• Winter deals!
• Up to 20% discounts on 2024 & 2025 rail tours in Europe
• Choose one or multiple countries
• Huge selection and best prices

20% OFF Europe Rail Tours >>

Japan: JR Pass, Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets and Tours

Get the latest discounts and offers on JR Passes. Now you can buy Shinkansen bullet train tickets before you arrive in Japan! Also, check out Shinkansen bullet train tours from Tokyo to Mt Fuji, Hakone and Kyoto.

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass is a must for visitors travelling around Japan by train. It’s an excellent value way to get around the country quickly in comfort.

Japan Rail Pass: Discounts

• US$5 OFF discount
• Compare prices and offers
• Worldwide delivery
• Lowest prices on JR Passes

JR Pass + FREE Guide Offer >>

Japan Shinkansen bullet train tickets, regular tickets and rail passes

Shinkansen bullet train tickets.

The ‘Shinkansen’ bullet train is fast, clean, efficient and has excellent service. For a hassle-free trip, buy your Shinkansen bullet train tickets before you leave. In Japan, simply scan the QR code on your confirmation email to board your Shinkansen.

Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets >>

Japan rail tours and holidays

Japan is packed full of unique places to see, and for some people, it’s easier to take a tour. Check out the discounts I’ve found on Japan rail tours.

Shinkansen Bullet Train Tours from Tokyo

• Tokyo to Kyoto & Nara: 1 to 3-day tours
• Tokyo to Mt. Fuji & Hakone day tour
• Save money with combined train + hotels

Shinkansen Bullet Train Tours >>

Tour Radar: 60% OFF Japan Rail Tours

• Up to 60% discounts on 2024 & 2025 Japan rail tours

60% OFF Japan Rail Tours >>

G Adventures: Japan Rail Tours Sale

• Online Sale!
• Big savings on trips between 6 and 16 days
• Rail tours for people of all ages and families

Japan Rail Tours Sale >>

Worldwide: Rail Tours & Holidays

Big savings on 2024 and 2025 rail tours and holidays around the world.

Tour Radar: 20% OFF Worldwide Train Tours

• Winter Deals!
• Up to 20% discounts on rail tours

20% OFF Worldwide Rail Tours >>

I hope you’ve found my round-up of 2024 train discount codes and ways to save money on rail travel useful.

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Over 20 million people in Great Britain can save with one of our Railcards. Which one will you get?

16-25 Railcard

For those aged 16-25, save a 1/3 off rail fares for days out, seeing family and friends and even festivals!

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For two named people travelling together, get an average annual saving of £129 plus special partner discounts!

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If you have a disability that makes travelling by train difficult, you may qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard

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Valid for those aged 26-30. For just £30, save 1/3 on most rail fares to travel across Britain for a year!

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Children aged 5-15 get 60% discount on kids fares! Up to four adults and four children can travel on one card.

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For those travelling in the South East, aged 16 or over. Get an average annual saving of £191 plus partner discounts.

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Need help? Find out everything you need to know about purchasing, using and renewing your Railcard.

How do I renew my Railcard online?

If you bought your Railcard online, you will be able to renew it when it is within 30 days of the expiry date.

Railcards bought at a train station cannot be renewed online.

What is the digital Railcard download code?

If you bought a digital Railcard, you will need a download code to add your Railcard to your Railcard app.

Your digital Railcard download code will be sent to your registered email address after purchase. You can also generate a new download code by logging into your account.

How do I get cheap train tickets?

With a Railcard you can get 1/3 off the price of most train fares.

This guide contains ways to get cheap train tickets, including getting the most out of your Railcard, finding promotions and booking in advance.

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Save up to 70% on your ticket

When you book 12 weeks in advance

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When you book directly with Avanti West Coast, you’ll enjoy no booking fees, as well as plenty of ways to get cheap train tickets. From travelling Off-Peak to saving on train fares with Railcards, Avanti West Coast offers train tickets at excellent prices.

Book your train tickets early and save up to 70%

Save up to 70% of the ticket price when you book 12 weeks in advance and up to 42% when you book 8 weeks in advance. The earlier you buy your tickets, the more you can save on train fare prices.

How to get cheap train tickets

Here are 9 ways to find cheap train fares and save money on your journey .

1. Book early: The earlier you book your tickets, the more you can save on train fare prices. Book 8 weeks in advance you could save 42% of the ticket price, and you could even save up to 70% when you book 12 weeks in advance .

2. Join Club Avanti: Get 10% off your next journey when you join Club Avanti. You’ll also get rewards like free train tickets, 10% off food and beverages and a free hot drink.

3. Get Ticket Alerts: Be the first to know when the tickets you want go on sale. Tickets are usually available up to 12 weeks ahead of time.

4. Use a Railcard: Save up to 1/3 on rail travel. Save on regular journeys. Popular Railcards include the 16-17 Saver, 16-25 Railcard, 26-30 Railcard, Family & Friends Railcard, Network Railcard, Senior Railcard, and Two Together Railcard.

5. Travel Off-Peak: Travel outside of rush hour to save on full ticket prices. As long as you’re happy to travel at Off-Peak times, these tickets allow you to keep your plans flexible.

6. Book with Avanti:  Book using the Avanti website or Avanti App to get cheap train tickets with no booking fee. 

7. Buy a Season Ticket: If you make the same journey three or more times a week, you may be able to save with a Season Ticket. You can choose between a 7-day, Monthly, Annual or Custom Season Ticket.

8. Save with family train tickets or group train tickets:  If you’re travelling with family or friends, cut travel costs with family or group fares. Plus, children under five can travel for free.

9. Use Journey Planner: With the Journey Planner, you can find the best fares for the train tickets available for your journey.

Top Tips for Getting Cheap Train Tickets

Travel Off-Peak

Save money by travelling at quieter Off-Peak times.

Book in Advance

Sign up for Advance ticket alerts and get notified when you're tickets are available to book.

Book direct

Book direct with Avanti West Coast via the website or app and we won’t charge booking fees

Get a Railcard

Save money on every journey with a Railcard that works for you.

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• Rail passenger experience

The Great British Rail Sale returns: discounts on over a million rail tickets

Discounted rail ticket prices will apply to journeys between 30 January and 15 March 2024 across England and Wales.

• the week-long sale starts on 23 January 2024, slashing rail ticket prices on many routes over 6 weeks
• comes as government seeks to reform the railways and bring more passengers back to the rail network
• offers on journeys on thousands of popular routes across England and Wales

Passengers will have from 23 to 29 January 2024 to claim up to 50% off selected advance and off-peak rail tickets, through the Great British Rail Sale.

Over a million discounted tickets will be available to destinations across England and Wales, as well as on cross-border trips into Scotland, for journeys taking place between 30 January and 15 March 2024.

Whether it’s a city break, family holiday or countryside escape, passengers are encouraged to make the most of this sale to get to popular destinations across the country.

Popular journeys passengers could claim savings* on tickets for include:

The government is committed to helping families with the cost of living, and working with industry to offer up to half-price rail tickets will not only boost tourism and encourage sustainable travel but also help connect friends and families across the UK.

This follows a  significant intervention to cap this year’s rail fare increase at 4.9% , considerably below the 9% July’s retail price index (RPI) figure on which they are historically based.

This comes as the government delivered its commitment to halve inflation by the end of last year – helping to keep travel costs lower in the long term.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

The return of the Great British Rail Sale is good news for passengers, following the success of the previous sale which saw passengers benefit from around £7 million in savings on their travel costs. With discounts on more than a million tickets, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to connect with friends and family and explore great destinations across the country – I hope passengers make the most of this sale and choose to travel by rail.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said:

Train travel is the greenest way to explore our towns and cities as well as connect with your family and friends because nothing beats being there in person for those special moments. Following the success of the Great British Rail Sale in 2022, we are really excited that it’s coming back, and customers will be able to once again purchase over a million advance ticket fares starting on 23 January 2024 and enjoy what rail has to offer.

The Great British Railways Transition Team ( GBRTT ) estimate that the first Great British Rail Sale in 2022 saw passengers save around £7 million on rail tickets and encouraged around 70,000 adults who had not travelled by train since the COVID-19 pandemic to take a trip.**

The government and industry are, therefore, launching a second Great British Rail Sale to save passengers money and get more people using our railways.

The Great British Rail Sale is just one way the government is seeking to improve rail passengers’ experience, with London North Eastern Railway ( LNER ) launching a pilot scheme for simpler fares earlier this week, removing the complex web of ticket types and replacing them with options that are simpler, more flexible and better suit passengers’ needs.

Suzanne Donnelly, Passenger Revenue Director at GBRTT , said:

I’m delighted the rail industry has, once again, come together to deliver another huge round of savings on tickets for passengers. At GBRTT , we are focused on driving initiatives that will boost the number of rail journeys people make to reduce the cost of running the railway for taxpayers, whilst providing value for money for customers. The Great British Rail Sale is just one example of what can be achieved through a one railway, joined-up approach.

Sale tickets will start to become available from midnight on 23 January 2024. The Rail Delivery Group will host a central webpage, helping customers find the best deals. Tickets can also be found on all ticket retailer websites for journeys taking place between 30 January and 15 March 2024. Only a limited number of tickets are available, and no further sale tickets will go on offer once sold out.***

Operators are not offering sale tickets on days when their services might be impacted by the strikes announced by ASLEF on 15 and 18 January 2024.

* The savings quoted are against a typical advance purchase ticket, as these tickets vary in price the exact savings may be more or less compared to what a passenger usually purchases.

** Estimate is based on survey data from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and scaled using YouGov data.

*** Travel periods may differ across operators, with few or no tickets available on days impacted by industrial action. More tickets will be made available on days unaffected by industrial action.

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I love this UK Train travel...any eurorail like deals over a two week period where I only travel super off peak?

12 replies to this topic

I doubt it as there is no such thing as ‘eurorail’ as far as I am aware.

If you are thinking of Eurail then perhaps tell us what deals you think they offer so we can advise.

If you are thinking of the Eurail Pass then the UK does offer various options of the BritRail Pass starting at 3 days travel as well as All Line Rovers for 7 and 14 days; I’m not sure I’d call them deals unless you are planning on lots of travel each day. I guess you could also buy a Eurail Pass and use it only in the UK, can’t imagine that would save you money though.

Stick with Advance Fares when you can or Off Peak/Super Off Peak when you can’t or maybe look to see if Split Tickets can save you a little.

Here’s some more reading for you that explains a lot about train travel in Britain.

https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-britain.htm

If you want a really good deal the way to get it depends on the journey and requires some study of maps and timetables. For example, yesterday I travelled from Eastbourne to Bristol. After some digging around, I booked a very cheap advance ticket from Brighton to Trowbridge via Southampton and then a simple single ticket from Trowbridge to Bristol. The system insisted I should travel via London on an advance ticket to Bristol, which I ddn't want to to as (a) it is expensive and (b) would mean dragging a suitcase around the London underground. Then I bought a separate ticket Eastbourne to Brighton, strung the three together as it were and off I went. Simple changes of train, no steps, no problem - other than an extra hour needed because of cancellations due to strikes - which are ongoing.

There are some regional rail passes, most of which are not valid before 0900 or 0930 on weekdays.

georgetravel,

How long are you in the UK for?

Will you be going back to Buffalo or heading on to Europe...?

Railcards are maybe the closest thing to a Eurail type deal in the UK

http://railcard.co.uk/

Just remembered there's the Britrail pass as well

https://www.britrail.com/britrail-passes/britrail-pass/

I'm thinking NEXT time I come...I used the trains plenty...think the key is advance booking...I put myself in high purchase situuations

Yep, walk up rail ticket prices can be eye watering.

A while back I did London to Liverpool on an Advance fare for £13 each way. One way walk fares were all over the place with some as high as almost £200 in standard class.

There are lots of strategies that can be used to get a better deal on UK trains. These include Advance fares, Rovers/Rangers, railcards, split ticketing passes for international visitors and combinations of those.

As noted, the best approach will depend on individual travel plans.

When you are ready to buy rail tickets in the UK use http://www.nationalrail.co.uk - if you leave it until 12 weeks before our date of travel, you'll see the cheaper, but inflexible, "Advance" tickets available.

To check your eligibility for any of the various railcard that are available, see http://www.railcard.co.uk - most of them cost £30, but will give you a 1/3rd discount on off peak fares.

There are some real oddities in UK train pricing - couple of examples:

1 - If you want an off peak return ticket from Norwich to Grantham (about 2 hours direct)- you have to get a period return which costs £61.30

but if traveling from Norwich to Heckington, changing at Grantham, and an extra 30 minutes from Grantham, you can get an off peak day return for just over £29...

We also have the situation where an off peak period return from Norwich to Heckington is almost 3 * the price of a off peak day return/day single!

2- Norwich to Birmingham off peak return via peterborough - is £112

norwich to peterborough off peak return = £35

peterborough to birmningham off peak return = £48

saving almost £30!

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Money latest: Prepayment meters now have cheapest default tariff - should you switch?

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter - so should you switch? You can read this and our other weekend features, and leave a comment, below - and check back on Monday for hourly updates on consumer and personal finance news.

Sunday 14 April 2024 17:19, UK

Weekend Money

• How to get cheapest energy bills after price cap tweak most people don't know about
• 'It's cost me £8,000 to get out of an abusive relationship' - Readers respond to divorce story
• How to earn thousands letting film and music stars shoot in your home
• Money news of week: Blow for expats in Spain | Where will Labour get money from? | Shell could quit London

Best of the week

• How your neighbour's garden could wipe up to £57,000 from your house price
• Could I build a home gym for less than my gym membership?
• Britons are buying homes, having babies, getting married and retiring later - but one key life event is happening earlier
• 'WTF is going on with the price of olive oil?'
• Cheap Eats: Great British Menu legend shares ultimate toastie recipe
• Money Problem: The monthly charge on my leasehold flat has gone up by more than £60 a month - what are my rights?

Ask a question or make a comment

Looking for some longer Money reads for your evening/commute/lunch break?

Here's four from the last few months you might like...

Cost of a pint

Many of us have noticed the price of pints creeping up in recent years. 

The cost of draught lager has gone up nearly 30% since January 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The beer doesn't taste any different despite the increase in price - so where exactly does that £6-7 for a pint go? 

We've spoken to experts to get a break down...

Motherhood penalty

The word "penalty" isn't one that should go hand-in-hand with motherhood. But deep-rooted structural inequalities are causing women to save less for retirement when they become parents.

Mothers face a pension penalty of up to £183,000 by taking time out of work to raise children, according to analysis by the pensions and investment company Royal London...

A survey has revealed the energy gripes that cause the most arguments in British households...

Quitting your job to go travelling

You could be forgiven for feeling a twinge of jealousy when you see someone packing it all in to go travelling for a few months. 

Perhaps it's made you wonder if you could do the same thing yourself. 

Of course, it won't be realistic for everyone and the reality is it takes a lot of planning and saving. For many people during the cost of living crisis, it's simply not possible to save much, if at all.

But if you're wondering where to begin (and how much you might need to save), we've got some advice from two travel bloggers who have been there and done that...

By Brad Young, Money team

Earning up to £60,000 a year for letting Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith play with Lego in the living room might sound farfetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the shoot locations industry. 

But every star, studio or big brand that wants to film in a residential property needs someone willing to offer up their home for the day - and they'll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and shooting agencies have spoken with the Money team about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to take advantage of this niche income stream. 

Among them was Ed Reeve, a photographer from Hackney, who has had stars such as David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Broadbent walk through his doors in the 17 years he's been renting out his home. 

"It has been a really positive experience on the whole for us. Generally, the shoot crews are really lovely people and they're very respectful of your home," said Mr Reeve, who is registered with location agency 1st Option.

He hosts between 12 and 20 productions a year. Most bring in £1,000 for a one-day shoot, but some earn him up to £3,000 per day or last multiple days.

"We've met lots of interesting people," said Mr Reeve, including Gillian Anderson, who stars in Sex Education, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

After Stormzy filmed a music video, Mr Reeves said that "every grime artist wanted to shoot here".

David Attenborough once turned up early for a BBC shoot, resulting in the pair sitting down for a cup of tea and Mr Reeve introducing his three-day old daughter to the presenter.

"He held her and looked at her with delight... it was a really special moment," said Mr Reeve. 

Shoots can result in scratches around the interior, but Mr Reeve said he uses some of the money to redecorate – or in one case, let a Delux advert do it for him. 

'It's never free money'

Less enthusiastic about the industry was Emer Stamp, 48, a children's author from London, who has hosted for two years.

"You think, 'Oh yeah, my house is going to be rocking', and everyone comes round and goes 'Your house will be perfect', but for whatever reason, it's not.

"My takeout is it's not as easy to make money as you think."

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen for three productions, including a Dell shoot and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, earning her approximately £6,000. 

Hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of production companies – and sometimes they may not show up, said Ms Stamp.

"Like anything, you think it's free money but it's never free money."

So what does make a location popular? 

Becky Butler, managing director at agency Location Collective, said there is demand for average-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features. 

And while a lot of the homes listed by location agencies look expensive, that was far from a deal-breaker. 

"All the practical side of things are as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of the location," said Ms Butler.

Parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment goes a long way with clients.

Getting the combination right can create "a fantastic additional income stream", said Jennifer Marshall, of Shootfactory, which has connected homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve. 

"We have properties that through our company have earned anywhere between £20,000 and £60,000 a year."

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Both Ms Marshall and the team at Location Collective said having a neighbour willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This might mean a second house on the same street for a TV show, or simply somewhere to house the production team.

"Being able to let them pretty much take over is quite key. Sometimes they might have demands like painting or moving furniture," said Lily Gonnissen, head of business development at Location Collective. 

Being quick to respond to questions, contactable during the working day, and able to accommodate viewings at short notice was a top priority, said Ms Gonnissen. 

"Be friendly and welcoming - brands remember a good owner," said a spokesperson for 1st Option: "And make sure the house is clean and clutter free before any shoots."

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter.

It follows the energy price cap update to unit rates and standing charges from 1 April.

Uswitch data shows 56% of households don't know about the change.

What do you need to know?

Prepayment meters have traditionally been a more expensive way of paying for energy - but now prepayment standing charges have been lowered to match those for direct debit customers.

Because prepay units are cheaper, people with these meters should pay around £47 less a year than those on direct debits (£1,643 versus £1,690).

Customers who pay when they get a bill are forking out the most - around 5.8p more per day on the standing charge than those with direct debits.

Should we all get prepayment meters?

As energy costs come down, suppliers like EDF Energy have now started offering fixed deals lower than the price cap - and as things stand these are the cheapest options for many.

Eon Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% below whatever the price cap is for a year.

There can be catches if you want to leave these fixed deals (though Octopus doesn't charge them) - so make sure you do your research.

How many people have prepay meters?

The number of prepayment meters has fallen almost 8% from the peak in 2019, but there's still more than seven million gas and electricity units in action.

In total, 195,503 prepayment meters were installed in 2023.

Are people swapping?

Uswitch has some research that says young people (18 to 34) are far more likely to go for prepay meters - 51% would consider it, compared with 5% of over-55s.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Prepayment meters have got a bad reputation among some households, but changes to the price cap mean that their default tariffs are now cheaper than standard credit meters.

"With prepayment meters, you pay for your energy before you use it, and while there are emergency provisions, it does mean it is possible to be cut off if you have not put enough money into your account. 

"This means that younger consumers and vulnerable people are at greater risk of disconnecting themselves from their energy supply when money is tight.

"Direct debits also allow consumers to spread out their costs evenly throughout the year, meaning bills won't rise significantly in the winter when energy usage is highest."

We've had a mixed mailbag of comments this week - with readers getting in touch about pensions, tipping and divorce among other things.

Following this feature on divorce costs last weekend...

...we had dozens of comments...

So many people must be trapped in abusive relationships. A loan has helped me get away - covering legal costs, paying the bills/mortgage on marital home whilst being unable to stay and finding thousands for a rental. Costs so far about £8k - only one year in and at decree nisi. H

Since broken families are ever more common why isn't the government doing something to help divorcees get back on the housing ladder like first-time buyers are? Countless thousands, despite having the income, are doomed to rent expensive family homes. Men especially! Twice Divorced Of Surrey

Trust me, it costs a whole lot more than £30k, stay away from solicitors, work through it yourself. Toby

When one party will not communicate with the other, this makes the process much more expensive. Around £80k in solicitors and barrister fees. Vbkinguk

Another story that cut through was London restaurant chain Ping Pong scrapping tips - months before new legislation will require restaurateurs to give staff 100%.

Readers don't seem impressed...

Best thing employees and customers can do is boycott them. Just goes to show what they actually think of their staff. Dave

I don't want to eat somewhere that doesn't look after its employees. Jack

I'm sure patrons and staff will vote with their feet! How disgraceful to remove tips, probably as the owners aren't getting any cut of their staff's hard work! Elijah

We've reported extensively on the rise to the state pension this month - including how, due to frozen income tax thresholds, more pensioners will be dragged into paying income tax. Chris seems to be one of those impacted...

I deferred taking my state pension for five years to hopefully boost my pension, because I happened to be the last group of people to get the old state pension. Unfortunately because of the tax band freeze any benefit from the pension uplift is being eroded every year, is this fair? Chris

And finally, on Monday we suggested a cheaper way to buy herbs and spices in the supermarket - by using the world food aisle...

We had this comment...

Best money-saving practice for herbs and spices is to source them at Asian stores - not supermarkets! Pip

Spain is planning to scrap a "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least €500,000 (around £429,000) in Spanish real estate - without taking out a mortgage - a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

In better news for Britons who hope to live abroad, Italy is allowing non-EU citizens who can work remotely to apply for a year-long "digital nomad" visa.

There's a few salary/reference based criteria to meet - read about them here...

Labour this week tried to address questions over how it would pay for key pledges  after the Tories used their idea of scrapping the non-dom status to fund a national insurance cut.

Labour had been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves this week announced the party's plan to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour said it would raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It would also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

The government responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan  told Bloomberg  that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

UK lenders have seen a rise in defaults on mortgages and credit cards - with the trend expected to continue in the coming months, according to a survey.

A poll of banks and building societies by the Bank of England reveals lenders reported higher default rates on secured loans and unsecured lending in the three months to the end of February.

The rates for mortgages, credit cards and other loans, as well as loans to small to medium businesses, are all expected to rise in the next quarter.

The BoE carries out the survey every quarter as part of its role to maintain financial stability.

It also revealed increased demand for borrowing, with this also expected to climb during the three months to the end of May.

Karim Haji, global and UK head of financial services at KPMG, said the latest BoE data suggests "a more positive economic outlook hasn't fed through to household finances yet".

"Defaults across all unsecured lending increasing over the same three-month period indicates many people are still struggling to meet their day-to-day costs. Lenders will need to be vigilant and continue to offer support for borrowers in the interim," he said.

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Poor software and bias toward making only small, sequential changes is one of the reasons economic forecasters at the Bank of England failed to predict and prepare for the cost of living crisis, brought about by high inflation, according to a "once in a generation" review.

The review announced last year was undertaken by the former head of the US central bank, known as the Fed, and said the quality of the Bank's economic expectations "deteriorated significantly in the past few years" due to out of date software and "excessive incrementalism".

Though the "unusually large forecasting errors" were said to be "probably inevitable", according to the review, conducted by Dr Ben Bernanke.

The problem was not unique to the Bank, rather something all central banks and private forecasters suffered from, it said.

Read the full story here...

After the UK airports with the worst delays were revealed earlier today (see post at 1.15pm), we've been looking at your rights.

If you're unlucky enough to get stuck at an airport due to a flight delay, you may wonder if you're entitled to any compensation.

The good news is you may be - in certain circumstances.

First, it's important to know what flights are covered by consumer law. These are: 

• Any flight leaving a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK/EU airline arriving at a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK airline only arriving at an EU airport

When will I be entitled to help? 

You'll qualify for support if a short-haul flight under 932 miles (1,500km) is pushed back by two hours. 

This rises to three hours for journeys up to 2,175 miles (3,500km).

For long-haul flights going any further than this, four hours or longer counts as a significant delay.

What support will I get?

Under UK law, airlines must give passengers who are affected by a delay of at least two hours:

• A reasonable amount of food and drink (usually provided in the form of vouchers)
• Refunds for the cost of two free phone calls, faxes or emails
• Accommodation for passengers stranded overnight (usually in a nearby hotel)
• Transport to a hotel - or their home

Will I get compensation?

Usually, airlines have to provide compensation if a person's flight arrives more than three hours late.

The exception to this is when there are air traffic control problems or extreme weather, as these issues aren't their fault.

If you agree to travel on a later flight, the airline is no longer obliged to offer food, drink or accommodation while you wait.

Thankfully, you are entitled to a full refund if you decide to abandon your journey after five hours of delays.

The length of your flight affects how much you are entitled to:

• Short-haul flight - £220
• Medium-haul flight - £350
• Long-haul flight - £520 if the flight arrived more than four hours late, £260 for a delay of between three to four hours

What if I'm about to travel?

Transfer passengers who end up missing a connecting flight because their first plane was delayed are entitled to a service back to their original departure point.

But things get a little more complicated for passengers on package holidays - especially if they decide not to travel on a delayed outbound flight.

The CAA's guidance says: "You may lose your holiday too, so we recommend you contact your package organiser or the airline for further information.

"If you still want to travel then your airline must get you to your destination. You might have to be patient while they rearrange transport and rebook passengers, but the law says they must get you there."

What if my flight is cancelled? 

You're entitled to a refund or replacement flight if yours is cancelled. Your rights to assistance are the same as if your flight is delayed.

If the reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control, and it was made with no more than 14 days' notice, then depending on the timings of the new flight offered you could also be entitled to compensation.

You'll be able to claim £110 and £520 depending on the length of the route and timings of the new flight.

Drivers are still feeling the strain of rising insurance premiums - but there are signs of a slowdown, according to one index.

New figures from insights firm Consumer Intelligence suggest the average quoted price of car insurance rose by 56.4% in the year to February.

This was the third-highest annual increase since its records began in 2012 - but in slightly better news for motorists, it marked a lower annual rise than the 67.2% recorded in November.

And there was only a slight rise of 0.5% when looking at the three months to February - the lowest quarterly increased since November 2021.

Drivers most commonly received a quote between £500 and £749 in February, Consumer Intelligence said. It analysed the average of the five cheapest offers from price comparison websites.

Max Thompson, the firm's insurance insight manager, said big insurance brands made "competitive movements" to reduce premiums at the start of the year.

"However, some of this was unwound in February indicating it may have been more of a tactical move than a long-term trend," he added.

Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers, said insurers were "aware of the financial challenges customers are facing" and were working to keep prices affordable.

"Our motor premium tracker is the only collection based on the price customers pay for their policy, rather than quotes, and shows that the average motor premium increased by 25% last year to £543.

"This was largely driven by above inflation increases in the cost of repairs, thefts and replacement cars."

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