New to taking trains in the UK? Not sure how to get the best deal on UK train tickets or how to navigate the stress of UK train stations? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know so that you can conquer the UK train system with confidence!
Be sure to read the written version of this guide for MANY more details & tips: https://happytowander.com/uk-train-travel-guide/
00:00 INTRODUCTION
00:47 A BRIEF INTRO TO THE UK RAIL SYSTEM
1:42 TYPES OF TRAINS IN THE UK
2:50 STEP BY STEP HOW TO TAKE TRAINS IN THE UK (INTRO)
2:54 1) DECIDE IF TRAINS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE
4:22 2) BUY TRAIN TICKETS
6:16 RAILCARD VS NO RAILCARD
7:05 TICKETS VS RAILPASSES
8:18 ADVANCE VS. ANYTIME VS. OFF-PEAK
10:17 SPLIT TICKETS
10:54 1ST VS STANDARD CLASS
11:41 RESERVED VS. UNRESERVED SEATS
12:34 3) BUY SNACKS BEFORE YOUR TRIP
13:26 4) ARRIVE AT THE STATION
14:38 5) GET TO THE PLATFORM
15:50 6) FIND THE RIGHT CARRIAGE
16:35 7) FIND YOUR SEAT
17:27 8) GET COMFY & ENJOY THE JOURNEY
18:12 9) DISEMBARK
HELPFUL LINKS
➡️ (Best Price) Official National Rail Booking Site: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
➡️ (Easiest Interface) Trainline {affiliate link}: http://happytowander.com/trainline
➡️ (Best for Comparing Trains w/ Other Modes of Transport) Omio {affiliate link}: https://happytowander.com/omio
WATCH NEXT – MORE UK TRAVEL VIDEOS:
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhBgvqFcydQ
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euYTatVtC58
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpCYaDgX65w
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzyZwlF85sA
CHRISTINA’S TRAVEL GEAR
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MORE EUROPE VIDEOS:
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➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61RUP1uBinU&
I hope you enjoy this guide on how to take trains in the UK! I cover lots of topics from how to get the best deals on UK train tickets, how seat reservations work on UK trains, how to find the right platform and train carriage, amenities and perks of UK trains, 1st vs standard class on UK trains, the difference between different types of UK trains, and more.
21 Comments
Hey everyone!! Hope you enjoy this week's video about UK train travel. Let me know if you have any questions, and as usual check out the written version for more details/tips: https://happytowander.com/uk-train-travel-guide/
FIRST
Just take a far cheaper flight with Ryanair, Easyjet or BA. Or travel by National Express coach or local bus or Uber or taxi or bicycle or walk!
Might be worth mentioning Eurostar. I know it isn't part of National Rail but it is now the easiest way from London to Paris/Brussels.
Brits love to hate our railways, and it's true that there is a lot to be improved. However, our safety is world class, trains are broadly on time when compared to European neighbours, and they cover most of the country: there's a lot to love. The main issue honestly is price (and a lack of true High Speed rail!)
Don't use the trainline! They will sell you tickets for trains that don't exist, tickets not valid for the service they say it is. They'll split a journey but will tell you to get on a train that doesn't stop at the split, thus invalidating the ticket. They will charge you a fee if you need a refund and the TOC won't be able to do ANYTHING to help with rebooking.
One thing worth noting if your journey involves a ferry within Scotland you can get a combined train and ferry ticket. Also of note it is sometimes cheaper to buy your train ticket through ScotRail or LNER due to promos. Split ticketing can be fun it is possible to go from Glasgow central to London Euston for £4.50
My experience is despite using online and mobile phone apps, using an actual ticket office with real human often will find you an even cheaper deal than what you can find online, I will look at my app, see what I can find then pop down to try the station to see if they can find anything cheaper. Peak and off-peak tickets no longer exist in Scotland, the Scottish government who own ScotRail removed all Peak tickets. Living in Inverness I use standard class unless I’m going to Edinburgh for the day I will use LNER First Class as this includes hot freshly cooked breakfast on way down, snacks, cold drinks, teas and coffee. Coming back up including hot freshly cooked dinner, again snacks, cold and hot drinks.
Interesting video and I’m English but haven’t travelled by train for at least 20 years and that was only on a local service between Huddersfield to Leeds, about 15 miles.
I did travel to Germany from Huddersfield by train as a teenager and used them for a few times to explore the Solingen area.
I’m froom Yorkshire and we are careful with our money, it’s said we’re Scots with the generosity gene removed, so have never thought First Class was worth the money.
On that subject one of your You Tube fellow contributors is doing several videos on First Class travel and if it’s worth the extra money as regards the extras.
He posts as Planes, Trains, Everything, definitely worth a look for you.
The deal with split tickets as I understand it (I'm a railway worker but as with all things British, it's complicated) is: it's to do with the way that responsibility for setting fares was divided up when British Rail was privatised in the mid 1990s. E.g., company 1 has responsibility for setting the fare between station A and station C, whilst company 2 has responsibility for setting the fare between stations A and B, and between stations B and C, even if both companies' trains stop at station B on their way. As such the fare from A to C bought in one transaction may be different from the sum of the fares from A to B and B to C. Why? As with all things British, it's complicated.
As someone who's been driving in the UK for 35 years, there's no way that I would drive into London. Hire cars are fine if you're in the countryside outside the big cities, but not a good choice within a conurbation.
EDIT: if you're travelling on local lines, Anytime tickets are sometimes the only ticket available. Also, local Anytime tickets are often not excessively expensive (unlike on long-distance trains).
With Off-peak tickets, you really need to check the rules for when they're not valid. For instance, from the same station you can have different periods of validity for different destinations. So for instance, a Leeds to Skipton Off-peak day return is valid after 09:30, but not in the evening peak between 16:00 and 18:30, but a Leeds to Settle (a station a bit further down the line) Off-peak is valid any time from 09:00 with no evening peak black-out. And some trains from Leeds serve both Skipton and Settle!
Day return tickets (where the return journey has to be made the same day as the outward journey) are often not much more expensive than the equivalent single, so you save a lot by using these if you're having a day trip out.
Many local trains don't have first class.
A tip if travelling on TransPennine, especially between Manchester and Leeds: a LOT of reservations often aren't used, because the trains run several times per hour, and passengers can get an earlier train than expected. So if you see a seat reserved from an earlier station that isn't occupied, you will probably be OK to sit on it (unless the passenger has gone to the loo).
Yet another highly informative and useful video Christina, with a lot of topics and options covered. Loved this one. The many times I've been in the UK as a visitor, train travel has always been reliable, safe and cost effective. I've never really had a bsd train experience. So all the information you provide here, is wonderful and timely. Great job.
I normally avoid Trainline as they charge fees (unless a split ticket will give me a significant savings). I normally book through EMR, Cross Country (for advance tickets due to free changes) or Greater Anglia. I also have a 16_25 railcard and spend over £700 a year on train travel, including with the discount (which would be over ~£900 without). Generally if two advances are slightly cheaper than a return, I still do a peak/offpeak return to give the flexibility. This also applies if an off peak ticket is just less than a peak ticket exceot on weekends.
I also avoid times where the railway is closed due to maintenance works and have to take the bus. Sometimes the barriers dont open when I insert my ticket either because they have to check my railcord or because of other reasons. And don't forget to claim refund in case of delays (delay repay)
I work in Customer Services for a UK Train Operating Company (a TOC).
One piece of advice: AVOID TRAINLINE!!! I have a thousand reasons why but the main one is that when something goes wrong they are hopeless at resolving it. Actually I should say that they are bl@@dy useless!
Your call.
If you have a BritRail pass and want to reserve a seat, is there an additional cost? Also how do you go about reserving a seat? Thanks. Great video…
Don't suppose you've got a video for London buses? 😁
I'm going to be staying in London but will have to take a train to Euston for the Harry Potter studio tour and another train (lumo) to go to Edinburgh for a few days.
I’ve been on so many train rides up and down the country especially when going to London. And most of time I’ve experienced good and bad services.
Thank you for mentioning to use the whole platform when boarding. Often people just crowd around the station entrance causing hassle.
I’m English and about to travel 🧳 4 hours 30 mins up north and watched your video to learn how to get a long distance train . Thanks . ❤
Love this video. Taking train from Southampton to Birmingham to connect with Edinburgh. Worried about the connection in Birmingham if there is one. First timers with rail travel.