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Iconic British train journeys

From the earliest steam trains to today’s electric carriages, Britain’s railway has formed a huge part of our culture. With over 150 heritage railways across the nation, it’s no surprise that Britain is steaming ahead with exciting train experiences for you to get stuck into. Whether it’s firing up a steam train for yourself, or dining out in style with iconic scenery aboard the restored 1920s Belmond British Pullman, you’ll find the national full of experiences to get you out onto the tracks. 

A sustainable and exciting way to travel, British trains connect our thriving cities, picturesque villages and some of the country’s most striking and inaccessible autumn and winter scenery. So, what are you waiting for? A journey across British rails will leave you in the midst of adventure.

Enjoy a Great British train journey

VisitBritain/Graham Staples

Go full steam ahead!

The iconic sights, sounds and smells of the steam train, like the North Yorkshire Moors Railway , can still be enjoyed across the country today and will charm historians and train lovers alike.

Lucy Knott Photography

Wake up somewhere new

Stay up late and set up camp in a cosy cabin as you turn your ride into an adventure on a sleeper train. Take the Caledonian Sleeper , Fall asleep in London and wake up in Scotland!

British Pullman, Marisa Davies @tea.from.above

Indulge in fine dining

Whether you’re travelling at lunchtime or fancy an afternoon tea, treat yourself to an on-board fine dining experience. The Belmond British Pullman offers the ultimate dining experience, with a three-course meal and stunning scenery.

VisitBritain/Guy Richardson

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Highlands, Schottland

Get your film fix

Harry Potter fans will want to board The Jacobite – Scotland’s most famous steam train that crosses the large viaduct believed to lead to Hogwarts.

Britain’s most iconic train journeys

The jacobite.

Cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the Hogwart’s Express.

VisitBritain/Alex Nail

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Enjoy a relaxing journey up Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).

VisitBritain/Dave Newbould/Snowdon Mountain Railways

Night Riviera sleeper train

Venture from London to Cornwall overnight.

Caledonian Sleeper

Travel in comfort from London to Scotland overnight.

The Belmond British Pullman

Mix luxury and adventure on travels across Britain.

VisitBritain/North York Moors Railway

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Experience the Cotswolds aboard a heritage steam railway.

Experience the thrill of driving a train for yourself

Great central railway.

Go full steam ahead on the Great Central Railway, driving a steam or diesel train.

Visit Leicester

Leicestershire, England

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Be in control of a diesel train through the Derbyshire Dales.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

Hop aboard for a footplate experience at GWR.

Talyllyn Railway

Get behind a steam engine at the world’s first preserved railway.

Visit Wales

More steam train adventures in Britain

South devon railway.

Take the tracks along Devon’s River Dart on a South Devon Railway Heritage Steam Train Experience day . With both diesel and steam driving experiences on offer, you’ll be leading the way between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, chugging through Devon’s iconic scenery.

North Staffordshire Railway - Foxfield Railway

One of Britain’s oldest heritage steam railways, Foxfield Railway offer steam train driving experiences in North Staffordshire. So, it’s full steam ahead as you fire up the engine and gain insight into how the locomotion operates and how the coal is burnt.

Avon Valley Railway

Opening in 1869, this iconic railway connected Birmingham to the South Coast. Now, experience the railway for yourself as you drive either a steam engine or diesel locomotive and take controls through the countryside.

Plan your trip around Britain

Accessible britain.

Ready for a great British adventure? Welcome to our shores! Find information on accessible transport in Britain and accessible facilities across the UK here.

SolStock/Getty Images

How to see things differently in Britain in 2024

Gastronomic adventures to eco-friendly stays, world-class sports, and brand-new cultural hubs, 2024 is packed with opportunities to see things differently in Britain.

Getty Images/Digital Vision/Flashpop

Travelling around Britain

How to get around once you’re here

VisitBritain/Simon Winnall

Not found what you were looking for?

How to Take the Train in the UK: A Step by Step Guide!

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Boasting the world’s oldest rail system, the state of UK train travel is one of the most contentious topics in the country, perhaps even more so than whether you put jam or cream first on your scone.

There are those who consider it a national disgrace with overinflated prices and far too many disruptions, opting to drive instead. And there are those who adore trains so much they make a hobby of going out to look and wave at them as they pass by.

If you’re coming to the UK as a tourist, there’s no doubt trains are one of the best ways to get around, with over 2500 stations nationwide. I’ve personally used trains as my go-to mode of transport in the UK for the past decade, and while it’s far from flawless and often quite confusing, it’s still a great way to get around.

So, this post will walk you through step by step how to navigate the train system in the UK, from getting the best deal on tickets and how to navigate train stations, all the way to making the most of your journey and what to do after your disembark.

… YES, this guide is thorough, but I hope it’ll help first timers like you take trains in the UK with confidence and ease.

Save this guide on How to Travel the UK by Train for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

A Brief Introduction to the UK Rail System

Let’s start with some basics on taking the train in the UK, which involves over 2500 stations and 15,874km of track!

Rail Providers in the UK

When people talk trains in England, Scotland, and Wales, usually you’ll hear the term National Rail, but what’s important to note is that the National Rail is an umbrella term mainly used for branding and consistency, when in reality it encompasses 20+ train companies, including ScotRail and Transport for Wales.

In Northern Ireland, the rail services are run by a separate company known as Translink that is entirely independent from National Rail.

For the purpose of this post, I’ll be focusing on National Rail specifically, as that’s what I have the most experience in, so if you’re looking for Northern Ireland train tips, then I would recommend heading to the official Translink website to learn more.

Within many cities, you’ll also find companies offering Metro and Tram services that are run independently of National Rail, and therefore have their own ticketing system, like the London Tube for instance which is run by Transport for London (TfL). This is why in most cases, you can’t use your train tickets for local travel.

Lastly, there are several privately owned companies that offer heritage & “experience” trains that are NOT part of the National Rail network. These trains are usually more for the purpose of sightseeing or tourism rather than getting from Point A to Point B.

As the tickets and routes for these trains vary from company to company, I won’t be focusing on them today either. The best resource would simply be that specific train company’s official website!

Now, let’s discuss…

Types of Trains in the UK

Generally speaking, we can classify UK trains under a few broad categories.

Firstly, there are Intercity Trains, high-speed, long-distance services that connect major cities and regions in the UK in a comfortable and fast manner. They are operated by companies like Avanti West Coast, LNER, and CrossCountry, and will usually be more expensive as they have more amenities and on-board services.

There are also Regional Trains , slower, shorter-distance services that connect smaller towns and cities within a specific region. Their routes are typically designed to serve local commuters and travelers making shorter journeys, so these will typically have fewer amenities than Intercity trains. Examples of companies offering this service include Northern Rail or South Western Railway trains.

In larger Metropolitan areas, there may be Local Trains as well that service a smaller region, like the London Overground that covers greater London and its suburbs, or Mersey Rail which connects Liverpool to smaller towns close by.

For select routes, there are also Sleeper Trains . These services allow passengers to travel overnight and wake up in a different city or region. For example, the Caledonian Sleeper offers overnight journeys between London and Scotland.

Lastly as I mentioned before, there are the many privately owned heritage & “experience” trains meant for sightseeing and tourism. Some examples include the Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland, AKA the real life Hogwarts Express or the also magical Swanage Railway.

Now, with the basics covered, let’s go through step by step how to plan a train trip in the UK.

Step One: Decide if Train Travel in the UK is Right for You

First – let’s talk alternatives to train travel in the UK.

I quite enjoy train travel in the UK, but it’s far from flawless, and there are other ways of getting around that may be better suited to your specific trip and priorities.

Overall, I think taking the train in the UK is great if you’re looking for comfort and (depending on the route) scenery.

The downside is however it can be really expensive, especially if you don’t book in advance. It’s also not super convenient if you’re travelling with more than one large suitcase per person as hoisting big bags up and around trains isn’t the most fun… and there can often be delays and cancellations.

A more budget-friendly alternative may be taking buses like National Express or Megabus, booking a ride share on services like BlaBlaCar or sometimes even flights if you’re booking with budget airlines like Ryanair , easyJet and Wizz Air .

Or, if your priority is freedom and getting off the beaten path, it may be worthwhile to rent a car. The UK is relatively small and well connected with highways (called motorways here), so driving between cities doesn’t actually take too long, with the journey between London and Manchester only taking about 4 hours for instance.

Overall, if you’re torn and want to compare all your options at a glance, Omio is a great app that shows you planes, trains, and buses from Point A to Point B. From there, you can gauge whether train travel suits your needs.

If/when you’ve decided you do indeed want to take the train, then we move onto…

Step Two: Buy Your UK Train Tickets

Train tickets in the UK can be purchased online in advance, or in-person at the station from a machine or sometimes from a ticketing window run by a (gasp) actual human.

It’s important to note however that the UK train system rewards you for booking in advance by making a special category of “Advance Tickets ” MUCH cheaper than booking on the day of.

So in any case, I’d advise booking tickets in advance online to minimize stress and secure the best possible deal, either directly through the National Rail website or through a third party website.

NOTE: Some rail providers do not yet provide mobile tickets, which means that buying in advance requires you getting the ticket printed at the station anyway. In these cases, make sure you allow for extra time so you can do that.

Booking direct with National Rail or your specific train company will pretty much always be the cheapest option as they don’t charge extra booking fees, but if you’re planning a big trip with lots of trains or buses in other countries across multiple companies, then a 3rd party like Omio or Trainline might be worth the small booking fee to keep all your tickets in one place. You can read my comparison of the two in my Omio vs Trainline post.

I’m a huge fan of Trainline in the UK because their interface is super simple and there’s a lot of perks like automatically finding cheap split tickets, easy refund/compensation requests, etc. You can also request a ticket alert to find out when tickets go on sale for your specific journey through Trainline here. Read my full Trainline review for more info.

Another alternative is TrainPal, which can also find split tickets but doesn’t charge a booking fee. They’ve also given me a code to share with you – HAPPYTOWANDER for 33% off Railcards & 5% off for EUR/UK rail tickets for new customers and 2% off for existing customers so in this case it might be cheaper than booking directly.

Now, there are a lot of considerations to be made when you go to buy train tickets in the UK. I’ll outline them all now.

First off…

RailCard vs No RailCard

If you are visiting the UK for a longer time, or perhaps plan to use a LOT of public transport in that time, then consider getting a RailCard.

These passes cost you a fixed amount per year but then give you a 1/3 discount on all future rail travel… including the Tube if you link it with your Oyster Card!

There is almost always some kind of discount code that you’ll find which gives you the rail card for something silly like £20. Depending on how many train journeys you are taking, you could probably make those savings back in just a few trips… if not just one!

At the moment, the options for railcards are…

• 16-25 Railcard : 1/3 discount for those aged 16-25
• 26-30 Railcard : 1/3 discount for those aged 26-30
• Senior Railcard (for ages 60+) : 1/3 discount for those aged 60+
• Two Together Railcard : 1/3 discount when travelling with the same person
• Family & Friends Railcard: 1/3 discount on adult train tickets, 60% off children’s tickets
• Disabled Persons Railcard: 1/3 discount for you and a friend
• Veterans Railcard: 1/3 discount for UK military veterans
• Network Railcard (Southeast Only): 1/3 discount for travel in London and the South-East of England

If you plan to travel by train a lot in the UK, consider buying a RailCard that will save you 1/3 off all fares. This is the ultimate money saving hack if you travel often enough, and it can even be linked to an Oyster Card to be used for London Tube journeys!

Buy through TrainPal and you can use the discount code HAPPYTOWANDER to save 33% off your RailCard!

So let’s move onto our next consideration which is…

Standard Tickets vs. Rail Passes

If you are only booking a few train journeys during your time in the UK, the best option is most likely to just buy tickets for the journeys you’re taking.

Generally, the best way to get a deal is just booking early enough to nab an Advance ticket.

Other potential discounts include…

• Age-based discounts: Kids under 5 ride free for instance, and children from 5-15 get 50% off
• Group discounts: Groups of 3-9 adults can get 1/3 off off-peak fares through Group Save

If you can’t book in advance though, a potential cost saver could be a rail pass of some kind.

If you are a tourist (i.e. you don’t live in the UK), you plan on doing frequent trips, particularly day trips, and you need some room for spontaneity and prefer to not book everything in advance, then there are two options.

For travel in a smaller area, some regions offer ‘ Ranger and Rover Tickets’ that give you unlimited travel within a set area and time period. You can browse a full list of those here.

As a tourist however (i.e. someone who isn’t a UK resident), you can also buy a BritRail Pass. 

These passes allow you to pay a set rate for a number of travel days, on which you can take as many trains as you want. I’ve used these in the past and found them to be amazing value if you need spontaneity.

If you are travelling to other countries in Europe, it may be worth getting a Eurail Pass , also known as an Interrail Pass when you’re a resident of Europe.

Used properly, these passes can save you a lot of money, but only in certain situations so for more information on that, be sure to read my full Eurail review.

BONUS TIP: If you are travelling between the same destinations frequently, it may be worth looking into a Season Ticket , which gives you unlimited travel between two places.

If you choose to buy just standard tickets and not a rail pass, then another consideration is…

 Anytime vs Off-Peak vs Advance

When you go to buy National Rail tickets, there are generally three types of tickets you can buy with differing flexibility (and therefore cost).

Anytime Tickets offer the most flexibility. With them, you can travel on any train, any time, on the chosen route, without restrictions. As such, they are the most expensive, but are ideal for those who need a flexible schedule.

Advance Tickets are often the most budget-friendly option. True to their name, you must book them in advance, especially because there is a limited number of them so booking in advance is essential. With Advance tickets, you are tied a specific train and departure time. NOTE: All Advance tickets are sold as single tickets.

Off-Peak Tickets are slightly more flexible than Advance Tickets and cheaper than Anytime tickets. They restrict you to travel during ‘off-peak’ (i.e. less busy) periods, generally weekends, public holidays, and mid-morning, mid-afternoon and later evening on weekdays. There are sometimes even cheaper Super Off-Peak Tickets for more limited time windows.

So, which of these ticket types should you go for?

• If you need optimal flexibility and don’t mind paying extra, get an Anytime Ticket
• If you need some flexibility, but can travel in off-peak periods, get an Off-Peak Ticket
• If you want the cheapest possible ticket, can plan well in advance, and don’t mind being restricted to a certain train/time, get an Advance Ticket

As for how to find these different ticket types, by default, both the National Rail website and 3rd parties like Trainline should try to show you the cheapest option first, so if an Advance Ticket is available, that’s the one that they’ll show you.

If you’d prefer the flexibility of an Off-Peak or Anytime Ticket, then you can click “Other Tickets” to show the other options. This is what that looks like on the National Rail website for instance:

And on Trainline, you can click “Compare all available ticket types” at the bottom of your search results to show a very cool table that compares your different options:

NOTE: Advance tickets generally go on sale 12 weeks before travel, with Anytime & Off-Peak tickets sometimes going on sale a little earlier… SO beware that you’re not trying to plan too far in advance, because then you might only see the pricier anytime & off-peak tickets as the advance tickets are not yet available.

In any case, besides being cheaper, I’m a huge fan of travelling off-peak periods just because the trains are less busy, so you’re more likely to find space to sit/store your bags.

The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a commuter rush, especially if you have the luxury of choice, so travel at off-peak times whenever possible.

Single vs. Return 

Alright now the next consideration is whether you’re buying a single or Return.

Advance Tickets are only ever available in Singles.

However, Off-Peak and Anytime Tickets can often be cheaper if you commit to a roundtrip fare. Annoyingly though, this will depend on your exact route/trains, which is why I like using Trainline to compare options.

If cost is a big factor for you, definitely compare different options because sometimes a roundtrip off-peak can work out cheaper than two Advance Singles.

For instance, one time I got confused and bought two singles for my day trip to Stratford Upon Avon and ended up paying 50% more for a ticket that was LESS flexible than the one I got. So much regret! 

Split Tickets vs Regular Tickets

Further adding to the confusion is the fact that sometimes, it’s cheaper to buy two split tickets for one journey rather than a single one. This doesn’t change your journey at all – you basically just have separate tickets for one ride, so depending on when the inspector comes around, you have to show them a different ticket. This can be an easy way to save a bit of money.

Split tickets are part of the reason why I like using Trainline . They find these split ticket deals for me automatically and I can buy both at once, so it’s no different to buying a normal ticket – just a bit cheaper!

Another alternative for finding split tickets is TrainPal. Their main selling point is they don't charge a booking fee and they also track the carbon emissions from your trip and allow you to participate in tree planting projects within their app.

Use the code HAPPYTOWANDER for 33% off Railcards & 5% off for EUR/UK rail tickets for new customers and 2% off for existing customers.

NOTE: When choosing your journey, always prioritize direct connections or routes that make fewer stops. These will usually cost more, but trust me, it’s worth every penny! Transfers are simple enough when trains run on time, but as soon as you’re hit with a delay, that can disrupt your entire journey and make things 100x more stressful.

1st vs 2nd class on UK Trains

Is splurging on 1st class worth it on UK trains? Honestly, this depends on your journey length and the type of train you’re hopping on.

With regional and shorter distance trains, the difference between 1st and 2nd class in the UK is fairly minimal, and (in my opinion) not worth the extra cost, unless your company is paying, or you really want to guarantee yourself a seat in a quieter area with a bit more leg room.

With longer distance Intercity trains however, 1st class often comes with additional perks like complimentary food and drink, along with roomier and comfier seats that may be worth it for a long journey.

So, to decide whether or not 1st class is worth it, be sure to research if there are any good 1st class perks on your particular train.

The next consideration is…

Reserved vs. Unreserved seats

In the UK, reserved seats tend to only be mandatory for longer distance journeys. In these cases, the obligation to make a reservation will be clear when you buy your ticket.

If given a choice, some considerations for which reserved seat to book might be…

• Seat position: Window is more ideal for wistfully staring out at the world, aisle gives you a bit more leg room/freedom
• Direction of travel: Some seats may be facing backwards so if that bothers you, plan accordingly. Beware however that sometimes trains reverse directions on a route.
• Quiet zones: These are special carriages where you’re not meant to play music/use your phone at a loud volume or have loud conversations. Perfect if you want some peace for your journey!

Alright with your tickets booked it’s time to move onto the day of your journey, with…

Step Three: Get Snacks

On the day of your journey, I highly recommend you get some food and drink to bring with you on the train (especially for longer trips). This is completely allowed on UK trains, and you can even BYOB .

While there are some refreshment options on board with long distance trains, they tend to be fairly limited and pricey, so getting your own gives you more control. On most shorter distance trains, there are no options for buying food or drink on board at all.

So, at the very least, I’d get some water or something to drink. There’s often great options even at the train station itself, including many chains that offer the almighty Meal Deal.

As I mention in my England travel tips & Scotland travel tips articles, Meal Deals are a UK staple that consists of getting a main course, snack and drink for less than £5. Great for a budget-friendly to-go meal.

Now let’s move onto… 

Step Four: Arrive at the Station 

Train stations in England vary a LOT in terms of size and design. You’ll have everything from tiny stops in the countryside with only one platform to massive, grand, stations with champagne bars, shops, and public pianos. 

If you’re anxious about the station you’re travelling to/from, there’s a handy tool provided by National Rail that allows you to view station plans and amenities here.

There are some overarching themes and considerations though. 

First, when you get to the station’s main concourse, your priority is finding out which platform your train is on. Sometimes, these platforms aren’t announced until the train arrives, which can create a bit of a tense/stressful environment where everyone is just staring up at the board, waiting to see the platform number come up.

NOTE: Sometimes apps like Trainline will tell you before the board even changes, which gives you an extra advantage in the Hunger Games of boarding.

But in any case, if your platform hasn’t been announced yet, the key is to hang tight and be ready when the number does come up.

Remember, when looking at the board, trains will not necessarily say your destination, but rather the final destination of the train, so if you don’t see the name of where YOU’RE travelling to, don’t panic.

Look for the time and train number, and (when available) the list of stops to see if your destination is listed, then figure it out from there.

Next, it’s time to…

Step Five: Get to the Platform 

Platform numbers will generally be very well marked so just look up for signs before making your way.

Be sure to have your ticket handy, as many stations will have fare gates where you’ll need to scan your ticket to get on the platform (or get a staff member to let you through manually).

Now where do you put/scan your ticket? This can sometimes be unnecessarily confusing, and depends on whether you have a digital or physical ticket.

For physical paper tickets, look for a slot to insert it, like this:

For digital tickets, look for a fare gate that has a special digital scanner for barcodes. Beware that not all fare gates have them, and some might only have a contactless pad for cards or slots for paper tickets.

Here’s a confusing example from London, where there’s three potential places to tap/scan depending on what kind of ticket you have:

When you get onto your platform, double check it’s correct by confirming either on a platform screen or on the side of the train that you’re in the right place before proceeding to find your carriage.

Be sure to look on the board for any special notes (i.e. you should sit in the first 5 coaches if you are getting off at x stop).

Next up, it’s time to…

Step Six: Find Your Carriage 

If you have a reserved seat, then you’ll need to take some extra steps to make sure you get to the correct carriage once the train arrives.

Some UK trains can be very long, so if you have a seat reservation, make sure you’re standing in the right part of the platform to get onto your carriage.

With reserved seats, a handy thing to look out for is some kind of platform/carriage plan that tells you which part of the platform to stand on depending on your carriage number. Some companies like Avanti West Coast even make these plans available online here.

When in doubt though, you can always ask a staff member.

If you do not have an assigned seat, then you simply need to board a carriage in the right class, then pick a free seat.

When picking a carriage to board, pay special attention to…

• The class number of the carriage (you may only board the class you’ve booked for)
• Whether they are special carriages meant for a certain purpose e.g quiet zone

If you don’t have a reserved seat, then usually I find the farther you walk, the emptier the carriages will be. 

Once you find or choose your carriage, then it’s time to hop on board.

If the door isn’t opening then look for a button like this <> and press it. This goes for the train doors as well as carriage doors. 

Now it’s time for…

Step Seven: Find Your Seat 

First off, if your seat is assigned, try to make sure you go in through the correct door closest to your seat.

Long distance trains will usually write the seat numbers on the corresponding door, like so:

If you have large bags, keep an eye out for large luggage racks when you enter. These will usually be found on the ends of the carriages.

With smaller bags/suitcases, there is usually space above your seat for it, or sometimes under and between seats, as marked.

If you don’t have a reservation, before sitting down, make sure your seat isn’t reserved and make sure you’re not taking up a priority space if the train is looking full.

Train reservations in the UK can either be marked on electronic screens or (in more old school cases) paper slips attached to the seat.

In any case, make sure to read the routes that the seats are reserved for.

The red lights may seem ominous but sometimes the seats are only reserved for a partial journey OR sometimes they are even just leftover reservations from the last journey, and the train just hasn’t changed them over yet.

So, if the stated reservation doesn’t overlap with your journey, it should be fair game!

Now finally, onto…

Step Eight: Get Comfortable and Enjoy the Journey!

Once you’re all settled, you’re now in a good place to enjoy some of the hidden features and amenities of your train.

Okay, I say “hidden”, but what I mean is they’re easy to miss, especially if it’s your first time on board a UK train.

So, be on the look out for…

Coat hooks: These can be found on the wall next to your seat – sometimes they may need to be pulled out. You can leave coats, scarves, etc. on those.

Storage space: Usually there is some space above your seat for you to store small bags or coats.

Plugs: Most trains will have an area to charge electronics. Sometimes they are clearly visible on the wall, other times they are hidden between two seats.

WiFi: Most trains will have WiFi available although quality is questionable depending on where you are.

Bathrooms: And of course, don’t forget to look for the on-board bathrooms (which are free). They’re typically found at the ends of carriages.

Now, as you get comfy, keep your ticket, RailCard, and ID handy in case controllers come on board. Depending on the route, you may not always get checked by a controller, but it’s good to be prepared just in case.

And then, just sit back and enjoy the journey!

Now after your journey is complete, it’s onto…

Step Nine: Disembark

If you are not getting off at the end destination, then start prepping for disembarkation about 10 min before your arrival time. This gives you plenty of time to gather your belongings and bags in a rational, non-crazed manner.

I like to keep an eye on my location via Google Maps so I have a rough idea of how far I am from my stop.

NOTE: The term “alight here” is often used on UK trains. It basically means, “get off here” and is often used in the context of “alight here for x connection, or x place”.

Make sure you memorize the name of the stop you’re meant to get off at because most major UK cities have multiple train stations and it gets a little confusing once you’re in the city.

Upon arrival, if the door isn’t opening then again look for a button with the <> open symbol.

Once the doors are open, be careful getting off the train as there’s often a gap/step.

To navigate your way off the platform and onwards to wherever you need to go, keep an eye out for signs that will point you in the right direction.

If you are transferring onto another train, look around for big signs pointing to different platform numbers. If it’s a tight connection (10 min or less) you may want to speed walk or run, depending on how big the station is.

NOTE: Remember, you’re on a train platform, so to reach other platforms you’ll sometimes need to either go via a tunnel underground or a bridge above ground. Keep an eye out for stairs/an elevator so you’re not panicking to find ways to reach your next platform.

If this is your final destination, then beware that you might need to take your ticket out again for scanning at the fare gates. If you have any trouble, then you can also get a staff member to let you through manually (assuming your ticket is valid, and it’s simply a tech issue rather than an awkward ‘fare evasion’ issue, of course).

As you complete the journey to your final destination, remember that your train ticket is usually only valid for that specific train you boarded, so you won’t be able to use it for onward travel on the local public transport network, so you may need to purchase an additional ticket to get to your hotel.

Lastly, take note that in the UK, with many companies if the train is more than 15 minutes delayed (which they often can be), you are entitled to compensation.

This is through a program called ‘Delay Repay’ that is handled by each individual train company, so Google “your train company + delay compensation” to find the step by step details.

I Hope This Step by Step Guide on Taking Trains in the UK was Helpful!

Let me know in the comments if you have any more questions. 

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

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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...?

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Train & Rail Tours in UK and Great Britain

Relax and admire breathtaking views in UK And Great Britain only accessible by train journey. With 14 UK And Great Britain train tours lasting from 2 days up to 15 days, you're sure to find a railway carriage with your name on it on a route that will leave you speechless.

14 Train tour packages in UK and Great Britain with 14 reviews

• Train & Rail
• Christmas & New Year

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Well planned itinerary leaving little stress to planning next move but flexible enough to tweak things up to fit your scand preference. I had issues with luggage and airlines and although the access interailing packages had to impact my issues was limited to none, they were available, empathetic and offered suggestions to consider. Have already recommended this site and operator to others. Thank you for the part you played in this memorable experience!

• In-depth Cultural
• Walking Adventure

England and Scotland Tour with hotel stay & rail return to London - 8 days

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Sightseeing

Highlights of Scotland

Loch Ness, the Jacobite and Skye Guided Rail Tour

Well organised in spite of covid and rail strike restrictions. Tour guide Kieran was was superb with his general chat and information, a mine of information and traditional stories.

Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way Guided Rail Tour

If you have to do a tour, because Irish roads are scary and the signs in towns are confusing, McKinlay Kidd is a good choice.

Jacobite Steam Train & The Great Glen

We had a fabulous time on the Jacobite tour. Our rep was Greig and is an excellent ambassador for your company. He was very welcoming and informative about things to look at and the history. This made our trip all the more enjoyable

Titanic Trail Trail & Wild Atlantic Way including Donegal

London to Dublin & Waterford Crystal

Titanic Rail Trail & Wild Atlantic Way

London - Dublin, Cork & Blarney Castle

London - Dublin & Connemara

London - Dublin & The Ring of Kerry

North Highlands & Orkney Guided Rail Tour

Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train

It was a very good experience. The staff was very friendly and well organised. On my way back to London I started to look for my next trip. And I think I already found it!

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8 Most Scenic Train Rides in the U.K.

From the countryside to charming seaside towns, these U.K. trains offer beautiful views along the way.

From adventurous cross-country journeys to luxurious rides in the world's most beautiful destinations , there's something truly romantic about train travel. It transports passengers to a simpler time, highlighting the joys of slow travel and, of course, showcasing beautiful views along the way.

Luckily, exciting train trips exist around the world, including the U.K., which is home to some of the best, grandest, and most scenic railways. So, if you're seeking a memorable getaway with stunning countryside, seaside town, and city vistas, check out one of these amazing train trips in the U.K.

British Pullman, A Belmond Train, London

Perhaps the most indulgent way to explore England's quaint countryside , Belmond's British Pullman transports passengers back to the Roaring '20s in its storied art deco carriages. A round-trip day trip, the train loops from London Victoria to the historic Chatsworth House , Highclere Castle (of Downton Abbey fame), and Belmond's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons . The food is delicious and includes seasonal meats, vegetables, and indulgent desserts. For design fans, the Wes Anderson carriage blends art nouveau style, symmetrical lines, and pastel and jewel tones.

Coleraine to Londonderry

If you're pressed for time, the route from Coleraine to Londonderry (or vice versa) takes just 40 minutes. A bog-standard commuter line, the train — once dubbed "one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world" by avid train lover Michael Palin — passes through some of Northern Ireland's loveliest spots . On one side, idyllic pastures and the deep blue sea fill nature's canvas, and on the other, the River Bann roars as far as the eye can see alongside emerald mountains. Tunnels are aplenty, as are period homes, churches, and seaside towns . Castlerock is well worth exploring for its pretty village, and if it isn't too windy, a picnic on the beach. As for what to do in Coleraine, the town itself is steeped in history — the Mountsandel Fort is home to Ireland's most ancient human settlement — but we recommend hopping on a bus and continuing on to Causeway Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site with wonders like the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Game of Thrones- famous Giant's Causeway.

Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, Scotland

Say hello to Scotland's luxury sleeper train . With space for only 24 passengers, the vibe on board feels intimate and luxurious. En-suite cabins, tasty food (expect lots of Scottish salmon), spa treatments with some of the U.K.'s chicest independent brands, and an observation car with a veranda are just a few standout features. Passengers will see landmarks like the Kyle of Lochalsh and beautiful Cairngorms National Park , a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. Daydreaming on board once the afternoon tea service hits is mandatory as you snake through Fort William, with spellbinding panoramas of Ben Nevis (the U.K.'s highest mountain) and Arisaig coastline. Luxury amenities aside, there are plenty of opportunities for adventure, too: hiking the gorges of Aviemore, enjoying windy walks on the Isle of Bute, canoeing on the famous Loch Ness; and clay pigeon shooting at the Rothiemurchus estate.

Jacobite Steam Train

It's no surprise that this now-iconic Scottish train is an Instagram favorite — the route from Fort William to Mallaig showcases an otherworldly mix of breathtaking U.K. views (think: craggy mountains, giant lakes, and the photogenic, 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous for its starring role in the Harry Potter films). What you see depends on the time of year. Come summer, expect fields of green and the most luminous of sunsets, while winter brings frozen rivers and giant trees glistening with dagger-like icicles. Tip: Book a seat in advance as they can sell out fast.

Settle—Carlisle Railway

RORY FULLER/TRAVEL + LEISURE

Often overlooked by Brits, the Settle-Carlisle Railway runs through 73 miles of glorious countryside, showcasing ruggedly beautiful and remote spots along the way. The highlights come courtesy of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, home to fragrant heather, wildflowers, dry stone walls, and rolling hills. The stations here are just as beautiful (imagine charming pit stops flecked with hanging, posy-stuffed baskets), and the surroundings include green fields dotted with sheep. Another reason to hop aboard? This route, which launched in 1876, is one of England's last great Victorian journeys.

St. Ives Bay Line

Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure

This one might only last 10 minutes, but it's still worth it, and you can ride it back and forth as many times as you'd like to make a day of it. Opened in 1877, this stretch of track zooms along the beauteous Cornish coast, a treasure trove of coves, azure seas, white-sand beaches, and beautiful coastal towns once adored by the likes of novelist Virginia Woolf, the odd celebrity, and more. Tip: Sit on the right side of the train for the best views, including a glimpse of the wispy sand dunes that eventually blend into the sparkly waters.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Although it's more a tourist attraction and necessity for hikers in need of a little help scaling the beautiful Snowdon mountain, this Victorian narrow-gauge railway is still worth a ride, if just for the breezy views. The train departs every 30 minutes from Llanberis station, and it takes roughly one hour to reach the summit. Along the way, have your cameras ready to capture centuries-old farmhouses, ancient walls, the odd goat, and the towering Ceunant Mawr waterfall, which plunges more than 100 feet into a cavernous gorge. As it's pretty old, part of the way is blocked off, so the train currently only runs as far as Clogwyn. There, you'll be able to jump off and walk the rest of the way to Hafod Eryri (closed until 2023) to take in the panoramic vistas. If you're lucky, a clear day will allow you to see all the way to the coast of Ireland.

Caledonian Sleeper

Believe it or not, this is one of only two sleeper train services left in the U.K., connecting London to Edinburgh via the scenic Lowlander and Highlander routes that weave through Scotland . But this is no ordinary ride. Thanks to a 2019 makeover, this train is more like a hotel on rails: There are cabins with snuggly double beds, swish en-suite bathrooms, and for a dose of extra atmosphere, dimmable lights. A rather fancy dining cart ensures bellies are fed for the 500-mile, eight-hour journey. Choose from all the usual contenders, plus Scottish delicacies such as haggis and tatties (potatoes) served with a whiskey cream sauce. It's also worth waking up early to catch dawn breaking over the Northumbria countryside.

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Britain by train: Five great one-week UK rail trip routes

Posted on Last updated: December 11, 2023

Explore Britain by train with five of the best British rail trip itinerary ideas you can do in just one week, covering historic England, scenic Scotland, the Cornish coast, UK cities, and Wales and the Borders.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

I love a good rail trip and have travelled by train across Europe and beyond. But there are plenty of fantastic rail adventures close to home in the UK too – from Cornish coastal trains to the journeys across the wild Scottish highlands. And the country’s relatively small size means you can pack a lot into a short time, with rail passes available to keep costs down.

Whether you’re looking for history and culture, coast and countryside scenery or the UK’s coolest cities, there’s the perfect British rail trip for you. So here are five great itineraries for exploring Britain by train. It’s possible to do each of the routes in a week, but if you’ve got more time you can take it slower and spend more time in each place.

And if you’re ready to go, check out my detailed one-week itinerary posts – linked to after each route description below – for full details of which trains to take, how much they cost, how to book tickets, what to see and where to stay along the way.

5 itineraries for exploring Britain by train

Historic England

London > Salisbury > Bath Spa > Oxford > Stratford-upon-Avon > York

This rail trip takes you across England and back through time, featuring some of the country’s most impressive castles, cathedrals and colleges. Start with a full day in London , choosing from its selection of historic buildings, museums and monuments, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, British Museum and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Then catch a morning train to Salisbury (1.5 hours). This riverside city is known for its 13th-century cathedral, where you can see one of the surviving copies of the Magna Carta and take a tour of the tower. Or travel back 2000 years to Roman times at Old Sarum.

Next travel to Bath Spa (1 hour). Bath is known for its Roman history, so don’t miss the Roman Baths – and you can soak yourself in the modern version at the Thermae Spa with its rooftop pool. There’s also the beautiful Georgian architecture of the Royal Crescent and Circle, and whole festival dedicated to Jane Austen who lived in the city in the 1800s.

Then take the train to Oxford (1 hour 10 mins), one of the UK’s most famous university cities. Take a tour of the college quads – Harry Potter filming location Christ Church is the star, but Magdalen, New College, Trinity and All Souls are also well worth visiting.

Call in to the quirky Pitt Rivers Museum to see its anthropology exhibits or explore art and antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum. Then catch a morning train to Stratford-upon-Avon (1.5 hours). Spent the afternoon in Shakespeare’s home town – you can visit his birthplace, school and houses his wife and mother lived in, and see his plays at the RSC theatre.

Then finish your trip by travelling north to York (4 hours), where you’ll have the afternoon and the next morning to walk the Roman city walls, visit the Minster, explore the cobbled lanes and half-timbered buildings of the Shambles and have afternoon tea at Betty’s.

Read the full Historic England by train itinerary

Scenic Scotland

Edinburgh > Glasgow > Fort William > Mallaig > Isle of Skye > Inverness

This Scottish rail itinerary takes you from the lowlands to the highlands via rugged coastlines, lakes, moors and castles. Start in Edinburgh and spend the day discovering the city’s highlights, from Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and views from Calton Hill. Or discover hidden gems like underground Mary King’s Close .

Then catch the train on to Glasgow (1 hour), where the focus is on art, design and culture – from street art trails and the eye-catching modern Riverside transport museum along the redeveloped waterside to the Art Nouveau buildings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Next head north to Fort William (3 hours 45 mins), a lochside town that’s a hub for adventure sports in the nearby Nevis Range. The journey takes you into the Scottish Highlands along the West Highland Line, rated as one of the most scenic rail trips in the world. Go hiking or biking, or taste whisky with a view at the Ben Nevis Distillery.

Rejoin the West Highland Line to travel across the Glenfinnan Viaduct to Mallaig (1.5 hours) – or from April to October you could upgrade to a ride on the Jacobite steam train , also known as the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films. Then leave the train behind and cross over to the Isle of Skye on the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale.

Spend a day exploring the Isle of Skye by bus or tour, with the pretty harbour town of Portree, the waterfalls of the Fairy Pools and the dramatic rock formations of the Quiraing. Then the following morning, cross the bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh by bus (1 hour) where you can catch the train to Inverness (2 hours 40 mins), capital of the highlands.

The Kyle Line is another of the UK’s top scenic train routes, passing lochs, mountains and herds of deer. Spend the evening and next morning in Inverness. Explore the castle and riverside, take a monster-spotting trip on Loch Ness or visit historic Culloden battlefield.

Read the full Scenic Scotland by train itinerary

The Cornish coast

St Ives > Falmouth > St Austell > Newquay > Looe > Plymouth

This UK train trip takes you to the far south-west of England, along some of Cornwall’s most beautiful coastal and countryside railways. Start off in the arty seaside town of St Ives , home to the Tate and Barbara Hepworth galleries along with beaches and coast walks.

If you’re travelling from London you can get reach St Ives on the Night Riviera overnight sleeper train (8 hours), changing at St Erth onto the St Ives Bay Line which runs past the golden sands of Carbis Bay. Then travel east to Falmouth (1.5 hours), changing in Truro onto the Maritime Line which runs through unspoilt countryside to the coast.

Visit Falmouth’s castle and maritime museum, or take a boat ride along the Fal River or across to neighbouring St St Mawes and the Roseland Peninsula. Then take a morning train to St Austell (1.5 hour) where you change onto a bus to reach the Eden Project, whose two giant biomes bring the rainforest and the Mediterranean to Cornwall.

Head back to St Austell to catch the train along the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay (1 hour 20 mins). Check out some of Newquay’s 11 beaches and watch the surfers in action on Fistral Beach – or give it a try yourself. Grad a traditional Cornish pasty and watch the fishing boats come into Newquay harbour, or head underwater at Blue Reef Aquarium.

Then travel on to the pretty fishing village of Looe (3 hours). The Looe Valley scenic train line connects Liskeard and Looe, running along an estuary full of birdlife. Walk a stretch of the South West Coast Path to Polperro or visit the marine nature reserve of Looe Island, and make sure to try some local seafood and wine from Looe Valley Vineyard.

Finally travel on to your final stop in Plymouth (1 hour). Take a walk along the city’s waterfront, climb to the top of Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse and follow the journey of the Pilgrims at the Mayflower Museum before heading home – or exploring more of Devon.

Read the full Coastal Cornwall by train itinerary

London > Brighton > Bristol > Manchester > Liverpool > Leeds

This city-centric train route takes you to some of the UK’s coolest cities, with coffee shops, vintage shops, street art and quirky bars along the way. Start off in London and the East End’s most hipster neighbourhood – Shoreditch. Visit Brick Lane market, take a graffiti tour and try food from around the world at the Box Park shipping container pop-up market.

Then catch the train south of London to Brighton (1 hour 15 mins) for a day at the seaside. Visit the Brighton Pavilion, browse the indie shops in the narrow streets of the Lanes and play the slot machines on the pier before tucking into fish and chips on the beach.

The next day travel west to Bristol (1.5 hours). This harbourside city is a centre for independent food, art and craft businesses. Try tasty street food at St Nicholas Market or at Cargo in Wapping Wharf, and go Banksy spotting in Stokes Croft. Visit Brunel’s historic steamship the SS Great Britain or walk over Clifton Suspension Bridge at sunset.

Catch the train north to Manchester (3 hours). This north-west city famous for its football and music is a great place to catch a gig or shop for vinyl and vintage fashion before a night in the Northern Quarter’s bars. Or visit the museums and media hubs of Salford Quays.

Then from Manchester, it’s only around an hour by train to local rivals Liverpool. Check out the exhibits at the Tate Liverpool and Merseyside Maritime Museum in the Albert Dock, or take a Beatles themed walking tour and catch the ferry across the Mersey.

Then finally travel north-east to the West Yorkshire city of Leeds (1.5 hours). Discover local artworks on the Leeds Welcome Art Trail, visit the Corn Exchange for boutique shops in a stunning setting, sunbathe in Roundhay Park or take a tour of Leeds’ craft breweries.

Read the full UK cities by train itinerary

Wales and the Borders

Cardiff > Shrewsbury > Aberystwyth > Harlech > Llandudno > Chester > Cardiff

Our final Britain by train itinerary takes you across Wales, travelling from the capital through the unspoilt Welsh Marches to the spectacular coastline and mountains of North Wales. Start in Cardiff and spend the day exploring its historic side at the castle and its modern side among the contemporary buildings of redeveloped Cardiff Bay.

Then catch the train north to Shrewsbury (2 hours), a traditional market town across the border which was home to Charles Darwin. Visit its castle and take a boat trip on the River Severn. Then head back into Wales and the coastal town of Aberystwyth (2 hours) – a seaside holiday favourite with its sandy beach, Victorian promenade and Wales’ oldest pier.

Next catch the Cambrian Coast Line north through Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park to Harlech (3 hours), with scenic views along the way as you cross the estuary at Barmouth. Then explore Harlech’s hilltop castle or take an afternoon trip to the nearby quirky, Italian-style village of Portmeirion (the closest station is at Minffordd, 15 mins from Harlech).

Next head to Porthmadog (25 mins) and change onto the Ffestiniog Railway’s historic steam trains to travel to Blaenau Ffestionig in style (1 hour 20 mins). (Note the Ffestiniog Railway only runs from March–October, so outside of that you’ll need to take a bus.)

Then head back into the 21st century as you travel on to Llandudno (1 hour 15 mins). Another of Wales’ Victorian seaside resorts, Llandudno has panoramic views from Great Orme, which you can reach on foot or via the vintage tram or Llandudno Cable Car.

Finally travel across the border to Chester (1 hour 20 mins). Explore the city’s Roman ruins, walk around its city walls, admire the Eastgate Clock and shop the medieval black and white Rows. Then finish off your trip by travelling south back to Cardiff, passing the impressive Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Herefordshire countryside and Shropshire Hills.

Read the full Borders and Wales by train itinerary

Don’t want to organise it yourself? You can also book a custom rail trip based on any of our Britain by train itineraries through our partners Byway ,* the flight-free holiday platform, which include transport and accommodation.

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Gregory Bass

Monday 15th of January 2024

Hey Lucy I enjoy reading about all your travels and Itineraries but feel that it would somewhat overwhelming for me to plan. It has been a dream of mine to travel the UK by car or train. Twenty years ago I traveled Spain and Portugal by train but there was no planning involved. I was younger and just took a train to a city or town and if I liked it I stayed and if I didn't I moved on. I have also planned a year of traveling the west coast of the US for work when I was younger and that was before GPS. I just don't feel I know where to start. We definitely will want London as the starting point and Harry Potter is a must have since my husband is crazy about the series. We plan on spending anywhere from 10 to 15 days and that will all depend on what we try to squeeze into our trip. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to start and what to do and see that are must dos. I would want to depart from London as well so whatever we do will have to include returning to London. We like nice accommodations but don't want to break the bank. Our travel schedule would be sometime between May thru August of 2025. I do have friends that live there so some downtime to allow visits with them would be needed as well. Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Lucy Dodsworth

Monday 22nd of January 2024

Hi Gregory, if you want to book through a company I would recommend Byway who can organise custom train itineraries and book all the train travel and hotels for you. With 10–15 days you could cover a lot of the UK depending on what your interests are, or add on a trip on the Eurostar to Paris or Amsterdam.

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

Hi Lucy This site is great! My husband and I will be arriving at Southampton after a transatlantic cruise on Sat April 20, 2024. We don't have our return flight plans yet as we are hoping to stay in England for at least a week. In 2012 we spent a month (Sept) traveling and sightseeing the UK by rail and had a great time - carrying only backpacks. We had time to visit the popular spots: London, Bath, York, Chester, Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Penzance, Bournemouth, Aberystwyth and much of Wales. This time (we are older!) and we will have luggage (ugh). We are thinking about exploring some less touristy places and poking around smaller villages, etc. Maybe staying at a B&B or somewhere that is centrally located and near a well connected train station where we can take day trips or short rail excursions in and out. Is that possible or even a good idea? Where would you suggest? Do we need a travel agent? I expect we will depart from Heathrow. Any advice will be appreciated!!

Sunday 25th of June 2023

Hi Martha, one area I'd definitely recommend is the Cotswolds. You can stay in Moreton-in-Marsh which is on a mainline train route from London and get from there via train to Oxford and Stratford-on-Avon, and there is a good Cotswold tour from Moreton as well as buses to places like Broadway, Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold. I have a whole website about the Cotswolds with lots of info (https://explorethecotswolds.com) and it's easy to explore without needing a travel agent.

Tuesday 23rd of May 2023

Hi Lucy, We are going to be in UK for 14 total days (not including travel to and from the US). We want to do two of these (exactly what I was thinking and perfectly laid out, thank you!). Wondering if you can help me understand the best way to buy the train tickets. We are family of 4 with an 18 yr old and 16 yr old. Starting and ending in London - want to do this: London > Salisbury > Bath Spa > Oxford > Stratford-upon-Avon > York - then from York do this: Glasgow > Fort William > Mallaig > Isle of Skye > Edinburgh to catch the Tattoo then back down to London. Maybe I need a travel agent to help :-)

Friday 26th of May 2023

You can buy tickets for specific trains in advance from the rail companies but it might be worth looking at getting a railpass – either an InterRail One Country Pass for the UK or a Britrail pass – as that means you can be more flexible. You can buy these in advance online and there are good discounts for under 25s.

Thursday 27th of February 2020

This info is amazing, thank you for posting Lucy! I am researching/looking into traveling to the UK (specifically Scotland) for the first time (coming from Toronto, Canada) this year and wasn't really sure where to start in terms of transportation once I arrived. I have bookmarked your page just for future reference. These routes and links will be so helpful, especially for a newbie to the area.

Also, love your blog & will definitely check out more of your recommendations .

Monday 9th of March 2020

Thanks Amy, great to hear it was useful! And have a wonderful trip.

Ellen D Leeper

Wednesday 25th of September 2019

Hi Lucy, What a comprehensive and great resource! I heard dogs are allowed on trains in the UK? Any feedback on that? I have a small guy but we are doing a couple months in the UK and Scotland so thinking trains vs. driving are the way to go. Thanks for such a great website! I'll watch this one!

Thursday 26th of September 2019

Hi, yes you can take dogs on trains in the UK so you should be fine with that!

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The 11 most scenic train journeys in the UK

Want to plan a big railway trip for your next staycation? Here’s our pick of the most beautiful train journeys in the UK

Whether you’re keen to admire the stunning vistas of the Scottish countryside, or just after a setting to pretend you’re in a music video, staring longingly out at the mesmerising beaches of Cornwall or the mountains of Wales , these train journeys will make you feel like the main character in the window seat. 

You could be a solo traveller craving some luxury transport, or just looking to take the kids on a wholesome family day out – either way, these railway trips will have you covered. Stretching from the very top of the country in Mallaig to the very bottom down in St Ives – and right across to Coleraine in Northern Ireland – here’s where to get your railway fix on your next UK holiday. All aboard!

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Best train journeys in the UK

1.  The Jacobite Steam Train

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Okay, you don’t have to be a Potterhead to get into the majesty of this stunning route. Scotland’s Jacobite Steam Train traverses the gorgeous landscape between Fort William and Mallaig, offering up a conveyor belt of rugged scenery that belies the comfort and luxury inside the train itself. Booking ahead is an absolute must, but it is 100 percent worth it. Few train journeys on the planet come with the grandeur of the Jacobite Steam Train.

2.  North Norfolk Poppy Line

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, but North Norfolk might just be the most underrated part of England. The entire coast is an absolute delight, filled with gorgeous seaside villages and a very real sense of charm, and the so-called ‘Poppy Line’ is an adorable way to explore it. The heritage steam train runs the short distance between Sheringham and Holt (with options to go further at either end) and is an exercise in beautiful nostalgia that will practically drag serenity into your day. Yes, that is something of a contradiction, but it fits. 

3.  St Ives Bay Line

Okay, it might only be a ten-minute journey, but that just means that you can go back and forth on the St Ives Bay Line as many times as you like during the day. Why wouldn’t you? This 4.25-mile stretch of seaside sumptuousness was opened in 1877, the last of the new broad gauge railways to be opened in the UK, although standard gauge has since taken over. Of course, you’re not here for gauge history, you are here for impossibly quaint seaside views and that special delight that only Cornwall can provide. 

4.  Snowdonia Mountain Railway

Scratching and clawing your way to the top of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is one of the most exhilarating experiences in Wales, but all that scratching and clawing does sound sort of tiring, right? If slugging up the mountain isn’t your idea of fun, the Snowdonia Mountain Railway is here to save the day. Trains leave from the gorgeous village of Llanberis and slowly climb the mountain, stopping at the top for incredible views and a real sense of achievement.

5.  The Flying Scotsman

A real piece of history here, albeit only really in the name. The original Flying Scotsman still takes short, special journeys in the UK (in the south of England, mostly), and tickets sell out quickly, but why not jump on the spiritual successor of the famous train and make the journey between the capitals of Scotland and England instead? London to Edinburgh is a trip from one powerhouse to the other, a route that takes you through the whole of England – a curious look into the North/South divide.

6.  Settle to Carlisle

The North really is blessed with some beautiful train routes, isn’t it? The beloved Settle to Carlisle line runs across 73 miles of gorgeous countryside, showcasing Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines at their most rugged and remote. It is stunning stuff and has been a point of pilgrimage for train enthusiasts since passengers first jumped aboard in 1876. The journey takes 90 minutes (delays notwithstanding, this is the UK, after all), and tickets start at £8.50.

7.  Ffestiniog Railway

Fancy taking a short trip on the oldest independent railway company in the world? Of course you do, and you’ll find the little train that could waiting in the heart of Wales. The Ffestiniog Railway runs from the harbour of Porthmadog to the mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, passing through Snowdonia National Park as it does, ensuring some incredible views and a palpable sense of history within the carriages. The company offers plenty of journeys, but the three-hour charmer between Porth and Blaenau is the one to go for. 

8.  Londonderry to Coleraine

Northern Ireland’s prettiest rail line? While it’s a beautiful place from east to west, the stretch of tracks between Londonderry and Coleraine is right up there. The railway has plenty of history (more than 170 years of the stuff), but passengers can be forgiven for eschewing that in favour of the views waiting outside the window. You simply won’t get better rolling views of the coast than from the comfortable seat of a 3000 class DMU, trundling between the two towns. Michael Palin called it ‘one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world’, and he wasn’t wrong. 

9.  North Yorkshire Moors Railway

North Yorkshire is a treasure trove for railway lovers. As well as being a beautiful city with few equals, York is also home to the National Railway Museum, an absolute must-visit for anyone with even the most rudimentary interest in trains. The North York Moors National Park is truly sumptuous, and no prizes for guessing where the North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs. Yes, that’s right, smack-bang through the aforementioned sumptuous scenery. The journey from Pickering to Whitby takes almost two hours, and tickets start from £45, although members get big discounts.

10.  Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh

Two hours and 45 minutes (give or take a minute or two) of absolute rural bliss. The northern reaches of Scotland are Britain at its most beautiful, and the views afforded to passengers from the cars of the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line are as good as it gets. Ttickets cost £15.90, an absolute bargain considering the beauty outside the window. 

11.  Bluebell Railway

Even the name is all sorts of adorable. The UK offers a fine line of heritage steam railways, and the darling Bluebell Railway down in Sussex is one of the best. Originally opened in 1882, it actually closed in 1958 – sparking a preservation society into action, in the hopes of restoring as much of the original line as possible. They did a darn good job, and today the Bluebell is a time machine, taking you back to the days of steam engines trundling from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead. The journey takes around 40 minutes, and advance tickets cost £25.

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Train travel in Great Britain – train tickets, top routes and destinations

Trains in Great Britain are easy to navigate with Trainline, especially if you're coming from abroad. The UK proudly boasts the oldest railway network in the world, however, its trains are also some of the most modern and efficient, which is great news if you're planning on exploring this great nation by rail. Is it your first time taking the train in the UK? Check out our first-timer's guide on how to travel by train in the UK . 

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The uk train network, uk train tickets explained, how to find cheap train tickets.

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UK city breaks by train

Frequently asked questions.

• Traveling from the UK to Europe by train

The UK train network may seem a little complex if you're visiting for the first time. First, let's break down how the network works, and the different types of trains you can travel on, in a bit more detail. You can also check out our interactive Scotland Rail Map and Wales Rail Map to view the most popular routes in Scotland and Wales.

About the UK National Rail network

In the UK, the train network is run by  National Rail . All train companies in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) operate under the guidance of National Rail who are primarily responsible for the administration of passenger bookings. National Rail was formed following the privatization of the British Rail network in 1996, when the network split into 28 separate operating franchises to run trains across the country.

Network Rail is a separate organization that oversees and maintains all rail infrastructure in the UK, from train tracks to major stations and is also responsible for timetables and logistics to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Train companies in the UK

There are currently 28 national train companies that operate within the UK. Although this may seem confusing for visitors to the UK, finding the right train to get on is pretty simple.  

So you don’t get confused, we recommend that you focus on the route you want to travel on rather than the train company to travel with if you are unsure. If you do prefer to travel with a particular train company, check out this  UK train map  to help you work out which companies operate the main routes across Great Britain. 

The main differences between train operating companies in the UK are the type of trains and onboard services. Some bigger train companies such as Avanti West Coast  and  GWR have newer trains, and a full-service First Class section with WiFi and in-seat meal service on some of the more popular or longer routes like London to Edinburgh , whilst smaller commuter services like  Thameslink  have Standard and First Class sections, but only offer basic onboard services. 

To find out about all the different train operating companies who keep all the wheels on track in the UK, visit our  train companies  page.

High-speed trains

Many of the major cities in the UK are connected by high-speed train routes, so there's no need to travel by plane. The UK's high-speed trains whisk you through the countryside from city center to city center in speed and style, saving you the hassle of getting to and from the airport, queuing at passport control, and paying for those average, over-priced sandwiches in the terminal.  

Trains that run along the HS1 (High Speed 1) line like the  Eurostar  from  London to Paris , and the  Southeastern  services from  London to Ashford International , run at speeds of up to 186 mph - that's about 300 km/h! The rest of the high-speed lines across the UK race along at speeds of up to 125 mph (around 200 km/h). Sure, this isn’t as fast as a plane, but taking the train is a great option if you plan on visiting the great cities the UK has to offer. You’ll get to see some awesome views out the window without the chance of turbulence.

Overnight/sleeper trains

If you're a night owl or want to save some time by traveling by night, then a sleeper train could be just the ticket. Sleeper trains are usually equipped with beds, washbasins, towels and air-conditioning, and have several travel classes on board depending on your budget and requirements.  

One of the most popular sleeper trains in the UK is the  Caledonian Sleeper , which runs an overnight service from  London to Edinburgh , and also up to  Aberdeen  and  Inverness  (in Scotland). To search for Caledonian Sleeper services, check out our  Sleepers Search  page. 

There are other options for sleeper trains in the UK, such as the Night Riviera train from  London to Penzance  in  Cornwall . For more information, check out our UK sleeper trains page, or our guide to the best night trains to take from London .

Airport transfers by train

If you're flying in or out of some of the major cities in the UK, the great news is that most of the major airports have train stations inside or near the terminals to whisk you away to the city center in comfort, so you won't need to worry about getting stuck in a traffic jam.  

For those arriving in London, chances are you're going to land at Heathrow  or  Gatwick Airport . The fastest way to get from Heathrow is by taking the  Heathrow Express  train, which will take you from the airport to London Paddington station in as little as 15 minutes. Five out of the six airports in London have train stations inside the terminals, except for  Luton Airport  which is a short bus transfer away from Luton Airport Parkway station. Other popular airports including  Manchester Airport  and  Edinburgh Airport  also have direct train services to the city centre.  

To see the full list of UK airports with train transfer services and to book online, check out our  UK airports  page. (Oh yeah, did we mention we also sell  bus tickets to the major airports too?)

On a tight budget? Travel by bus instead

If time isn't a factor, or you’re a penny-pincher traveling on a budget, we can take you where you want to go by bus instead. There's an extensive bus network in the UK which makes reaching the most remote and unique locations possible, and we’ve partnered with the UK’s largest bus operator National Express  to take you there. 

Buses in the UK are usually cheaper than trains, but the journey time can be a little longer. As well as being an affordable option for travelers, most  bus companies in the UK have vehicles that come equipped with all the modern onboard facilities that make bus journeys comfortable and hassle-free.  

If you’re keen to explore your options, search for  UK bus tickets .

Train operating companies in the UK

There are 28 train operating companies (TOCs) across the  National Rail  network in the UK. But don't worry, together with the TOCs, we work to make your journey as smooth as possible. Just let us know where you're going to and we'll do the rest. To see all UK TOCs, visit our  Rail companies in Europe and the UK  page.

• Avanti West Coast
• Great Western Railway
• East Midlands Railway  
• London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
• London Northwestern Railway
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• Grand Central Railway
• Greater Anglia
• Hull Trains
• Island Line
• South Western Railway
• Southeastern Railway
• Great Northern
• Transport for Wales
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Railway

There are lots of different types of train tickets available in the UK, and it can be confusing to know which ones to buy, even for the locals. We've tried to make it as easy to understand as possible and have filtered out the noise to help you understand the options that matter to help you save.

UK train ticket types

Peak vs. off-peak travel.

If you've got flexible travel plans, then traveling by train in Off-Peak times may save you some money. The main difference between Peak and Off-Peak tickets is all about what time(s) during the day you travel. Peak times vary from train operator to train operator but generally, they tend to be in the morning and late afternoon during busy commuting times on weekdays. Off-Peak tickets can usually be found outside of these times, such as in the middle of the day or later at night on weekdays, and on weekends and public holidays (known as bank holidays in the UK).

For more information, check out our  Off-Peak train times and tickets page.

Flexible tickets

If you're a nomad who doesn't like to be tied down by exact travel dates and times, you can purchase flexible tickets to allow you to travel at any point of the day. In the UK they are normally called Anytime tickets (either Anytime Day or Standard Anytime). You can get flexible tickets for travel on a certain date or ones that cover travel for multiple dates. They're usually a bit more expensive than fixed-time tickets because they allow you to travel during Peak times.

If you book a flexible ticket and travel on a train without a reserved seat, make sure the seat you pick hasn’t been reserved by another passenger (as noted by a digital display above the window, or a printed paper reserved ticket attached to the chair).

Learn more about flexible train tickets .

One-way or return options

Like with airline travel, you have the option to book either one-way or a return ticket. If you're traveling out of town for a day trip, or you're returning to the same destination within a month by train, you can usually buy a ticket that is cheaper than two single one-way trips by selecting the return option. Selecting the Day Return (Anytime Day Return, Off-Peak Day Return etc.) option will allow you to take a trip to and from the same destinations on the same day, or a standard Return (Anytime Return, Off-Peak Return etc.) will normally allow you to travel back on your return journey within one calendar month of the date shown on your ticket.

Find out about Return train tickets in the UK. 

Standard or First Class

If you're looking for the most affordable train travel options, a standard ticket could be what you're after. Alternatively, if you're coming to the UK for a well-earned break, you can treat yourself and upgrade to a First Class ticket. Most train companies in the UK offer First Class tickets that come with bigger tables and extra legroom, with some including a meal and free WiFi access. First Class facilities depend on the route and the train company you're traveling with and are sometimes subject to availability.

Discover more about the benefits of First Class train tickets  or check out our guide to First Class train travel from London to Edinburgh .

Connections to inner-city public transport

In train stations in the many big cities in the UK, you'll find convenient bus, tram and subway connections to get you to your hotel or to catch another train if you're only passing through.

In London for instance, if you need to connect to the subway system (known as London Underground, or "The Tube"), you can buy a Visitor Oyster Card online or at a staffed station when you arrive.

If you're after cheap UK train tickets , check out the hints below and see how you could bag yourself a bargain. We'll always highlight the cheapest prices! Even if you're looking for last-minute train tickets , we've got great ways to save on those too.

Book in advance

Train tickets in the UK usually go on sale 3 months before the date of travel. Look out for Advance tickets, as these tend to be cheaper when they're first released. Be quick though, as they sell out on busier routes.

Find out more about our Advance ticket alert tool.

Travel Off-Peak

When traveling by train in the UK, you can benefit from reduced fares by choosing times of day that are less busy. When searching for tickets with us, we'll display all available tickets and options, highlighting the cheapest ones.

Learn more about Off-Peak train times .

Price Prediction

Our clever little Price Prediction tool will peek into the future and let you know when ticket prices are about to rise – meaning you'll never miss out on the best value fares. Beat the rush and save on price too (currently available in the UK app only).

Discover the magic of Price Prediction .

Consider a Railcard

They're types of train discount cards you can buy for £30 for unlimited use. You can get up to a 1/3 off the price of Off-Peak train tickets when using a Railcard. From kids to elderly people, there are great discounts out there you don't want to miss out on.

Find out more about Railcards .

GroupSave is a concession that allows any group of 3 - 9 passengers traveling together up to a 34% discount on Off-Peak tickets on selected routes.

Great for families and groups of friends, you can find this option when you select between 3 and 9 passengers for your journey.

Learn more about Groupsave .

UK train pass (BritRail)

Investing in a BritRail Pass can be a great way of taking your time and traveling at your own pace. By buying a BritRail pass, it could prove to be money well spent too. If you're planning on visiting more than one country in the UK during your trip, a BritRail Pass might be better than buying individual tickets.

Learn more about BritRail Passes .

How to save on last-minute train tickets

Ever found yourself scrambling for a last-minute train ticket and wondered if you’re paying over the odds? Well, worry not! With our nifty money-saving tool, there’s no need to fret about ticket prices, even if it’s at the last possible moment. Use our Journey Planner to search for tickets, and we’ll always highlight the cheapest fares for the time you’ve selected. Alternatively, with the Trainline app, you can save money right up to the last second by using our advance purchase on the day feature.

Learn more about last-minute train tickets .

How to buy and collect UK train tickets

Buying your UK train tickets online or on our app is the quickest way to get onboard. To speed up the process we've also got Mobile Ticket and eTicket options, or have a look at the other collection methods below. For more information, read our guide on how to buy train tickets in the UK . 

How to book your ticket

If you've decided where and when you're going, it's time to make your purchase. There are four different ways available for you to book train tickets in the UK.

Get our app

If you already know where you're going, you're only a few steps away from securing your ticket. Buying online with us is a great way of looking at Advance ticket options and train times picking up travel tips along the way. Start your search .

Using our app to book your tickets means you've got more control over your train travel. Signing up is simple and we highlight the cheapest prices for train tickets as well as platform information, quicker than at the station.

At the station

In the UK you still have the choice of buying printed "paper tickets" from a machine at the station. You'll have to queue, pay on-the-day prices (in many cases more expensive), and you won't be able to see or purchase Advance tickets.

On the train

In some rural and quiet areas of the UK, there won't be ticket machines. Trains in these parts of Britain will travel with a conductor who will be able to sell you a ticket as well as answer any questions you may have about your journey.

How to collect your tickets

Booked your tickets? Well, you're nearly good to go. There are several options for you to pick them up and they're all quick and easy.

Carry your tickets around with you. Etickets are fast and secure – simply store the PDF (portable document format) on your phone and portable device or print at home.

Discover etickets .

Mobile Ticket

Skip the queues at the machine and get your ticket straight in the Trainline app. Simply scan the barcode at the gates and you're good to go (not available at all stations).

Discover Mobile Tickets .

Collect at the station

Print a paper ticket at the ticket machine at the station using a unique collection code. You'll need to bring the credit or debit card you used to pay with you to collect the tickets.

If you fancy a souvenir to hold on to, get your printed tickets posted to you. No matter where you are in the world, they'll be delivered straight to your door (additional postage fees apply).

UK train times and schedules

W hether   you're going from London to Edinburgh by train or trying to get to the airport from the city center, we'll show you   live   train times   and schedules 12 weeks in advance   for any National Rail journey in the UK , all in real time.

London to Edinburgh

Edinburgh to london, london to manchester, london to york, london to leeds, manchester to london, edinburgh to inverness, london to oxford, get live train times in our app.

By downloading our app, not only do you have your tickets in the palm of your hand, you also get access to live train times. If everything is running smoothly with your train, or it's delayed for some reason, you'll be the first to know. What's more – app users get platform information before those waiting by the departure boards.

Download our app

Live updates at the station

If you don't have our app, you'll find electronic departure boards in most stations' entrance halls, showing live updates, train times and platform information. Find out more in our guide to reading train station boards . All travel information will also be announced on a tannoy (loudspeaker) system in English.

Travel Britain by train

There are loads of amazing places you can visit by train in Great Britain, and the interconnected rail network makes traveling cross-country quick and easy. To find some inspiration on where to go, check out these country highlights below.

London to Manchester / Oxford to Birmingham

Discover the length and breadth of England. From coastal places such as St Ives, Cornwall and Devon to cosmopolitan hotspots like London and Liverpool (you could even take the train between them !), see all England has to offer by rail. And that's not forgetting to the many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that reside up and down the nation. Why not head to the Cotswolds by train , or explore the filming locations used in Love Actually ? 

This year, the NFL is returning to London yet again for their annual International Series. Read our comprehensive guide if you’d like to find out which teams are playing the NFL Europe games, where the host stadiums are, and how you can make the most of an exciting weekend of NFL action in England.

Or if cricket's more your thing, find out everything you need to know about watching cricket in England .

Discover trains in England .

Glasgow to Edinburgh / Inverness to Aberdeen

Explore the land of bagpipes, Braveheart, whisky and tartan by train. From exploring the historic grounds of Balmoral Castle to jumping on the magical Harry Potter train, Scotland's beauty can be seen from the comfort of your cabin. Benefit from smooth cross-country connections like Edinburgh to London in just 4 hours, or check out our Scotland rail map for more popular routes.

Discover trains in Scotland .

Cardiff to Swansea / Newport to Bangor

Feel the pride of a nation by taking inspiring train journeys in Wales. Whether you're into rugby, nature or castles, Wales has something on offer for everyone. From Cardiff , the capital and most diverse city, to the small towns and villages that make up Wales, go by train to make the most of this gem of a country.

Discover trains in Wales , including South Wales trains .

Rail and Sail (trains to Ireland)

If you're off to anywhere in Ireland for a short city break or you just want to know why the Irish have all the luck, we'll find the best way to get you there by land and sea. Take the scenic route and join up your train journey with the ferry to Dublin or Belfast with the Rail and Sail package today.

Find out more about Rail & Sail .

If you're traveling from abroad, don't just stick to the London bubble – to find the true beauty of Great Britain, you need to get out and explore! Check out these incredible UK destinations you can reach by train.

Trains to Manchester

Trains to edinburgh, trains to birmingham, trains to bath, trains to liverpool, trains to oxford, trains to brighton, trains to leeds, trains to york, trains to london.

If you want to learn more about trains in Great Britain, we've added these extra handy tips and FAQs to make your life just that little bit sweeter.

Should I buy a BritRail Pass or individual tickets in the UK?

As we've mentioned before, it all depends on what your travel plans look like. If you're in the UK and only want to go from say, London to Bath and back again, then a return ticket could be the best option. If you're here for a while and want to see as many cities and regions as you can, then getting a UK train pass, known as the BritRail Pass , may be your best bet.

Do I need a passport to travel from region to another in the UK?

You don't need a passport if you're traveling between England, Scotland and Wales by train, but it's always advisable to carry it around with you as a form of identification. If you're catching the Eurostar train over to France and beyond, then you'll definitely need your passport.

Can I reserve seats on trains in the UK?

On longer or more popular routes, you can usually reserve a seat if you book a ticket for a fixed time and request a seat allocation when you book. You can't choose your exact seat like you can when booking a plane ticket, but you can request services like an aisle or window seat, forward or rear-facing seat, a seat in the quiet carriage, a table seat, or a seat near a toilet. Please note that these services are requested, but can never be guaranteed. If a seat booking is available, you will see it in your basket on the payment screen on our site e.g. Coach B, seat 48 (window).

If you book a flexible ticket, you may be given the option to reserve a seat and travel time for your outbound journey, but you won't be guaranteed a reserved seat if you don't travel on the train you've booked the ticket for. Many trains have unreserved sections allocated, so you'll need to board the train and walk through the cars to look for a seat without a printed ticket slip (usually found attached to the headrest) or digital display showing a reservation. Some seats may only be reserved for a smaller portion of the journey, so if there's a printed slip on the seat and nobody is sitting in it, you may be able to sit there for some of the journey, if the passenger is getting on at a later stop.

Do kids travel for free on UK trains?

Children under the age of five can travel for free with a fare-paying adult - however, it doesn’t always mean they're guaranteed a seat. On busy trains, kids may have to travel on the adult's lap to make room for other passengers. For 5 to 15-year-olds, there are half-price tickets available on selected routes but proof of age may be required when you travel. Be sure to select the "child" option in our Journey Planner when you're booking.

How much baggage can I take on board a UK train?

You can travel with three items of baggage per person on most UK trains. This usually means you can take two suitcases and a piece of hand luggage. Additional articles such as surfboards and bicycles may be taken for a fee and are subject to space availability. For peace of mind, it's best to contact the train company ahead to make sure you can travel with these extra items.

Can I leave my baggage at the station?

Yes. In some major UK train stations there are places where you can store your baggage. While some smaller stations don't have this facility, to find out which stations have baggage storage facilities, visit our UK train stations page.

Is it possible to break my train journey?

You can only break your journey provided you haven't bought an Advance ticket. If you're going from say, Glasgow to Mallaig, one of your calling points would be Fort William. At this station, or any others along the way, you'd be free to get off and explore for a few hours. After that, simply hop on the next available train and continue on your way.

For more information visit the National Rail Conditions of Travel page.

Traveling to Europe from the UK

A major advantage of visiting the UK is that you're within easy reach of other parts of Europe by train. Fancy a spur of the moment day trip to Amsterdam or to watch the closing stages of the Tour de France in Paris? Discover trains in Europe .

Trains to Paris

Trains to brussels, trains to amsterdam, trains to nice, in need of inspiration.

If you need more information on things to do in Great Britain or how to travel around Great Britain by train, check out our guides below.

The Holiday: where it was filmed and how to get there by train

The most beautiful train stations in mainland europe and the uk, fast and affordable: the stansted express to london city center, visit the london filming locations for the paddington movies, the story behind scotland's loch ness monster, manchester travel guide: the best things to do and see, your shopping guide to bicester village, visit the locations from netflix's one day by train, the coolest train station bars in london, study abroad in europe, including in great britain, follow the football on vacation in great britain, london's famous blue plaques and the people behind them, robin hood-inspired locations around nottingham, england, best breweries and taprooms in london, england, jack the ripper history and walking tours in london, the best restaurants and pubs in the cotswolds, your guide to cotswold cheese, step into the beatles history in liverpool: your ultimate guide, the best stratford-upon-avon hotels, what you need to know about the oxford and cambridge boat race, where do the royals live all you need to know about the british palaces, celebrity soccer fans: and how to visit the stadiums by train, see the filming locations for apple tv's masters of the air, your guide to the brighton train station, travel around the uk by train with a eurail pass, visit shakespeare’s hometown stratford-upon-avon by train, your guide to northumberland, england and how to get there by train, see the castle from the traitors tv show in scotland, where was netflix's black mirror filmed, james bond no time to die filming locations and how to visit by train, the most grand manor houses in england and how to visit by train, the best castles in england, the ten most instagrammable restaurants in london, cooper's hill cheese-rolling and wake: how to get to england's world famous cheese roll, europe's best indie bookshops (including 9 in great britain), see the castle from the traitors in scotland, europe’s leading train and coach app.

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BRITAIN RAILway MAP

Train Tickets in Britain

Popular routes, about our website.

• ​​ London King’s Cross Train Station
• Edinburgh Waverley ​ ​
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• ​​ St Pancras Railway Station
• ​​ London Paddington
• ​​ London Euston
• ​​ Manchester Piccadilly
• ​​ Cambridge Railway Station
• ​​Avanti West Coast Train
• LNER Train
• ​ ScotRail Train​
• ​GWR Train
• CrossCountry Train
• ​ Caledonian Sleeper
• ​​ Northern Trains
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TRAVELING ELSEWHERE?

A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s 13 Easy Tips for Navigating Train Travel in the UK

I love traveling by train. There’s something romantic about a rail journey, and whenever I travel in Britain I try to do it by train. I’ve gotten a lot of messages from readers lately about how to navigate train travel in the UK, so today I want to bring you A Lady in London’s guide to British rail travel.

Train Travel in the UK

If you’ve traveled by train before, it might seem simple enough. But there are some quirks to the British train system that I wish I had known about when I moved here.

I would have saved a lot of time and money, not to mention frustration, if I had had the knowledge I do now. I hope this guide helps you avoid the mistakes I made when I first started traveling by train here.

1. Different Companies Run Different Trains

Before you start booking train tickets in the UK, it’s worth noting that there are often multiple train companies that run trains to the same destination.

You’ll need to make sure you buy a ticket from the right company for the right train in order to ensure you don’t have to purchase a new ticket or pay a penalty fare on board.

Most of the time you can go to the National Rail website to look up timetables. Once you’ve chosen a train you want to take, the website will direct you to the relevant company you need to purchase tickets from.

If you’re booking from overseas, there are some websites that handle all rail bookings, so you might not need to worry about it.

2. Check Your Departure Station Carefully

The next thing to think about when it comes to train travel in the UK is that trains to the same destination can depart from multiple stations in a city.

Keep that in mind when planning your travel so you don’t end up accidentally showing up at the wrong station. This is true in London and many other cities in the UK, so it’s good to remember whenever you travel.

3. Book Tickets Well in Advance

When I moved to London, the most important thing I learned about train travel in the UK is that booking tickets as far in advance as possible is the best way to save money.

Ticket prices on many routes tend to rise the closer you get to the date of travel, so if you wait and buy tickets at the station before you go, you could be paying a lot more than you need to for them.

I made this mistake more times than I care to remember until a friend taught me to book ahead. I still can’t believe how much I save just by buying my train tickets months, weeks, or even days in advance.

4. Look for Deals and Discounts on UK Train Tickets

Along those lines, there are deals and discounts to be had on UK train tickets. Some companies run promotions, so it’s good to check their websites in advance of your trip.

Others offer discounts for group travel or other special circumstances, so it’s worth exploring that option as well. It can be helpful if you want to take cheap day trips from London .

Sometimes booking two single (one-way) tickets is cheaper than booking a return (round-trip) ticket, too.

Spending a bit of extra time can lead to big savings, and there are independent companies that specialize in selling cheap train tickets. It’s worth doing some research online before you book so you get the best price.

5. Get a Railcard

To that end, Railcards are great ways to save money on train travel in the UK.

These cards are offered to people of specific ages and/or circumstances, and buying one can help you save on every journey for a year (including off-peak tube fares in London).

If you’re living in Britain or traveling extensively by train while you’re here, I recommend getting one. They tend to pay for themselves quickly, especially if you’re traveling on expensive routes.

I had a Railcard when I first moved here and couldn’t believe how much I saved over the course of a year.

6. Take Advantage of Group Travel Discounts

In addition to Railcards, group discounts are a great way to save on train travel in the UK. These fares are offered by many train companies in Britain if you travel in a group of 3 to 9 people.

Generally, you can get 1/3 off ticket prices at off-peak times when traveling together, but some companies even offer up to 50% off for groups of four adults.

It’s worth doing some research before you go to make sure you get the best deal if you’re traveling with others. I’ve paid far more than I needed to in the past because I wasn’t aware I could get discounts like this.

7. Leave Ample Time to Get to the Station

Once you’ve bought your tickets, there are some tips that will help you on the train journey itself. One of my best pieces of advice is to leave yourself plenty of time to get to the station before you depart.

London’s public transport suffers from frequent delays and disruptions, and taxis are often slower than the tube. Regardless of how you choose to get to the station, make sure you account for potential delays on the way.

8. Leave Ample Time to Collect Your Tickets

In addition to leaving yourself plenty of time to get to the station, it’s important to arrive at the station early if you’re collecting your tickets before you depart.

There are often long waits at ticket machines, especially at peak travel times. I’ve nearly missed trains because it took so long to get my tickets.

This is even more true if you’re traveling to a big event outside London.

Every year that I’ve gone to the Henley Royal Regatta, at least one member of my group has missed the train because the waits at the ticket machines are especially long on event days.

Many train companies now allow you to get tickets via email or on their app before you travel, so if that’s an option I highly recommend it.

9. Make Sure You Get on the Correct Train

Once you have your tickets, make sure to board the right train. I know this sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to get on the wrong one.

Many trains depart at similar times for the same location, and it’s easy to mistake one train for another if you’re not paying close attention.

This can cause you to miss a connection, have to pay for a new ticket, and/or get to your destination much more slowly than you anticipated. All these things happened to me when I first moved here.

Make sure to check your exact departure time against the departure time of the train you’re boarding, double-check that the train is going to your destination, and verify that the company running the train is the one you bought your ticket from.

Getting to the station early can help ensure you have time to do all of this.

10. Don’t Rely on Food and Beverage Service

Once on board, there are a few more things that can make your life easier. One of them is to not rely on there being any food or beverage service.

Usually there’s a food trolley or even a carriage dedicated to selling food and drink, but on certain days (especially Sundays) they close up shop.

This is even true in first class, where on some services hot meals are supposed to be served but are often reduced or cut completely due to short staff, lack of supplies, or other issues.

As such, if you’re on a long train journey it’s a good idea to stock up on food and drinks before you travel. If you’re in the UK capital, there are some great places to eat near London’s train stations .

Most train stations in London have supermarkets and food outlets, too, so it’s easy to grab something for the ride. This will make your train travel in the UK a lot more civilized.

11. Drink Like a Local

Okay, so this is a bit of a joke. But it’s also not.

Given I’ve never seen anyone drink more alcohol than British people on trains, if you want to fit in and live like a local (and not get driven crazy by all the drunk people around you), I recommend drinking on the train.

It doesn’t matter if it’s 6am or 6pm, Brits will be boozing. I promise. If you want to maintain your sanity, you will be wise to join them.

12. Be Prepared for Delays and Cancellations

While you’re traveling (and/or drinking), make sure to be prepared for delays and cancellations. It’s rare that I’ve been on a train in the UK that hasn’t been delayed, and I’ve dealt with my share of cancellations.

Rail replacement buses are also fairly common, especially on weekends when maintenance works often close the tracks.

If you have a connection to make or plans after your arrival, build in extra time for unforeseen circumstances.

If your train is delayed for more than 30 minutes, you may be entitled to compensation. Make sure to check if you experience delays, as often you can get some or all of the cost of your train ticket reimbursed.

13. Look Out the Window

My last piece of advice for train travel in the UK is my best: look out the window. One of the reasons I love traveling by train in Britain is that the views are amazing.

From the English countryside to the Scottish coast, the hilltop cathedrals to the seaside towns, the trains here have unparalleled views to enjoy.

On some rail services you can reserve a seat when you book, so finding a window seat is a good idea. On others, it’s a free-for-all, so you’ll have to rely on skill and luck to get a good seat.

I hope this blog post has helped you navigate train travel in the UK, and that it will save you from making a lot of the mistakes I did in my early years of living in London.

Above all, I hope it encourages you to get out and see more of the country. There are some amazing places to discover here (if you need inspiration, start here ).

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email .

4 Comments on Lady’s 13 Easy Tips for Navigating Train Travel in the UK

This was a very helpful article – and well written as well. Thank you for sharing.

You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.

Thank you for the tips and the laugh! I’m planning my second trip to the UK (lots of train travel like last time) and I have to say… Tip #11was instinctual for my friends and me in 2019! Our first train trip was from London to Aberdeen and we spent the entire time drinking little cans of Gin and something…. Delish! And we had a great time!

I’m glad to hear that!

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Britain by train – top 10 UK rail journeys (+ map & tips)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: October 21, 2022

Are you planning to take some rail journeys around Britain in the future? Are you confused about using the UK rail network? Not sure where to start to put together your train trip itinerary? Perhaps you have limited experience of rail travel or are unsure of where to go in Britain via train?

In this article you will find all the help you need to start your planning. Reflecting on a background of 25+ years working (and 50+ years travelling) on the UK rail network we have picked 10 of the top UK rail journeys to take around the country and the journeys which will enable you see the best of Britain by rail .

Tip – If you are considering travelling around the UK by train it may be cost effective to purchase a BritRail Pass to cover your rail travel. There are a variety of different passes available – click here for more information about the BritRail Pass.

1. London Paddington to Penzance Cornwall

2. london euston to glasgow central, 3. london liverpool street to birmingham new street via cambridge & ely, a. london kings cross to edinburgh waverley, b. london st pancras to edinburgh waverley via sheffield, complete guide to uk train travel written by doug and tracy collins.

• 6. Birmingham New Street to Llandudno via Hereford, Shrewsbury & Chester (+optional return to Shrewsbury via the Blaenau Ffestiniog Independent Narrow Gauge Railway)

7. Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly (extend to Liverpool Lime Street)

8. glasgow to fort william and mallaig (west highland line), a. edinburgh waverley to inverness via dundee or aberdeen, b edinburgh waverley to inverness via stirling, listen to our introduction to uk train travel podcast, read our guide to travelling on the uk train network, where can i book tickets for these journeys, how can i save money on uk train travel, enjoy your rail journeys in the uk and beyond.

London Paddington > 3 hours > Reading > Taunton > Tiverton > Exeter > Newton Abbot > Totnes > change at Plymouth > 2 hours > lots of small stations including Liskeard St Austell Truro St Erth (change for St Ives) > Penzance 305 miles from London Paddington to Penzance Cornwall (via Plymouth)

This journey takes around 5 hours from London Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall (with a change of train in Plymouth).

The train operating company for this journey is Great Western Railway.

The first part of the journey takes you from the hustle and bustle of London on Brunel’s Great Western route to the West Country . At Plymouth you change trains from the faster modern service to a smaller regional service which features regular stops at smaller quaint stations.

Beautiful scenery typifies this route as it passes through several counties including Somerset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Devon and into Cornwall .

Places of historical interest on this journey include the cathedral city of Exeter.

If you to wish to include a visit to the beautiful city of Bath in your itinerary it is possible to take an alternative route. Catch a CrossCountry train service from London Paddington to Bath then onto Bristol (1 hours 20 mins to Bath and an additional 15 minutes to Bristol)

Trains to Plymouth from Bristol/Bath take approximately 2 hours. At Plymouth connect with the Penzance train.

Good to know – To provide an additional option there is a Cornwall sleeper train service called the Night Riviera . This leaves from London Paddington 6 times a week starting on Sunday evenings with Penzance its final destination. There are around 15 stops in-between.

It departs London Paddington at 23:45. Cabin passengers can board at 22:30 pm. It arrives at Penzance the next morning at around 8 am. Seating options are available as well as sleeper cabins. The Night Riviera is operated by Great Western Railway .

Alternatively travel back to London via train. The Night Riviera leaves Penzance at 21:45 (21:15 Sundays) and arrives into Paddington at around 5:30 am.

Click for ticket prices

London Euston > 4 hours 50 minutes > Glasgow Central 343 miles from London Euston to Glasgow Central

The train journey takes you up the West Coast Mainline . This is a fast service which is perfect if you want to get from London to Glasgow quickly.

This 4 hour 50 minute trip has no changes. There are a limited number of stops which includes principal stations only so as to decrease travel time.

At present this route is operated by Avanti West Coast . There are new trains on order for this route.

The route incorporates some of the most beautiful countryside in northern England including the Lake District .

This service takes you into the centre of Glasgow perfect to pick up other train services in Scotland.

Good to know – Travel during daylight hours (leave early in the day) to enjoy the scenery en route.

London Liverpool Street > 1 hour 15 mins > Cambridge > 15 minutes > Ely > 30 mins > Peterborough > 60 mins > Leicester > 50 mins > Birmingham New Street

Trains leave roughly every 15 minutes (Monday to Friday/less frequently during weekends and public holidays) from London Liverpool Street direct to Cambridge. This takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and is currently operated by Greater Anglia .

Stop off in Cambridge as it is worth exploring. The station is about 45 minutes from the main centre though buses are available outside the station (directly outside and to the left)

The train from Cambridge to the historic cathedral city of Ely takes approximately 15 minutes. This is a CrossCountry service and the train’s final destination will typically be Birmingham New Street (total travel time Cambridge to Birmingham New Street is 2 hours 45 minutes)

The first calling point after 15 minutes is Ely. Even if you don’t plan to get off keep an eye out for beautiful 12th century Ely Cathedral on the hill on the left hand side of the train as you approach the town. It is a 10 minute walk from the train station into Ely town centre.

After Ely the train calls at Peterborough. This is a stopping point on the East Coast Mainline so you could hop onto that line at this point for travel to York/Durham/Newcastle and Edinburgh.

After Peterborough the train calls in at Leicester then onto Birmingham New Street.

This is not a fast route and you will be using more regional services with a multitude of station stops but it is a great way to see the country.

Good to know – At Ely there is also a lovely train trip to Norwich over the Norfolk countryside.

4. London to Edinburgh

There are various routes to take from London to Edinburgh depending on your preferences. I am going to talk about 2 possible routes.

London Kings Cross > 2 hours > York > 50 mins > Durham > 15 mins > Newcastle > 1 hour 45 mins > Edinburgh

London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley is along the East Coast Mainline route.

This is the most direct route to Edinburgh from the capital and takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. The route is operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER)

General stopping points include Peterborough, York , Darlington, Durham and Newcastle. The route is best for speed and new modern trains tend to service this line. This is the route of the famous Flying Scotsman steam train.

The route from Newcastle to Edinburgh is particularly scenic as you hug the Northumberland coastline. Sit on the right for views of Bamburgh Castle and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne .

Good to know – This journey is about the rail experience and getting to Edinburgh quickly from London. It zooms through the cities and countryside so you don’t get time to absorb the countryside as you travel.

London St Pancras > 2 hours > Sheffield > 3 hours 50 mins > Edinburgh

An alternative route to that above is from St Pancras (next to Kings Cross) using East Midlands Railway Service .

On this journey from London to Edinburgh you will see different scenery as it takes you on the cross country route via Sheffield and the Derbyshire Dales .

This journey will give you more a sense of the countryside in central England and passes through the cities of Leicester, Derby and Chesterfield (look for the crooked spire as you travel into Chesterfield)

You need to change trains at Sheffield from the East Midlands trains onto an Edinburgh service run by CrossCountry. The slower service from Sheffield to Edinburgh goes via Leeds. A faster route bypasses Leeds but may mean a change of trains in York or Newcastle .

Check which train operator you have a ticket with as they are generally not interchangeable between each other.

(Please note if you have booked your ticket through a retailer such as thetrainline.com you will have a valid ticket for the entire journey as you will have selected the relevant tickets and seat reservations)

The cross country route joins the East Coast Mainline at Doncaster (south of York).

Learn more – 19 beautiful destinations in Scotland for your bucket list

5. Leeds (Settle) to Carlisle Line

Leeds > 2 hours 45 minutes > Carlisle 72 miles

This is a famous route which joins the cross country lines to the West Coast mainline. Cross the Pennines surrounded by rugged countryside and stunning views.

The train passes through a number of beautifully restored train stations. This line came within a whisker of being closed down but only a lobby group prevented its permanent closure.

From Leeds the train passes through Saltaire a model Victorian town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two stops further you pass through Keighley (the home of the famous steam railway the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway)

After Settle Junction you head north through stations such as Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Kirkby Stephen, Lazonby & Kirkoswald and Langwathby. The station at Dent is the highest mainline train station in England at 1150 feet.

After Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Ribblehead the train passes over the famous Ribblehead Viaduct . With 24 arches set on a curve (and an incline) the Ribblehead Viaduct is instantly recognisable in iconic steam train images (along with the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland)

There are several tunnels along the line including the Bleamoor Tunnel which is 2629 yards long. The entire line was a massive achievement of Victorian engineering.

6. Birmingham New Street to Llandudno via Hereford, Shrewsbury & Chester ( +optional return to Shrewsbury via the Blaenau Ffestiniog Independent Narrow Gauge Railway )

Birmingham New Street > 1 hour 25 mins > Hereford > 60 minutes >Shrewsbury > 1 hour 5 mins > Chester > 1 hour 10 mins > Llandudno Junction > 10 mins > Llandudno > 10 mins > Llandudno Junction > 1 hour 10 mins > Blaenau Ffestiniog (private railway) > 30 mins > Penrhyndeudraeth > 3 hours > Shrewsbury

This is a potential two to three day trip depending on where you decide to stop off along the way.

The journey from Birmingham New Street to Hereford takes approximately 1 hour 25 mins via West Midlands trains . Train passes through Worcestershire and the picturesque Malvern Hills into Hereford.

The journey from Hereford to Shrewsbury along the Welsh marches line (one of the England’s most scenic railway routes) takes around an hour and passes through many places of historical interest including the famous market town of Ludlow.

In Shrewsbury change trains to Llandudno via Chester. If you decide to head into Shrewsbury you will find half timbered houses in the Tudor centre of town.

The journey time from Shrewsbury to Chester on Transport for Wales services is about 1 hour 5 mins. The train line passes into Wales and then back into England before pulling into the beautiful walled city of Chester.

It is worth planning to spend the day in Chester as there are lots of things to do and see in the city including the cathedral, Roman walls, the Tudor timbered buildings, and the Rows (a medieval two level covered arcade)

From Chester to Llandudno change at Llandudno Junction where it is a further 10 minutes into the Welsh seaside town .

For those of you who would like to explore further we recommend you take the train to Blaenau Ffestiniog where you can catch the narrow gauge private heritage railway which runs for 21 kms and is located within Snowdonia National Park.

Frequency of these services depend on the time of year so do check before traveling to avoid disappointment.

Sheffield > 1 hour 20 mins > Manchester Piccadilly > 1 hour > Liverpool Lime Street

The Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly line is operated by multiple train operating companies . This route takes you up and over the Pennines and down across the Hope Valley and Edale in the Peak Distric t. This is beautiful all year round scenery. Temperature and weather changes can be rapid.

On this train journey you will witness the contrast between the industrial heart of the country and the beautiful lush countryside.

I recommend taking the slowest possible train journey with stops at all of these fabulous stations Dore & Totley, Grindleford, Hathersage, Hope, Edale and Chinley to name but a few.

Change at Manchester Piccadilly for services to Liverpool Lime Street.

Glasgow Queen Street > 1 hour 45 mins > Crianlarich > 1 hour 45 mins > Fort William > 1 hour > Mallaig

There are a few trains a day that run this route. From Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William it takes 3 hours 45 minutes. For services to Oban and ferry services to the Inner Hebrides Islands of Mull, Tiree, Barra, and Coll etc change at Crianlarich.

For the best views as you leave Glasgow sit on the left hand side of the train.

This is a ScotRail service. Take this trip in the daylight as the scenery is stunning. North of Crianlarich the train crossed over the bleak wilderness of Rannoch Moor. Look out for Ben Nevis (the UK’s highest mountain) as you approach Fort William.

Change trains at Fort William for Mallaig. This journey takes about 1 hour and takes you over the famous 21 arch Glenfinnan curving viaduct (as seen in Harry Potter) with views of Loch Shiel and the Jacobite Monument.

Further along this route you reach the coast at Arisaig – the western most train station in Britain. As the train turns north enjoy views of the Sound of Sleat and the islands of Aigg, Rum and Muck .

It is vitally important to plan your travel in advance so you don’t get stranded. There are very limited trains from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig.

The Jacobite is another train service from Fort William to Mallaig. This is a private service that only runs in the summer months and is extremely popular (and pricy). Many photographs you will see of the Glenfinnan Viaduct feature the Jacobite steam train service puffing its way across the arches.

Good to know – If you are starting your journey in Edinburgh you will find a multitude of trains every half hour. It takes roughly 50 mins between the two cities.

9. Edinburgh to Inverness (via Dundee or via Stirling)

Edinburgh > 1 hours 10 mins > Dundee > 2 hours 20 mins > Aberdeen > 2 hours 15 mins > Inverness

This is a ScotRail service. It takes 1 hour 10 minutes to Dundee from Edinburgh Waverley train station where you can change trains for Inverness or you could stay on the train and change at Aberdeen.

This route will take you over the Forth Rail Bridge. (Also as you leave Edinburgh look upwards for a view of Edinburgh Castle)

I would only recommend taking this route in daylight or during the summer months. This is the slower route to Inverness but it takes you along the coast and through rural Scotland.

Edinburgh > 40 mins > Stirling > 3 hours > Inverness

The fastest routes from Edinburgh to Inverness are via Stirling and Perth. These take 3 hours 35 mins. If you want to go via Stirling you will need to change trains there for a service to Inverness via Perth.

Around 25 minutes into the journey to Inverness via Stirling look out of the right hand side of the train and you may catch a glimpse of the Kelpies at Falkirk. You will also see Stirling Castle on your approach into the city.

From Stirling the route takes you through Perth, Pitlochry, Kingussie, Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park. This route is typified by beautiful scenery all year round.

Good to know – For a surprising contrast in terrain and scenery take the train up to Thurso and Wick from Inverness.

10. Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh

Inverness > 2 hours 30 mins > Kyle of Lochalsh It is 82 miles from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh

This is a beautiful train journey with scenic and dramatic views over the Highlands of Scotland .

There are many highlights along this route. Look out for the mountain of Ben Wyvis between the Muir of Ord and Dingwall. You may also be lucky to spot deer between Loch Luichart and Garve.

The train passes through Plockton where Hamish Macbeth (the TV series) was filmed in the 1990s.

As you head into the Kyle of Lochalsh enjoy spectacular views of the Isle of Skye .

Good to know – there is an Isle of Skye bus tour which operates every day at 11.45 am. The tour returns in time to catch the last train to Inverness. Alternatively take a day tour from Inverness to Skye (but you would miss this lovely train journey)

Do check for train times and frequency in advance as there are a limited number of daily services.

Plan your UK train travels

If you are unfamiliar with the UK rail network you will find our in-depth guide invaluable. You may also find our guide to getting around London useful too as it details all methods of public transport.

Written by Doug Collins (the co-founder of UK Travel Planning ) who has over 25 years experience working and traveling on the UK train network) the article answers all the questions you may have to help you plan your train journeys in the UK.

It is important to follow any advice around train travel in the UK from train operating companies as well as legal requirements in the light of Covid-19.

Note that it is the law that you  must wear a face covering when travelling in England  on a

• train or tram
• bus or coach
• ferry or hovercraft or other vessel

Reservations should also be made in advance where possible via contactless payment.

If you are planning train travel in the UK and you are not a UK permanent resident I would recommend checking out BritRail Passes .

There are 7 different passes available and you can choose depending on where you plan to visit. For example there are 3 different passes for Scotland – a Spirit of Scotland pass, a Scottish Highland Pass or a Central Scotland Pass.

Alternatively you can purchase the BritRail Pass which covers the entire UK.

Click the button below for more information.

As you can probably tell we love train travel and it is always our chosen method of transport.

Where possible we include at least one train trip into our holiday plans so you will find lots of train related tips, inspiration and resources for UK train travel on both this website and its sister site tracystravelsintime.com

• Discover 12 great day trips by train from London.
• Our best of Britain by rail 14 day itinerary – see 3 countries and 7 top destinations following our detailed itinerary

Money latest: The best breakfast to keep you full until lunch - without paying a fortune

Our series on how to eat more healthily for less is back - and we're looking at breakfast. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Friday 3 May 2024 08:44, UK

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• Which cereals have least sugar? Your guide to a healthier breakfast without paying a fortune
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Ask a question or make a comment

By James Sillars , business reporter

A fairly tepid but positive start for shares in London this morning.

The FTSE 100 was 0.3% up at 8,196 in early deals.

Industrial stocks led the way after a quiet morning for companies reporting on their progress.

Sentiment will be driven later by reaction to the latest US employment report.

An above-forecast number for net new hiring would be likely to spark further market concern that the prospects for an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve are even further away.

The Fed is concerned by headline inflation numbers in the world's biggest economy and strong figures for new jobs and wages could prove spooky for equity investors.

Elsewhere, oil prices remain on course to end the week sharply lower.

Brent crude is trading at $83 a barrel - down from $88 levels seen on Monday.

It's mostly a consequence of easing tensions in the Middle East and, if sustained, could help fuel pump costs come down a bit in the coming weeks.

It can be hard to balance getting nutritious foods that make you feel good without spending a lot.

In this series, we try to find the healthiest options in the supermarket for the best value - and have enlisted the help of  Sunna Van Kampen,  founder of Tonic Health ,  who went viral on social media for reviewing food in the search of healthier choices.

The series does not aim to identify the outright healthiest option, but to help you get better nutritional value for as little money as possible.

Today, we're looking at the breakfast staple - cereal. 

A sugar trap?

"Protein and good fats are what fill you up and satiate you to get your day going," Sunna says.

"Cereal unfortunately is a sugar and carb-heavy start which causes your blood sugar to spike and as a result you feel hungry way before lunch time."

A glance at the nutrition labels and you'll see the problem. 

"Some popular brands contain 35% sugar or up to 12g of sugar per 30g serving - that's already half of the daily recommended intake for children," Sunna says. 

That's before accounting for the fact that most people double up on recommended portion sizes. 

"According to research the average bowl weighs 73g rather than 30g suggested portion size - that means your child could be having their daily sugar quota for breakfast before school," Sunna says.

Healthier cereal choices

"The key to healthier cereal bowls is to ensure minimal sugar and maximum fibre - which is where options like Weetabix come to the forefront as a better option - at 4.2% sugar and 10% fibre," Sunna says. 

Among the main brands, this is hard to beat.

Frosties and Crunchy Nut don't fare well at 35% and 37% sugar respectively. Cornflakes at 8% and Coco Pops at 17% are better - but still high.

Alternative breakfasts

Greek yogurt:  "High in protein and packed with probiotics, Greek yogurt is my breakfast go to. Top it with some fresh berries and a sprinkle of seeds for an antioxidant boost."

Porridge:  "Oats are a great breakfast staple, offering a good dose of fibre, but context matters.

"It's great before a run or the gym but if you are just sitting at your desk all day it will spike your blood sugar and may be best to add more protein and fats to it. 

"Try adding peanut butter or protein powder for a more filling breakfast with more stable blood sugar."

Eggs:  "Boiled, poached, or scrambled, eggs are a protein-rich option that can keep you fuelled till lunch. Pair them with sourdough toast and you have possibly the most well-rounded value breakfast."

"Switching to these alternatives can drastically cut down your sugar intake and increase your energy levels."

We know cereal is a value-for-money and easy breakfast option, but let's have a closer look at the numbers. 

If we take the average cereal bowl at 73g, a cost per bowl looks like 50p for Crunchy Nut cereal and about 25p for the 250ml of milk that goes with it. 

"So, your daily breakfast is costing you 75p per day or £273.75 per year for the privilege of 9.3kg of sugar per year," Sunna says. 

In contrast, a typical medium free-range egg is 25p. 

Put three on a slice of sourdough (15p per slice) and an optimal breakfast has only cost you 90p a day or £328.5 a year. 

"So, you can swap over 18g of sugar every morning for over 18g of protein for just £54.75 extra per year," Sunna says. 

"A health investment, well worth the money."

However, if you want to stick with cereal - supermarket own-label brands are usually 60% cheaper than branded versions. 

Read more from this series... 

With the mortgage market proving more volatile than expected this year, and rates rising again, we're launching a feature providing an overview of the market at the end of each week - and outlining the best deals.

The independent experts at  Moneyfactscompare.co.uk  will be here every Friday. Commentary this week comes from their finance expert Rachel Springall, who has focused on the first-time buyer market...

Fixed-rate mortgages are once again on the rise, with many of the UK's biggest high-street lenders upping rates this week, including Santander, Halifax, Nationwide and NatWest. Lenders have been reacting to growing speculation that interest rates will remain higher for longer. 

Economists predict that the Bank of England will hold interest rates next Thursday but might cut base rate in the summer. Week on week, the overall average two- and five-year fixed rates rose to 5.91% and 5.49%.

This week the lowest two-year fix for first-time buyers with a 5% deposit comes from Loughborough Building Society, priced at 5.49%, which comes with a free valuation incentive and carries a £999 product fee.

First-time buyers with a 10% deposit will find the lowest two-year fixed rate offered by Clydesdale Bank, priced at 5.19%, which does not carry any incentives and charges a £1,499 product fee.

Those new buyers with a 5% deposit who want to fix for longer will find the lowest five-year fixed mortgage comes from The Co-operative Bank this week. Priced at 5.21%, this deal carries a £999 fee but borrowers get £250 in cashback and a free-valuation incentive.

Borrowers with a 10% deposit who wish to fix for five-years will find Clydesdale Bank offering the lowest rate this week priced at 4.64%, which charges a £1,499 fee but does not carry any incentives. 

As a first-time buyer, it's possible you have exhausted your savings on building up a 5% deposit and will use surplus cash to cover removal costs and legal fees. 

If you are looking to save on the upfront cost of your loan, then a Best Buy mortgage could be the most cost-effective choice.

This week one of the top packages on a two-year fixed mortgage comes from Coventry Building Society priced at 5.74% and HSBC priced at 5.79%, both of which come with a free valuation, but HSBC will also pay you £750 as cashback and Coventry Building Society will pay £500 in cashback.

A five-year fixed mortgage may be more appealing for you to guarantee your monthly repayments for longer. 

HSBC has a deal priced at 5.30% which carries a free valuation and £1,000 cashback, but if you want a lower rate, then Coventry Building Society is priced at 5.27%, and offers a free valuation and £500 cashback.

If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you don't have to pay for your NHS prescriptions - but in England they now cost £9.90 after a 25p rise this week.

Fee-free options remain in place for some, such as those who are pregnant, have certain disabilities, students or the elderly.

But if you're not exempt, there are still some means of cutting the costs of treatments.

Prepayment certificates

Prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) cover NHS prescriptions over a given time period, no matter how many medicines you need.

There are two options: A three-month PPC (£32.05), which will start to save you money if you buy four or more prescriptions in that period, or a 12-month PPC (£114.50), which pays off if you buy 12 or more in a year.

Ask for a larger prescription

Doctors may agree to prescribe a longer course of medicine - such as two months' worth instead of one, halving the cost.

Just ask the question - they might say yes, especially if there's no danger of overuse.

Menopause medication

The NHS offers a particular PPC for hormone replacement therapy.

It lasts for 12 months and costs £19.80.

Women can use the PCC as many times as they need within the year.

You might not need a prescription

For some ailments, there are over-the-counter options sold cheaper than their prescribed alternative. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Pint-sized bottles of wine will be allowed on UK shelves from autumn under new post-Brexit trade rules - although doubts have been raised over their demand.

Seven changes to pre-packaged wine sizes are due to come into force on 19 September.

The move to introduce the 568ml size of wine, to sit alongside 200ml and 500ml measures already available, was announced in December and hailed by ministers as a Brexit "freedom".

Pint bottles of Champagne were sold in the UK before Britain joined the European Common Market and were on shelves until 1973.

Read more here ...

JD Sports has told head office staff they must return to the office at least four days a week .

The new amendment to the hybrid working policy will be effective from 1 July and will impact employees at the retail chain's head office in Bury, Retail Gazette reports.

However, the chain will still allow flexibly depending on individual roles.

Pubs could stay open late during the Euros this summer, according to The Sun .

Home Secretary James Cleverly hinted he was looking into extending pub opening hours for the tournament on The Sun show Never Mind The Ballots.

He said: "I will certainly look into it."

We've been bringing you news of plenty of bank switch deals offering free cash these past few months, but Virgin Money has a different kind of incentive for switchers - a 12% interest rate. 

People who switch to its M Account, M Plus Account or Club M Account will be able to get bonus interest rates of 10% gross/10.47% AER (fixed). 

This is on top of the 2% gross/2.02% AER (variable) interest rate already offered on current account balances up to £1,000 - meaning customers can get an interest rate of 12%. 

No other savings accounts offer interest rates this high, and the bonus applies for a year.

TikTok will restore millions of songs to its app after settling a royalty dispute with Universal Music Group. 

Users had been unable to make videos featuring songs from the likes of Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande due to a row over how much TikTok was paying. 

The fight had led to Universal withdrawing music from some of the world's most famous singers. 

The dispute appears to have been settled as the companies announced "improved remuneration" for artists.

More than 10,500 black cab drivers in London have launched a £250m legal case against Uber. 

They accuse the app of breaking the capital's taxi booking rules and deliberately misleading authorities to secure a licence. 

Transport for London (TfL) rules state drivers cannot take bookings directly from customers and must instead use a centralised system. 

The drivers, who are being advised by law firm Mishcon de Reya, argue they have faced unfair competition from Uber and that it knowingly broke these rules. 

Uber has denied these allegations and said the claims are unfounded.

The company has faced numerous challenges in London, including refusals from TfL to renew its licence which were later successfully appealed. 

Billie Eilish fans are complaining about "outrageous" ticket prices for her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour.

The 22-year-old singer unveiled an 81-date tour programme this week, sending fans rushing to secure tickets.

But some expressed disbelief on social media at the prices.

"I know I moan about this all the time, but look at the price of Billie Eilish tickets," one fan called Marianne wrote on X, sharing a screenshot of seated tickets priced at £398.50. 

"Something seriously needs to be done about ticket prices, it's f*****g outrageous!" 

Another complained they had paid less for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which was also criticised for high ticket prices.

A fan called Liv tagged Eilish, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, writing: "Are you ok? £145 for standing tickets is atrocious."

Thousands of people who receive government benefits, including Universal Credit, will be paid as early as tomorrow.

This is because there's a bank holiday coming up on 6 May which will affect benefits paid by both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC (they don't pay benefits on bank holidays).

A statement on the government website reads: "If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you'll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for tax credits and child benefit."

Here are the 11 different government benefits that are expected to be paid early:

• Universal credit;
• State Pension;
• Pension Credit;
• Disability Living Allowance;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Carer's Allowance;
• Child Benefit;
• Income Support;
• Jobseekers Allowance;
• Personal Independence Payment;
• Tax credits (such as Working Tax Credit)

Will your benefit payment change?

No, you'll be paid the same amount you usually receive.

Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit account.

If you earn significantly more or less than your partner, how do you split payments for things like housing, food, household essentials, entertainment and holidays? 

Do you both pay equally, do you split costs according to income, or do you have another method? 

Get in touch with an outline of your situation in the  box above or:

• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here .

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Woman flies to Milan for 14-hour trip because it’s cheaper than a day out in London

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A thrifty woman paid £50 for return flights to Milan , spending 14 hours in Italy for less than a day out in London .

Dagmara Kedzierska made the savvy trip due to increasingly expensive rail tickets in the UK.

It would have cost the 30-year-old over £100 alone to get a return train from her home in Manchester to the capital. So instead, the business owner flew to Milan Bergamo for half the price.

Arriving at 10:50am in the Italian city, she started her day grabbing a coffee with a freshly baked croissant for breakfast.

Dagmara then caught a £6 train to Varenna to see the beautiful Lake Como and watch the world go by while eating pizza and drinking Aperol spritz , before taking the £6 train back to Milan and hopping on the £2 Metro to see the famous Duomo cathedral.

After exploring the area, she travelled back on the Metro to the station and spent £11 on a train to Malpensa airport for her flight home, arriving back in Manchester at 1am the next day.

Dagmara said: ‘The day trips abroad are way more appealing, as most of the time they work out cheaper than staying in the UK.

‘My Milan trip cost me less than £200 including the flights, transport, food and drinks.

‘The weather abroad is also more likely to be better than here, I live in Manchester and the weather lately hasn’t been the greatest!

‘Travelling abroad, even if it’s only for one day, gets me in a holiday mood.’

She’s not new to these whistlestop journeys overseas either, and likes to make the most of her annual leave while visiting as many countries as possible.

‘I have done a few day trips abroad for one day and it allows me to go back to work the next day without taking any time off,’ Dagmara adds.

‘I also love food and travelling abroad even for one day lets me try new foods. The restaurants in the UK are very basic and most of the time you will eat pre cooked pasta or prebaked pizza.’

Proper Italian food is just one benefit of a jet-setting day out to Milan. Despite its upmarket image, the city is affordable (as long as you plan ahead and stick to your itinerary).

Travel blogger Nele van Hout wrote : ‘It is totally doable to go to Milan on a budget and still have a fantastic time…

‘There are a lot of things to do in Milan for free. You can go window shopping in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and Castello Sforzesco can be seen (partly) for free. Even simply wandering around to enjoy the architecture is a real treat.’

Plus, given trains in the UK are among the priciest in Europe , while delays or cancellations are now seemingly the norm , it’s understandable you’d opt for a foreign break over braving somewhere close to home.

The growing cost of staycations is causing many to look further afield when planning their holidays, as Metro.co.uk’s senior news editor Alice Murphy explains : ‘Holiday-let owners across the UK are reporting a notable fall in bookings this year after a boom during the pandemic, with many blaming poor weather and prices resulting from the cost of living crisis…

‘Travel experts say holidaymakers are becoming more careful, booking later and spending less, all with the intention of getting the best value for their money.’

There are downsides to consider if you’re weighing up a whistlestop visit abroad, though.

Firstly, planes produce far more emissions than trains, coaches and even cars, so flying a few hours’ away for less than a day isn’t exactly eco-friendly.

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It’s also important to factor in the cost (both money and time) of getting to and from the airport, potential tourist taxes , and whether you have the stamina to spend a day on your feet without a hotel room to rest in.

Breakdown of Dagmara's costs for Manchester to Milan

• Return flights to Milan: £50
• Travel while in Milan: £27
• Attractions: £10 (it costs €11.50 to access the Duomo cathedral and museum)
• Food and drink: roughly £100

Total: £187

Rough cost of day trip to London from Manchester

• Return train: £100 (although fares can be found for less depending on your time of travel)
• Travel while in London: £15.90 for a London Day Travelcard
• Attractions: £32 (taking into account one adult ticket to Buckingham Palace, but attractions like the British Museum and National Gallery are free to visit)
• Food and drink: £106.33 (factoring in average prices for two meals at inexpensive restaurants, one at a mid-range restaurant, a cup of coffee, three beers and two bottles of water via Numbeo )

Total: £254.23

Approx saving = £67.23

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