Best site to book trains on for the UK?

LNER is by far the best of the train company websites for North Americans to use. No premium is charged, unlike the resellers.
The only issue is that if they have closed dates due to engineering then they can't sell tickets for other operators even if their bookings are open.
If that happens then I have found, while working closely with a Canadian on this forum, that the Northern Rail website works very well for her, so should for Americans.
They do not have that restriction on bookings.

They can sell for anything that is open, regardless of their own 8 week booking period.

Personally I find their website the more intuitive.

I start with the National Rail website to get the schedule and find out who operates the trains. This is an official site.

I then buy direct from the train company operating the train. I do this via that company's app. (I also register with the site.)

By doing this, I can usually choose and change my seat. Additionally. If there is a delay of more than 30 minutes, I will be entitled to compensation. By buying the ticket this way, I can get the refund either directly from the app or clicking through an email sent to me.

I also take a screenshot of the actual ticket in case of any issues showing it to the conductor.

Occassionally, some train companies have issues with US or Canadian credit cards. In those instances I just use PayPal.

The Man in Seat 61 has been recommending that you use the Transport for Wales (TFW) site to search for and book tickets. There's no fee and it covers all the trains in the UK. I've been using it for searches (haven't booked anything yet) and I like using it.

But as is also said by the above, There's no need to find the 'right' train operator website, or to compare prices on different sites as all train operator websites including www.tfwrail.wales sell tickets for all British trains at exactly the same prices from exactly the same National Rail fares database.

https://tickets.trc.cymru/#/

We traveled this spring and I used LNER. Very easy to use and the e-tickets, even the ones from another operator, are stored in the app.

Thanks all, that is all very helpful!

I'm thinking back to when I was a student in Edinburgh in the 70's, and just showed up at Waverley and hopped on a train to London then and there.... the good old days!

The Man also recommends Trainline which is very user friendly. He also warns that you search for every discount including broken ticketing since UK fares are among the highest.

I think that by "broken ticketing" is meant split-ticketing.

SJ - you still can just rock up at Waverley, but a ticket and jump on but it’s just that like planes, you will pay more for the privilege. Although it still applies for more local services.

I realize Trainline is an after market broker, yet it is my preferred place to shop for and, often, purchase tickets. The user interface is great and I like the fact that I can purchase a ticket via Apple Pay. I like not having to take out my wallet at a busy train station when purchasing a ticket. I suppose there is a slight price increase buying it on Trainline versus direct from the specific train operator but I have compared the prices and the price difference is nominal in my experience.

Does anyone know when the LNER site releases tickets for purchase for December?
At the moment it's only showing up until about Dec. 2nd.
Thank you!

LNER are actually open, on advance fares, until 5 January.

I know the fares are not showing on the calendar but click on any December date in the Calendar and they will appear, with the exception of the last 2 weekends in November, also 3 and 24 December when clearly engineering work is expected at some location or other on the network.

It is important to stress that train paths are not confirmed until between 8 and 12 weeks out so the timings of trains may well change between what is booked and what actually happens- probably by only a few minutes.

Also, if/when you purchase make sure you check which operator you have selected a service of. There are two on the Edinburgh-London route: LNER and Lumo, and both have different service levels and rules on things like baggage.

The Engineering work on 18 and 19 November is at Wakefield, affecting trains to Leeds and (on LNER only) Harrogate, Skipton and Bradford Foster Square, Later dates are just not confirmed yet by Network Rail.

Thanks, now I see how to look ahead.