Going to Windsor or York before London in December

An interesting challenge.

Yes, York is worthwhile even in December and has a cosier christmas market. There are usually special christmas events athe Minstr but it's a bit early for details.

But as you've noticed, Windsor is an easy location out of Heathrow. And you've also noticed that to get the discounted train tickets for a journey following the flight you need to add a margin of time in case the plane is late - which can cause irritating hanging around if it isn't. So going straight to Windsor, spending the day and night there and the setting off to York after breakfast allows you to control what time you will be at Kings Cross station.And I've just seen something very interesting for a random date in a few weeks time, travelling from Windsor & Eton Central via Slough the through tickets are not only discounted as expected, in some cases the price from Windsor was the same as the price from Kings Cross. If you could get that deal to work on your date (try 2 months in advance) you would effectively get the transfer to London for free!!!

I think Beth is planning to go to Windsor or York before London, but not both.

York is much easier to access from Manchester airport, as there is a station in the airport with direct trains to York. Assuming that FL means you are based in Florida Virgin Atlantic fly direct to MAN from Orlando. Or you can do as you did for Canterbury with trains.

Thanks for the replies. I am thinking of either doing Windsor and York or just York.

Yes, I am in Florida. The airport I fly out of is Miami.

PS. I just checked flying into Manchester and out of Heathrow but end up with both as having one connection. I would rather not do that.

the Manchester Airport-York trains are in a state of flux due to massive engineering work along the route, we can't promise what will be running in December.

It surprises most people to learn that Edinburgh airport is more convenient than Heathrow for travel to York but I don't think you'll find a Florida flight in december

The thing is that it is out of date information that you need to pre book a train to York to get cheap fares (and it was out of date in 2024). Unless you are travelling in the evening peak 99% of the time there are walk up train specific cheap Advance Fares. With 3 trains an hour from Kings Cross to York usually you won't be hanging around for too long if you do that.

With a railcard the next train out at 1930 tonight is £36.65 or £63.85 in 1st class. As an Advance Fare that also comes with a reserved seat. If the train was full there would be no Advance fares available.

That is pretty normal- some later trains tonight are under £25 with a railcard. So if I was walking out of Heathrow this minute I could get a £24.55/£54.80 Standard/1st class fare on the 2033 or 2103 trains, booked on my 'phone.

That LNER fare on the 1930 beats the fare on the (delayed by 30 minutes) 1927 Grand Central train- again not that unusual.

We decided, based on your responses, to go to York from Heathrow. We haven't booked flights yet but like to arrive mid day which is available on several airlines from Miami.

So that would mean we would not be traveling to York during peak times.

isn31c---Are you saying that you can walk up and buy a ticket to York at essentially the same price as if had bought Advance tickets ahead of time? Do you ask for anything specific or just the next train?

You mention railcards. We bought the two together card when we traveled by train in 2019. Now we are over 65 if that matters. But this time we are not doing as much train travel. I was thinking would not be worth the cost of the card but your answer suggests it might be.

Whether it's worth 2 x Senior Railcards at £35 each is arguable, almost certainly not unless you plan to leave York before 0930 on a weekday. But it is undeniably worth the cost of one £35 Two Together Railcard, and don't forget you get your 1/3 railcard discount on the Elizabeth Line if you buy paper tickets so that's another £6 or so saving each straight away.

Yes, essentially you will get a very similar fare on arrival day than you would if you booked today, maybe £5 or £10 more, but nothing like full fare. With LNER taking the strain of the line closure at Bedford currently I might have expected Advance Fares to be hard to get this week, but they aren't.

Just ask at the ticket office for an Advance Fare to York- on your way in to London look at the LNER website on your phone and find out the best fares that afternoon, then you know what you will be charged. If you are comfortable buying on your phone on public wifi (or roaming data if you have it) buy while on the Elizabeth Line train. I know I'm not, but I'm scary cat me.

I don't actually know if the machines at Heathrow can issue tickets from any station- say London KC to York. That's what I would do if they are so capable. Mine in the North of England can issue a fare from anywhere to anywhere.
I would allow a prudent 75 minute minimum to then get from Heathrow to KC, just in case of a delay en route.

Isn31c,
Thank you for all the information.

So the 2 together fares are restricted to 9:30 am or later. We certainly can work around that.

I have bought train tickets in Italy and Portugal through APs but it is easier there because not multiple companies like the UK. I will have to play with it to see if I can get it to work. I take it from your post that the company operating the train from Kings Crossing to York is LNER.

Beth

Trains in different parts of the country are operated by different companies, but each one can sell each other's tickets. For example, I only have two apps on my phone, Northern Rail and Avanti which I use to buy digital tickets for anywhere in the country.
The website www.nationalrail.co.uk can also be used, which will show all trips on offer. Once you choose the one that suits you, you are then directed to the relevant company.
Do the maths first. A railcard costs £35, the same for two people if buying a Two Together type. So if you are paying more than £105 for two people, the £35 cost will be recouped.

I've just been looking at fares today, a Friday, so a peak travel day

If I was leaving Heathrow now, 1000, I can book an 1133 train from KC to York for £31.30 before railcard discount, same on the 1147, the 1203 is £39.50. (or I could at 1000, fares have risen in the 26 minutes since).

The 1230, arrive 1416 (non stop), is £65.30 but the 1233 (2 stops), arrive 1426, is £31.30- so you know which train I would choose- the 1233!

But the really useful thing to know is that, if you put in the search field London Underground Zones 1 to 6 [not Heathrow Airport] you get Advance Fares-
so take the 1035 from Heathrow T2/3 tube, arrive York 1352 that is £75 advance fare from Kings Cross, but is only £78.80 from Zones 1 to 6 to York- essentially you are avoiding paying the hidden airport premium on the tube. That fare applies from any Zone 6 station (tube or National Rail).
In theory it is valid on the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow- so £3.80 rather than the normal £15.50- I have to admit the gates may play up in which case I would just get an extra Heathrow to Hayes & Harlington ticket and stay on the train at H & H- it is certainly valid from there. Still cheaper.

[all fares quoted before railcard discount- also a sneaky way to get railcard discount on the tube]

Traveling by train in England is a fine art if you want to save money!

Thanks for all the tips.