Is the BritRail Pass our best option?

It seems like you have two home bases not very far from each other. Have you confirmed train travel time for these routes? I don't have ticket prices off the top of my head for these destinations, but you can check them at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

If traveling roundtrip between two points, "day return" ticket prices can be similar to one-way, even on short notice. Or at 30 pounds, a 2 Together Rail Card is a relatively small investment that gets you ticket discounts as you go.

BritRail England Passes for 4 travel days within a month, for instance, cost $281 per adult in 2nd class with no additional discount for traveling together or for seniors. They're very convenient to use, allowing you to hop onto any train on those four counted days. But I wouldn't want you to choose that without a little more research.

All the above topics described further at https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/britain-rail-passes.

Laura,

Thanks for your response. You are correct. Our two home bases are close, but we're starting in Surrey, traveling a week by car and returning to Bourne End to be close enough to London. We know some of the day trips we have in mind, but also want to be spontaneous, visit the Travel Information offices and heed the advice of our B & B hosts. The 30£ couples pass sounds reasonable, but we'll do some more research to make certain.

I don't have an opinion on the pass except to say that the tickets from London to Bath are pretty inexpensive when bought well in advance. Looking at the National Rail site (www.nationalrail.co.uk ) for the last date that is currently available for purchase (mid-Aug) from London to BathSpa, the cheapest fare is £12 one way. Interestingly on this journey it looks like it is cheaper to by 2 single tickets than to purchase a return ticket. Anyway, play around with the fares on there. You can price out whether this will work out cheaper than the pass for you. BTW, if you were going to buy the ticket for a journey next week it would be £92.50 so it really pays on some routes to purchase ahead.

I am guessing since you are going to Chawton and Bath that you are a Jane Austen fan? I went to Bath for the JA Festival last September and it was so much fun! I loved seeing people dressed up in period costume and enjoyed a couple of the programs as well. Let me know if you want more information about it. One of the things they had several times during the festival was a day trip to Chawton.

Thanks Pam from Idaho,

When you talk of buying tickets to Bath in advance, did you do that on-line before your flight? I didn't realize the fares changed like the airlines.

I'm so pleased you recognized Chawton. Several folks have said, "Where?" I'm very excited about visiting Jane Austen's home for eight years and the library which was her brother's home. We will not be attending the festival in Bath, but I'm glad you enjoyed it last year. Are you also a fan of Elizabeth Gaskell?

You were a September visitor. Feel free to share any packing advice you have. Rain coats and umbrellas? Where was your favorite place for tea? Do you have a theatre to recommend? Seeing a play is on our list.

I bought my ticket for Bath as soon as it went on sale, so about 90 days out from the travel date. The forum regulars from UK will know exactly how far in advance they go on sale online. You print off a receipt then have to get the regular ticket at the station. My credit card does not work in the automated kiosks so I always just give myself time to stand in line before my train. Purchasing ahead does tie you to a particular train on a particular day but the money savings is worth it to me.

I've not traveled to your other destinations so check on the National Rail site to see if there is a fare break for advanced purchase. I have traveled to Salisbury and with that train company there is no difference in price for an advanced purchase so I just wait until the day I travel.

I don't know Elizabeth Gaskell so maybe I need to look her up!

I've been to UK in Sept for the last 3 years. I always take a waterproof rain jacket! I carry an umbrella as well but can usually get by without. I dont usually have waterproof shoes although is year I am doing a walking tour so I will take my waterproof hiking boots. Let me see if I can find my Trip Report from last Fall which has a packing list.

Here is a link to my Trip Report from last Fall which included time in Sept in London, Salisbury, Bath and the Best of England tour. I did include what clothes I packed for the 5.5 week trip.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/trip-tour-report-for-best-of-england-paris-hof

The BritRail pass is usually only worth getting if you are travelling several long distance journeys such as Scotland, around and back to London (not the journeys you are undertaking).

Book 12 weeks out for the best prices and if possible, travel after 9.30am. Book tickets from Guildford to London on the day of travel.

There are two options for Canterbury- the quickest way is on HS1 from St Pancras, which costs a little more than the slower regular service, which runs from Charing Cross, Waterloo East, London Bridge or Cannon Street. Check all weekend rail travel 2 weeks out for engineering works. The Cathedral is closed to visitors on Sundays, but is open for services.

Thank you Pam for the link to your travels, very good reading and practical tips, especially about the Churchill war room. Next trip we'll have to plan on the Normandy excursion. Please check out Elizabeth's Gaskell's North and South and
Wives and Daughters , lovely books and movies.

Thank you Jennifer. I'm beginning to understand a little more. I followed Rick Steves' advice and contacted the London Toolkit. The respondent explained that BritRail and a rail pass are totally different. I was also concerned about the trains being owned and operated by different companies. The toolkit person said this is not a concern as they're integrated.

We are traveling long distances, but by car. We're going to a working farm in Haltwhistle near Hadrian's Wall. We hope to spend a day in The Lake District and possibly Holy Island. If time permits we'd like to at least step foot into Scotland.