Looking for others' experiences in traveling via trains in Great Britain. There are so many different passes! I would like recommendations.
passes rarely offer good value
use this site http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ as a gateway to the train operating companies to buy tickets.
if you tell us when and where you want to travel then we can guide you to the best tickets.
We rode second class on Eastern Rail (???) from Edinburgh to London last month. Smooth and easy. Very pleasant ride.
Comparing costs for your actual trip plan (routes, dates, number and age of travelers) is the way to make an educated decision. If your trip is not very planned out, it will be harder to make the comparison, and maybe just too soon. See several options described, with links, at https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/britain-rail-passes. You may find that more than one deal comes out costing about the same, since there is more than one way to save money. Convenience also has value.
Passes are not usually the best option. Book 12 weeks out for the best prices and travel after 9.30/10.0 am.
My 11 year old son and I did the 8 day BritRail pass last month and loved it. The cost was $396 for both of us. I purchased them thru this website. There was unlimited travel (we went to England and Wales). We rode second class which was very comfortable. I didn't make any reservations and had no problem finding window seats. I would definitely do it again.