Questions for train to York from London

Hi

Train ticket prices are very complicated and tend to be priced dynamically, i.e. according to demand (a bit like budget airlines). As a rule of thumb, it's cheaper to buy as far in advance as you can, but also remember that the cheapest tickets may sometimes be non-refundable. Train companies that serve York may offer special 'deals' too, but you have to hunt for them. It's also worth remembering that commuters use that line, so travelling IN to London in the mornings before say 9.30, or OUT of London after say 3.30pm will cost you more and you may get limited seating offers. A place to start looking is the main National Rail (UK) website: National Rail Enquiries

Never cheaper on the day.

The full prices are the same 7 days a week, but specials around Advance tickets or other offers tend to be aimed at off-peak weekday and even more on weekends.

Look at the website East Coast Trains, that is the only route which could get you up and back in one day. They go from Kings Cross.

There are trains via Virgin Trains from Euston station, connecting onto Cross Country Trains to York, but no way they would be fast enough.

On the other hand, be careful about weekend train travel. There are, especially in the summer and around bank holidays, engineering works as the tracks are improved throughout England and weekends are usually the time for that work.

If you buy tickets at the station at the last minute, you will pay full fare.

Discount fare tickets are released about 12 weeks in advance, If you book ASAP, you can pay as little as £13 each way.

Book on the East Coast Trains site.

We just did that trip in May, we went on the National Rail site 6 weeks ahead, put all our info in and they directed us to East Coast Line, we literally saved 70 - 80 percent doing it this way. Lots of options for train departures and easy at King Cross and York station relatively small

The train is a bit under 2 hours one way.

I've done that trip once or twice. Leave early and plan on coming back on the next-to-last train (so If you miss it, you aren't stuck overnight.)

Walk out of York Station, turn left, and you walk into the center of town very quickly. There's a place to catch a hop-on, hop-off bus just up the street from the station, if you want to give that a try first.

Although trains are more heavily 'loaded' going into London on weekdays, you will also find that usually peak time trains leaving London on weekdays are also expensive. You are more likely to advance book with lower fares by choosing a Saturday.

East Coast Trains is the main provider of services between London (Kings Cross) & York. However, Grand Central also operate on this same route. You can see all of the services & fares here:> www.nationalrail.co.uk
If you book on www.eastcoasttrains.co.uk, I think you can print your own 'ticket'.

Thanks for the tips everybody.

I was able to book 2 roundtrip tickets on East Coast for 55 pounds total. Tickets were what looked to be off-peak times on a Monday.

However you go, you will wish you had allowed more time in York. We've taken the train on that route a couple times; it's pretty straightforward. Try to book advance, and save a lot. Also, you might check out some of the rail cards and rail passes available to non-UK residents if you will be using the trains more than just that one time.

Have fun.