Train Travel; Standard vs. First Class

Sometimes it's quieter in first-class, which tends to cater to business travelers. And first class usually has two single seats facing each other over a table, which can be a nice way to travel as a couple.

The seats are larger (two on one side of the car and one on the other, as opposed to two on each side in standard) and a bit more padded.

I almost always travel standard class. The last time I booked a first class ticket was probably 10 years ago when one of the railroad companies had a promotional fare on first class. In first class you get a larger seat and fewer people in the carriage. I find standard class to be fine for my needs.

I don't want to give up luggage storage space as we're traveling with full-sized (checked type) luggage.

In both cases, luggage storage is either above your seat (carryon) or at a rack typically at the end of the carriage. Because a first class carriage has fewer seats, the luggage rack may not be as crowded.

The man in seat 61 website has some photos of 1st and std class carriages
https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-britain.htm

the specific routes you mention have genuine First Class facilities as mentioned above, if you are talking LNER, LNER, GWR. Although all of those routes are seeing new carriages which may or may not be as posh in First as the old ones.

Or you might choose Lumo between London and Edinburgh. They don't do First Class at all, they try but don't always succeed at being cheapest and they don't serve York. They have very strict luggage rules, and like airlines the more you pay the more you can carry. Only some of the train cars have luggage areas.

More generally, for those routes and lines still having First - a number have now declassified First and provide no First service at all - it varies all over the board. There are dozens of carriage types - we call that the class of unit, as opposed to first/standard - and each company approaches First differently. You may get a meal, probably not, or a trip to the buffet car, or coffee / tea at seat or in a paper cup from the buffet, or just a bigger seat and nothing else, to on a class 350 / 450 a tiny recline on an otherwise identical seat in a small glassed off area. Some are at one end of the train (usually the London end), some are within the train where the hoi polloi can walk through and disturb your peace. Sometimes value for money, sometimes not.

I travel in first when I'm invited by the crew (I know many of them), not when I'm not. I won't pay for it.

Standard class is similar if not more room than you will have had on the flight over. Nothing wrong with it. If you can get a good price for first class, go for it, buy standard is perfectly fine.

@briwire- I found out yesterday by chance that the best value 1st class normally is from Warrington Bank Quay to Crewe- only about £2 more than standard class one way. The trip is too brief to get any service on the train, but you get to use the Cheshire Lounge at Crewe afterwards. That lounge is certainly on my list of lounges to visit, because there is actually a bit of local history hiding in there.
I found that nugget out as I was having to manually split a fare from Cumbria to Derby at Warrington, due to Avanti having withdrawn many connecting advance fares after the Glasgow fire, and the split ticket websites sending me on a merry and crazy route via Tamworth.

If you're going on into Wales you can then get the Transport for Wales premier train sometimes cheaper in 1st than in standard, and get (for extra) the best and cheapest hot meal on any scheduled UK train.

Between London and Bath (or anywhere on the Great Western) the seats are way better than in first than in standard. While the OP doesn't mind not having lounge access. first class does allow you to visit Queen Victoria's waiting room (the 1st class lounge) at Paddington.

Sometimes it's the little things that count- on Avanti and LNER usually the first class crew greet you at the train door (and will help anyone on or off). On GWR at Truro (which I know the OP isn't visiting) the lounge staff go out of their way (each time I've been there) to escort you from the lounge to the 1st class car, and ensure you know exactly where in the car your seat is

The benefit of first class is that you're less likely to encounter inconsiderate passengers, those that like to play music or videos out loud on their phones, speak too loudly and general obnoxious behaviour.

Obviously you can't exclude the risk of encountering such people in first class but the chances are less.

I hate travelling on public transport so the more I can be away from other people the better.

As always, I really appreciate all those who took the time to respond. It's so helpful. From everyone's input it sounds like 1st class is the way to go.