Hi! My family is returning to Great Britain and Ireland this Summer. Two years ago we purchased our rail passes through Rick Steves' Europe. We needed 8 non-consecutive days within 15. We only traveled within England. This year we can get by with only three non-consecutive days. Basically, one day from Gatwick to Stratford-upon-Avon; one day for Stratford to Leeds, and one day from Leeds to Holyhead, Wales. If we purchase England-only rail passes, at some point before crossing the border to Wales, do we just buy separate tickets to travel through Wales? Would it be better just to buy the Great Britain non-consecutive three-day pass? Would either the England rail pass or the Great Britain rail pass cover the express train from Gatwick to Victoria station or would that be a separate expense? We realize that sometimes point-to-point tickets can be less expensive than rail passes, but we like the flexibility of the passes. For example, the day we leave Stratford for Leeds, we may back-track to see Oxford, or, after dropping off our luggage at our hotel in Leeds, we may daytrip to York. Thanks!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
BritRail and BritRail England passes do cover the airport express trains on the three days that you're counting for travel. It sounds like the flexibility of the pass will be a good choice for you, so you don't try to pre-book around a flight arrival, and allowing you to add other detours or side trips on the same days. Note that Gatwick to Stratford-upon-Avon requires several connections, including traveling between stations in London, but departures that connect in Reading, instead, don't require changing stations. Standard class for the 3-day England Flexipass costs $235 for the first two people, but other youths/adults pay half that price on a Party Pass, and one kid under 16 is free with each full-paying adult.
With the England pass, you would need to buy the separate ticket from Chester to Holyhead, for instance at Leeds station. It's also possible to buy some ferry tickets combined with train tickets at www.nationalrail.co.uk, e.g., Chester-Dublin or Leeds-Dublin.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Hi! Thanks for your response. We are leaning towards the England Flexipass, but have a few more questions. You mention a direct connection between Gatwick and Reading, but I don't see that indicated in the Rick Steves' guidebook? Would we catch a train to Reading at the Gatwick airport? Another possibility we're considering is going into London after we arrive at Gatwick to visit Westminster Abbey, then going on to Stratford-upon-Avon. We don't want to store our luggage at Victoria Station because the RS guidebook warns us that they've moved to check-in (with possible long lines) rather than lockers. Is there anyplace at (or near) the Abbey to store luggage? We have the same question about stopping at Conwy on the way to Holyhead. If we tour the castle in Conwy, can we store our luggage there? Thanks!
Posted by
Whittington
984 posts
Conwy train station is a little 'halt' and there are certainly no left luggage facilities.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5453 posts
There are no luggage facilities at Westminster Abbey.
The train from Gatwick to Reading is the North Downs Line which roughly has one train per hour.
Posted by
2569 posts
I would use www.nationalrail.co.uk to figure out the schedules & prices. Always click 'Details' to find out the train company or where you change to another company. You can also put VIA in a drop down box. So, for example, you arrive at Gatwick & wish to get to Stratford-upon-Avon . Put in for that journey & it will probably tell you the route through London (including underground transfers without paying extra - you use your normal rail tickets). The London station to leave for Stratford-upon-Avon is Marylebone & the train company here is Chiltern.
Now, if you are not also offered the Reading option, put it in the VIA box and see how the schedules / fares pan out. It will also show you the different train companies involved in this routing. (You can still pay one price to cover the lot). However, it is sometimes cheaper to by 'split' tickets for different legs of journeys. This can be especially so where you change from one company to another.
Say, you are going from Stratford-upon-Avon to Leeds. Find out the fare /schedules for the whole journey. Now put in for just the Birmingham > Leeds leg and you should see different trains at different prices according to demand. (Advance book to get the best deals. Pay on the day will cost you dearly on such a journey). Now use this site to see if splitting the fare will give you a better deal:http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/split-cheap-train-tickets/
Then, add on the fare between Stratford-upon-Avon & Birmingham - which seems to stay the same - even paying on the day.
It is a circuitous rail route from Stratford-upon-Avon to Oxford. Use a local bus? See www.transportdirect.info
Also consider visiting
http://www.blenheimpalace.com
Conwy (Conway) Castle is right by the railway station. You must be on an Arriva Trains Wales service that offers to stop at this place & you must inform the conductor in advance that you wish to stop. (It is a pity that you are just passing through this most interesting and scenic part of Britain). Chester, on the same route, is also well worth a visit. www.visitchester.com// http://www.visitllandudno.org.uk://
www.visitwales.com/explore
PS. I take it that you are going to Leeds to see relatives as it is not normally regarded as a tourist destination.