This our first time trip to Scotland with two teenagers and my husband suggested we wait until we get to London and book our train tickets to Edinburgh when we get there in May. I am now in the midst of planning out our trip London 4 days - Edinburgh 3 days - Stockholm 4 days. I finished our London itinerary now starting on Edinburgh. What would you suggest?
Posted by
Eagle, CO
288 posts
It depends if cost or flexibility is more important. If you know when you want to go you can save money, especially on 4 tickets, but you are locked in to a specific train at a specific time. If money is less important and you want flexibility to change your schedule then you can buy them the same day.
Posted by
420 posts
I cut and pasted this from my notes so I can't remember the original source. I purchased all point to point tickets for travel in several European countries. I saved a lot of money by purchasing the tickets as soon as they were released (ensuring that I got the cheapest price.) However, all my tickets were non-changeable & non-refundable. As our schedules weren't flexible anyway this worked well for us. My kids were under the age of 12 so their tickets were 1/2 price or less. I purchased 9 sets of point to point tickets for a family of 4 for a 35 day vacation. My total cost was cheaper than 1 adult 30 day Eurail pass (and Eurail passes don't include the U.K.)
This following is from my notes with regards to train travel between London and Scotland :
"Check early, specifically 12 weeks early. Most people know if you book early, you can get cheaper train tickets, yet often these disappear quickly...Therefore to ensure a bargain, the key moment to start looking is about 12 weeks before...though, often more like 10 or 11."
Seat61.com has great information. It's like the Rick Steves of European train travel.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2507 posts
book now unless you're happy to pay astronomical walk up prices
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
Trains in Britain are known to be very expensive when you don't book ahead. I can remember paying more that $100 per ticket for a two hour trip from London to York back in 2000. Definitely book ahead unless money is no object.
Posted by
Vancouver
63 posts
I too would book now. I booked tickets for my daughter on that route last June. I looked for the cheap rates and booked her a first class ticket for the same price as a regular discount ticket. And it included all you can eat food! She said it was wonderful. The cheap rates sell out fast so check soon.