Seniors question

Our experience is that senior discounts in the UK include visitors as well as residents and citizens. I once asked about this and the response was “if you are a pensioner in your own country you qualify here”. Son now we just choose the discounted price for seniors and have never been asked to show proof of residence (or age).

thanks so much

We've found that if a discounted senior price is posted in the general ticket prices on the website, they are available to any senior adult. You may need to show proof of age upon arrival. We've had no problem ordering senior tickets online.

If the discount is in the small print at the bottom of the prices, listed under "special concessions" or for "residents of the city" or some other similar title, then those prices are only for that group.

Our experience over the years has been a little different. Only Spain gives a senior discount to everyone and frequently asked to show passport. Other countries hit or miss and generally limited to EU retirement. However, ask and don't be grumpy if they say no.

I've never known Seniors from any country to not be given the senior price (usually around a paltry £1 off) anywhere in England so I wouldn't expect the Scots to be different.

If you want a senior fare on trains you will need to buy a Senior Railcard (each, at £30) or a Two Together Railcard (don't have to be senior, same discount, do always have to travel together, one card for both, also £30) which give you 34% off.

Seniors here get a bus pass for free local bus use when they reach retirement age, or before, but it is issued by the Council and not available to non-residents.

My experience in Scotland this year and last year has been that the senior discount has been offered to those age 60 and over, and I have not needed to show my ID as proof of age or residency in order to claim it. In fact, at one site where the concession age was 65 and I paid the regular adult price because I was only 62, the clerk offered me the discount anyway! I declined on principle. :)

Last year I spent 3 weeks in Scotland and this year I spent 5 1/2 weeks in England. In both places, I received the senior concession (discount) from every single place that offered.

And I was never asked to show proof of age (not sure if that's a good thing or not, lol!).

Seniors here get a bus pass for free local bus use when they reach retirement age, or before, but it is issued by the Council and not available to non-residents.

Nigel, my friend, Trish, in Liverpool was able to use that, but I did get the discount, which was nice. I think that's really a lovely benefit for UK seniors. I wish we had your public transportation system here so we could bug Congress for free travel. :-)