I'm still trying to figure out what the best way would be to travel through the UK. There are many very inexpensive train trips if we book ahead. Not sure, if we get a Britrail, what the best option would be (for sure flexible). Our trip is in June. We arrive Heathrow and from there to Bath the same day (it seems that there are not so many buses that go there). Express train to Paddington and then Train to Bath seem an option, and could be used a as one trip day. Then, 6 days later we go from Bath to York. Booking trains ahead has the problem that one has to take the underground and it doesn't allow for much time to catch the train to York. Going via Bristol is better (and costs more) so, that could be day 2.
Then, 7 days later we go from York to Edinburgh. One could get inexpensive tickets, and then 4 nights in Edinburgh (there are some cheaper fares-if booked ahead). If Britrail that would then be the 2 additional days. England only pass is cheaper, yet if going to Edinburgh, could there be an add-on, lets say from the border of Scotland? We are seniors and one could get 30% off. If one takes small train rides lets say from Bath or York, those would have to be paid extra. My head is spinning from all the options. Have to say, that other parts of Europe are much easier.
I'd appreciate any other ideas.
Posted by
OP
SF Bay Area, California
6 posts
OOPs, left some things out. From Edinburgh we would be going to London for 3 nights and then back home via Heathrow airport.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Direct National Express coaches (highway buses) from Heathrow to Bath Spa depart at 09:00, 10:15, 11:45, 13:15, 15:15 (and later). See here.
Coaches from Heathrow to Reading depart 2-3 times/hour. Trains departing from Paddington Station in London stop at Reading on their way to Bath Spa. See this RailAir link.
If you book well in advance online at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com, you can get discount fares for many longer train routes. Book Bath Spa-London Paddington for as little as £9.50. Book London Kings Cross-York for as little as £9.00. Give yourselves as much time as you wish to get from Paddington to Kings Cross. (It's a 13-minute Tube ride on the Circle line from Paddington to Kings Cross/St Pancras.) Discount fares are posted around 60-70 days out. If you book farther in advance than that, you will pay the same high fare as you would buying a last-minute ticket at the station. You can get similar cheap fares for York-Edinburgh and Edinburgh-London.
If you want to travel overnight from Edinburgh to London, booking well in advance here can get you bargain berths on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Posted by
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
98 posts
Monika,
Goodness! That would make my head spin. :-)
We were in England and Scotland in March and Tim helped me with my train questions, though they were not as complex as yours.
In my very limited experience with Britrail, we always found point to point tickets to be less expensive overall. Especially with the discounted advance (but not too far in advance) tickets.
Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
SF Bay Area, California
6 posts
Thank you, I'll look into point-to-point again.
Posted by
OP
SF Bay Area, California
6 posts
Dear Tim,
I added up all the fares and it comes to 110.80 pounds for 2 people. I think with some planning one can easily make those trains. I'm not sure if I should wait a bit more. We are leaving Bath to York June 15 and York to Edingburgh June 22, Edinburgh to London June 26. Is it easy to order those tickets from the US. How does one pick them up in England. Can I pick all tickets up at once? Do I check in with a person or machine. I know that I often had a hard time with those machines in Germany. Thank you so much for your suggestions.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I just checked the National Express East Coast site. Discount fares are listed for all your dates so you can book today. I don't know if you can book the Caledonian Sleeper on the NXEC site, but you certainly can book all your other routes.
If you decide to go to Bath via London, you could pick up all your tickets at Paddington. And you could book a discount fare for London-Bath. Since these discount fares are for a specific date and departure time and are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, in case of a flight delay allow a MINIMUM of four hours from your scheduled arrival at LHR to your scheduled departure from Paddington. Take the Heathrow Connect (cheaper than the Heathrow Express and only a little slower) from LHR to Paddington. Or if you have ample time and wish to save more money, take the Tube: Piccadilly line to Earl's Court and the District line from there to Paddington. Allow an hour for the trip by Tube.
There are fast ticket machines at Paddington. To retrieve your tickets you'll need your confirmation number(s) and the credit card used when booking. You can also get your tickets at the window. If you bypass London and go directly to Bath, you can pick up your tickets there.
Posted by
Hilliard, OH
18 posts
We have a similar trip in late June/early July. We are starting in London, then Bath, York and Edinburgh.
After looking around, we are buying advance point-to-point tix on the National Rail East Coast site. We have to wait another week or so before we can purchase the advance tix, but we will save big over the Brit Rail passes.
Good luck and enjoy.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
We like the flexibility of the BritRail passes. If the weather is bad in the area you had planned to visit on a particular day - just go somewhere else! We have never made reservations and only had to stand on part of one route (about 15 min.). You could also add a day trip to Windsor from London.