Rail travel in England

We have used the RailPass almost exclusivly. We like the flexibility- like you said, weather or other considerations may make one day better or worse than another. Yes- walkup prices do go up (and sometimes down) and advance purchase is sometimes a huge savings. The RailPass may not always be the absolute least expensive, but I really appreciate being able to change plans on impulse.

There won't be a price discount booking tickets in advance for short journeys like London to Windsor or Luton to London: there may be for Dover but it still won't be a huge amount.

Train tickets in the UK are broadly split into two categories: standard tickets and discounted advance purchase tickets.

The advance purchase tickets are the cheapest but come with limitations; they are not flexible and are released in limited amounts. As Philip said they are not available on short trips so probably won't help you.

The standard tickets are like the "rack rate". They are (generally) more expensive but are available in unlimited amounts and there is no advance purchase requirements. Look at the ticket types you are getting in your search, if the type is either Anytime Single, Anytime Return, Off-Peak Single or Off-Peak Return then the price will not change closer to the travel time. These are what are colloquially called "walk-up fares" and will be the same price if purchase now or 30 seconds before the train leaves.

The rail cards can be a good deal if you qualify depending on your itinerary. They offer 1/3 off ticket prices for 20-odd quid - tot up the cost of all your trips, work out 1/3 and compare it to the cost of the card it may be worth it.

Also, discount rail cards are usually not valid on Monday-Friday before about 9:30 or 10 am, so consider how much a departure after that time would give you at your destination.

The "Days Out" guide explains some of the discount fares available eg the four of you could qualify for an offpeak Group Save ticket. These tickets are good value for shorter journeys where advance purchase discounts are not available.

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/off-peak-fares.aspx

The site also lists discount entry tickets for various sights in London and the South East. You would have to check nearer the time of your visit but I would be surprised if the offers were not available.

Re your daytrips, remember that hours of daylight will be at their shortest in December.

thanks for all the advice, it's all so confusing at first but the more I learn the easier it gets to sort through it. And yes, it will be dark but coming from Alaska, the days here will be even shorter so we will be prepared.

Hmmm. We're going in December as well. I keep watching travel shows and they talk about an Oyster Card. Is that the same thing?

Buying a BritRail Flexi Pass is definitely the way to go if you wish to save money and to have flexibility in your travel plans. We travelled extensively by train through the UK last year. We did several day trips and a couple of longer journeys.

Becky- the Oyster Card is for the Tube (underground/subway) and the BritRail pass is for National Rail (intercity trains).

Laura- Here is a link to an article I wrote about day trips from London- and yes we did lots of them in Nov and Dec. (note- if it asks for your zipcode, use 28208)

http://www.aaacarolinas.com/Magazine/2008/Jan-Feb/britain.htm?zip=28201&stateprov=nc&city=charlotte