The new line connects Paddington in central London to Abbey Wood in the east, with sections running above ground further east. These links allow for direct travel across London, including to Heathrow Airport.

Let’s break down how frequently the trains run, which stations they go to, and the best spots to change lines if you’re heading to other parts of London’s rail network.

How often do trains run on the Elizabeth line?

Here’s the Elizabeth Line service pattern during Off-Peak hours:

• Reading to Abbey Wood (2 per hour)
• Maidenhead to Abbey Wood (2 per hour)
• Heathrow Terminal 4 to Abbey Wood (4 per hour)
• Heathrow Terminal 5 to Shenfield (2 per hour)
• Paddington to Shenfield (6 per hour)

During peak hours, services increase to up to 24 trains per hour between Paddington and Whitechapel, with additional trains on other routes. For a full map of the line, click here.

Which stations are on the Elizabeth Line?

So, where does the Elizabeth Line go? 

All the stations on the new section are fully step-free and have platform edge doors. This means that wheelchair users can travel between Paddington and Abbey Wood fully unaided, if they prefer to. There’s no gap between the train and platform and lifts from street level to the platform.

Paddington

Where is it? There’s a brand-new entrance next to Platform 1 in the ‘main’ station upstairs that can be accessed from Eastbourne Terrace. Here’s a map showing which station entrance is which:

It’s also possible to interchange directly between the Bakerloo Line and Elizabeth Line platforms, as a dedicated passageway has been built.

Where can you change to/from? You can interchange with Great Western Railway services to the South West, South Wales and the Cotswolds, as well as the Heathrow Express. 

You can also change for the Bakerloo, Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines.

Bond Street

The newest station on the line, Bond Street, opened on October 24th 2022. This was several months later than the rest of the Elizabeth Line.

Where is it? There are two new entrances on Davies Street and Hanover Square, as well as the main Underground entrance. If you’re coming from Regent Street or Oxford Circus, it’s faster to access the line through the Hanover Square entrance. Here’s a map showing each entrance:

Where can you change to/from? Interchange is possible with the Central and Jubilee lines through connecting underground passages.

Tottenham Court Road

Where is it? The entrance to Tottenham Court Road station is at St Giles’ Circus, where Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road meet.

Where can you change to/from? You can change to and from the Northern and Central lines here through underground passages. 

Farringdon

Where is it? There’s two entrances to Farringdon. You’ll find one across the road from Farringdon, known as the West Entrance (Thameslink & Underground) and another on the corner of Long Lane and Lindsey Street, near Barbican station. This is known as the East Entrance.

Where can you change to/from? At Farringdon, you can change to/from Thameslink services to Brighton, Bedford, Sutton and Gatwick Airport. You’ll also find the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

To make this change, you’ll need to pop outside onto the street and cross the road between stations. Don’t worry that you’ll need to go in and out of multiple ticket gates to do this, if you’re using contactless or Oyster it’ll be counted as one journey.

You can also change at Barbican for the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines if you’d prefer. 

Liverpool Street

Where is it? This station connects both Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations, with a huge passage running the length of the platforms and beyond. If you’re joining from Liverpool Street, you’ll find a dedicated entrance where Liverpool Street and Broad Street Place meet.

Coming from Moorgate? There’s an entrance on the southern end of Moorfields which will also take you to the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

Where can you change to/from? There’s certainly plenty of choice at this Elizabeth Line station!

From Liverpool Street, you can change for Greater Anglia services to Braintree, Clacton, Ipswich, Norwich and Southend, as well as Cambridge, Hertford East and Stansted Airport. London Overground services also operate to Cheshunt, Chingford and Enfield Town. Finally, you can change for the Central Line, as well as the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

Moorgate offers interchange with Great Northern services to Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage. You can also change for the Northern Line, the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

Whitechapel

Where is it? The original entrance on Whitechapel Road has been retained for this station, though it’s had a lot of work done to make it suitable for the Elizabeth Line. You’ll also find a new entrance on Durward Street, with a passage through the ticket hall connecting both entrances.

Where can you change to/from? Interchange is possible at Whitechapel with London Overground services to Highbury & Islington, New Cross, Crystal Palace, West Croydon and Clapham Junction. You can also change for the District and Hammersmith & City lines.

Canary Wharf

Where is it? Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line station is located on Crossrail Place, effectively sitting right over the water of West India Docks. There’s quite a few stations in the area, so take a look at the map below to get your bearings.

Where can you change to/from?  If you’re continuing your journey by DLR towards Beckton, Woolwich Arsenal or Stratford, then head for Poplar.

Looking to travel to Limehouse, Shadwell, Tower Gateway or Bank? You’ll find that West India Quay is the nearest and most convenient station to head for.

If you’re going to Lewisham, then it’s worth heading for Canary Wharf. This is because not all DLR trains to Lewisham stop at West India Quay, so you’ll have the most choice.

You can also change for Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line) for trains to Stratford and Stanmore. All four of these stations are classed as an ‘Out-of-Station Interchange’ (OSI) which means that if you’re using Oyster or Contactless, the system will count it as one journey, even though you’ve had to leave the system and walk to another stop.

Custom House

Where is it? The Elizabeth Line station at Custom House has been built right next to the DLR one, so you have two options for entering. You can either come in from Victoria Dock Road or straight from the ExCeL Centre and Royal Victoria Dock.

Where can you change to/from? You can change for DLR services to/from Beckton, Canning Town and the City from Custom House DLR station next door.

Woolwich

Where is it? Woolwich station is situated in Dial Arch Square, just off the A206 Beresford Street/Victory Parade. It’s unusual in that it’s the only brand-new station with no directly-connected interchange to any other transport mode or line. However, it’s a short walk down the Woolwich New Road to Woolwich Arsenal station.

Where can you change to/from? From Woolwich Arsenal, you can change to/from Southeastern and Thameslink services to Charlton, Lewisham, Greenwich and London Bridge. If you’re heading for Slade Green, Dartford and Rainham, it’s easier to stay on to Abbey Wood and change there.

Abbey Wood

Where is it? You’ll find Abbey Wood station on the Abbey Wood Road. The Elizabeth Line platforms act as a direct extension of the existing Southeastern and Thameslink station.

Where can you change to/from? You can change for Thameslink service to Dartford, Gillingham, Chatham and Rainham as well as Greenwich, Central London and Luton. Southeastern services will also take you to Dartford, Lewisham, Charlton, New Cross and London Bridge/Cannon Street/Charing Cross.

Which tickets can I use?

Just like everywhere else within London, Oyster and Contactless are the preferred ways to pay on the Elizabeth Line. You’ll be charged the same fares that would apply on the London Underground. Even if you’ve bought a ticket through SmartSplit for your trip to London, you may find it easier to complete your journey using Contactless.

Paper Travelcards are also valid on the Elizabeth Line, as well as rail tickets with the ‘Maltese Cross’ that allow you to travel across London. Be aware that some rail ticket rules have been altered to exclude the Elizabeth Line, so make sure you check any restrictions. Tickets routed ‘via City Thameslink’ are only valid on Thameslink trains across London. You cannot use tickets to ‘London Terminals‘ to stations between Liverpool Street and Paddington.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to understand your ticket, and your best options for reaching London airports, including Gatwick. Don’t forget to take a look at our quick guide to crossing London, either.

_{^{All information is issued without liability and was correct as of 1 May 2025.}}

The post Where does the Elizabeth line go? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Knowing which ticket to buy can be a challenge, especially with the mind-boggling array of choice on trains in Great Britain! Here’s our handy guide to types of train tickets and how to pick the best-value ticket for your next rail trip.

What are the different types of train tickets?

When you’re travelling by train, you’ll usually be offered a few different types of train tickets. But what do they all mean? If you’re in a muddle and just have a minute to spare, take a look at this useful table to work out which type is best for you:

^{All information in this table is issued without liability and is only intended as a rough guide. It should not be taken as an exact representation of individual ticket validity.}

That’s quite a few different types of train tickets! Now, let’s have a look at the different ticket types in more detail.

Advance train tickets

These are the cheapest types of train tickets and they’re only valid on the booked train. Depending on the rail operator though, you can often buy them right up to when the train departs. If your train has seat reservations, they’ll usually always come with a booked seat, too. If you book at very late notice, you might not get one, and some rail operators don’t offer seat reservations at all.

When you book Advance train tickets with SmartSplit, you’re able to exchange them without any sort of admin fee, which is exactly how it should be! While these tickets aren’t normally refundable, you’re entitled to do this if your train is cancelled and you decide not to travel. If your train is over 60 minutes late and you decide not to travel, you can also get a refund.

Usually, the earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets will be! However, when the tickets are released and when they stop being sold can vary. We’ve produced an in-depth guide to Advance train tickets to help with this. You can also click here to find out when tickets are usually released for sale.

Anytime train tickets

If you’re looking for full flexibility, then these are the types of train tickets for you. There are no time restrictions, though there are often different versions depending on whether you’re just making a day trip or a longer journey. There’s no need to book weeks in advance. Simply pop onto the SmartSplit website with enough time to spare before your train leaves, and you’re good to go!

There are a couple of different types of Anytime train tickets. If you’re wanting a single, you might be offered an Anytime Single or an Anytime Day Single. The first one is valid for two days (so on the day you buy it, then the next day), whereas a day single is valid just for the date on your ticket.

There’s three kinds of Anytime return tickets:

• Anytime Return tickets are valid for five days on the outward portion and a month on the return portion. You can break your journey as many times as you’d like both ways.
• Anytime Short Return tickets are valid for the date printed on the ticket when you’re travelling on the outward portion. On your return portion, they’re also valid for one month.
• Anytime Day Return tickets are valid only on the date printed on the ticket. You’ll need to make the outward and return journey on the same day.

Off-Peak train tickets

Need some flexibility but happy to avoid peak commuting times? Then the types of train tickets you’ll be after are Off-Peak train tickets. These come with some restrictions which can vary depending on where your ticket is issued from and to. We’ve created this page about Off-Peak train times, and how you can find out exactly when your ticket is valid.

However, you’ll find some common rules that the different types of Off-Peak tickets will share, even if their exact times of validity are different.

Off-Peak Single and Off-Peak Day Single tickets are both only valid on the day that the ticket was issued. The only difference is that Off-Peak Single tickets are usually issued for long-distance journeys and can have less strict restrictions on when they’re valid. This is mainly so that you can complete your trip in good time rather than waiting until past 9am or later!

An Off-Peak Return ticket still needs the outward journey to be made on the date printed on the ticket, but you can return within one month. Again, time restrictions are sometimes a little more relaxed than the ‘day’ equivalent, particularly if you’re making a long journey. Off-Peak Day Return tickets need the whole outward and return trip to be made on the same day.

Super Off-Peak train tickets

You might look at this ticket and think “what on earth is that?” as how can Off-Peak possibly be made ‘super’? Well, these types of train tickets are more restrictive versions of their Off-Peak counterparts. They usually exist on two types of journeys:

• Long-distance trips, where the Super Off-Peak Single (valid for one day) and the Super Off-Peak Return (outward valid for one day, return valid for one month) are offered. On a weekday (excluding Bank Holidays) they’re usually not valid to arrive into London or to leave from there until late morning or early afternoon. Most of the late afternoon and early evening will be excluded, too. Some tickets (such as West Midlands Trains tickets on the Crewe to London route) also apply these time restrictions on a Saturday.
• Short-distance trips will often have a Super Off-Peak Day Single and Super Off-Peak Day Return offered. Similar to their long-distance equivalents, all peak hours will be excluded. In some cases, they might only be available on weekends (such as on Thameslink).

Why is a single almost the same price as a return?

On many routes, you might find that you’re paying almost as much for a single as you do for a return! There are various theories around this, such as the fact that it encourages people to always pay for a return trip, even if there might not be ticket checks on their return.

The good news is that there is currently a trial going on which is looking at what’s known as ‘single-leg pricing’. This means that single tickets cost half as much as a return.

If you’re travelling from Edinburgh (and some stations in-between) to London with LNER, you’ll currently be charged using this price model. Some other operators, such as Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo, also offer single tickets at a more significant discount compared to returns.

The only time you should purchase two single tickets is if they’re ‘Advance’ tickets, which are always priced as singles. Occasionally, it may be cheaper to buy two flexible single tickets if you’re making a short to medium-distance trip where there’s no return fare available other than a day return.

No matter which journey you choose, SmartSplit will always suggest the cheapest combination of tickets that it can find for your trip.

Are there any other types of train tickets?

Yes, there are other tickets available to buy! There’s two other main types of train tickets that you could choose to buy.

Season tickets are valid for a week or more between two stations on the network. You’ll need a photocard to buy these, which can be issued to you at any staffed railway station. With the advent of flexible working, some companies have also started to offer Flexi-seasons. These tickets allow you to pick and choose a certain number of days per week when you’ll make the same journey, at a cheaper cost than just buying tickets on the day. Click here to find out more about Flexi-season tickets.

Travelling for leisure? You may have seen Ranger and Rover tickets advertised to you. Ranger tickets are valid for one day, while Rover tickets are valid for a certain number of days. There’ll be a pre-set area of the country that you’re able to travel in, though they’re normally subject to similar restrictions as Off-Peak train tickets. There’s even a version that allows you to travel around the entire country as much as you like! Click here to find out more.

The post A guide to different types of train tickets appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Manchester has a number of different train stations, depending on where you’d like to go. But which trains go where and how do you get between the stations? We’re here to help with our handy guide to Manchester train stations.

What’s in this blog?

Whether you’re looking for how to get between the Manchester train stations or what you can expect from each one, we’ve got you covered. Simply click on a section to skip to the part you’d like to read:

• What are the Manchester train stations?
  • Piccadilly
  • Victoria
  • Oxford Road
  • Deansgate
• Getting between the Manchester train stations
  • Piccadilly <-> Victoria
  • Oxford Road & Deansgate <-> Victoria
  • Deansgate <-> Oxford Road <-> Piccadilly
• Planning your trip to/from Manchester train stations

What are the Manchester train stations?

If we’re sticking to the city centre of Manchester, then you’ll find four stations:

• Piccadilly
• Oxford Road
• Deansgate (Formerly Deansgate GMex)
• Victoria.

Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Deansgate are all located in a straight line in the south of the city centre, while Victoria sits to the north.

Piccadilly

With 14 platforms, Piccadilly is by far the largest of the Manchester train stations. It’s split into two sections, with the ‘main’ part of the station housing the terminating platforms (1-12) with the other platforms (13-14) being a little further away.

What’s the station like?

You’ll find Manchester Piccadilly to be a modern and welcoming station with a variety of shops and other useful facilities.

Most of the shops and facilities are located on the main concourse (pictured above) which can be accessed from either Piccadilly itself, Metrolink trams or Fairfield Street (via escalators/lifts). On the upper level of the concourse (pictured top left) you’ll find a number of sit-down restaurants, such as TGI Fridays and Yo! Sushi.

To access any of the platforms, you’ll need to have a valid ticket. Despite operating as just one station, these ticket barriers are operated in three different ways. The higher numbered platforms are accessed by manual ticket checks (such as by the staff member in the lower right of the photo above).

The lower numbered platforms are split into two different sets of ticket gates. This is because part of them are staffed by Northern and others have staff from Avanti West Coast. Always check your platform number carefully as it isn’t possible to change platforms (other than by passing back through the gates or using the footbridge at the opposite end) by swapping between the sets of ticket gates.

Platforms 13 and 14

If a train is stopping at Manchester Piccadilly on the way from one place to another, then it’s likely to use platforms 13 and 14. These are located to the south end of the station and are a little further from the main station concourse.

To access them, you have two options. If you’re entering from the main station entrance and don’t have anything heavy to carry, you may find it easier to simply enter by any platform and use the footbridge. When you’re on the footbridge, turn right and follow the signs. If you have more to carry or you’ve come in from Fairfield Street or the Metrolink tram, head towards platforms 10 and 11. From here, there are two travelators that will take you up to the smaller concourse.

The platforms themselves aren’t the nicest place to wait and don’t have an awful lot of shelter. They’re also quite narrow and receive a lot of trains. For that reason, it’s likely best to hang around in the waiting area until your train is due.

Getting between platforms

Going from platforms 13 and 14 to the rest of the station? You can just follow the signs:

Behind the Costa in this picture, you’ll find a lift. This provides direct access to and from the Fairfield Street exit. If you’re after direct access to platforms 1 to 11, then you may find it faster to ignore the signage and instead turn right. Be aware that there’s no step-free access if you do this, so follow the signage to the travelator if you need it.

By turning right, you’ll find yourself on the bridge at the south end of the platforms. Double-check which platform you need on the screens (just visible in the left-hand picture) and simply pop down the stairs on the right one. One last thing though, if you need platform 12 you cannot do this. It can only be accessed by going onto the main concourse first.

Getting to and from the station

So now we know the basics of getting around the station, let’s take a look at how to access it in the first place. If you’re approaching or leaving on foot, you’re probably going to want Piccadilly itself:

On the approach to Piccadilly, you’ll also find a variety of shops and eateries. Some rail replacement bus services also leave from here, as well as the free buses around the city centre.

Alternatively, if you’re catching a taxi or tram, you’ll need to follow signs for Fairfield Street. The tram stop is just down the first escalator and on your left. The Fairfield Street exit is at the bottom of the next escalator, where you can access the main road as well as the taxi rank.

To the right of this photo, you can see the lift shaft for the direct lift connection to the platform 13 and 14 concourse. This makes it ideal if you have a lot of luggage or a mobility issue and need quick access to these platforms.

Which trains go there?

The possibilities are endless! This station certainly has the greatest variety of destinations out of all of the Manchester train stations. Here are some of the key services:

• Avanti West Coast to London Euston
• CrossCountry to Birmingham New Street, Reading and Bournemouth (limited service to Bristol)
• East Midlands Railway to Liverpool Lime Street, Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich
• Northern to Hadfield, Rose Hill, Buxton, Chester, Blackpool North, Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Sheffield, Hazel Grove, Southport, Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere
• TransPennine Express to Hull, Redcar Central, Cleethorpes, Huddersfield, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central
• Transport for Wales to Llandudno, Holyhead, Cardiff Central, Swansea and West Wales

You’ll also find a regular service to Manchester Airport operated by a variety of companies.

Victoria

The next largest of the Manchester train stations is Victoria. It’s had a major refurbishment in recent years, giving it a much airier feel compared to times past. However, platforms 3 to 6 do still have an arena on top of them, so it sometimes isn’t the nicest place to wait!

What’s the station like?

The concourse itself is bright and airy, and has a number of different shops and eateries to choose from. The tram stop is integrated into the new building, too.

As you enter the station, the ticket office windows will be on your left hand side. They’ve been retained in a sympathetic heritage style, and contrast nicely with the new overall roof. Don’t forget to take a look at the tiled Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway map, too.

As for the platforms themselves, you’ll find 1 and 2 straight in front of you when you go through the gates. Platform 3 will be on your left, while 4, 5 and 6 are over the footbridge.

The amount of natural light on 1 and 2 compared to 3 to 6 is quite literally, night and day:

Getting to and from the station

As mentioned above, the tram stops are in the same station complex as the train, so it’s really easy to transfer. If you’re leaving the station, you’ll find that the exits lead to Corporation Street or Station Approach.

Corporation Street is best if you’re heading for the Arndale Centre, Printworks or Shudehill Interchange. The bus stop for the free bus towards Piccadilly or elsewhere in the city centre is outside the Station Approach entrance.

To get to Shudehill Interchange, it’s possible to take the tram one stop, but it’s likely to be faster to simply follow the Corporation Street exit and walk straight ahead next to the tram tracks. It’s uphill, but will only take you a few minutes to walk unless you have mobility issues or a lot of luggage.

Which trains go there?

Victoria is the best of the Manchester train stations for trains throughout North Manchester and Lancashire, as well as those to York and Newcastle. Here’s what you can expect:

• Northern services to Liverpool Lime Street (peak hours only), Stalybridge, Rochdale, Leeds (via Bradford Interchange), Blackburn (via Burnley Manchester Road), Clitheroe, Wigan North Western, Kirkby, Southport and Chester
• TransPennine Express to Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Airport, Redcar Central and Newcastle.

Oxford Road

Located near the two universities and trendy Canal Street, there’s plenty going on around Oxford Road. It’s just a small station with five platforms packed in, but it’s served by many trains heading from east to west and vice-versa.

What’s the station like?

Located on a very busy stretch of railway, Oxford Road does well to squeeze in five platforms in such a small space. There’s a small concourse and area with ticket gates, with platforms 4 and 5 being in front of you as you enter.

Platforms 1 to 3 are accessed by the footbridge, though platform 1 is rarely used (and doesn’t have any step-free access). There are very few shops/eateries within the station itself, but Oxford Street itself has a variety of supermarkets, bars and cafes.

The most notable feature of the station is the wooden station canopies (left-hand side of the image below) which are listed. You’ll find that the waiting rooms on the platforms are designed to mimic this design:

Getting to and from the station

Unlike the other Manchester train stations, there’s no direct tram link to Oxford Road. Instead, you’ll need to take a short walk to St Peter’s Square.

In terms of entering and leaving the station, the main station building leads into a forecourt with two exits. If you want to head towards St Peter’s Square or Whitworth Street, follow the road ramp down. This is also the only step-free exit. For Oxford Road itself, you can also keep right and follow a set of stairs which will be faster for accessing bars, shops and the university campuses.

Oxford Road station has a number of bus stops directly on Oxford Street (under the railway bridge). Here’s where they’ll take you:

• Stop A: 85/86 to Chorlton, 85A to Arrowfield Estate, 250 to the Trafford Centre, 263 to Altrincham
• Stop B: 15 to Flixton, 18 to Manchester Royal Infirmary, 41 to Sale, 42 to Stockport via East Didsbury, 42A to North Reddish, 42B to Bramhall & Woodford, 42C to Handforth Dean, 43 to Airport, 44 to Altrincham, 111 to Chorlton, 142/143 to East/West Didsbury, 197 to Stockport via Heaton Moor, V1/V2 to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

You’ll also find bus stops on Whitworth Street West (bottom of the ramp) and further up Oxford Street in both directions.

Which trains go there?

A number of different operators serve Oxford Road. Here’s what you can expect:

• East Midlands Railway to Liverpool Lime Street, Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich
• Northern to Blackpool North, Crewe, Hazel Grove, Southport, Barrow-in-Furness, Windermere, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport
• TransPennine Express to Redcar Central, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central and Manchester Airport
• Transport for Wales to Llandudno, Holyhead and Manchester Airport.

Deansgate

If you’re looking to visit the Castlefield Gallery or some of the bars and restaurants on Deansgate Locks (or Deansgate itself), this is likely to be the best station for you.

What’s the station like?

Deansgate is the smallest of the Manchester train stations and is situated on a very busy stretch of railway. There’s a small ticket office located downstairs under the railway line and two platforms built on a raised viaduct.

Getting to and from the station

There’s a direct footbridge connection to Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop from the Manchester-bound platform. On the street below (Whitworth Street West) you’ll also find a number of local bus routes to choose from:

• Stop C: 255 to Stretford, Urmston & Partington, X50 to Trafford Centre (Express)
• Stop D: free bus 3 to Piccadilly Station (Mon-Sat evenings only), 255 and X50 to Piccadilly Gardens.

Which trains go there?

All trains that serve Deansgate are operated by Northern. Heading west, they’ll take you to Liverpool Lime Street, Blackpool North, Southport and Barrow-in-Furness. Going east, you can travel to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport. 

Getting between the Manchester train stations

First of all, let’s take a look at where all of these stations are located in Manchester city centre:

As you can see, three of the Manchester train stations (Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Deansgate) are located close together. There’s a regular rail service between all three, and a regular tram service between Piccadilly and Deansgate.

The most common connection that you’re likely to want to make is between Victoria and Piccadilly or vice-versa. Let’s take a look at how we do that, first.

Piccadilly <-> Victoria

When it comes to changing between these two Manchester train stations, you have a couple of options. Let’s take a look at taking the tram, the bus and walking.

Metrolink tram

First of all, you can take the Metrolink tram. Just pop down the escalator/lift near platforms 10 and 11 if you’re at Piccadilly. If you’re travelling from Victoria, just head out of the ticket gates and turn left after a minute or so. You can’t miss the trams! Most tickets across Manchester don’t include the tram fare (unless you have a ticket issued to Manchester Central Zone or ‘Manchester CTLZ), so you’ll need to pay for it separately.

A single ticket for zone 1 will cost £1.40 for an adult (as of November 2022). You can either purchase a ticket from a ticket machine on the platform or use one of these contactless readers with your bank card:

If you choose to pay contactless, just remember that you’ll also need to touch out at the end. It’s not possible to buy tickets on board trams, and penalty fares do apply.

The journey takes around 10 minutes and trams run at least every 12 minutes during the day. You’ll need a tram bound for Bury. They’re modern, bright and have plenty of space for luggage. Click here to find out more about Metrolink.

Free Bus

There is a completely free option that’ll keep you out of any wind and rain! One of the free bus routes in Manchester will take you between Piccadilly and Victoria stations without any fuss. Bear in mind though that this bus runs in a loop. This means that while it’s a relatively short trip from Piccadilly to Victoria, it takes a lot longer to go the other way.

To get there you’ll want the free bus number 2, which leaves from the near the main entrance of Piccadilly. Simply walk out of the station and keep left. The bus stop is well-branded:

Keep an eye out for the yellow bus coming (left image, mid-left). They run every 10 minutes during most of the day, so you won’t be waiting too long. When you board, there’s no need to do anything, except say hello to the driver! There are next-stop announcements too, to keep you in the loop.

In the evenings, route 3 also operates. This runs on a slightly different route, but connects Piccadilly, Victoria, Deansgate and Oxford Road. It leaves from the same stop as the number 2.

If you’re travelling from Victoria, turn right after the ticket office and exit onto Station Approach. Like we said though, it’s a much slower (around 25 minutes) journey to Piccadilly than from there.

Click here to find out more about the free bus.

Walk!

If you’re not in a rush or the weather is nice, it’s perfectly possible to walk between the two stations. Here’s a map with a possible walking route on:

Heading out of Piccadilly, as you can see, it’s quickest (and most straightforward) to head straight out of the main entrance. From there, just keep heading straight on until you find yourself going under the Arndale Centre with tram tracks running from right to left in front of you. From here, you can turn right and follow the tram tracks.

Doing this in reverse? Simply follow the tram tracks out of the station entrance and keep right (don’t follow the set of tracks that go uphill). When you reach a path that goes underneath the Arndale Centre (you’ll have M&S on your right) turn left and go straight on for about 10-15 minutes. The whole walk in either direction will take 20 minutes for a reasonably fit and healthy person.

Oxford Road & Deansgate <-> Victoria

The easiest way to get between these Manchester train stations continues to be the tram. If you’re travelling between Deansgate and Victoria (and vice-versa), there are direct tram connections between both stations.

Deansgate <-> Victoria

Deansgate is connected to Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop by a bridge (accessed to/from the Manchester-bound platform). Be sure to have your rail ticket ready, as there’s usually someone checking on the bridge.

You’ll need a tram bound for Rochdale Town Centre, Shaw & Crompton, Bury or Victoria. There are two different routes that trams can take, with ones routed via Exchange Square being slightly faster. Overall though, you can expect the trip to take around 10 minutes. Make sure to buy a ticket before you board or touch in with your bank card (pictured above).

If you’re heading in the opposite direction, keep an eye out for the tram stop on the left when you exit the ticket gates at Victoria. Grab a ticket or touch in before you board a tram bound for Altrincham, East Didsbury or Manchester Airport.

When making this journey in either direction, there’s no shortage of available trams, so you won’t have long to wait.

Oxford Road <-> Victoria

Oxford Road is the only one of the Manchester train stations that isn’t connected directly to a tram stop. Instead, you’ll need to take a short walk to St Peter’s Square tram stop.

If you’re doing this from Oxford Road, you’ll need to head down the ramp when exiting the station and turn right followed by a quick left. Cross the road and head up Oxford Street for a few minutes until you reach the Manchester Central Library. The tram stop is located here.

You’ll need a tram bound for Rochdale Town Centre, Shaw & Crompton, Bury or Victoria. There are two different routes that trams can take, with ones routed via Exchange Square being slightly faster. Overall though, you can expect the trip to take around seven minutes. Make sure to buy a ticket before you board or touch in with your bank card (pictured above).

If you’re heading in the opposite direction, keep an eye out for the tram stop on the left when you exit the ticket gates at Victoria. Grab a ticket or touch in before you board a tram bound for Altrincham, East Didsbury or Manchester Airport.

When you get to St Peter’s Square, make sure you’re at the front of the tram and turn left onto Oxford Street. It’s just a short walk to Oxford Road station, which is located up a ramp just off Whitworth Street West. When you get to the junction with Whitworth Street West, turn right and the station is on your left up the ramp.

Again, the tram fare for this journey is £1.40 for an adult. Click here to find out more about Metrolink.

Deansgate <-> Oxford Road <-> Piccadilly

These Manchester train stations are located fairly close together in a straight line. You’ll also find a train service connecting all three, so this is likely to be the most convenient option.

Three trains per hour connect Deansgate with Piccadilly (with a fourth to/from Oxford Road), while there is a very frequent service between Piccadilly and Oxford Road.

If you hold an Super Off-Peak, Off-Peak, Anytime or Season ticket, then any ticket issued to Manchester Stations or Manchester Central Zone is valid to/from any combination of these stations.

Do you have an Advance ticket? You’ll need to stick to the station on your reservation.

Are there any free buses?

If you’re travelling from Oxford Road to Piccadilly (in this direction only), free bus 2 leaves from Oxford Street, which is located a short walk from the station. You’ll need to turn right out of the ramped exit and use the stop outside of Bridgwater House.

On Monday to Saturday evenings, free bus 3 also operates between Deansgate and Piccadilly via Oxford Road (one-way only – the bus continues to Victoria and elsewhere in the city centre).

The bus leaves from ‘Deansgate Station – Stop D‘ when travelling from Deansgate, and Oxford Street (same as free bus 2) at Oxford Road. It only runs between 19:25 and 23:25 on the days mentioned, so it’s ideal if you’re visiting bars and other venues nearby.

Planning your trip to/from Manchester train stations

Ready to book your next journey? The SmartSplit website is here to help. We’ll always offer the cheapest option for your trip and you’ll know exactly which of the Manchester train stations you need.

Looking to save some money on your next trip? Check out our cheap train tickets blog. It even includes a money-saving option for Manchester!

^{Please note: All information contained on this page, including any service information, is issued without liability. It was correct at the time of publication (November 8, 2022) but may be subject to change. SmartSplit is not responsible for any loss, inconvenience or disrupted travel plans incurred as a result of the information provided. Always check with your rail/bus operator before you travel.} 

The post Manchester Train Stations – Our Guide appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Some of us like to be organised. Other times, we do things a little last minute. In both of these cases, we sometimes get hit with a bit of a painful question: why are train tickets not available to buy? Here’s our handy guide to booking horizons, why they matter and how to know when to buy your tickets.

What is a ‘Booking Horizon’?

Why are train tickets not available to buy? It could have something to do with something called a ‘Booking Horizon’. Just like looking over the horizon lets you see far away, the idea of these is that they ideally let you book train tickets for dates far away!

They’re usually pre-set at a certain number of weeks into the future. This gives rail companies and Network Rail the chance to decide what the timetables will look like when it comes to things like engineering works. During the week, there usually won’t be many changes so you can usually book further into the future on weekdays. On weekends, there’s likely to be some changes, so the rail industry needs a little longer to finalise all of this information.

Once all of this information is passed to the rail companies, they can start allowing you to book your tickets! With this, they’ll release any cheap Advance tickets they have, if they sell them for the trip you’re making.

Great, so why are train tickets not available to buy?

We made it sound awfully simple, didn’t we? Why are train tickets not available to buy, then? If that’s all there is to it, why isn’t there a definitive answer to when you’ll be able to grab the best bargain?

Well, it used to be (and still is, in some cases!) that you can buy train tickets 12 weeks in advance. There were some exceptions on weekends when timetables for engineering works needed some fine-tuning.

Unfortunately, in the months prior to COVID-19, issues arose with the planning of the timetable. This meant that six weeks became the new target to aim for. The COVID-19 pandemic then made everything a lot worse, with timetables needing to quickly adapt to changing demand. As a result, changes had to be made at much shorter notice.

And that’s the situation where we are today! Network Rail are often still finalising timetables at very short notice, meaning that rail operators can’t allow you to buy the tickets. If they did, you might end up buying a train that didn’t exist!

The pandemic has also meant that many companies are suffering from a shortage of staff, due to sickness and industrial disputes. When this happens, companies need to be able to confirm a stable timetable. This could mean reducing the timetable, or waiting until they know how many staff are available. Some companies have struggled more than others, too.

How do I know when I can book?

You’ll find all of the current available booking dates on the National Rail website. Here’s a guide of when you can typically expect tickets to generally become available for different rail operators at the moment (October 2022). Bear in mind that engineering works may affect these horizons and some days may be excluded:

^{*Avanti West Coast are currently running a temporary timetable and services may only be confirmed at late notice. Check before you travel.}

^{**Services north of York to Edinburgh and beyond are generally available earlier than 12 weeks in advance.}

^{***The route between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids is currently operating a temporary timetable due to track issues. Timetables on this route are updated on a week-by-week basis at present.}

^{All information in this table is subject to change and is intended as a rough guide only. It is published without liability. It was correct at the time of writing (21/10/22). SmartSplit bears no responsibility for loss, inconvenience or additional costs incurred as a result of the use of this information.}

It’s nearly my date of travel! Why are train tickets not available to buy?

As we’ve mentioned above, sometimes rail operators might not be able to confirm timetables until shortly before the date of travel. Yes, that could mean just a couple of days! However, there is another reason why train tickets might not be available to buy.

During COVID-19, many rail operators altered the way that their reservation data was shown online, so that it would automatically give you a seat reservation where possible. This encouraged social distancing and ensured that train tickets stopped being sold when all of the allocated reservations were filled. After this, it would show as ‘sold out’.

However, with the exception of the Caledonian Sleeper train, there’s no need to have a reservation to board a train. You might prefer to have one, but you don’t need one! These ‘compulsory reservation’ markers have hung around though, meaning that trains will still stop being selectable when all of the seats are filled.

This doesn’t mean that the train is ‘sold out’, but you might need to pick a different train that isn’t full in order to buy your ticket. Don’t worry, if you’re buying a flexible ticket, you’re not tied to any particular train, so long as it meets any date or time restrictions.

We know this can be frustrating and might make the ticket buying process a bit trickier. So if you have any issues, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help with this.

Is it possible to book too far in advance?

Sometimes, some websites will allow you to buy an Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak or Anytime ticket without a reservation before timetables have been officially confirmed. These are the most expensive type of tickets and they can be bought right up until your train leaves, so there’s no need to buy them months ahead!

Sometimes, two stations won’t have any Advance tickets available between them. But, if you were expecting to find some and you didn’t, it’s okay to wait a little longer until they appear. If it’s a weekend, it may be that engineering works are planned and the timetable needs to be confirmed.

It’s the same if all of the trains show as ‘sold out’ many weeks in advance. Don’t panic! They’re just not available to buy yet.

Ready to book your next journey? Simply visit the SmartSplit website. You could also check out our guide to some cheap rail tickets that you might not have known about!

The post Why are train tickets not available to buy? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Edinburgh Airport to City Centre: the options

First of all, we should add that you should only take this option if you’re happy with a bit of walking and aren’t lumbered down with heavy luggage. If you’ve taken the cheapest flight option though, you probably don’t have a huge suitcase! Let’s take a look at the different costs of getting from Edinburgh Airport, to begin with:

If you’d like to take the tram direct from the airport, it’s £6.50. Happy to take the bus? That’ll set you back £4.50. If you’re happy with a 25 minute stroll though, you can take the tram for just £1.80. Like we say, we don’t recommend this if you’re pulling along a load of heavy luggage. But, if we’re already helping you save on your train ticket, we might as well knock a few quid off your tram fare as well!

Edinburgh Airport to City Centre: the walk

Instead of the Airport tram stop, we’re off to Ingliston Park & Ride. So if you’re going from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre, you’ll need to start by getting off your plane and making your way to the front of the terminal. The road in front of the arrivals is a bit like a loop, and you’ll need to turn right heading against the flow of traffic. Stick to the path next to the terminal building, and you’ll soon come across a sign pointing you to the Hampton by Hilton hotel. This is a good sign (literally!) and it means you’re heading the right way.

You’ll be heading in the direction of the air traffic control tower (on the left of the picture above). Keep following the path as it curves around past the tower and you’ll come across the hotel on the right. You’ll also find the Spitfire memorial here:

Next, you’ll have a couple of roundabouts to contend with. At the first one, simply keep right and keep following the road until you reach the Moxy hotel. There’ll be a road to cross here, then you’ll need to cross the road again (there’s a traffic island). This side of the road has a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on it, as well as one of these rather large signs:

Make sure you’re on this side of the road, as the path soon runs out on the right hand side. Now, it’s a fairly simple case of following the road for just over five minutes. You’ll come across a reassuring sign like this one, too:

After this time (and after a small roundabout), you’ll need to take the first road that appears on your left. This leads into the Ingliston Park & Ride site:

This short stretch of road doesn’t have any paths, but there are grass verges in the event of any traffic approaching. You can also choose to walk through the car park on the left which also leads towards the tram stop. Alternatively, you can visit the information centre (roof visible on the right) which has some ticket machines for the tram. We’re heading straight for the tram stop though, as there are machines and validators on the platform, too.

A final set of signs will guide you to the stop itself once you’re in the car park:

Travelling by tram

Part 1 of your trip from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre is complete! Make sure you buy a ticket or validate a pass for the tram before you board. There are tram stops and validators at every stop and they look like this:

The ticket machines accept coin payment or you can use cards (both chip and pin and contactless). Other than the single for £1.80, you can also buy day tickets which are accepted on Lothian buses, too.

Great! So you’ve got a ticket, and now it’s time to take the tram. They run up to every 7 minutes and at the moment, they run to St Andrew Square, which is in the heart of the city. There’s plenty of luggage space and they’re fully accessible. You’ll also find a member of staff on every tram checking tickets and giving out help and advice on your trip.

On the way, you might get off at some of the following stops:

• Edinburgh Gateway – which is ideal for connections to and from further north in Scotland
• Haymarket – for rail connections throughout Scotland and towards the North West of England. It’s easier to change here than to transfer at Edinburgh Waverley
• Princes Street – for Edinburgh City Centre, the Castle and other main attractions. This is also the nearest station to Edinburgh Waverley. It’s around a 10-minute walk.

No matter where you choose to go from Ingliston Park & Ride towards the city, the fare is always £1.80. You can find out more about travelling by tram on the Edinburgh Trams website.

Is there anything else I should know?

It takes around 25 minutes to get into Edinburgh itself once you’re on the tram. Factoring in a 25 minute walk and a wait for the tram, it’s likely to take you almost an hour from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre. So this isn’t the fastest option, but it is of course the cheapest.

Let’s recap the walk with this handy map:

Ready to save on your train tickets, too? Visit the SmartSplit website.

The post Edinburgh Airport to City Centre – on a budget! appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are Railcards?

Before we go into the different types of Railcards, it’s important to know what they actually are! In a nutshell, they’re a discount card that you buy for either one year or three years. They’ll give you a discount off your ticket (usually either 33.4% or 50%) so long as you always have the Railcard on hand to show when your ticket is checked.

You can buy them at a ticket office and get them on paper, or you can buy them online. When you get them online, you can usually choose to have them in the Railcard app or as a plastic card. If you travel more than a couple of times a year (or make one long trip every year!) and you’re eligible for one, they’re definitely worth getting. There’s so many different types of Railcards to choose from, too.

Let’s take a look at some example journeys and how much you could save with a Railcard. These are all the prices that you’d pay on the day:

^{All fares correct at the time of publication (25/10/2022). This information is issued without liability and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or additional costs incurred as a result of this information.}

What are the different types of Railcards?

There’s two types of Railcard groups. National Railcards are the ones that you’re most likely to know about. They’re the ones like the 16-25 and Senior Railcards. The other type, which you might not know about, are Regional Railcards. If you live near a railway line or in certain parts of the country, you can get a discount for the trains that stop on your doorstep! (Well, not literally). Let’s take a look at National Railcards, first…

16-17 Saver

This Railcard is one of the new kids on the block! It’ll get you 50% Standard Class travel (except on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper, so it doesn’t cover most of Scotland) and it includes Season tickets, too. This makes it perfect for commuting to and from college or work.

If you’re 16 or 17 years old, simply click here to apply online. That’s all there is to it! Two more years of child-rate fares without any fuss.

16-25 Railcard

Previously known as a ‘Young Persons Railcard’, this one will give you 1/3 off your rail travel if you’re aged between 16 and 25, or if you’re a mature student. Unlike the 16-17 Saver, it isn’t valid on Season tickets, so it’s designed to give you discounts on leisure travel. That said, you might find that for commutes on a couple of days of week, it’s cheaper than buying a Season ticket. Click here to apply online.

26-30 Railcard

No longer eligible for the 16-25 Railcard but want the savings to continue? This Railcard is for you. There’s a couple of tweaks to the restrictions (see the table below) but otherwise, you’ll get 1/3 off as you did with the 16-25 Railcard! Click here to apply online.

Annual Gold Card

This is a little bit different to the other types of Railcards, as you can’t just pop online and buy one on its own. If you buy a season ticket within the Gold Card area, then it doubles up as one of these Railcards. You’ll get 1/3 off within this ‘Gold Card area’ after 09:30 on weekdays and at anytime otherwise. Some people will buy the cheapest season ticket they can within this area and use it purely for the Railcard perks if they expect to travel a lot by train! Click here to find out more.

Network Railcard

Who can buy this Railcard? Just about anyone! It’ll get you 1/3 off your fare in the Network Railcard area, but there’s a few restrictions you’ll need to be aware of (see the table below). Perfect for travelling for pleasure! Click here to find out more and apply online.

Disabled Persons Railcard

If you have a disability, you might be eligible to purchase one of these Railcards. There’s no time restrictions and one person travelling with you can get the discount, too. To apply, you’ll just need to upload some proof of entitlement directly to the Railcard website during the application process. Click here to find out more and fill out your application.

HM Forces Railcard

If you are a member or a spouse/civil partner of a member of the Regular Armed Forces or Volunteer Reserves then you’re eligible to purchase one of these Railcards. You’ll get 1/3 off your fare and 60% off child fares. You’re not able to apply online, so you’ll need to click here to find out more.

Veterans Railcard

This is one of the newest types of Railcards available. It’s for UK Veterans who served at least one day in His Majesty’s Armed Forces or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations. You’ll get 1/3 off your own fare and up to four children travelling with you will get 60% off. Click here to apply online.

Job Centre Plus Railcard

Need some help getting to job interviews or getting around in general while you look for a job? This Railcard is valid for three months at a time and is aimed at those claiming Jobseekers Allowance. It’s valid on ‘flexible’ tickets, such as Anytime, Off-Peak, Super-Off-Peak and Seasons. Click here to find out more about how to apply.

Senior Railcard

Aged 60 or over? Perfect. How about 1/3 off your rail travel? All you need to do is upload proof of age if you apply online, or show some at the station if you prefer to do it that way. Find out more on the Senior Railcard website.

Two Together Railcard

Got someone you travel together with frequently? Great. You can get 1/3 off both of your tickets! They don’t have to be a family member, either. Just make sure you travel together, and you’re covered. Click here to find out more and to apply online.

Family & Friends Railcard

This Railcard gives you the ability to add two names to it, meaning that it can be shared between two adults. You can get a 1/3 discount up to four adults and 60% on four children in a group, so long as one of the named cardholders is travelling. You’ll also need to make sure there’s at least one child with you, too! Ideal for family days out and more. Click here to apply online.

You can buy tickets with any of these Railcards on the SmartSplit website.

Are there any restrictions I need to know about?

Yes. Most types of Railcards have some sort of restriction on when you can use them, and we know that they can be tricky to navigate or understand sometimes!

Are there any other types of Railcards?

Yes! As we mentioned above, you can buy a regional Railcard if you live in certain parts of the country. Click on the links below to find out more about each one:

• Cambrian Line (Pwllheli and Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury)
• Cotswold Line (Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street)
• Dales Railcard
• Devon & Cornwall
• Esk Valley (Whitby to Middlesbrough)
• Thameslink and Great Northern Student 16/18 Connect
• Transport for Wales 18 Saver & Student Railcards
• Heart of Wales (Swansea to Shrewsbury via Llandrindod)
• Highland
• Pembrokeshire
• Valleys (Cardiff)

At the moment, you can’t yet buy tickets with these discounts on the SmartSplit website. Watch this space though, we’re working on it!

Can you use Railcards on Season tickets?

Out of the National Railcards on offer, you’re only able to use the 16-17 Saver and Job Centre Plus Railcard on season tickets. If you commute only on selected days every week, it’s still likely cheaper to purchase individual tickets with your Railcard (provided it’s within the time restrictions of the Railcard you have).

Season tickets are already discounted, but they provide the best value if you’re consistently commuting five days a week.

I can’t use any of the types of Railcards! What now?

We know it’s frustrating when there’s no Railcard on offer that fits the bill. Don’t worry though, there’s still plenty of great value tickets on offer. Take a look at our guide to cheap train tickets that you might not have discovered before. It’s a great start. We’ve also written about other discounts that you can get.

Don’t forget that when you book with SmartSplit, we don’t charge any fees. Need to change when you’re travelling? No problem at all. We don’t charge admin fees on that, either.

The post A guide to the different types of Railcards appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

First Class. It conjures up images of luxury and enjoying an ‘exclusive’ experience. So what’s the best First Class train in the UK, which ones are just okay, and which ones should you avoid? Here’s our guide to travelling First Class like a boss.

The Great

1. LNER

If you wanted the simplest answer to which is the best First Class train in the UK, then we’d probably say LNER. You can travel at any time of day and get your share of 2+1 seating, complimentary food and drink and an altogether more relaxing experience. This is First Class exactly as you’d imagine it.

‘There’s two types of trains on LNER. You’re most likely to get an Azuma, which looks like this:

In terms of the seat, the Intercity 225 trains win every single time. They’re like big homely armchairs and provide a decent level of recline. There’s also a nice variety of seating types, with plenty of single seats and tables for two. The Azuma has lots of tables for four, but assumes that the rest of us prefer to travel as loners! Tables for two as are rare as hen’s teeth on these trains.

What can you expect on board to eat and drink? LNER operates with a ‘Deli, Dish & Dine‘ menu. ‘Deli’ is reserved for their quieter services, ‘Dish’ is served across most services during the day, and Dine is often reserved for the ‘peak’ services.

At minimum, you can expect hot breakfast sandwiches, cold sandwiches and salads and a variety of hot and cold drinks (including alcohol after 11:30am) every day. The ‘Dish’ menu adds some hot lunch/dinner dishes (such as Shepherdess Chicken or Asparagus Tortellini) while the ‘Dine’ menu gives a more ‘premium’ offering such as a ‘Full LNER’ breakfast in the morning, and a salmon dish later in the day.

Is it worth it? If your journey is over an hour, absolutely. On some quieter services, the difference in price often isn’t too high, making it ideal for some affordable luxury. Is it the best First Class train in the UK? Well, it certainly provides the best ‘all-round’ experience all week long.

2. Avanti West Coast

The ‘other’ route from north to south perhaps doesn’t have quite the same ‘flair’ or complimentary offering to make it worthy of the ‘best First Class train in the UK’ badge, but it’s worth mentioning the ‘Standard Premium‘ product here.

Avanti have split up their Pendolino trains (serving all routes except Shrewsbury and Chester/North Wales) into ‘First Class’ and ‘Standard Premium’, with the only difference being the complimentary food and drink. What’s more is that you can simply upgrade on board if you fancy it, though Standard Premium Advance tickets can be purchased, as well.

On weekdays, Coaches G and H will be designated ‘Standard Premium’ (though Coach G is soon to be converted to Standard on some trains), while J and K remain traditional First Class. On weekends, Coach J is also Standard Premium, leaving the tiny Coach K as First. Our advice is not to book First Class on weekends and instead opt for Standard Premium, as it can get rather cosy!

Seating is laid out in a mixture of 2+1 seating, and is rather comfortable indeed. It should be added that Avanti are in the process of refurbishing their trains, but for the moment (October 2022), most trains will look like this (Standard Premium pictured):

What do you get if you pay the extra for First Class? To be fair to Avanti, their menu is fairly decent and doesn’t change too much on weekends, either. In the mornings, you can expect hot breakfast sandwiches, a ‘Great British Breakfast’ and Breakfast Hash, among other dishes. Later on, there’s a Croque Monsieur, a charcuterie plate and a couple of salad options. Here’s the Great British Breakfast:

They don’t skimp on the drinks either, with a plethora of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks to choose from. Versus LNER, there’s a little less ‘pizazz’ with some of the food, but it has a nice variety and the portions are decent. .

For some, ‘Standard Premium’ might make this the best First Class train in the UK, as it allows you to enjoy some space on a long trip for a simple upgrade.

Is it worth it? On weekdays, First Class is more likely to be worth it. But, if you just want some space, opt for Standard Premium instead. It also gives you the option to jump on and upgrade on a whim! On weekends, Standard Premium is the way to go. We’ve even done the legwork and tried the difference out for ourselves. You can read more here. We’ve also done a direct comparison of Avanti West Coast vs LNER.

The ‘Decent’

These are the trains where we’d say it’s worth it on an Advance ticket or upgrade if you can get it. They certainly won’t be winning the ‘best First Class train in the UK’ award, but they’ll give you some extra space and likely a bit of peace on your trip!

3. TransPennine Express, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains

We’ve put these three together as they offer broadly the same product. 2+1 seating, a selection of drinks, snacks (and maybe a sandwich!) and a more pleasant travelling environment. TransPennine Express operate a variety of different train types, but other than your seat looking and feeling a little different, the product is largely the same.

Great Western Railway run the same type of train on all of their long-distance routes out of London. It’s the same as LNER’s Azuma and also the TransPennine Express Nova 1, which runs between Newcastle and Liverpool. Hull Trains operate this type of train on all of their services, too. The only difference is the decor and the carriage sizes.

What’s the catering offer like? Well…

• Hull Trains offer a variety of fresh sandwiches and other light refreshments. In the mornings, this will mean a hot sausage or bacon panini.
• Great Western Railway offer drinks, cakes, crisps and other nibbles on weekdays between 06:00 and 19:30. Some services offer Pullman dining, too (see below).
• TransPennine Express offer hot and cold drinks and snacks for the majority of the day in First Class.

Is it worth it? Certainly all of these trains are modern, spacious and offer a ‘First Class’ feel. Don’t turn up expecting a feast (though Hull Trains certainly offer the best catering of the three) but on most trains, you’ll at least get something to drink and nibble. If you can get a good First Class Advance ticket or upgrade on the day, it’s definitely worth it.

4. East Midlands Railway

East Midlands Railway‘s First Class is certainly laid out as you would expect. It’s got 2+1 seating, seats with a reasonable recline and a more relaxed ambience. You’ll find First Class on services between Sheffield/Nottingham and London St Pancras. It’s no longer offered on trains to/from Corby, but for the moment, you’ll find ‘declassified’ sections with a little more room than the rest of the train. Sit in them at no extra cost!

Here’s what a typical First Class carriage looks like:

East Midlands Railway just slips over on the fact that these trains haven’t had a refurbishment for quite a while and some are starting to look a little tired. However, that rings true for the entire train (both Standard and First) and the seats themselves are still pretty comfortable. It’s definitely worth upgrading if you fancy some extra space and the price difference isn’t too high.

Despite the slightly tired interiors, the food offering is actually quite good. Here’s what East Midlands Railway had to say about it when they overhauled the offering in March 2022:

“Customers travelling First Class during the morning will now be able to choose a hot complimentary bacon or sausage ciabatta, porridge, or a vegan breakfast burrito. While in the afternoon, they will be offered a chilled sandwich, wrap or salad, or the choice of a gluten free meal or vegan option.”

East Midlands Railway Press Release, 03 March 2022

This is available on Monday to Saturday at the moment (all day), with plans to extend it to Sundays.

In the coming years, East Midlands Railway will also be replacing their fleet on the London route with more modern trains, so it’s likely that they’ll become an even stronger contender in the battle for the best First Class train in the UK!

Is it worth it? If you’d like some more space and a more comfortable seat, it’s worth considering. Just be aware that on Sundays, the catering offer is fairly limited for the moment.

5. Grand Central

Grand Central offer a decent First Class product, with 2+1 seating and a reasonable travel environment. While their fleet of ‘Adelante’ trains don’t have the most reliable reputation, they’ve recently given them a good refurbishment and they’re fairly smart and modern.

In terms of the complimentary food and drink offer, you can choose for two items out of a list of snacks such as croissants, crisps and biscuits, as well as bean-to-cup coffee. Water, coffee and tea are available throughout the journey without limit.

Is it worth it? The catering certainly won’t be winning any awards, but Grand Central offer a smart First Class that’s certainly worth it on an Advance ticket or upgrade if you can get one.

6. CrossCountry

CrossCountry offer First Class on all of their trains, though their main long-distance product is on their Voyager trains, which operate the ‘core’ routes from Scotland to the South West and Manchester to the South Coast. These trains certainly don’t have the best reputation, being rather cramped and often too short for the trips that they’re making.

That said, this makes a good First Class product all the more important, especially if you’d like some extra space on your journey. Here’s what First Class looks like on a ‘Voyager’ train:

While fairly reasonable, it’s still squeezing a fair number of seats into a small carriage. Those tables for four don’t match up with the windows, either! That said, when comparing it to the rather cramped Standard Class, it could well still be worth the upgrade. The addition of airline-style pairs of seats next to each other is also nice to have, with most trains opting for single seats in this sort of layout.

What’s on the menu? The complimentary menu is offered on most trains, though sometimes early in the morning and late at night, parts of some journeys won’t have any catering. Here’s what to expect:

• Breakfast: Pain au Chocolat, Croissant, Porridge, Hot Bacon Roll
• Snacks: Fruit Cake, Crisps, Biscuits
• Sandwiches: BLT, Tuna & Sweetcorn, Ploughman’s

Sandwiches are available for journeys over 50 minutes on weekdays and 90 minutes on weekends and Bank Holidays. There’s also a selection of hot and cold drinks available.

Is it worth it? If the price is right, it’s definitely worth it for the extra space. After all, CrossCountry services can be very busy indeed. If you have a flexible ticket, you can purchase Weekend First on board, which definitely makes this worth the upgrade.

7. ScotRail

ScotRail offer First Class on their long-distance and ‘eXpress’ services, the latter being the brand name for trains on the Edinburgh – Falkirk High – Glasgow Queen Street route. The on-board environment certainly varies between the different products, but ScotRail themselves do recognise that.

For example, an on-board upgrade on an ‘Intercity’ train costs £15, while a shorter hop on an ‘eXpress’ train is just £5. Here’s what an ‘eXpress’ train looks like in First Class:

While ‘eXpress’ trains are a little more basic (but still in a 2+1 layout), ‘Inter7City’ trains are far more luxurious, having kept their layout from a previous refurbishment that they had while operating for Great Western Railway. They’re classy, comfortable and certainly worth it for a £15 upgrade on a long journey.

What’s available to eat? You’ll just get a hot/soft drink and a sweet/savoury snack if there’s catering available. Click here for the full list of trains that offer it.

Is it worth it? For £5, we’d certainly recommend the eXpress upgrade if it’s a particularly busy train in Standard Class. The Inter7City upgrade for £15 is worth it on a long trip, too. Just take a picnic with you!

8. Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia have recently abolished First Class on all except their Norwich to London route, thanks to the introduction of a brand-new fleet of trains.

First Class on this route is in a 2+1 layout and is bright and modern as you’d expect from a new train. On Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays and over Christmas, you can upgrade on board for £10.

On weekdays, you can claim complimentary hot and cold drinks and snacks from the buffet counter, too. It isn’t a spectacular offering, but with a maximum journey time of under two hours, we wouldn’t expect the height of opulence.

Is it worth it? If you can get a cheap Advance ticket or fancy a £10 upgrade. It’s no-frills and a brand new train.

9. South Western Railway

South Western Railway operate a variety of route types and so you’ll find a variety of types of First Class. If you’re travelling between London Waterloo and Salisbury/Exeter St Davids, seats are arranged in a 2+1 layout, and it’s genuinely rather roomy.

On trains to Weymouth and some trains to Portsmouth, they’ve recently refurbished their ‘444’ trains and with it, removed the 2+1 layout from First Class! As Standard is 2+2, this may remove some of the ‘pull’ for travellers. That said, it’s bright, modern and spacious enough. It just isn’t quite as ‘different’.

Trains to Alton, Basingstoke and some services to Portsmouth are operated by ‘450’ trains. These have recently been refurbished and have two small but smart compartments in a 2+2 layout, though Standard Class is 3+2. While not all that exciting, they’re again very smart and even provide wireless charging at the tables.

Will you be fed and watered? Sadly not. But First Class does come with larger tables, so you can enjoy a nice picnic spread.

Is it worth it? Certainly if you upgrade at the weekend and you’re travelling a reasonable distance. Click here to find out more about the costs of upgrading.

The Bad…

Here’s the First Class carriages to avoid – they certainly won’t be winning the ‘best First Class train in the UK’ award! Maybe it’s because they’re absolutely no different to Standard, or because you can usually travel in them without paying extra! In many cases, these First Class compartments used to act as a way of being guaranteed a seat on rush hour commuter trains, rather than being anything special in themselves.

10. London Northwestern Railway

We’d previously mentioned London Northwestern Railway on this list, but they no longer offer First Class.

The First Class sections are still there at the moment, so feel free to give them a try and work out whether you’d have paid the upgrade!

11. Southern

The majority of Southern services are operated by their ‘Electrostar’ trains. The only exception is services from Uckfield to London Bridge and Eastbourne to Ashford International. Indeed, these two routes offer trains with 2+1 seating, if you’d like a little more space. What’s more, Eastbourne to Ashford International is advertised as ‘Standard Class only’, so you can sit in this area with a First Class ticket.

So, the only route where you might find a benefit to buying a First Class ticket is on some busier trains between Uckfield and London Bridge. Before COVID-19, this was likely to be a very popular option in the peak commuting times.

However, the ‘Electrostar’ trains (below) are *almost* exactly the same in First Class as they are in Standard Class. You might get a partition door and a power socket, but the experience is almost identical. Southern are also currently in the process of refurbishing their trains and adding power sockets to Standard Class, too. Prior to COVID-19, these little First Class sections used to be an invaluable way of guaranteeing yourself a seat in the rush hour, but naturally that’s not so much the case anymore.

Is it worth it? Potentially on a busy train between Uckfield and London Bridge, but otherwise you’re probably best saving your pennies.

12. Thameslink

The Thameslink First Class experience certainly isn’t the worst one of this list. While the seats are still in a 2+2 layout, they’re wider, and you have access to power sockets. It’s also separated reasonably well from the rest of the train. Here’s what to expect:

What’s the issue here? Well, unless you really want to be away from other passengers, there’s no need to pay for it. In some ways, that might make it the best First Class train in the UK! It’s always ‘declassified’ at the rear of the train on the following trains:

• Bedford to Brighton;
• Cambridge to Brighton;
• Peterborough to Horsham;
• Peak-time ‘extras’ to/from Littlehampton and East Grinstead.

Plus, it’s declassified at both ends on these trains:

• Rainham (Kent) to Luton;
• Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars/Welwyn Garden City;
• Luton/St Albans to Sutton.

If in doubt, always sit at the back! Of course, other passenger have gradually cottoned onto this, so expect the ‘free’ First Class section to be a little busy. If you really want some solitude, then that’s the only reason to pay extra.

Is it worth it? Not in our opinion, seeing as there’s a ‘free’ option to try it out!

13. Gatwick Express

There’s little to say about Gatwick Express other than that the First Class compartment is exactly the same as Standard Class, save for a small piece of cloth on the seat. The Gatwick Express website says that:

“With your First Class rail ticket you can take advantage of power sockets throughout and complimentary Wi-Fi, meaning you can send those last minute emails before you hop on your flight.”

Gatwick Express Website

This in itself is true, but you can take advantage of exactly the same facilities in Standard Class. Considering that Gatwick Express is the ‘premium’ operator on the route, this is perhaps a little disappointing! We wouldn’t recommend paying the extra. You can found out more in our guide to the best train to Gatwick Airport.

Is it worth it? Not in our opinion.

Other Experiences

While we’ve covered the best First Class train in the UK (and the not so good), there are two other experiences that are worth mentioning…

Great Western Railway Pullman Dining

While Great Western Railway might not be winning the ‘best First Class train in the UK’ award, if you’re willing to pay a little extra, then they might win the award for some of the best dining.

With main courses such as Thai Green Curry and Herb-crusted Haddock, this is a ‘proper’ restaurant-style service!

On selected services between London Paddington and Plymouth/Swansea, you can pay £33.95 for two courses or £39.95 for three, and take a seat in a First Class carriage to enjoy your meal. First Class customers are able to reserve in advance, while those in Standard Class can walk-up on the day if there’s spare seats.

You can click here to find out more about the Pullman dining service.

Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales are currrently in the process of introducing First Class onto their long-distance services, having just had a single ‘Premier’ return journey between Holyhead and Cardiff Central for a number of years.

Once their new trains are introduced, you’ll also be able to travel in First Class between Manchester and South Wales. Complimentary drinks and snacks are available, and you can currently also order hot food on board.

It’s £10 for breakfast, £17 for a two-course lunch/dinner and £20 for three courses.

Is there anything else I should know about booking First Class trains?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with our Top 5 Tips for getting cheaper fares, upgrading on board and even how to use First Class for free.

Ready to book your First Class trip? SmartSplit is here to help. We don’t charge any booking fees, or any fees at all, for that matter!

Changed your mind? No problem. You’ll only ever pay the difference in fare. If your ticket is refundable, then we can refund it. No fees, no fuss.

^{Disclaimer: All opinions expressed within this post are not to be taken as statements of fact. Your experiences may differ or vary from the ones that we’ve described. All First Class complimentary offers are subject to availability. All First Class complimentary offer information is correct at the time of writing (20/10/2022) and some information was last updated 23/06/2023.}

The post What’s the best First Class train in the UK? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the options for day trips from London by train?

London is one of the best-connected cities in Great Britain. It has a plethora of stations which will take you to the suburbs, distant cities and every kind of countryside you could imagine.

Bath

Bath has been welcoming visitors to its spas and baths for over two-thousand years. The Romans built baths in the valley of the River Avon in 60AD, and the valley became known as Aquae Sullis (the waters of Sullis).

Attracting over six million visitors per year, there’s something in Bath for everyone, making it ideal for day trips from London.

How to get there

If you’re coming from London, then you’ll find trains from Paddington to Bath Spa around every 30 minutes (every hour on Sunday mornings) operated by Great Western Railway.

All trains are operated by Class 800 “Intercity Express Train” units, which have either five or nine coaches. You’ll often find that the five-coach trains run together in pairs to form a ten-coach train:

You’re able to reserve seats on these trains, and they have plenty of tables and power outlets for devices in each carriage. If you’re not able to reserve a seat in advance though, head for Coach G.

Advance fares start at £23 one way (without a Railcard) or £72.60 for a return ticket on the day (if you’re travelling on the 10:32 train or later on weekdays, anytime on weekends and Bank Holidays).

What to do

If you’re looking to take in the best that Bath has to offer, why not make some of these part of your day trip from London:

• A great start of course is the Roman Baths. Learn about the Roman history of the city and get up close and personal with the bath house, which was only uncovered in the 19th century
• Take a stroll along the Pulteney Bridge. This unique river-crossing is filled with independent shops and cafes to explore:

• Learn about the famous writer Jane Austen with Bath’s very own Jane Austen Centre
• Get walking and exploring! Bath has many different parks to stroll in or enjoy a panic, like the Royal Victoria Park and Botanical Gardens. You can’t miss the historic Royal Crescent, either:

Finally, if you’re looking to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat, don’t forget to visit Green Park Station. Once the terminus of the railway line from Bournemouth, the historic building now survives as an indoor market.

Cambridge

Cambridge is steeped in history, and it’s famous for its world-renowned university. It’s one of the most popular day trips from London as a result!

How to get there

You’ll find two ways to get to Cambridge by train from London. The fastest way to take a Great Northern train from London King’s Cross, which runs twice every hour. For most of the day, they’re non-stop to Cambridge and take less than an hour to make the journey.

Most of the faster trains are operated by Class 387 ‘Electrostar‘ units:

They’ll usually run in eight-coach formations and have plenty of tables and power outlets. Another two trains an hour run from St Pancras International too, but they call at a number of different stations on the way and come from Brighton.

The slower (but cheaper) option is to take a Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street. They take between 80 and 90 minutes and run twice every hour. All trains are Class 720 ‘Aventra‘ units which have only just been introduced to the route. They have five carriages and sometimes run as 10-carriage pairs:

These trains don’t have tables but they have plenty of power outlets to charge devices.

In terms of price, you’ll find that Greater Anglia is the cheapest option. A day return on a weekday (valid after 09:15) is £25.20 and goes down to £17 on weekends.

If you’d prefer to take the faster Great Northern trains, it’s £31.80 for a day return on a weekday (after 09:30) and £21.70 on a weekend. Tickets at this price are valid on both companies.

What to do

A great place to start is Cambridge’s museums. The Cambridge Museum of Technology is housed in an old pumping station and tells the story of Cambridge’s role in Britain’s industrial history past and present. You could also take a look at the Museum of Zoology. It’ll take you on a trip from exploration to extinction and gorillas to gerbils. Not only that, but it’s free!

Don’t forget to have a look at the many colleges that form the University of Cambridge, too. There’s plenty to explore:

If you want to go punting then you have plenty of options. What is punting, you ask? A punt is a flat-bottomed boat that you can take along the River Cam. It’ll take you along the ‘college backs’ (quite literally the backs of the colleges that form the University) and it’s a relaxing way to see the city. If you don’t take a punt, we’d still recommend exploring along the river.

One thing to bear in mind if you visit Cambridge is that the station isn’t in the city centre. It’s a 25-minute walk or you’ll find regular bus services that take around five minutes. You might find it to be cheaper if you buy a PlusBus, which gives you unlimited travel all day. It’s £3.80 for an adult (discounts for Railcards are available) and you can buy it at the ticket office when you arrive in Cambridge. Just show your rail ticket first!

Seaford

Having once been famous for the looting of shipwrecks, Seaford enjoys a more peaceful reputation in the modern day. The arrival of the railway made it one of the many popular seaside day trips from London, and it’s one that visitors continue to enjoy today.

How to get there

In order to get to Seaford, you’ll need to take a train from London Victoria to Lewes before changing to another one that’ll take you to Seaford. This is the fastest option to get there. Don’t worry though, it’s a common connection and if there’s a slight delay to the train from London, the Seaford one will usually wait. Trains on both lines run twice per hour.

It takes just under an hour and a half to make the journey, including the change at Lewes.

All of the trains will be Class 377 ‘Electrostar‘ units. They’ll run in formations of up to 12 coaches from London, but the Seaford train will just be three or four carriages:

To guarantee a table seat, aim for the front or rear coach of each four-carriage unit (so coaches 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12 in a 12-coach train). These carriages have a 2+2 seating layout with mostly full-size tables. The centre coaches are more of a ‘commuter’ style with 3+2 seating and smaller tables.

Most trains now have power sockets (with a mixture of USB and three-pin sockets) and they’re gradually being fitted to the whole fleet.

In terms of cost, it’s £35.70 for a day return (valid after 09:30) or £42 for one valid at any time. You can also buy cheaper ‘Advance’ tickets for specific trains which start at £6. They’re usually available on quieter services outside of the main commuting times.

What to do

Seaford is all about embracing the great outdoors. It’s one of the day trips from London where you can choose to either relax on the beach or go walking along the clifftops, or both!

Seaford Beach is extremely popular with joggers, dog walkers and anyone who just wants to take a stroll. You have a great view of Peacehaven Cliffs in the distance, too:

You’ll find a number of kiosks along the seafront to enjoy a drink or an ice cream. Don’t worry if the kids want the chance to build a sandcastle though, the beach itself is quite stony but there’s at least one big sandpit along the promenade for them to get creative in!

Heading further along the promenade, you’ll reach Seaford Head. This is the start of the path towards Eastbourne via the Seven Sisters cliffs. If you’re really up to the whole thing, it’s about seven hours (14 miles) to complete. If you don’t want to leave the town though, there’s still plenty to see:

Lewes

Home to a historic castle and Priory, Lewes has nearly a thousand years of history to share. It’s a great place to explore and enjoy many of its popular independent cafes, bars and restaurants.

How to get there

You might have noticed that we’ve already discussed Lewes! Most of the information mentioned about the trains to Seaford is the same here. It’s the same kind of train and you’ll need to get them from Victoria. It takes just over an hour to make the journey on a direct train which runs twice per hour.

The only difference is the cost. It’s £36.40 for a day return (valid after 09:30) or £42 for one valid at any time. Yes, this does mean that it’s slightly cheaper to buy a return to Seaford if you’re travelling on the day after 09:30!

Advance tickets for specific trains also start at £6 on this route.

What to do

The main attraction that you’ll find is Lewes Castle. The castle was built in the 11th Century and the first sections were completed shortly after the Norman Conquest. As well as having a castle to explore, the site also contains the Barbican House Museum. It’ll take you on an archaeological journey through the history of Sussex, with no stone left unturned!

When you’re walking through Lewes itself, you can go straight through the Barbican Gate, which dates from the 14th Century:

Fancy walking in the footsteps of Medieval monks? Then Lewes Priory is a must-visit. Set in the backdrop of the South Downs, the ruins tell the story of the priory which survived until 1537.

Don’t worry though, the park contains a plethora of fascinating information which explains the activities that once took place on the site. Everything from growing vegetables from…going to the toilet!

As Lewes is just a short train ride from Seaford, we’d recommend combining the two together if you fancy an historical adventure mixed with the seaside. That’s two day trips from London for the price of one!

Portsmouth

Once the most heavily-fortified city in the world, Portsmouth has a rich naval history. It’s still a naval base today, but it’s also a bustling shopping and leisure destination, as well as the gateway to the Isle of Wight.

How to get there

There are two main ways to get from London to Portsmouth. The fastest way is to take a South Western Railway service from London Waterloo. These trains take between 90 and 120 minutes to reach Portsmouth Harbour and they’re usually operated by Desiro trains:

There are two different types. Class 444 trains have five carriages and have 2+2 seating throughout (with tables). Class 450 trains have four carriages with 3+2 seating and there aren’t any tables in Standard Class. Both types of trains run on the route and both have power sockets available.

Alternatively you can take a Southern service from London Victoria. They run direct every hour to Portsmouth & Southsea (rather than Portsmouth Harbour), though it’s also possible to take a train to Barnham and change there, too. It takes around two hours to make the journey with Southern.

They’re all operated by Class 377 ‘Electrostar‘ trains like we discussed above in the section about Seaford.

The other difference is the cost. It’s £50.60 for a day return on South Western Railway (with train-specific Advance single fares starting at £9.20). Meanwhile, if you take Southern, it’s £38.20 for a day return (valid after 09:30).

What to do

The main attraction in Portsmouth is the Historic Dockyard. It’s home to multiple iconic ships, like HMS Victory, and it’s home to the National Museum of the Royal Navy. If you’re even remotely interested in the history of the Navy and the part that Portsmouth had to play in the UK’s defence, then this is one of the essential day trips from London.

Keep an eye out for HMS Warrior as soon as you leave the station at Portsmouth Harbour, too:

If history isn’t your thing, then you can head for the modern side of Portsmouth. After all, who could miss the iconic Spinnaker Tower? Opened in 2005, it gives panoramic views of Portsmouth and beyond. You can actually see the tower itself from as far away as the Isle of Wight and the Purbeck Hills:

It forms part of the wider Gunwharf Quays development, which contains a plethora of shops, bars and restaurants. If you’re looking to shop til you drop as part of your day trips from London, then this is the place to go.

What else should I know about planning day trips from London?

When it comes to day trips from London, there are some other things that you might like to know. If you’re travelling by train and aren’t sure what to look for, then we’ve written a guide on what to do if you’re travelling by train for the first time.

Travelling with family? Don’t worry. Check out our blog on family train trips.

What’s the best way to book day trips from London by train?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

No matter which of these day trips from London you choose, you want to be able to book with confidence. Every ticket you buy on SmartSplit comes without fees, both when you buy them and if you change your mind.

Every ticket can be changed (all tickets) or refunded (flexible tickets only) without fees. Because why should you pay more when the unexpected happens?

The post Day Trips from London by Train – Our Top 5 appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

LNER or Lumo – the trains

When it comes to comparing the actual trains, you won’t find much difference! They look pretty much the same on the outside:

Lumo operates all-electric Class 803 trains, which are five carriages long. Meanwhile LNER operates a mix of bi-mode (diesel and electric) Class 800 trains, and some all-electric Class 801 trains. The vast majority of their trains from Edinburgh will be formed of nine carriages.

They come from the same family and were built by Hitachi. Our only issue would be that the Lumo trains are only five carriages, which means they’re likelier to feel a bit ‘cosier’ on busier services!

SmartSplit says: LNER has the edge with longer trains and more seats, but the trains themselves look much the same!

Waiting to get on board

In Edinburgh and London, you can usually board an LNER train around 20 minutes before the train leaves. Before that time, the platform number won’t be advertised on any screens, but you might find a slow trickle of people wandering over earlier as some apps/sites will show it before the station boards do! As a result, most trains, other than the busiest ones, have a pretty calm and gradual boarding process.

Lumo is extremely variable. When we caught our train from Edinburgh on a Thursday afternoon, a crowd was allowed to build on the platform until we were eventually allowed on around 10 minutes before departure. This made boarding a little chaotic as people tried to rush on to find their seats.

The following week, we caught a Wednesday evening train, the last one of the day. Despite the train needing to be swapped at the depot, it came in with about 20 minutes to spare and everyone was allowed straight on.

SmartSplit says: With Lumo, there’s a chance that boarding might feel a bit more chaotic or left to later. No problem if you’re alone, but it might not be ideal if you’re with family.

LNER or Lumo – the seat test!

When you’re travelling such a long distance, you’ll want to know whether or not your seat will be comfortable. With LNER, we’re just going to look at Standard Class – as Lumo doesn’t have a First Class option at all!

LNER

Here’s what you can expect with LNER:

The seats are pretty firm, we’ll be honest. While legroom is good, they won’t be winning any awards for comfort. You’ll also find a tray table for each seat that’ll pull out to make some more room for a laptop.

Under your seat you’ll see that there’s a four-pin socket each. To our surprise, Standard Class didn’t have any USB sockets! However, the seats themselves were in good condition and the sockets worked. Everything felt clean and well-looked after.

There are between four and eight sets of table seats in each carriage for families and groups, so it won’t be difficult to keep yourselves sat together.

Lumo

The Lumo seat actually looks a little more impressive, at first glance:

You can tell that some more thought has gone into these. The headrests are winged, which make them perfect for a nap, while the seat isn’t quite so fully upright. Yes, the seatback is pretty thin, but this means that legroom is only slightly tighter than on LNER, despite more seats being squeezed in.

You’ll find a power socket and two USBs under the seat in front of you:

The only issue with this is that it makes putting things under your seat a little more difficult. The overall shape of the seat base is quite curved as well, so kicking a bag under there is a bit more of a squeeze.

On the back of the seat, there’s a tray table and even a reading light:

One thing to note with the tray tables is that any drinks need to go in the contoured part (pull the table out to reveal) as the rest of the table is totally smooth with no lip. Anything capable of moving will slide off.

Our only complaint was everything felt a bit worn already. Around the socket was quite scratched and one seat in the carriage even had a tray table missing. For trains only introduced in 2021, it was clear that some parts weren’t very hard-wearing.

Lumo trains also only have two sets of table seats per carriage. This makes it very likely that larger groups won’t be sat together, so you should bear this in mind when booking.

SmartSplit says: Despite being a bit well-worn, Lumo wins the seat battle. They were more comfortable, have USB sockets available and most importantly, they’re better to nap in! You might prefer LNER if you want a table, though…

Travelling with luggage?

The Hitachi trains that both companies use have been criticised for lacking luggage space. In fact, LNER ended up taking out some seats so people had enough space to store bigger bags and cases!

LNER

In every carriage on LNER, you’ll find at least two luggage racks at the ends of the carriage. On a nine-coach train, coaches B, C, H and J have four, while G has three. Five-coach trains (rarely seen on the Edinburgh to London route) have two in each carriage. The racks have two parts, with a smaller top part for smaller cases (visible in the picture below), with a bigger part for large cases.

The overhead racks will take a cabin-sized suitcase, while backpacks can be slid under the seats. The overhead racks are angled a little bit downwards too, to minimise the risk of anything falling out.

Put simply, LNER have made an extra effort to make sure everyone’s luggage can fit. That’s essential on a long-distance train.

Lumo

Lumo, in an effort to squeeze in seats, have kept the bare minimum luggage space. In coaches B, C and D, you’ll find just one luggage rack. Meanwhile A and E don’t have one at all, so you’ll need to rely on the overhead racks.

That is, unless you’re sitting in any of the seats without a window at the carriage ends, in which case you don’t get an overhead rack either. The worst seats on the train for people with luggage are E01 to E12, as coach E doesn’t have any luggage racks at the carriage ends nor do those seats have them above.

SmartSplit says: If you have a lot of luggage, stick to LNER. Otherwise, expect a scrum to get to a luggage rack before somebody else beats you to it on Lumo.

If you’re feeling peckish

LNER have a QR code on the back of every seat where you can use their “Let’s Eat at Your Seat” service, as well as an on-board cafe bar. You can take a look at their menu here.

Lumo have opted for a ‘LumoEats’ pre-ordering service if you’d like anything substantial, having partnered with M&S, the Pasty Shop and Upper Crust. It’s a decent idea, but only allowed if you’re travelling from Edinburgh or London – no good for anyone jumping on in Newcastle! Equally, if you’re leaving early in the morning, it might not be offered – meaning that there’ll be a more limited drinks and snacks selection. If you don’t pre-order, a trolley will come through and offer drinks and snacks.

There’s no dedicated menu, but you can see what’s on offer if you type in some journey details here.

Which is cheaper?

But how do they measure up? Well, whether you choose LNER or Lumo, there’s the option to have food brought directly to your seat. But what about cost? Let’s go for a simple sandwich, bag of crisps and a drink:

On Lumo, the cheapest option we could find was:

• M&S Egg & Watercress sandwich – £2.30
• Burts Salt & Vinegar Crisps – £1.45
• Harrogate Still Water – £1.50

That comes to £5.25, which isn’t bad value at all for a train! Meanwhile, LNER offer a £6 meal deal. This allows you to pick any sandwich or rice pot, any bag of Walker’s crisps or chocolate bar, and any hot or soft drink.

SmartSplit says: Lumo definitely offers the more ‘interesting’ food options if you’re able to pre-order. But, if you’re indecisive or want something on the go, LNER is best. When it comes to price, both actually offer decent value for a train.

LNER or Lumo – which is cheaper?

Travelling alone

When picking between LNER or Lumo, most of us will be thinking about price. After all, it’s a budget product, so we expect a budget price! To start with, let’s take a look at an Off-Peak trip, midweek, around a month in advance. We’ll be going from Edinburgh to London, one way, without any other discounts.*

What have we found? Lumo definitely offers cheaper single fares. There isn’t a ground-breaking difference in this example, but you can certainly save a reasonable amount. The trend continues throughout the day in our example. For instance, you could take the 16:00 to London (LNER) for £45.70, while the 16:13 (Lumo) is £37.90.

Travelling a little sooner* can cause the results to go either way. For example, we can see that there’s a bigger difference between LNER and Lumo for a late-evening trip down to London:

However, if we move that to the afternoon, it’s actually cheaper to choose LNER:

SmartSplit says: So, which is cheaper, LNER or Lumo? In most cases, we would say Lumo will have the edge when you’re travelling alone. If you’re travelling last-minute, you might snap up a great deal on quieter trains. However, busier trains might have little or no difference – it might even be cheaper to pick LNER.

*_{^{Fares quoted correct on SmartSplit.co.uk on 28/02/23 for travel on 04/04/23 and 07/03/23 respectively. All are subject to change at any time.}}

LNER or Lumo – our verdict

So, we’ve been through everything. But what’s our view in a nutshell? Here’s what we’d rate each part of the experience out of 5:

SmartSplit says: For an overall predictable and stress-free experience for all passengers, LNER definitely has the edge. But, we think that each company has its own market and purpose.

If you’re travelling as a family or in a group, we’d still recommend sticking with LNER. It has better luggage provision, more table seats and it’s likely to be less stressful trying to board and get settled. It also has the full range of food options no matter when you choose to order.

If you’re travelling light, alone or as a couple, Lumo might be the one for you. When you’re booking for yourself or for a couple of adults, Lumo is undoubtedly cheaper most of the time. The seats are more comfortable and the lack of luggage space won’t be a problem if you just have a backpack or small case.

So, LNER or Lumo? It just depends who you’re travelling with and what you’re bringing with you!

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about the Capital? Take a look at our guide to travelling to London. We’ll tell you about getting the best fares on routes like Birmingham to London and Southend to London, as well as whether it’s worth upgrading to First Class on LNER.

You can book all of the tickets we’ve discussed on the SmartSplit website. There’s no fees if you change your plans, either.

^{_{All fares and other prices, as well as times of trains, were issued on this page in good faith, and were correct at the time of writing (28/02/2023). SmartSplit is not responsible for any loss, inconvenience or otherwise, as a result of the information provided.}}

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What are the best ways to get cheap First Class train tickets?

It might seem that ‘cheap’ and ‘First Class’ don’t go together in the same sentence, but there can be some bargains if you know where to look. Whether that means following a particular route or avoiding certain times, let’s have a look at some of the best ways to save.

1. Avoid London

London can attract a premium (and lots of people want to go there!) So, if you’re after a trip in First Class for less, we’d recommend leaving it for a journey that avoids the capital. The same usually applies for Standard Class, too. Let’s take a look at an example where we’re travelling from York a month in advance:

It’s £45.50 to travel in Standard Class to London, or £95.70 in First Class. That’s more than twice the Standard Class fare!

Meanwhile, let’s see what happens if we go in the other direction and head for Edinburgh instead:

It’s £36.00 for Standard Class, and £52.40 for First Class. That’s a much smaller difference, and it isn’t a bad fare for a journey of over two and a half hours. So, your first step to finding cheap First Class train tickets is being choosy about where you go.

2. Pick a Friday morning for London trips

So, you want cheap First Class train tickets and you want to travel to London? Your best bet is to travel down on a Friday morning. In particular, you’ll find that this makes a difference for trips on the East Coast Main Line (Edinburgh – Newcastle – London) and West Coast Main Line (Glasgow – Preston – London and Birmingham – London).

This is because peak time restrictions are eased on a Friday. There’s less business-oriented travel too, so the trains are usually quieter. Because the most expensive tickets are Super Off-Peak ones, rather than Anytime or Off-Peak, this effectively ‘caps’ all of the cheaper Advance tickets.

3. Avoid the Frills

This depends on why exactly you’d like to travel in First Class. Do you want the full works with food and drinks, or do you just want a bigger seat to stretch out in with a cup of coffee? You might find cheap First Class train tickets with companies that don’t go all-out with the free food.

For example, we looked at York to London earlier, and found that it could be quite pricey. Let’s have a look and see how it compares if we choose Grand Central instead:

It’s still quite a bit more than you’d pay for Standard Class, but £55.00 is a more reasonable price than what we were finding above. You won’t get the same level of service, but you’ll still get a more spacious environment. In fact, we’ve written about the best First Class trains so that you can compare every First Class product across Great Britain.

The same applies if you pick an LNER train that doesn’t have such a substantial food menu, as there are three different menus to pick from (Dine is the largest, followed by Dish, then the most limited one is Deli). You can check which menu is scheduled on northbound trains here and southbound trains here.

4. Try Standard Premium

Did you know that Avanti West Coast gives you the option of travelling in a First Class carriage, sometimes for a fraction of the cost of a First Class ticket? Standard Premium is essentially First Class without the free food and drink. It’s the same seat and the same environment.

You don’t have to book it in advance, either. All you have to do is buy a Standard Class ticket, then take a free seat in Standard Premium. It costs up to £30 to upgrade on board, and the conductor will sell you the upgrade when they check tickets. You can book Advance tickets for Standard Premium, too. Let’s see what we get if we want to go from Carlisle to Crewe a month in advance:

So, it’s £16.40 for Standard Class, £31.40 for Standard Premium and a rather high £85.80 for First Class. That’s quite a saving over sitting in a traditional First Class carriage! We’ve also compared Standard Premium v First Class so you can see which upgrade is best for you.

5. Keep an eye out for last-minute bargains

Cheap First Class train tickets don’t have to be booked up months in advance. Sometimes, if you’re travelling at the last-minute, there’s very little difference in price between Standard Class and First Class. It might even be cheaper! Let’s take a look at travelling from York to Newcastle this coming Saturday:

That’s just over an extra fiver to travel in First Class, so it’s not a great deal more expensive. So, why is there very little difference on some trains and a huge one on others? In a nutshell, when it gets very close to departure, the cheaper ‘tiers’ of Advance tickets start to sell out. This can happen at a faster rate for Standard Class than First Class.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with upgrading on board and even travelling in First Class for free. We’ve also compared Avanti West Coast and LNER.

The final thing we’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your cheap First Class train tickets. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, but cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 09:00 12/07/23 unless otherwise stated. All information is issued in good faith. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What kind of day trips from Edinburgh by train are there?

Scotland has a great network of railways that make day trips from Edinburgh by train simple. For the most part, there’s just one operator (ScotRail) as well, so you don’t have to worry about getting on the wrong one.

Whether you just want to make a short hop and go for a walk somewhere new, or fancy a lie down on the beach, we’ve got you covered.

Aberdour & The Fife Coast

Did you know that the beach is just a 30-minute train trip from Edinburgh? Simply hop on a train to Aberdour and you can enter a completely different world. The beautiful sights begin before you’ve even left the station:

What better way to start one of these day trips from Edinburgh by train than by arriving at a station adorned with hanging baskets and beautiful flower arrangements? In fact, the village has won a Britain in Bloom award and has over 80 volunteers making sure that the entire community keeps looking spick and span.

It’s just a short walk down to Black Sands, which faces the Firth of Forth and gives great views back towards Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat:

This is definitely a good one if you fancy a walk. If you’d prefer some more peaceful surroundings, then you can head to Silver Sands. It’s connected to Black Sands by the Fife Coastal Path, or it’s a 15-minute walk if you’re coming from the station directly:

Silver Sands is great if you just want to lie back and relax. It has a wee cafe too, so you can enjoy a cold drink on a warm day (or a hot one if you’ve decided to have a bracing stroll in the colder months!)

You could pay a visit to Aberdour Castle & Gardens, too. It’s one of the oldest standing Castles in Scotland, with some parts dating back to the 1100s. Over the years, different families added their own touch to the castle, giving a real insight into the fashions and attitudes of the time. We can’t forget the beautifully-kept grounds, either:

Getting There

Ready to make this one of your next day trips from Edinburgh by train? The fares are pretty simple. It’s £8 for a day return that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Trains leave twice every hour, and the trip takes around 30 minutes. On a Sunday, the trains run hourly. The most common route to Silver Sands beach (via the station car park) has no step-free access, so you’ll need to bear this in mind if you’re travelling with kids and a buggy. Instead, you’ll need to go via Main Street to join Hawkcraig Road.

Linlithgow

This is one of the quickest and simplest day trips from Edinburgh by train. You can be there in less than 20 minutes! So, what is there to do in Linlithgow?

If you want some peace and quiet (and to get your step count in) then you can take a walk around Linlithgow Loch:

It’s just over two miles and should take you around an hour. It’s pretty level too, so this makes it a nice and easy afternoon stroll with the family, the dog, or if you just want to have a leg stretch. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as well. The loch itself is home to a lot of water birds, such as the rare Great-Crested Grebe.

You can also take a look at the magnificent Linlithgow Palace:

It’s just re-opened to the public after a two-year renovation project (as of June 2023), and it’s a fascinating building to explore. Did you know that the Palace is the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots? Construction began in 1424, and it served as a Royal Residence for over 300 years.

Getting There

Looking to visit a royal residence for one of your next day trips from Edinburgh? A day return ticket is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 09:15 on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Holidays).

You’ll find four trains an hour on weekdays (with more during peak times), six per hour on Saturdays and four per hour on Sundays.

Glasgow

While Edinburgh might be Scotland’s capital, it’s Glasgow that takes the crown for Scotland’s largest city. It has a plethora of free museums, parks and more, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for action-packed day trips by train from Edinburgh.

One of the longest-running and largest museums in the city is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. You’ll find 22 different galleries to explore (and the odd plane suspended from the ceiling):

What’s more, it’s completely free to visit. Whether you want to know more about Dutch art, Ancient Egypt or Scotland’s very own Charles Rennie Macintosh, there’s something for everyone to learn about and enjoy.

Is a hundred years not old enough for you? The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been a part of the city since 1817, and they’ve been at their current spot since 1839:

The gardens are home to over 9,000 plants. Not only are the gardens a great (and free) place to visit, but they’re a key part of the effort to preserve many endangered species of plant in the face of climate change.

We know that Glasgow is full of things to see and do, and that we couldn’t squeeze everything in here. Don’t worry though, you can take a look at our guide to a Day Trip to Glasgow if you’re after some more inspiration.

Getting There

If you’re travelling on a weekend, or outside of the evening peaks, then it’ll cost £14.20 for an Off-Peak Day Return. This means that you can travel after 09:15, and then return before 16:43 and after 18:16. It’s valid all the time on weekends and Bank Holidays.

An Off-Peak Return is £19.10. It has the same restrictions on a morning weekday, but you can return whenever you like in the evening. Finally, an Anytime Day Return is £27.60 if you want to be up bright and early on a weekday.

The fastest trains go to Glasgow Queen Street and take around 50 minutes. You’ll find four trains per hour in weekday peak hours, as well as on Saturdays. Two trains run every hour during weekday Off-Peak hours and on Sundays.

Pitlochry

This is one of the longest day trips from Edinburgh by train, but it’s great if you want to get away from it all. Pitlochry is just on the edge of the Tay Forest Park (and not far from the Cairngorms National Park). So, what is there to do?

You can take a walk across the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about how the area generates hydroelectricity. The fish ladder sees over 5,000 salmon come upstream to breed every year, too. It was once feared that building the dam back in 1947 would wreck the tourist trade here. It’s actually done the opposite!

You can take all of this in on a simple circular walk around the town. Don’t forget to take in the views of the River Tummel, including the 12th-century hamlet of Port na Craig:

Looking for more places to walk? You’re spoilt for choice. There’s an entire network of Pitlochry Walks to take you out into the wilderness. Whether you want your day trips from Edinburgh by train to be a gentle look at nature or a bracing hike into the hills, you’re sure to find the one for you.

Getting There

A day return is £24.20 and it’s valid after 8am on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). Trains run roughly every hour or two, though you’ll need to change at Perth or Stirling for some trips. Direct trains leave Edinburgh in the morning at 08:33 and 10:36 (Monday to Saturday) and take just under two hours.

On a Sunday, the best direct train for a day trip leaves Edinburgh at 09:25.

Stirling

Finally, let’s take a look at Stirling. It’s one of the best choices for day trips from Edinburgh by train if you want to explore the history of Scotland. It’s less than an hour away, too.

The main attraction is of course Stirling Castle. The Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls, and it’s had a front seat for many events in Scotland’s history:

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Do you prefer your history to be a little darker? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It isn’t all doom and gloom though, as the building was once home to a sweet factory.

It’s £10.60 for a day return ticket that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). For most of the day, you’ll find two trains per hour on this route, and the trains take around 50 minutes.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Here at SmartSplit, we know how difficult it can be to navigate the world of train tickets. Why not check out our pages on the best time to travel for cheap tickets and the best First Class train next? If you’re looking to get to Edinburgh first, we also have a guide to cheap train tickets to Edinburgh.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 27/06/23. All times stated were correct at the time of writing. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. Always check before you travel.}}

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What sort of day trips from Leeds by train are there?

No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. Our day trips from Leeds could take you on a walk down a peaceful canal, on a journey down memory lane or enjoying some great food and drink. Let’s take a look at what we’ve discovered.

Knaresborough

You’ve probably heard of its neighbour, Harrogate, but have you considered day trips from Leeds to Knaresborough? It’s a little more tranquil and peaceful, but you won’t be short of things to see and do.

Why not start with a stroll down to the River Nidd? It’s a great place to admire the railway viaduct that you’ll have just passed over, if you’ve come from Leeds:

You could also pop into Knaresborough Castle & Museum. It’s just a short walk (and a climb) along the river. It’s a Norman Castle, and the climb is worth it for the views down the river valley.

If you head down the river and under the railway viaduct, you’ll find Mother Shipton’s Cave. It’s England’s oldest tourist attraction, and it was the home of Mother Shipton, a Tudor prophetess. Legend has it that she foretold the fates of various rulers both during and after her lifetime. She even predicted the Great Fire of London.

Fancy a trip? Two trains per hour run from Leeds to Knaresborough, and they take roughly 45 minutes to complete the drip. Day Return tickets start at £10.60.

Marsden and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

It’s time to head right to the edge of West Yorkshire. If you want to embrace the great outdoors, then this is one of the perfect day trips from Leeds for you. Marsden is situated on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. At its summit, this is actually the highest canal in Great Britain:

It’s also the point where both trains (and boats) need to cross the Pennines to reach Manchester. So, you can get up close and personal with the railway, and learn more about the Standedge Tunnels, where the trains rush in and out of, and the boats, hopefully don’t rush in and out of:

If you head in the other direction, it’s a pleasant hour-so-walk back towards Slaithwaite along the canal. Alternatively, you could head inland towards the Butterley Reservoir.

Looking to get exploring? You can reach Marsden in as little as 35 minutes with a change at Huddersfield, once every hour. 

Saltaire

Our next stop is Saltaire. The area was built by Sir Titus Salt in 1851, so that his workers in Salts Mill could live in better conditions than the slums of neighbouring Bradford. The name ‘Saltaire’ is simply his surname, and the name of the passing river – the River Aire!

Nowadays, the main attraction continues to be Salts Mill. In the modern day, it serves as an art gallery and a place to learn about the history of Saltaire and the impact that it had as a prominent textile-making hub. You’ll find a shop selling local goods, too:

If you’re after something a little more tranquil, just pop a little further down the road. You’ll soon find yourself at the Leeds & Liverpool Canal:

From here, it’s possible to walk all the way to Skipton or Leeds. Or, you might just prefer to take in your surroundings and have a walk over towards Robert’s Park…

Is Saltaire worth its salt? You can find out with just a 15-minute train ride from Leeds. A Day Return starts at £6.30.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

How do you like the sound of day trips from Leeds by train…that take you to another train? This one looks just a little bit different, though:

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway links Keighley, Oakworth, Haworth and Oxenhope with a variety of heritage trains. You could have a steam train, a diesel one (like we did) or a more familiar-looking Pacer train.

Along the way, you can learn about the history of the railway, and get up close and personal with the trains that run along the route. Don’t forget to stop off at Ingrow West to visit the Museum of Rail Travel, or pop into the Exhibition Shed at Oxenhope:

Meanwhile, Oakworth Station is famous for starring in The Railway Children, which was released in 1970. The entire railway is a true time capsule, and operates just as it did back before it closed in 1962. By 1968, an army of volunteers had it operating again! Keep an eye out for Damems Station, too. It’s got the shortest railway platform in the UK:

Trains link Leeds to Keighley at least twice every hour. The journey typically takes 25 minutes, and Day Return fares start at £8.20. You can find out more about the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, including their operating days and times, on their website. You can also reach our next destination by taking the hourly B3 bus from the line’s terminus at Oxenhope…

Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge has it all. Beautiful scenery, some great places to walk and a plethora of independent shops and cafes to fill your boots in. It was even rated as the Greatest Town in Europe! With friendly touches like this, it’s easy to see why:

If you do choose to have a wander along the canal, much like other places on this list, you can go rather far! This is the Rochdale Canal, after all. You could walk it all the way through the Pennines and into Manchester City Centre, if you were so inclined.

A little closer to Hebden Bridge, you could also go exploring around Hardcastle Crags. It’s around a 35-minute walk from the station to the beginning of the area. It has 15 miles of paths to explore though, so it might take you a little longer than 35 minutes to cover it all!

You can’t have day trips from Leeds without some decent grub and a good drink to wash it down. Hebden Bridge is home to Vocation Brewery, which serves its own craft beer, loaded fries and burgers:

You can take the train from Leeds to Hebden Bridge four times every hour and the trains take 40 to 50 minutes.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

The final thing we’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next adventure. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All information on this page is issued in good faith and was correct at 31/08/2023. All fares quoted for were for ONE adult and were the Off-Peak Day Return fare. Information is subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What are the best train companies for Standard Class food and drink?

We’re going to base this on how consistently you can get food and drink, and how convenient it is to order. We know that Transport for Wales have their Premier dining service, and Great Western Railway have their Pullman, but these are on a very limited number of trains. They’re great, but you can’t jump on board and get them every single time! So, who can you rely on?

LNER

It doesn’t get much more convenient than LNER when it comes to Standard Class food. All you need to do is scan the QR codes on the back of every seat:

From there, you can access the Let’s Eat at Your Seat menu. You can order hot and cold sandwiches, snacks and drinks. If you do fancy a stroll, then you can also visit the café bar on the train. From our experience, this will be available on every train for most of the journey.

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast has a similarly extensive Standard Class food menu to LNER. However, you can’t have it delivered to your seat. Previously, this option was trialled, but it was often not available. You can click and collect instead now, but we don’t know how reliable this is. The good news is that you can just pop to the shop:

This would probably win the award for best buffet on a train, as you can actually see what’s on offer. The only negative is how far down the train you need to trek to reach it. The good news? It’s advertised on all services.

Grand Central

Grand Central will also allow you to choose from their menu, and then click and collect from the buffet. The menu isn’t huge (and you won’t know the sandwich fillings in advance) but you’ll find it on every train. Of course, you can just pop to the buffet as well.

Lumo

The LumoEats service is worth mentioning, as it’s a pretty interesting concept. It’s available on every train, but with a few caveats.

Basically, you can pre-order your food from a number of different station outlets, and they’ll bring it to your seat. The price isn’t very different to going to the shop yourself, and it can be a big time saver. The only issue is that you need to be getting on the train in either Edinburgh or London. You’ll need to do it in advance, as well. That said, you can do it up to two hours before you travel.

Once you’re on the train, a trolley will also come through regularly with smaller snacks and drinks.

TransPennine Express

Finally, we have TransPennine Express. They don’t offer food and drink on every train all of the time, but they cover the bulk of the time period that you’d expect to be able to order it.

It’s advertised between 07:00 and 18:30 on weekdays, and 09:00 and 18:30 on weekends. You’ll find it between York/Leeds and Manchester on the Hull, Saltburn and Scarborough services, and Sheffield and Manchester on the Cleethorpes services. It’s available on the entire Newcastle to Edinburgh and Newcastle to Liverpool routes.

On trains between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Manchester Airport, you can get it on the entire route, all day long. As for the menu, it’s pretty much what you’d expect. You can choose from sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Just keep an eye out for the trolley!

Is there anything else I should know?

Feeling peckish? Looking to book a ticket and have a trip with some great Standard Class food? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

_{^{All information quoted is correct as of August 2023, is subject to change, and is issued without liability. SmartSplit is not responsible for any disappointment or loss incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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Where can I go for a weekend away by train?

Looking for a great night out, a chance to sample some local delicacies or to just to see the sights? There’s something for everyone, here. We’ve visited all of these places ourselves, too. Just click the link at the bottom of entry to find out more.

Newcastle

Newcastle might have an atmosphere as a party city, but it’s so much more. By day, you can work your way around its free museums and art galleries, such as the Discovery Museum and the Baltic. Have a stroll around the Quayside and admire the many bridges, too:

Looking for a drink? Newcastle is filled with hip craft beer spots, cute cocktail bars and plenty of classic pubs for a pint. Best of all, Geordies have a reputation for just being pure friendly. Want to see what we got up to? Click here.

York

York is a perfect weekend away by train for history buffs and train geeks alike. You could walk the walls, visit the National Railway Museum and admire the facade of York Minster without spending a penny.

Don’t forget to explore the many independent shops on the Shambles, either:

Or, perhaps you just want to go out of your way to find the brilliantly-named Whip-ma-Whop-ma-Gate. We paid a visit to see the sights, too.

Sheffield

So, what’s going on in the City of Seven Hills? Quite a lot, in fact, and definitely enough for a great weekend away by train! It’s filled with free museums, such as Kelham Island Museum and the Millenium Gallery. You can learn more about the rich history of Sheffield, as well as the people that make it great.

Why not shop till you drop in the Vintage stores of Division Street? Don’t forget the fried chicken at Lucky Fox, either. Or, you could take it easy and have a stroll around the Botanical Gardens:

One of us lived and studied in Sheffield for four years, so we’ve got plenty of tips! Find out more here.

Glasgow

There’s something in Glasgow for everyone. Fancy admiring a wall covered in cars? You can do that at the Riverside Museum, for free:

It’s home to the People’s Palace and Kelvingrove Museum, too. They don’t cost a penny, either. Fancy getting closer to nature? You can go say hello to the coos in Pollok Country Park, or admire the plants in the Botanic Gardens.

Peckish? Don’t pass on the fluffy soufflé pancakes at KoKo House. Find out more about what we saw and did here.

Liverpool

Liverpool is a perfect weekend away by train for music-lovers. It’s the home of so many class acts, after all. You can learn more about them in the Museum of Liverpool. No prizes for guessing which is the most famous act:

As well as soaking up some art in Tate Liverpool, you could pop out of the city and enjoy a bracing coastal walk in New Brighton or West Kirby.

Of course, you could spend an entire weekend trying to spot all of the Superlambananas. Take a look at what we chose to do…

Is there anything else I should know?

Feeling inspired? Looking to book a ticket and have a weekend away by train? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

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How do I know if my train ticket is valid?

Usually, it’s easy! You might have a ticket for a specific train, or you might have an Anytime ticket. However, if you’re stuck in disruption, or travelling with an Off-Peak ticket, it might not be so clear. Here are our top tips for travelling with ease.

Advance tickets

Your Advance train ticket is valid only on the date and service shown on it. If you jump on a different train without permission, then your ticket is as good as not having one at all!

All of this important information will be shown on the ticket itself. They’ll be shown as ‘Mandatory Reservations‘. Here’s an example:

Certain types of paper ticket will have the ticket and the reservation on separate coupons. You’ll need both the ticket and the reservation in order to travel, if you have an Advance ticket.

Getting across London

If you’re making a journey that involves going across London, then only certain types of ticket are valid. For example, the London Underground does not accept eTickets. Your ticket will need to be a paper one that you can insert into the gate. As well as this, it’ll need to have a Maltese Cross symbol. Here’s an example:

Tickets to ‘London Terminals‘ aren’t valid on the Underground. You’ll need to use Contactless instead.

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak

Off-Peak train times are a bit of a minefield. So, how do you know if your ticket is valid? Well, every ticket has a unique restriction code. This code will tell you when you can use your ticket. On an eTicket, you’ll find it near the bottom:

You can find this out by visiting nre.co.uk/(your restriction code). For example, nre.co.uk/1l takes you to the dedicated page for restriction code 1L.

Here at SmartSplit, we’ll show you the cheapest ticket that is valid on the train you choose. So, you’ll not need to worry about this!

Day Returns versus plain ‘Returns’

Day Returns are pretty self-explanatory. But how do you know if your Off-Peak Return train ticket is valid, or an Anytime Return? It’s pretty simple:

• The outward part of an Off-Peak Return is valid until 04:30 the next morning. The return part is valid for a month
• The outward part of an Anytime Return is valid for five days. The return part is valid for a month.

When you’re using the return part of these tickets, you don’t need to do the entire journey at once. You can break it as many times as you like, for as long as the ticket is valid. If a staff member marks a date on the ticket, that doesn’t change this fact!

Day Returns are valid until 04:30 the next morning. If you’re travelling in the early hours (eg. at 1am), then a ticket from the previous day is still valid.

When things go wrong

If things go wrong, it can be tricky to know whether or not your train ticket is valid. But, here are some simple pointers:

• If you have an Advance ticket, and your train is cancelled, you can use the train before or after, so long as it’s operated by the same company
• Missed a connection? You can use the next train operated by the same company at no extra cost
• Using multiple tickets, such as a different ticket for each train? If you miss a connection, you don’t need to buy a new ticket. You’re protected in the same way as if you had one ticket. Just make sure you leave enough time to change trains.

Do you have an Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak or Anytime ticket? There’s no need to rebook. Just jump on the next train. If your ticket is only for a specific company, you’ll still need to obey that restriction.

If there’s major disruption, then other companies should accept your ticket. Other train companies cannot strand you if there aren’t any more services operated by the company on your ticket. You can find out more in our guide to disruption.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to book some train tickets now? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

_{^{All information is issued without liability and was correct at 29 August 2023. SmartSplit is not responsible for any losses or inconvenience incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What do I need to know about crossing London by train?

London is a huge city and it’s got a plethora of different railway stations. A number of different Underground lines link all of the stations together, and a couple of railway lines actually cross London, so you don’t need to change. We have a couple of tips that you’ll find handy when it comes to crossing London by train.

Have the right ticket

If you’re crossing London by train, and you have one ticket for your entire trip, then it’ll need to be a paper ticket in order for you to use the London Underground. It’ll also need to have a Maltese Cross symbol. Here’s an example:

If your ticket says ‘London Terminals‘, then it isn’t valid to cross London by train. You can find out more about what ‘London Terminals’ are, here.

No ticket? No need to queue

If you don’t have a ticket for the London Underground, then don’t queue up for one! All you need to do is tap any contactless bank card or device on the ticket gate, then tap out again when you leave. It’s much cheaper than queueing up for a paper ticket.

A typical single fare to get across London is £2.70. You can check how much you’ll be charged with the TfL Single Fare Finder.

Pick the right tube station

There are a couple of stations where it’s worth checking which Underground station is the best for you. This is usually the case where multiple Underground stations serve the same ‘mainline’ station, or there isn’t a dedicated one. Here are the main examples:

• The main Underground station at Paddington for King’s Cross and Euston is next to the high-numbered platforms. If you’ve come off a train, it’s probably faster to use the footbridge (at the far end) rather than the main footbridge
• Travelling from Euston to Paddington or Liverpool Street? The direct trains leave from Euston Square. Leave the station and turn right down Euston Road. It’s just a few minutes away
• Fenchurch Street doesn’t have a dedicated tube station. The nearest ones are Aldgate or Tower Hill
• Arriving at Marylebone, and looking to travel to King’s Cross, Euston or Liverpool Street? It’s faster to walk to Baker Street first.

Avoid the tube

Looking to avoid the tube? Crossing London by train can be even simpler if you just stick to the train for the entire trip. The Elizabeth Line is London’s newest addition, and it connects Paddington and Liverpool Street, amongst other places. Meanwhile, Thameslink connects the Home Counties together. If you’re travelling from St Pancras to London Bridge, for example, you might find it easier to use Thameslink.

Alternatively, why not walk? King’s Cross and Euston are just a 10-minute walk apart. Meanwhile, it’s a 20-minute walk along the Thames between Waterloo and Blackfriars.

Avoid Central London

It’s sometimes possible to avoid crossing London by train entirely. We’d recommend taking a look at the different London Overground routes if you’d like to do this.

The Watford Junction to Clapham Junction route, operated by Southern, is also a useful train to catch. It allows you to connect between the North of England and the South Coast without the need to go through Central London. This is also a great way to get to Gatwick Airport

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to navigate the brand-new Elizabeth Line, and your best options for reaching London airports, including Heathrow. We’ll even tell you which London station to use!

Ready to take a trip? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any refund or change fees, either. After all, why should you pay more if you’re changed your mind?

^{_{All information on this page was correct at 29 August 2023 and is issued without liability. SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or inconvenience incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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Are there power sockets on trains?

In most cases these days, yes! Most trains have power sockets available for you to use. They might have a three-pin socket, a USB slot or both. They’ll either be on the wall, under the seat in front of you or under your own seat. If you’re sat at the table, they might be under the table itself or fixed to the table.

If a socket is attached to the wall, then you can only access it if you have a window seat.

Where will I find power sockets on trains?

Here’s our quick summary of each company and whether you can expect to find a power socket on trains that they operate. It isn’t always as straightforward as ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but most companies have a pretty consistent approach.

Is there anything else I should know?

We’ve written some footnotes below where the situation isn’t quite so straightforward! Otherwise, you’re all set.

Looking to book some train tickets now? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

Footnotes

^{1 – Avanti West Coast are currently refurbishing their ‘Pendolino’ trains. On unrefurbished trains, you’ll only find sockets at tables in Standard Class.}

^{2 – All London-Birmingham services and some London-Oxford services.}

^{3 – Voyager trains run between Scotland/Newcastle and the South West, and Manchester and the South Coast.}

^{4 – Merseyrail are currently replacing their fleet. Older trains do not have power sockets.}

^{5 – Northern has a very diverse fleet of trains. Almost all trains will have either a USB socket or three-pin socket. A small number don’t have either.}

^{6 – Southern and Southeastern are currently refurbishing their trains and adding sockets. ‘Javelin’ trains will soon be fitted with USB-C ports.}

^{7 – All services except the ‘CrossCity’ line, and other trains that have a 3+2 seating layout.}

_{^{All information is issued without liability and was correct at August 2023. SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss of inconvenience incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What sort of day trips in Kent can I do?

Here are our five picks for day trips in Kent by train. No matter what you’re after from a day trip, there’s something for everyone. Just make sure to dress appropriately, as the British weather always likes to throw in a surprise.

Rochester

Let’s begin in Rochester, which sits on the banks of the River Medway. How about paying a visit to Rochester Castle? It endured siege after siege in times gone by. These days, it enjoys a somewhat quieter life:

You could also take a look at the beautiful Restoration House. Did you know that it played the role of ‘Sattis House’ in Dickens’ Great Expectations?

Canterbury

Day trips in Kent don’t get any better than Canterbury. It’s steeped in history, for one. Why not pay a visit to the iconic Canterbury Cathedral or climb up Westgate Towers?

Looking for something a little more peaceful? You could enjoy a picnic in Westgate Gardens or take a punt down the Great Stour.

Dover

Dover isn’t just all about escaping to the continent? You could do as we did, and climb up to the edge of Western Heights. From these old fortifications, you can see the entire town:

You’re also able to see Dover Castle. Of course, we can’t forget the White Cliffs, either. They’re walking distance from the town itself.

Whitstable

Whitstable has a great stretch of beach. It’s also home to an RNLI Lifeboat Station. So, when you pay a visit, you can learn more about the sea and its tides, and how they affect the town.

It’s also home to the Harbour Market. On a Thursday to Monday, you can come here and fill your boots with all sorts of artisan arts, crafts and other homemade goods.

Margate

This is one of the best day trips in Kent if you fancy a visit to the beach. After all, it doesn’t get much better than the golden sands of Margate:

How about some more classic seaside experiences? You can’t have Margate without Dreamland, either. It’s basically your classic seaside theme park with plenty of rides (including rollercoasters) on offer. It’s free to get in, and you pay per ride.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about day trips in Kent? You can find out more on our dedicated page where we’ll tell you more about how to get to your favourite destination with ease.

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Edinburgh or Glasgow, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Looking to book some train tickets? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

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What are the cheapest station pints?

So, we’ve got one rule for this list, which is that we’re excluding Spoons. Otherwise, they’d practically run away with it. Everyone knows that they’re cheap, and they know what they’re going to get. Their Aberystwyth pub (Yr Hen Orsaf) actually has the cheapest station pint in the country, at an astounding £1.71.

Instead though, we’d like to give some shout outs to independents and small chains that serve rail travellers and locals alike, and serve them some great-value beer while they’re at it. We should add that these prices were correct as of June 2023, so they might have changed a little since.

5 – Urmston

We’re kicking off the list with Urmston (The Steamhouse). When we got in touch with them, they told us that their cheapest station pints were £3.75. This is a cask ale that rotates every month!

4 – Knaresborough

Next up, you can pay a visit to the Track and Sleeper and get yourself a pint for just £3.70. This changes pretty regularly, as we’ve visited twice, and it was different on both occasions.

It’ll be one of their very own Gorilla Brewery pints, though. Trust us when we say that they’re all worth a try.

3 – Huddersfield

At the Head of Steam in Huddersfield, you can enjoy a pint of Buckeye Pale Ale for £3.60. Everything rotates pretty regularly, so the cheapest station pints here will change often!

Luckily, they’ve popped a menu with prices on their site, so you can stay up to date before you visit.

2 – Doncaster and Hartlepool

We have a joint entry for the second-top position when it comes to the cheapest station pints. You can choose between The Draughtsman (Doncaster) and The Rat Race (Hartlepool). We visited the latter, with its rather eclectic choice of decor:

At both of these pubs, the beer changes very regularly. So we’d recommend popping into both and finding out the latest offer for yourself.

1 – Codsall

Finally, a pint of Holdens at the station pub in Codsall will cost you just £3.30. So, this is the cheapest station pint that you’ll find somewhere that isn’t Spoons!

Is there anything else I should know?

So, have we quenched your thirst, or left you looking for more? You can find our full map of station pubs here. Looking for more about pubs? You can take a look at our favourite pubs in the North East or Yorkshire and the East Midlands. We’ve also taken a trip to find some of the best beer in East London.

Looking to book some train tickets to sample the cheapest station pints? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

_{^{All prices quoted were correct as of June 2023, and are subject to change. SmartSplit is not responsible for any disappointment or loss incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What sort of day trips from Newcastle can I do?

Newcastle is in a great spot. You’ve got the coast nearby, the rolling hills of Northumberland, and a fair-size train station with routes criss-crossing the region. Whether you’re after a walk along the beach, a hike in the hills, or getting up-close and personal with the trains of yesteryear, there’s something for everyone.

As a child, we were a pretty active family. Sundays always meant going out and exploring somewhere new (or old), even if the weather was, well, British. I’ve been a rail geek since I was little, too, so there was always an excuse to jump on the train.

I’m going to take you from north to south, so these day trips from Newcastle are in no particular order of preference!

1. Berwick-upon-Tweed

We’re starting right up near the Scottish border. In fact, it’s just under three miles from the station before you end up in a different country. It’s been part of Scotland, too. The town has actually switched hands many times in history. It’s been the site of wars, battles and bloodshed, though it’s been a part of England since 1482.

When you take the train, you’ll find yourself getting quite the introduction to the town. The railway line hugs the coast, before sweeping to the left and taking you over the Royal Border Bridge, which carries the line over the River Tweed:

It’s around here that you’ll also find the remains of Berwick Castle. Back in the 13th Century, this castle was at the forefront of defending Berwick from outside intruders. Parts of the walls still survive as well, though funnily enough it was the advent of the railway that saw much of the building demolished.

The Town Walls and Ramparts also form part of the defensive structure of Berwick, and it’s possible to walk a complete circuit of the town on them. Rather than trying to defend the town these days though, you might prefer to just take in the views:

Finally, you can’t beat a good beach, and Berwick has plenty of coastline to let off some steam. You could take the dog for a walk, get your steps in or simply lie down and listen to the waves.

Getting There

There are frequent train services to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Typically, you’ll find two trains per hour (one LNER and one CrossCountry), with extra ones at some hours of the day. It’ll take you between 45 and 50 minutes to reach the town from Newcastle.

All of the attractions are within walking distance, and when I visited, I walked to all of the places above at a relaxed pace in around two hours.

2. Alnmouth (and Alnwick!)

The nearest station to these places is called Alnmouth for Alnwick, so it made sense that I took a trip to both of them. One is a sleepy seaside village, and the other is a bustling market town. So, what do they have to offer on day trips from Newcastle?

Alnmouth

It’s about a 20-minute walk from the station to Alnmouth, so that’s where we’ll begin. My only memory of this quaint little village is driving in when I was little, usually when it was pouring with rain. We’d park up, realise this was a terrible idea, and try to find somewhere a little more sheltered. In fact, until last week, I’d never seen this place in the sunshine! So, why is it one of the best day trips from Newcastle? Put simply, this beach:

When I popped down on a mid-week morning, it was sheer bliss. You just had a couple of dog-walkers, and some holidaying families moseying around the village, which is full of independent cafes and shops.

It’s possible to walk all the way around the bay and up towards Seaton Point and the village of Boulmer, or you can follow the path of the estuary and the start of the River Aln. I ended up picking the latter, as I needed to head back towards the station:

For bonus points, you can try and spot the train in the background. I passed a few dog-walkers on the way along the river, before heading up the hill into the village of Lesbury, where the station is located.

Alnwick

If you go to Alnmouth to get away from it all, then Alnwick is where it’s all happening. People have been making day trips from Newcastle to Alnwick for years, and I’ve been coming here since I was a toddler.

But why? First of all, it’s home to Alnwick Castle. This is the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK. Its popularity increased massively when it started appearing on the big (and small) screen, too. The castle has featured in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and even the Transformers Movie.

Just next door, you’ll find the Alnwick Garden. It’s been welcoming visitors since 2001, and I can remember coming here just after it opened, and many times since! When I was around eight, we had an annual pass, so many day trips from Newcastle on a weekend involved a trip to the Alnwick Garden. So, what’s on offer here? Well, the first thing you notice is the impressive Grand Cascade:

We can’t forget the Poison Garden, either. I can remember coming here when it opened and essentially getting a personal tour. These days it’s a little more popular, and I had to wait half an hour to get in! As the name suggests, it’s full of plants that could kill you. Don’t worry though, there’s a guide on hand.

Did you know that Alnwick is home to Barter Books? It’s one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Europe:

Does the poster look familiar? They uncovered the original one back in 2000. Fast forward a decade, and it was suddenly impossible to use Facebook or Twitter without scrolling past ‘Keep Calm and Drink Tea/Wine/Whisky’ memes. Well, the renaissance of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ was spurred by this discovery at Barter Books.

Getting There

There is at least one train per hour from Newcastle to Alnmouth, operated by LNER. Additional trains are also operated by CrossCountry and TransPennine Express. It’ll typically take half an hour on the train, followed by a 20-minute walk to the village of Alnmouth.

Looking to get to Alnwick? The X20 bus runs every hour, and leaves from nearby. Just leave the station, cross over and turn left down the hill towards the village for around two minutes. On an evening and Sunday, the X18 goes this way instead. The bus journey should take no more than 20 minutes.

Direct buses also run from Alnwick to Newcastle down the A1 Motorway, so you might find it easiest to make a triangular journey by train up to Alnmouth, then a bus to Alnwick and back to Newcastle if you want to visit both destinations.

3. Morpeth

Heading down the coast a little (and popping inland), we make it to Morpeth. This is one of the simplest day trips from Newcastle by train, as the trains will all get you here in less than 20 minutes. It’s the main town in the county of Northumberland, and I’ve been coming here since I was little.

Why? It’s an easy place to come to for a relaxing stroll. Plus, while just about everywhere has a park, there’s something quite special about Carlisle Park:

It’s immaculate! There’s plenty to do as well, especially for the kids. You can even take a rowing boat for a spin down the river.

At the edge of Carlisle Park, keep an eye out for the Floral Clock. It’s not just a beautiful floral display, either. It’s an actual working clock which has been telling locals the time since 1972:

Finally, if you take a stroll along the river, don’t forget about the Stepping Stones. Hopping across the river on these little rocks is one of my first memories of Morpeth.

How about something completely different? I was surprised to discover that the town is home to the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum. It’s on the top floor of the Tourist Information Centre, and takes you on a journey through the history of different kinds of Bagpipe. This includes the (more famous) Scottish Bagpipe, and the lesser-known (and gentler-sounding) Northumbrian Pipe. It’s a quirky little place that you can pop into for half an hour or so to learn something new:

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train service from Newcastle. Throughout the day, a more limited number of long-distance trains also stop. It’s a 10-minute walk from the station to the main attractions.

4. Corbridge

We’re now into Hadrian’s Wall Country. You’ll find relics in Corbridge that date back to the Roman-era, so it’s a perfect place for History buffs looking for day trips from Newcastle. To start with, you could take a 10-minute walk down the river to the Roman Bridge:

It was built to carry Dere Street, which was the Roman road from York to Scotland. To give you an idea of just how old this bridge is, it’s been out of use since around AD670!

Hungry for more history? Corbridge Roman Town isn’t far from the village centre. This was once the most northerly town in the entire Roman Empire, and it gives a fascinating insight into the life of a soldier around Hadrian’s Wall.

Back in the pandemic, I spent a lot of time out walking, and this is one of the places that I came to. You can actually keep walking all the way along the river and head towards Hexham, which is what I did. It’s one of the Tyne Train Trails which links up stations along the Newcastle to Carlisle line. Just make sure that you bring the right footwear, as I have many memories of having to dodge giant puddles and squeeze through a few overgrown tracks.

Getting There

Northern runs an hourly train direct from Newcastle to Corbridge. It’ll take you around 40 minutes to make the trip. From the station, it’s a 10-minute walk to the river and village centre.

5. Hexham

Just one stop up the line from Corbridge, you’ll find Hexham. Where do you begin here? Well, the Abbey is a great start. It was founded in AD674, and the existing building was completed in 1250:

Make sure that you don’t end up causing any mischief, though. You could end up in the Old Gaol, which is one of the oldest purpose-built jails in the country:

It’s been around since roughly 1332, but these days it’s just a museum, so there’s no danger of accidentally being locked up!

Hexham is also the gateway to Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re looking to dive further into the Roman history of the region, then you can jump on bus AD122 from outside of the station. It’ll take you to the likes of Housesteads and Vindolanda Roman forts.

Getting There

Hexham is one of the simplest day trips from Newcastle, thanks to the frequent train service. On a Monday to Saturday, up to three trains per hour run to Hexham, operated by Northern. The fastest trains take around 30 minutes.

6. Seaham and the Durham Coast

Looking to embrace the great outdoors? Take a trip down to Seaham for one of the most bracing day trips from Newcastle. Up until recently, I’d only seen the Durham Coast from a train window, but decided to leave the rails behind and take a stroll down to see what was on offer.

Seaham is the starting point of the 11-mile Durham Coastal Footpath, which will take you down to the outskirts of Hartlepool. So, it’s a great place to come if you want to blow the cobwebs away with some refreshing North Sea air.

I chose to stay closer to the town itself, which is no bad thing. You have Seaham Beach, Seaham Hall Beach and the Glass Beach, all linked by a promenade:

You could have a look at the Lighthouse or visit the Heritage & Lifeboat Centre, too. Either way, I was impressed. It’s a bit weather-dependent, but you shouldn’t overlook Seaham for day trips from Newcastle.

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train from Newcastle, which takes roughly 30 minutes to reach Seaham. The 60 bus also runs to/from Sunderland, where there are more frequent Metro connections to Newcastle. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to the seafront from the station.

7. Hartlepool

Hartlepool is full of naval and maritime history. So, if you want to take a step back in time to Georgian England, then this is a day trip from Newcastle for you.

The main place that you’ll want to come to is the National Museum of the Royal Navy. You can get aboard HMS Trinkolee, which is the oldest floating British warship. It’s not just the ships though, as the museum has recreated the entire 18th-Century seaport experience.

It’s next door to the Museum of Hartlepool. This museum is completely free, and it takes a look at the history of the town and its Maritime heritage.

Don’t forget to take a look out the back too, where you’ll find PS Wingfield Castle:

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train service from Newcastle, which takes around 45 minutes. Grand Central also connects Hartlepool to Sunderland, where you can change for Metro services to Newcastle. The Museum of the Royal Navy and Museum of Hartlepool are a 15-minute walk from the station.

8. Shildon (for the Locomotion – National Railway Museum)

I’ll confess that Shildon itself isn’t much of a tourist destination, but it is a place where everybody’s doing a brand new dance now, as they’re visiting the Locomotion. Think of it as the younger brother of the main National Railway Museum in York! It was opened in 2004, and I remember my parents bringing me here not long after that. This is one of the day trips from Newcastle that rail geeks, history buffs and anyone with a passing interest in trains will love.

After all, the museum is in a part of the world which pretty much birthed the modern railway as we know it. It’s near the site of Timothy Hackworth’s Soho Works, which built and maintained locomotives and wagons for the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This was the world’s first public railway, and it was opened in 1825.

Shildon Station is pretty much on the site of the museum, which is an open-air museum around 1km in length. When I visited most recently though, most of the activities were going on in and around the Main Hall:

I must admit that it is a strange feeling seeing that a train you’ve rode behind (43102, on the right) is now in a museum! Locomotion is home to dozens of different exhibitions, which cover the days of the early railways right up to the modern day. If you commuted by train in the north up until around 2019 though, you might not be too happy to see the infamous Pacer train:

The best part? It’s completely free to visit. So, you can pop in and out as you please. The only thing that’s paid-for is the train rides through the museum site.

Getting There

Frequent trains link Newcastle to Darlington, where you can change for an hourly Northern train to Shildon. It’s possible to reach the Locomotion in roughly an hour and the station is on the Museum site.

9. Saltburn

Back when I was seven or eight, I became a regular visitor to Saltburn. My Dad used to take me out on a Saturday morning while he worked as a delivery driver. He covered just about everywhere in the area (Middlesbrough down to Staithes, on the edge of North Yorkshire), plus the then-booming ‘Corus’ Steel Plant in Redcar. Saltburn was a regular stop for us.

Why is this one of the great day trips from Newcastle? It’s a charming little town full of independent shops and cafes, and that’s before we get onto the beautiful beach:

Whether you want to soak up some sun (on a rare hot day in this part of the world) or just take a walk, you’re sure to love Saltburn Beach. It’s home to a 208-metre-long pier (with all of the classic amusements you’d expect), colourful beach huts and the quirky Cliff Lift.

You can actually walk all the way down the beach to Redcar. It’s about four miles, and you can pick up the train in Redcar as well, rather than needing to walk all the way back.

Like I said, the town itself is full of great places to grab a bite to eat and drink. When I visited, I popped into The Sitting Room for a cuppa. It’s a quirky little café (and bar) with lovely staff, and it’s situated in the old railway station building:

A final bit of trivia from Saltburn is the existence of Saltburn Bank. As this piece is about day trips from Newcastle by train, you’ll not have to worry about negotiating it, but this zig-zagging piece of road is rather infamous for being difficult to drive around. You might have seen it in this clip from the snowy winter of 2010!

Getting There

Three trains per hour run from Saltburn. Two Northern trains go to Middlesbrough and Darlington every hour, where you can change for regular services to Newcastle. An additional TransPennine Express train also goes to Middlesbrough every hour, where you can change for trains to Newcastle via Hartlepool.

It’s around a 10-minute walk from the station to the seafront.

10. Whitby

Whitby is probably one of the most famous places on this list. After all, anyone who’s read Bram Stoker’s Dracula knows about the existence of this quaint seaside town. It’s a firm favourite with North East folk (and all folk!) so I have memories of many happy day trips from Newcastle to Whitby.

The station is right next to the harbour, where you can take a boat trip or climb aboard the Bark Endeavour and learn about Captain Cook and his sea-faring voyages:

On this visit, I opted to take a walk down Sandgate, before braving the 199 Steps up to Whitby Abbey and the Church of St Mary:

Don’t forget to take a stroll down Whitby Beach, either. It’s a beautiful stretch of coastline, though I rocked up during high tide, so there isn’t much beach visible!

Now, Whitby is of course famous for Fish and Chips. There’s much debate about which is best, and I wouldn’t want to say that one is the best. Whenever I’ve visited though, I’ve always opted for Magpie. Just don’t be surprised if you need to queue for a wee while!

Getting There

Northern operates five trains per day in and out of Whitby. Two each way are direct to/from Newcastle, while you’ll need to change at Middlesbrough on the other journeys. The fastest train takes around three hours to complete the journey along the scenic Esk Valley and Durham Coast lines.

Is there anything else I should know?

I hope that you’ve found some inspiration for your day trips from Newcastle by train! This part of the country is full of things to see and do. Fancy a bite to eat or a pint? Take a look at our guides to Station Pubs and Eateries in the area.

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Leeds, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

The final thing I’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next adventure. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All information on this page is issued in good faith and was correct at 14/08/2023. It’subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What to do during travel disruption

When there’s disruption, operators need to do everything they can to keep you moving, where they’re able to. It’s even in the National Rail Conditions of Travel, which say: 

“Where disruption prevents you from completing the journey for which your Ticket is valid and is being used, any Train Company will, where it reasonably can, provide you with alternative means of travel to your destination, or if necessary, provide overnight accommodation for you.”

National Rail Conditions of Travel, Section 28.2

If you have an advance ticket 

If your train is cancelled, you can jump on the next one operated by the same company. There’s no need to ask permission first. Train companies may also agree to accept each other’s tickets, meaning that you can travel on a different company. If this happens, staff will let you know.

No more trains operated by the company you booked with? Another operator should allow you to travel with them instead.

If this isn’t possible, you should be provided with replacement transport or accommodation. You should not be left stranded or made to buy another ticket.

If you have a flexible ticket 

You can use any trains within the route, operator and/or time restrictions of your ticket. In many cases, these restrictions will be lifted. Your rights to alternative transport, accommodation and refunds are the same as those stated above for Advance tickets. 

Split tickets 

Split tickets don’t affect your right to compensation or to alternative transport during rail travel disruption, so long as you make sure you leave enough time between each train. All of your tickets still form a journey, in the same way that a through ticket does.

If you miss a connecting train, you can still get another one. Just make sure you follow any restrictions on your ticket.

If you can’t go any further by train 

Let railway staff know as soon as possible. This should ideally be when you’re at a staffed station or still travelling on a train. They should make the relevant arrangements for you, which will usually involve providing a bus or taxi.

In some situations, train operators may be unable to provide alternative arrangements during rail disruption. If this happens, they might tell you to book a taxi or hotel then contact them to claim back the cost.

You’ll need to keep hold of all your tickets and receipts and send them to the customer relations department of the operator that caused you to become stranded.

You can click here to find out more about what to do in rail disruption

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What beaches are there to visit by train?

Lots! But here are our five favourites. They’re spread up and down the country, so you’re sure to find one that’s within reach.

Aberdour – Silver Sands & Black Sands

We’re starting north of the Scottish border for these top beaches to visit by train. You’re able to get to Aberdour from Edinburgh in just 30 minutes! If you take a short walk through the village and down to the Firth of Forth, you’ll reach Black Sands:

This is definitely a good one if you fancy a walk. If you’d prefer some more peaceful surroundings, then you can head to Silver Sands. It’s connected to Black Sands by the Fife Coastal Path, or it’s a 15-minute walk if you’re coming from the station directly:

Silver Sands is one of the great beaches to visit by train if you just want to lie back and take it all in. It faces towards the south east too. This means that you’ll get plenty of sunshine when the weather is right.

Saltburn

Saltburn beach is just a few minutes from the station, so it’s one of the ideal beaches to visit by train. You can reach it by a unique Cliff Lift, too.

Whether you want to relax on this huge stretch of beach, take a walk along the cliffs or feel the breeze along the pier, there’s something for everyone. Of course, it’s home to a classic arcade, too.

This part of the country is full of beautiful beaches. In fact, the beach in Saltburn extends all the way through Marske, up to Redcar and South Gare Lighthouse. Thinking of taking a visit? It’s less than half an hour by train from Middlesbrough, and hourly trains link it to York and Manchester, too.

West Kirby

There are very few places like West Kirby. You can take a stroll around the marine lake and take in the views across the River Dee. That’s Wales in the distance:

If you’re feeling more adventurous, then you can walk across the sand-flats to Hilbre Island. It’s about a two-mile trip and you’ll need to check the tide times before you go. It’s worth the walk, as you could see seals, whales and even dolphins!

West Kirby is a great beach to visit by train, as it’s linked to Liverpool by frequent Merseyrail services. They run up to every 15 minutes, and it’s around a 30-minute ride. Once you get to the station, it’ll take around five minutes to get to the seafront.

Seaford

We’re off to the South Coast of England, now. Seaford is just a stone’s throw from Brighton, and it has plenty to offer. For one, it has this huge stretch of beach:

It’s quite a stony beach, so it’s more suited for a stroll than building sandcastles, but don’t worry. You’ll find a number of sandpits along the promenade if your little ones want to get creative.

Want to get your steps in, instead? Seaford marks the beginning of the Seaford Head Nature Reserve. You can admire some impressive cliff formations along the way:

It’s around a 35-minute trip to Seaford from Brighton. If you’re coming from London, it’s just over an hour and a half. It’ll take you around 10 minutes along flat pavements to walk from the station to the beach.

Carbis Bay

Finally, we’re taking you to the far South West of Cornwall. Welcome to Carbis Bay, which is just a short hop from the more famous St Ives. Driving isn’t ideal around these parts, and the roads can be narrow and congested.

So, if you want to reach the beautiful blue waters and white sands of Carbis Bay, it’s the perfect beach to visit by train. The sub-tropical plants in the area can make you feel like you’re almost in another country entirely!

It’s served by the St Ives Branch Line, which will take you to St Erth. From here, direct trains run to Penzance, Plymouth, Exeter and London. Carbis Bay station itself is a very short walk from the beach.

Is there anything else I should know?

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Looking for more day trip inspiration? We’ve taken trips to Newcastle, Glasgow and Liverpool, so that you can have a smarter adventure.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

The post Our Top Five Beaches to Visit by Train appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Can I really travel in First Class for free?

Well, not all the time, obviously. You can’t just plonk yourself down on any train and travel for no extra cost. But, there are some trains that are effectively ‘Standard Class only’. Some companies will let you know that this is the case, but others keep it very quiet. If you’re ever unsure, just ask a member of staff.

ScotRail

If you’re travelling on ScotRail, then keep an eye out for the ‘eXpress’ branded trains. They have four carriages and run on a number of different routes around the Central Belt:

They mostly run between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street. This ‘fast’ route between the two cities does have First Class, but any other route is Standard Class only.

This means that you can travel in First Class for free on routes like these ones:

• Edinburgh – Dunblane
• Alloa – Glasgow Queen Street
• Falkirk Grahamston – Glasgow Queen Street
• Edinburgh – North Berwick.

Usually, these routes will have the three-coach version of this train, which doesn’t have First Class, but swaps do happen. Just keep an eye out for the yellow markings around the windows, like in the photo above. If you do get a train that has a First Class area, you can expect a bigger seat, and a lot more space.

This isn’t the only type of train where you can try First Class for free. Trains to Cowdenbeath and Glenrothes, as well as local stopping trains between Edinburgh and Perth or Dundee don’t have First Class advertised, either. If you get one of these trains, you can sit in a First Class section like this one at no extra cost:

Stansted Express

So, most of the time, Stansted Express trains don’t have First Class. But, did you know that an almost-identical fleet of trains, which usually runs between Norwich and London, does? Sometimes, one of these trains will find its way onto the Stansted Express route. When it does, you can travel in First Class for free!

It’s a bit more spacious and in a 2+1 layout. Even in Standard Class, it’s a little more luxurious as it has full-sized tables.

How do you know if your train has First Class? You can do one of two things:

• Check the number on the front of the train. Trains with First Class will start with a 0, eg. 003. If it’s a ‘normal’ Stansted Express train, it’ll start with a 1, eg. 104
• See if the outside of the train has carriage letters. Trains with First Class have carriage letters marked by the doors.

Southeastern

This one is nice and easy. As of December 2022, Southeastern doesn’t have any First Class on its trains. This doesn’t mean that they’ve rushed to rip out all of the First Class seats, though.

If you’re on a train that has seating in a 3+2 layout, but there’s a section of 2+2 seating that looks a bit nicer, this is what used to be First Class. Feel free to take a seat! You’ll usually find these sections behind the driver’s cab.

Southern

A lot of suburban trains around London have carriages where you can sit in First Class for free. In particular, there are quite a few that are operated by Southern.

Now, they aren’t much to write home about. The seats are exactly the same, just with a marking on that says that they’re First Class. But, because not everyone knows that this only applies on some routes, it does mean that you have a better chance of getting a seat at busy times.

As of July 2023, the following trains are shown as ‘Standard Class only’ in the timetable:

• Horsham to London Victoria (via Dorking)
• Dorking to London Victoria
• West Croydon to London Victoria
• London Victoria to London Bridge
• London Bridge to Caterham and Tattenham Corner
• Beckenham Junction to London Bridge
• East Croydon to London Bridge
• Epsom to London Bridge
• Epsom Downs to London Victoria.

As well as this, there are some routes around Sussex that don’t have First Class advertised:

• Ashford International to Eastbourne
• Hove to Brighton
• Portsmouth & Southsea to Brighton
• Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton
• Bognor Regis to Barnham and Littlehampton.

All of these trains share at least part of their route with another train that does have First Class advertised. So, we’d recommend checking with staff if you’re unsure. You can also check the timetable. If it has First Class, you’ll see a little ‘1’ symbol above the train.

South Western Railway

Travelling to Windsor, Hounslow, Reading or Weybridge via Chertsey? Then if you have a ‘Desiro‘ train, you can sit in First Class for free. They look like this:

As they normally run on longer-distance trains too, they have First Class. You’ll find the First Class section behind the driver’s cab on each four carriage train (so in carriages 1, 4, 5 and 8 on an eight-coach one). For your ‘free’ upgrade, you’ll get a bigger seat in a 2+2 layout, a table to work at and wireless charging.

Thameslink

You can always sit in First Class for free on Thameslink. You just need to make sure that you’re sitting in the right place. Basically, there are two First Class sections on every train, and they look like this:

You’ll get a much bigger seat, access to a power socket, and tables to work at. Basically, it’s a decent upgrade compared to Standard Class.

So, when can you use it? The rear First Class compartment is always counted as Standard Class. No matter which Thameslink train you use, you can always sit in the rear carriage of First Class for free.

On these routes, the whole train is counted as Standard Class:

• London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks
• Luton to Rainham
• Sutton to St Albans (via Wimbledon or Hackbridge).

West Midlands Trains

West Midlands Trains have abolished First Class as of May 2023. As a result, you can sit in any former First Class section for free when you have a Standard Class ticket.

Is there anything else I should know?

This list isn’t completely exhaustive, so you might come across other trains which allow you to travel in First Class for free. Just check the timetable and see if there’s a ‘1’ symbol above the train you want to use! It goes without saying that of course, free doesn’t mean completely free. You still need a valid Standard Class ticket to travel. If you’d like to know more about what First Class is like, you can take a look at our guide to the best First Class trains.

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with our Top 5 Tips for getting cheaper fares and upgrading on board. We’ve also compared Avanti West Coast and LNER, as well as Standard Premium and First Class.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

^{_{All information stated on this page was correct at 06/07/23. It’s subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. You always need a valid ticket to travel and it is your responsibility to ensure that it is valid.}}

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The cost of Avanti vs LNER First Class

One of the most important factors to consider when you’re booking an Avanti vs LNER First Class journey is the cost. After all, First Class can be expensive, so you’re likely to want to book it in advance. Let’s say that we want to travel from London to Edinburgh a month in advance, in the middle of the day, and see how much it costs:

The 12:16 Avanti West Coast service is £151.00. There’s also the option of paying £94.00 for Standard Premium if you’d prefer.

Meanwhile, it’s a little cheaper to take LNER at 12:30 instead:

It’s £132.40 to make this trip. It isn’t a huge saving, but LNER just edges out Avanti in the battle of Avanti vs LNER First Class. As I mentioned in my look at Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class, the advent of Standard Premium has caused First Class to generally be more expensive.

Avanti vs LNER First Class seats

So, let’s start out with the seats. Who has the better place to sit? Let’s start with Avanti West Coast. The trains are slowly getting a freshen up, and I was lucky enough to travel on a refurbished one:

The seats were well-padded and comfortable with a good amount of recline. There’s a bit of a wing on the headrest which provides good support, too. You’ll find plenty of power sockets if you need to get some work done:

The only awkward thing is the huge ‘lip’ on the table as it curves upwards towards the window. You’ll probably struggle to use a mouse without leaving a fair amount of extra space, if you’re right-handed. The same goes if you’re left-handed and sat on the left. On the plus side though, the ride quality is nice and smooth.

As for LNER, they have fairly large First Class seats:

They have a reasonable amount of recline and I’m always able to get fairly comfortable in them. The headrest is a bit hard though (it’s not like the ones in the photo above anymore), and they’re a bit prone to falling off the seat entirely.

Power sockets are in a better place as they’re under the armrests. There’s still a bit of a lip on the tables for four, but it isn’t quite as drastic as on the Avanti trains. The ride quality is a bit bouncy though, and I’ve witnessed glasses of red wine splashing all over the table (plus it can make working on your laptop a bit trickier).

Overall, the seats are fairly similar. In terms of Avanti vs LNER First Class seats, I’d say that the actual seat and ride quality is a little better on Avanti, but you have more space to work (and better placed sockets) on LNER.

Who has the better service?

When you’re comparing Avanti vs LNER First Class, you also want to be sure that you’re going to get a great level of service. After all, it’s a premium product, so you’d expect premium treatment.

On my journey from Carlisle to Crewe, I was genuinely impressed by the staff. As soon as I boarded, someone approached me and asked what I’d like to eat, and listed off the options. I hadn’t even sat my laptop up or put my bag away! The staff were friendly, but professional and unobtrusive. I was even offered a hot drink on a shorter subsequent journey (Crewe to Liverpool). Nothing was too much trouble.

I’m an LNER regular, as I’m from the North East. So, I’ve had plenty of experience with the sort of service that you get over the years. In general, the staff are great (particularly the Geordie and Scottish crews) and we’ve left the rather weird days of Virgin Trains East Coast where you got the impression that quite a few of them didn’t really want to be there.

On my journey from Newcastle to Edinburgh, the service was a bit mixed. The drinks trolley came around asking if people wanted hot drinks (I didn’t). But then, I watched the gentleman on the trolley giving out cold drinks so I had to call him back and ask. The menu was also drastically more limited than advertised (with no apologies made, more on that later). The crew were doing their best though, and I wouldn’t say that they did a bad job. It was just poor luck that it was a very busy train with a limited menu.

Avanti vs LNER First Class food

So, what’s on the menu? These days, it’s fairly ‘static’ and First Class menus on trains don’t seem to rotate as often as they used to. Both of the trains I’m comparing were scheduled to offer a fairly similar menu, which in this case was their most extensive breakfast menu.

Avanti West Coast

The menu on Avanti West Coast can vary, depending on whether you’re travelling on a Voyager or Pendolino train. It’s a bit more limited on weekends, too. In my case, I was travelling on a weekday Pendolino train.

So, did the food live up to expectations? I thought it looked the part:

The toast was a welcome addition, too. Everything was tasty, well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. My only gripe was the scrambled eggs! The best way to describe them is that they were like the ones you’d find at a hotel buffet abroad. That is, they were a bit gritty and the texture in general was rather off. The good news is that if you made the same journey today, you’d get a fried egg instead.

Was it a huge portion? It wasn’t, but combined with the toast, it was fair. It kept me satisfied and it didn’t feel too stingy.

LNER

So, what about LNER? The Dine menu is what my train had scheduled for it. It was even off to a great start, as the right menus were out on the tables.

“We don’t have a chef”.

Oh dear.

It wasn’t the first time that this had happened. I’ve never actually seen the ‘full LNER’ breakfast with my own eyes. Instead, it was the lowly bacon roll:

The vegan sausage roll was available too, or overnight oats. The bacon roll was fine, and it was well-cooked and well-filled. As a bacon roll, you can’t complain. But it was still just a bacon roll.

Lounges

The last thing it’s worth comparing with Avanti vs LNER First Class is the lounge experience. Both companies have lounges for you to use both before and after you travel.

I popped into the Avanti lounge at Crewe and found that it was pretty good. You had plenty of different kinds of seating to choose from

You had plenty of food to choose from as well. It was mostly snacks, but homemade banana bread was a nice surprise. You can find a full menu online and there’s also a more substantial menu if you’re travelling from London Euston.

The LNER lounges are all rather stylish, like this one in Edinburgh:

The only issue is that none of the seats are very comfortable! They’re all a bit style and aesthetics over substance and functionality, and everything is a lot firmer than it looks. The food and drink offer is very much just hot drinks, water, biscuits and crisps, too.

Both lounges do their main function well though, which is to give you a quiet place to wait before you train, and maybe to get some work done. The railway is never going to be wining and dining you like in airline lounges.

So, who has the best First Class?

See, this is a tricky one. As you’d think that based on what I’ve said, I’d be all over Avanti West Coast and recommending them to everyone. Yes, they do a good product and have great lounges, as well as some lovely staff. But, and it’s a big but, they’re often very expensive. I’d recommend staying well away on weekends as you effectively only have half a carriage of First Class on most trains (Coach K).

The introduction of Standard Premium has also meant that many of the passengers who just want a cheap upgrade for a better seat are better off sitting there instead. It’s often a lot cheaper.

Meanwhile, LNER can be great value if you’re travelling last minute. Journeys to and from London can be pricey, but let’s take Newcastle to Edinburgh as an example:

This is for a journey tomorrow morning. It’s only an extra £11.80 to upgrade, which is a difference that many wouldn’t mind paying. You just can’t go in with expectations that are too high. You’ll be fed something, you’ll get a bigger seat and you can use the lounge at both ends of your journey.

In a sense, Avanti West Coast First Class is only worth it if you go on a weekday and the price difference isn’t too stark. LNER on the other hand is fine at any time of day, just don’t always expect the full works. My experience shows that the menu isn’t set in stone! It’s a great operator for getting a last-minute upgrade at a reasonable fare, while Avanti West Coast can be very expensive if you leave it too late.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with finding the best First Class train, our Top 5 Tips for getting cheaper fares, upgrading on board and even how to use First Class for free. We’re also here to help with our guide to travelling to London.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 16:00 05/07/23. Both they, and the First Class products shown, are subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. All opinions expressed in this post are based on real-life experiences.}}

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How we found the best value railway station pints

Well, we had to do our research! We worked together to compile a list of all of the station pubs that we knew about. We’re based in different parts of the country, so everyone could chip in and add some local knowledge to the mix. Then, we reached out to them for their help.

Of course, we had to do some in-person research as well. We’ve had the pleasure of going into a wide selection of these pubs and sampling some railway station pints for ourselves.

We found some great beers, superb pubs and brilliant community spirit along the way. All that’s left to do is to show you what we found!

What was the cheapest of the railway station pints?

That honour goes to Aberystwyth. If Ruddle’s Best is your thing, you can get a pint of it on the station for just £1.71. Whether or not you’re a fan, that’s undeniably brilliant value in 2023.

We’ve put all of this information into an easy-to-read map. So the next time that you’re wondering if there’s railway station pints to be had nearby, you’ll know what awaits you, and how much it might cost:

You can download and view the entire map here. We’ve included dedicated maps for London and Greater Manchester, as they’re just so full to the brim with places to enjoy a drink before your train.

What were the pubs like?

We can’t deny that we came across some real gems when we were checking out the prices of railway station pints. A station pub isn’t just a place to drink, but it’s somewhere that locals cross paths with travellers from across the country (and even the globe), and it serves as a meeting place for the community, too.

Track & Sleeper on Knaresborough station is a fairly ‘young’ station pub. The brewery behind it, the Gorilla Brewing Co, was only founded in 2019! Yet, it’s already a firm favourite with the community and with rail travellers alike:

It serves a variety of its own beers, as well as other guest beers on tap and cask. If beer isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of gin on offer.

Meanwhile, in Newcastle, you’ll find the Centurion. It has a selection of local cask beers as well as your usual lagers on tap, but the main thing that sets it apart is, well, the pub itself. It was the former First Class lounge back in the day, and nothing beats sitting back in surroundings like this:

Is there anything else I should know?

We hope that you’ve found our map of the best value railway station pints useful. All that’s left for you to do is to hop on a train and pay some of the pubs a visit! Looking for more about pubs? You can take a look at our favourite pubs in Yorkshire and the East Midlands, the North East and even a quick round-up of the cheapest pints. We’ve also taken a trip to find some of the best beer in East London.

It’s just as well that we specialise in great-value rail tickets, as well as beer. You can get all of your train tickets with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

The post What are the cheapest railway station pints? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the advantages of travelling by train?

There are many reasons why it’s a great idea to take to the rails. Whether you want to save money, save yourself the stress of driving or help the planet, there’s always a good excuse to have a trip. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of travelling by train:

1. You can sit back and relax

One of the main advantages of travelling by train is that someone else is doing the difficult bit, which is driving! You don’t have to worry about pulling over for a break or what happens if nature calls.

All you have to do is take a seat, sit back and watch the scenery roll by.

2. Sometimes the scenery is just better!

Sometimes the railway can get to places that roads can’t reach. Modern motorways are usually built to be efficient and to avoid any natural obstacles, while railways have been around much longer. They usually work with the landscape around them, and manage to get through places where a road would struggle. For example, the main A1 road from Edinburgh to Newcastle goes through the centre of Northumberland, while the railway gives you breathtaking sea views:

Plus, one of the big advantages of travelling by train is that you can sit back and enjoy the views. You don’t need to also stay focused on the road and everyone else around you!

3. It can be better value for money

We know that the railway can be expensive. Not every journey at every time is going to be cheap, and we won’t pretend that it is. That said, it isn’t as difficult as you’d think to find a bargain. Do you want to go from Leeds to Manchester tomorrow morning? Sure, let’s take a look at the prices:

Sure, the fastest train is fairly expensive, but it’s just £8.20 to take a slightly slower one. Plus, 1hr 17min is still fairly competitive with the time it’d take to drive – without the need to find and pay for a parking space.

Many people are eligible for a Railcard too. This gives you a third off rail fares. We’ve also compiled a list of discounts you can use if you’re not able to use one.

4. You can have a bite to eat on the move

Another of the advantages of travelling by train is the fact that you can grab a bite to eat whenever you like. You could take a packed lunch, buy something at the station or even get something on the move.

If you’re travelling with LNER for example, you can use their ‘Let’s Eat at Your Seat‘ service to order food. Just scan a QR code on the back of your seat, type in where you’re seated and someone will bring it to you.

Travelling in First Class? Some companies will wine and dine you at no extra cost. Take a look at our guide to the best First Class trains to see what to expect.

5. It’s easy to stay connected

No matter whether you’re in a car, on a plane or on a coach, it isn’t exactly easy to be productive. On a plane, you need to turn on flight mode (unless you’re willing to pay for expensive WiFi – if it’s available at all) and coaches aren’t exactly spacious.

Just about every train offers some sort of free WiFi, and data signal on the railway is always improving. One of the main advantages of travelling by train is the space, too. You can easily pop your laptop on the table and get some work done (or browse!)

6. Trains are better for the planet

It’s true! It’s much better for the planet compared to driving, and even better if you take a train instead of a short-haul flight.

In fact, it’s between 66 and 75% more efficient to take the train. You can found out more about the environmental impact here.

7. In most cases, it’s faster!

As the old British Rail-era advert used to say, who’s ever heard of a train jam? Trains don’t get stuck in rush-hour traffic, and they’re able to hit speeds of up to 125mph (140 if you’re travelling between London and Ashford). Speed is another of the main advantages of travelling by train.

Let’s take a look at some journeys and see how they match up to the car:

• Newcastle to Leeds takes around 1h30m by train, but can take up to 2h30m in the car
• Going from Manchester to Edinburgh? That’s 3h15m on the train, and up to 5hrs in the car
• Bristol to Birmingham is about 1h20m on the train, but the car can take up to 2h20m

It can be even slower in rush hour. Let’s not even think about trying to drive into Central London, either!

_{Times were taken on 28 Jun 2023 from Google Maps, assuming a departure time of 11am and taking the fastest available route.}

8. You can get up and stretch your legs

If you’re on a train, it’s easy to get up and nip for a leg stretch. You can walk to the buffet car, nip to the loo or go and make a phone call. Coaches are a bit of a squeeze, and the seatbelt sign can come on at any time if you’re flying.

9. You can be flexible

It’s possible to buy flexible train tickets that don’t tie you to a specific train. Sure, these can be expensive if you want to buy one in the ‘prime’ commuting hours, but they can still be great value during Off-Peak times and at weekends.

Most of them allow you to break your journey, so you can hop on and off as you please for as long as your ticket is valid, so long as you keep travelling in the same direction. Popping to see some friends on the way home, or just in need of some fresh air? No problem.

10. You’re covered if things go wrong

If your train is delayed, then you’re covered by Delay Repay. Usually, it kicks in after 30 minutes, but some companies will compensate you for as little as 15 minutes delay. These days, it’s as simple as sending in a picture of your ticket and filling in a quick online form.

Missed a connection? No problem, just jump on the next train. If your ticket was for a specific train or company, you should aim for that company, but sometimes there’ll be ticket acceptance to get you home quicker. If you have a separate ticket for each train, you’re still covered, so long as you left enough time between them (usually five minutes, but up to 15 at the biggest stations).

No matter what, the National Rail Conditions of Travel say that companies must do everything they can to make sure you’re not left stranded.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some inspiration? We’ve written lots of content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

^{_{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 17:00 28/06/23. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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How do we work out the best train from Leeds to Manchester?

There are a few factors that we need to look at when we’re deciding on the best train from Leeds to Manchester:

• The cost – is it good value for money?
• Speed – will it get us there quickly?
• Comfort – what are the trains like?
• Reliability – will the train actually turn up?

We have two operators to choose from: TransPennine Express and Northern. TransPennine Express are usually the most popular option. After all, their trains tend to be faster. Meanwhile, Northern are the ‘cheap’ option. Let’s see what both companies are like.

TransPennine Express

On a typical weekday, when there aren’t any engineering works, you’ll usually find three trains per hour between Leeds and Manchester:

• One per hour goes to Manchester Victoria, stopping at Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Stalybridge
• One per hour goes to Manchester Piccadilly, stopping at all stations to Huddersfield, then non-stop to Manchester
• One per hour serves Manchester Victoria, Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly, stopping at Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

The fastest trains take around 50 minutes to reach Manchester Victoria, while the peak trains to Manchester take up to 70 minutes. More services run during peak hours. 

The cost

Let’s take a look at how much you can typically expect to pay for a one-way journey a week in advance. For this, we’ll look at the cost of trains to Manchester Piccadilly:

So, you can expect to pay between 16 and 18 pounds. That’s a little steep, but these are fairly popular trains. A day return (valid after 09:29 weekdays) is £27.20, while one that’s valid at any time (and to return within a month) is £41.00.

The trains

Two different types of train run on the route from Leeds to Manchester. The first one is the Class 185:

These trains have three carriages and will often run in a six-car formation. You can expect to see them on the Hull to Manchester and Saltburn to Manchester Airport routes.

On the Newcastle to Liverpool services, you’ll find the Nova 1:

They’re relatively new trains and have five carriages. Certainly, they’re very modern-looking and pretty striking and are probably the best train from Leeds to Manchester if you’re basing it on looks.

The seat experience

On the Class 185, you’ll find a fair few seats around tables, and the seat comfort is fairly good:

You’ll find a power socket at every window, including a USB port. All of the seats are in a 2+2 layout, while it’s a 2+1 layout in First.

The Nova 1 interior is a little more densely packed, but Standard Class seats are still in a 2+2 formation:

Under each pair of seats, you’ll find two power sockets and a USB port. In First Class, all of the seats are in a 2+1 formation.

Storing your luggage

As you can see in the photos above, both types of train have reasonably-sized overhead luggage racks. You’ll easily store a cabin-sized bag in them. As for larger cases, each carriage on the Class 185 has at least one bigger rack, while there’s at least two per carriage in the Nova 1.

Put simply, it shouldn’t be a problem! TransPennine Express is probably the best train from Leeds to Manchester if you have a lot of luggage.

Upgrading to First Class

If you upgrade to First Class on TransPennine Express, you’ll get a bigger seat that reclines. On most trains, you’ll also get complimentary catering on part of the trip. You can take a look at the First Class menu here.

Here’s what the Class 185 trains look like in First Class:

In terms of power outlets, provision is pretty much the same as in Standard Class. You’ll still want a window seat if you need a power socket on the Class 185 trains.

Northern

Next, let’s take a look at Northern. You’ll usually find three trains per hour on a weekday between Leeds and Manchester Victoria:

• Two per hour stopping at Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Low Moor (one per hour), Halifax, Sowerby Bridge (one per hour), Mytholmroyd (one per hour) Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Rochdale
• One per hour stopping at Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Walsden, Littleborough, Smithy Bridge and Rochdale.

On Sundays, there are two trains per hour, and they both go via Bradford Interchange.

The fastest trains take around 75 minutes, while the slowest train via Dewsbury and Brighouse takes around 90.

The cost

This is what sets the Northern service apart and what arguably makes it the best train from Leeds to Manchester. It’s actually quite cheap! Let’s take a look at one-way fares a week in advance to Manchester Victoria:

A single fare of £6.80 is less than half the cost of the TransPennine Express fare.

The trains

The fastest Northern services on this route are operated by Class 195 trains. They have either two or three carriages, but can run in formations of up to six carriages:

They’re relatively new trains, though they’re very much designed for commuters and they’re fairly ‘lightweight’, so expect a couple of bumps in the track along the way.

The seat experience

All of the seats on these trains are in a 2+2 formation. They’re pretty thin and firm, but this means that legroom in the ‘airline’ style seats is fairly generous:

There are quite a few tables as well, and every pair of seats has access to a power socket under the seat. They’re not quite as luxurious as TransPennine Express trains, but they’re fine for a journey of an hour and a half.

Storing your luggage

The overhead racks on these trains are reasonable and will store a cabin-sized bag. You won’t find any bigger luggage stacks, but there are areas with tip-up seats and the areas around the doors have a fair amount of space.

That said, we wouldn’t recommend travelling on these trains with everything but the kitchen sink. They’re commuter trains, after all.

Upgrading to First Class

You won’t find First Class on any Northern service. You’ll need to travel with TransPennine Express if you want a little more luxury!

Verdict: What’s the best train from Leeds to Manchester?

All things considered, the best train from Leeds to Manchester at the moment has to be Northern on the basis that it’s a lot more predictable! It’s cheaper, too. Unless you want to go First Class or you have a lot of luggage, it’s simply the smarter option.

There are a couple of things that you can do to make your journey even smarter:

• At busier times, such as in the rush hour, aim for the trains that start at Manchester Victoria if you’re travelling east. They leave at around 57 minutes past the hour (54 on Sundays) and have around 20 minutes turnaround time in Manchester. This gives you a good chance to turn up and get a seat
• The trains via Bradford will swap direction there, so you’ll need to switch seats if you don’t want to travel backwards. Alternatively, take the train that goes via Brighouse and Dewsbury
• All trains start and terminate at Leeds. Just make sure you get there around 10 minutes before departure to guarantee a seat on busier trains

Is there anything else I should know?

The final thing we’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next journey. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, but cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 15:00 11/09/24. Advance fares quoted are from March 2023. Timetable info is correct to December 2024. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

The post What’s the best train from Leeds to Manchester? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What’s the best way to take a day trip to Liverpool?

By train, of course! Here are a couple of tips that you can use to make your day trip to Liverpool cheaper:

• If you’re travelling last-minute from Manchester, we’d recommend checking the slower Northern trains. They leave from Oxford Road and Victoria, and have cheap Advance tickets right up to the last minute. You could also consider buying a Duo ticket if there’s two of you (or four, or more!) taking a trip – we’ll offer it automatically if it’s the cheapest option
• Coming from London? You might find that it’s cheaper to catch a London Northwestern Railway service to Crewe first, and then change for a train onwards to Liverpool. It’s about an hour slower, so it might be more appropriate if you’re spending a couple of days away

We’ve written a dedicated guide to cheap train tickets to Liverpool where you can find out more, too.

What is there to do on a day trip to Liverpool?

One of the great things about exploring Liverpool is that you can do a lot of it on a budget, or completely free! There’s plenty to see and a selection of free museums to wander around.

Seeing the Sights

Why not start your day trip to Liverpool with seeing some of the essential sights? Let’s begin with what you can see on its iconic waterfront.

Royal Albert Dock

Having been known as just the Albert Dock until 2018, the Royal Albert Dock was granted a Royal Charter five years ago. It started out life in the 19th Century as a home to valuable goods making their way from all corners of the world.

Unfortunately, it just wasn’t big enough to keep up with demand, though it was still a useful place to store cargo. In the Second World War, it became a crucial part of the nation’s war effort. The Royal Albert Dock served as a base for the British Atlantic Fleet, though it took a beating in the Blitz.

In the Post-War era, the Royal Albert Dock suffered a decline and was eventually closed in 1972. Redevelopment began in the 1980s, and now the area is a diverse home to museums, bars and restaurants while still paying homage to the proud maritime past of the city.

Don’t forget to have a look around the Pier Head area. It contains many reminders of the past, including the Pilot Cutter Edmund Gardner and an old Great Western Railway warehouse. Did you know that the Great Western Railway never actually served the city? They ran to Birkenhead instead, on the other side of the Mersey. Once folk arrived at Birkenhead, they’d connect onto a ferry to bring them to Liverpool.

Royal Liver Building

The Royal Liver Building is one of the most famous structures in Liverpool. It was opened in 1911 and it’s one of the first examples of a building constructed with reinforced concrete, as well as being one of the tallest buildings in the country back when it was built. The two Liver birds on the building keep a watch over the city, too. Legend has it that if they were ever to disappear, then the city would cease to exist.

These days, the building is home to a variety of companies and organisations, such as ITV, HSBC and Everton Football Club. You can even tour one of the clock towers as part of your day trip to Liverpool, and you’ll find more information here.

Beatles Statue

The Beatles need no introduction, and Liverpool makes no secret of how they’re Liverpool icons. This statue has been a feature of the Waterfront since 2015, so it’s a fairly recent addition:

The Cavern Club donated the statue, and it was designed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of their final gig in the city.

Memorial to the Heroes of the Maritime Engine Room

Did you know that Titanic was registered in the Port of Liverpool? The city has made a special effort to keep the memory of this iconic vessel alive, and you’ll find reminders of it everywhere.

This particular memorial was originally designed to remember the 32 engineers who lost their lives in the disaster. However, due to the heavy loss of life in World War I, it was broadened to remember all the maritime engineers who had died in the line of duty.

The Cathedrals

Moving away from the Waterfront, we think it’s worth mentioning the two iconic (and very different) Cathedrals in Liverpool. You’ll find Liverpool Cathedral on St James’ Mount:

It’s the largest cathedral in Britain and the fifth-largest in the world. It’s undeniable that it’s a pretty formidable structure, too. Liverpool Cathedral was opened in 1978 after a construction effort that spanned two World Wars and the death of the original architect!

Just half a mile away, you’ll find the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Liverpool. It was the winner of a worldwide design competition, and is a great example of 1960s architecture. It’s also the largest Catholic cathedral in England:

Free Museums

Liverpool is full of free museums, and there’s something for everyone. Whether you want to learn about boats, birds or the proud social history of the city, you’ll be leaving with a wealth of information and anecdotes. Best of all, they won’t cost you a penny to visit.

Museum of Liverpool

Let’s start off with the Museum of Liverpool. It’s an essential part of a day trip to Liverpool, and a great place to start your visit. Within the museum, you’ll find out about its people and how they’ve shaped it into the place that it is today.

Are you a rail geek? Take a look at an old Liverpool Overhead Railway carriage and learn about this fascinating elevated train that used to run above the docks of the city. It was such an iconic railway that people would visit just to take a ride.

You can even try your hand at karaoke as you explore the diverse and iconic musical past and present of Liverpool.

Fancy a visit? It’s open from 10 til 5 Tuesday to Sunday.

Tate Liverpool

Does the name sound familiar? This is part of the group of art galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Tate St Ives) known as Tate. The Tate Liverpool is home to a wide collection of British Art from as far as back as 1500.

At the time of writing, you’ll find an exhibition about democracy and protest, as well as a collection of over 80 pieces from the Tate collection.

As well as the free exhibitions, you’ll usually find ones where you can pay an additional charge. At busier times, you might also prefer to book a free ticket on their website to avoid the need to queue to get in.

It’s open every day of the week between 10 and 5:30.

Liverpool World Museum

The Liverpool World Museum is one of the oldest museums in Liverpool. It’s been welcoming visitors since 1853! The name ‘world’ doesn’t even do its scope justice, as it’s home to a planetarium too, so you can learn about what lies beyond Earth.

It’s home to an aquarium too, so you can learn about ocean life and what’s being done to protect it for generations to come.

There’s something for everyone in the World Museum, no matter whether you want to be eye-to-eye with a scorpion, an Egyptian Mummy or a life-size dinosaur.

It’s open to visit Tuesday to Sunday between 10 and 5.

Maritime Museum & International Slavery Museum

Liverpool is a city that lives and breathes maritime life. Both the Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum tell the story of the vessels and the people that spent their lives at sea.

In the Maritime Museum, you can learn more about the Titanic, the people that were on it and what it was like to be on board. The museum also tells the story of Liverpool’s role in the war effort and how Britain’s naval fleet kept the country safe. Don’t forget about another iconic ship, the RMS Lusitania, which was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. The loss of such a vessel provoked outrage and was a key factor in the USA joining the First World War in 1917.

Meanwhile, the International Slavery Museum gives a voice to those impacted by slavery and colonisation. Did you know that Liverpool ships carried over 1.5 million slaves?

It deals with how colonisation continues to impact countries across the world today, and it draws attention to the impact that modern slavery continues to have on society. In a nutshell, it’s a museum that campaigns and engages with human rights issues, past and present.

Taking a Stroll

Looking to stretch your legs on a day trip to Liverpool? We have a couple of suggestions if you fancy getting out of the City Centre.

Birkenhead Park

How about taking a wander around the world’s oldest public park? Birkenhead Park could be the place for you. It’s also known as the People’s Gardens and it’s been welcoming visitors for nearly two hundred years. The park is home to a plethora of wildlife, and it’s a beautiful oasis of calm away from bustling Liverpool.

You can sit back and enjoy the sunshine, explore one of the walking trails, or enjoy a bite to eat at the cafe in the on-site visitor centre.

A Merseyrail train takes around 10 minutes to get to Birkenhead Park from the centre of Liverpool. From there, it’s just a short walk to the park.

West Kirby & Hilbre Island

Feeling adventurous? You can always spend part of your day trip to Liverpool exploring an island. West Kirby itself is a wonderful destination in its own right, too. It’s home to a variety of independent cafes, shops and a beautiful marine lake:

If you want to go that extra mile (quite literally) though, then you can take a wander over to Hilbre Island. It’s about a two-mile stroll and you’ll need to check the tide times before you go. It’s worth the walk, as you could see seals, whales and even dolphins!

You can reach West Kirby by jumping on a Merseyrail train from Liverpool Central, Lime Street or James Street. It takes around half an hour to get there.

North Wirral Coastal Park

The North Wirral Coastal Park runs between Meols and Wallasey and is just over four miles long. It’s a great place for a walk, jog or cycle and is a fairly flat and easy-going path.

On the way, don’t forget to look out for Leasowe Lighthouse. It’s open on certain days of the year too, so you can take a look around.

You can find more information about the walk here. It’s possible to start the walk by taking a Merseyrail train to Meols or Wallasey Grove Road.

Other Highlights

Of course, there are a few other things that you could make a part of your day trip to Liverpool. We weren’t able to get around everything in a day ourselves!

The famous Cavern Club will be a must-visit for many. After all, it was the birthplace of The Beatles! Fancy getting more hands-on with music? You can learn about the legends of British music and let your creative juices flow at the British Music Experience.

Finally, how about a ferry across the Mersey? You can either take a tour on the river or just jump on board a commuter ferry straight to Birkenhead.

Don’t forget about the Superlambananas, either…

What about eating and drinking?

It would be impossible to list all of the places that you could eat and drink on a day trip to Liverpool. However, we did pop into a couple of venues that we really enjoyed, so they might give you a little bit of inspiration!

Bundobust

Bundobust is the home of easy-going Indian street food. It’s the perfect place to pop in for a bite to eat on your day trip to Liverpool.

You can choose from a selection of small plates, sharers and a wide selection of cocktails and craft beer. No matter your taste, you’ll find something that suits you.

Berry and Rye

How about a cocktail but in a slightly…mysterious setting? If you walked past, you wouldn’t even notice that Berry and Rye is right under your nose. But, if you turn right at the top of Bold Street, you’ll see a rather unassuming black door. Don’t be shy to give it a knock!

The menus are hidden in a book, which you can peruse through as you’re served a free welcome drink. It’s constantly changing, and it’s a case of whatever is seasonal.

If you come in from Sunday to Thursday before 9pm, some cocktails are 2 for £12 as well. Fancy a classic cocktail instead? No problem, the talented bartenders will be more than happy to do it.

Berry and Rye is a truly special experience, and it’s more than just a place to drink.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Here at SmartSplit, we know how difficult it can be to navigate the world of train tickets. Why not check out our pages on the best time to travel for cheap tickets and the best First Class train next?

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All information stated on this page was correct at 12:00 21/06/23. It’s subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What is Standard Premium?

If you’re not used to travelling on Avanti, you might be wondering what this third class of travel is all about. In a nutshell, it’s a First Class carriage with no at-seat service. You get the bigger seat, a quieter carriage and that’s it.

All of the photos you see today are of First Class, but the seats and environment themselves are exactly the same in Standard Premium. The only difference is a headrest that says ‘Standard Premium’ instead.

The upgrade cost starts at £10 and goes up to £30 depending on the length of the journey. You can pay the upgrade fee on the train, or you can also buy Advance tickets that skip this step and allow you to pay for everything at once.

What’s the difference between Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class?

In a nutshell, Standard Premium is the same environment, you get the bigger seat, a guaranteed table and better access to a power outlet.

First Class gives you at-seat service. During the week, that means a chef-prepared hot meal on some journeys, as well as other hot and cold options. You get lounge access, too.

The First Class lounges come with complimentary refreshments, such as snacks and hot drinks.

Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class pricing

This is the big stickler when it comes to comparing Standard Premium vs First Class, and had me questioning whether the extra upgrade to First was worth it anymore. Put simply, it can be a little bit extra to take Standard Premium compared to Standard, then a massive jump to upgrade to First Class. Let’s take a look at a couple of journeys a month in advance:

So here, we want to travel from Glasgow to London. It’s £55 for Standard Class, £74 for Standard Premium and £125 for First Class. Standard Premium, at minimum, seems like a bit of a no-brainer for a long trip. First Class is definitely a bit steeper.

Let’s try London to Manchester:

So, it’s £44 to travel in Standard Class, £69 in Standard Premium and £120 in First Class. Again, there’s a fair difference there. So, when it comes to Standard Premium vs First Class, there’s definitely a steep price difference. The question is: what do you get for your money if you pay the extra?

It’s worth mentioning that you can only get Standard Premium on Pendolino trains. The limited number of Super Voyager trains only have First Class and Standard Class. These trains usually run between North Wales, Chester and Crewe or London Euston, as well as on the Shrewsbury to London route. It’s easy to tell which is which – as you won’t get offered a Standard Premium ticket for a Super Voyager!

The First Class service

I set out on June 15th, 2023, to find this out. I’d booked a ticket on the 09:10 train from Carlisle to Crewe, which took roughly two hours. This seemed like a decent length of journey to allow me to judge what kind of service you’d get in First Class.

The train rolled in a couple of minutes late, and I was already keen to jump on. The weather was hotting up and I was looking forward to a blast of air conditioning!

Getting on board

I boarded the train in Coach J and found a table for two fairly easily. It seemed to be around a third full, and I found there to be very few people sat in Coach K, as well. I had a refurbished 11-car Pendolino train, which had been given new seating throughout First, Standard Premium and Standard Class:

The seats were comfortable (though the same as you’d get in Standard Premium) and had a reasonable recline. The tables had an ample choice of power sockets to choose from, too:

My only complaint about the table is the massive wedge where it curves up. This can make working at a laptop a bit tricky if you have a larger device as it takes up a fair bit of room. Thankfully my work laptop wasn’t too big, so I had no problems.

Okay, so we’ve covered the seat experience (which you’d get in either class), so let’s get onto the First Class exclusives.

Food and drinks service

The big differentiator for Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class is the on-board service. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when a friendly crew member came through straight away taking breakfast orders. We hadn’t even left the station yet! The selection on offer was great (menu here) and I went for the Great British Breakfast. You also had the choice of white or brown toast to go with it.

Five minutes after leaving Carlisle, a drinks trolley came around offering hot and cold drinks (alcohol is available later in the day, though not at 9am) and I had myself an orange juice. It came in a proper glass, too.

The brekkie verdict

It took around 25 to 30 minutes for my food to arrive. I didn’t see that as a bad thing, as it meant that it hadn’t just been chucked in the microwave. Equally, it does mean that you can’t jump on for a 15-minute journey and hope to fill your boots. The portion size of the food was pretty decent:

The dish came with two rashers of bacon, one sausage, scrambled egg, a giant mushroom, a slice of black pudding and two slices of toast with butter. You also had the option of a roasted tomato, but I skipped out on that as I’m not a fan. It wasn’t a gut-busting mega-brekkie that you’d get down at your local greasy spoon, but it didn’t seem too skimpy. You get a choice of sauces too, and my brown sauce came in a nice ceramic dipping pot.

The sausage was delicious, as well the bacon. They were both ‘meaty’ and were of an excellent quality. The black pudding was great too, and it’s not something I usually opt for. The mushroom was tasty but a nightmare to cut into, and it let out a fair amount of liquid on the plate. The least impressive item was the scrambled egg. The texture was off, though the flavour was fine.

You can’t go wrong with toast and butter. Even the butter was delicious and easy to spread. Overall, it was a solid 8/10. As of the 19th of June, a new menu is coming in which replaces the scrambled egg with a fresh fried egg, too. A massive improvement, I reckon.

Final thoughts

After leaving Preston, I had another orange juice. That was it for the service, though. It was friendly, professional and well-focused. Quality over quantity, shall we say. Everyone around me was pleased with the food on offer, too. I heard a couple of ‘delicious’ comments about the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, so that seemed to be a hit. The only person not impressed was the overly-loud bloke in a suit who aggressively batted away any offers of food and drink. He could have saved his money and gone for Standard Premium!

Standard Premium looked to be fairly busy when I popped my head in. The advent of Standard Premium Advance tickets has definitely bumped up occupancy levels, as it used to be pretty normal to get a carriage to yourself when it was a case of being ‘in the know’ and upgrading on the day.

I stepped off at Crewe into glorious sunshine, and was pretty impressed by the service I’d received:

Of course, that isn’t all. First Class entitles you to visit lounges that are located at most major stations on the Avanti network. So, that was my next stop.

Lounge Access

The lounge at Crewe is up on the footbridge towards the exit, just above Platform 5. You press the intercom, show your ticket to the camera, and you’re in.

You’ll find lounges at Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International and London Euston. There is also one at Glasgow Central, but information on the Avanti website suggests that this one is closed at the time of writing.

As for Crewe’s lounge, it was pretty pleasant. It had a nice atmosphere and plenty of different kinds of seating areas to use:

As for food and drink, the drinks selection was everything you’d expect. You had teas, a coffee machine and a fridge with water, fizzy drinks and even kombucha.

The food offering was decent, too. I could see muesli bars, banana bread, porridge pots (and honey), muffins, fresh fruit and pouches of olives:

There is a dedicated menu for the lounges which you can view online. The lounge at London Euston has a different menu with more substantial items available, as well as a paid-for bar! I went for a piece of banana bread in the end, and it was delicious.

I was once again, impressed. There was a clear differentiation appearing in the Standard Premium vs First Class experience, rather than just ‘you get food’.

Taking a shorter trip: Standard Premium vs First Class

Finally, I wanted to see how Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class faired on a short journey. After all, it isn’t uncommon to completely miss out on any service if your journey is too short. That might be because the staff are packing away, or they just haven’t seen you.

So, I was going to go from Crewe up to Liverpool Lime Street, which was just short of 40 minutes. The bizarre thing about this journey is that a one-way Standard Class fare is £16.60 if you’re travelling before 9am on weekdays, but just 30p more at £16.90 if you travel in First! The Off-Peak fare is still £13.80, but the difference isn’t huge. If it’s a return trip though, it’s a much bigger difference, as the return fare is £33.90 in First Class. In fact, two First Class singles are 10p cheaper than the return.

The Standard Premium upgrade price is £10 on this journey. Put simply, that isn’t worth it on top of the Standard Class fare!

So, what did I get? First of all, this was a nine-car train that hadn’t been refurbished yet, so it was a little different inside:

The lamps on the tables were a bit irritating and each window seat had just one three-pin socket (that I couldn’t get to work).

As for the service, a friendly host (also called Richard) popped down straight away and asked if I wanted anything to drink. I took him up on the offer of a coffee, which was really well-presented:

The crew, to their credit, stayed present in the carriages right up until arriving into Liverpool. My overall impression of Avanti’s staff was that they were passionate about what they did – and I did drop their social media team a message of thanks.

Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class – weekdays vs weekends

This is where things get a bit more complicated. You see, on weekdays, here’s how the formation of the train works:

• Nine-car train: Coach H is Standard Premium, J and K are First
• 11-car unrefurbished train: Coaches G and H are Standard Premium, J and K are First
• 11-car refurbished train: Coach H is Standard Premium, J and K are First.

On the refurbished trains, Coach G is converted to Standard Class to add in some extra capacity, which is where that carriage ‘disappears’ to.

So, what happens on weekends? Only Coach K is First Class. Coach K is part-kitchen, so it has a very limited number of seats. Just 18, in fact. Coach J becomes Standard Premium, alongside Coach H (and G on unrefurbished trains!)

First Class becomes very busy and the menu is different, too. It isn’t as substantial, basically. Meanwhile, you’ve loads of room to try Standard Premium. My advice is that you should choose Standard Premium on a weekend if you want an upgrade. First Class just isn’t big enough.

Standard Premium vs First Class – Is First Class worth it?

This is the million-dollar question. When it comes to Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class, is First Class worth it at all? My answer is: it can be.

If you’re travelling between stations with lounges and need somewhere quiet to work before the train for example, it’s great. You have access to refreshments (or even a bar), and it’s a world away from a busy platform.

Travelling on a weekday? Great. You have a decent number of First Class seats on every train and a substantial menu of food and drink. You’ll get a chef-prepared hot meal if you want one. The staff on board the trains are truly excellent and I can’t fault them. Their service was passionate, but sincere, and it wasn’t over-the-top or tacky.

You even have the weird fare anomalies (like a one-way trip from Crewe to Liverpool in the morning peak) where the fare is essentially the same between Standard and First.

So, when isn’t it worth it? I’d say definitely don’t bother on a weekend. Just plonk yourself in Standard Premium. I’d also say it isn’t worth it if you won’t make full use of what’s available to you. If you’re not bothered about lounge access and food and drink, just stick to Standard Premium. If you want a proper ‘experience’, then by all means try out First if the price is right. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with upgrading on board, tips to help you get a cheaper fare and even how to travel in First Class for free. We’ve also compared Avanti West Coast and LNER.

So, are you ready to take a trip? SmartSplit doesn’t believe in adding any fees on. No booking fees, no admin fees and no fees for all of the useful information and insider tips that we have about travelling by train!

Changed your mind? No problem. If your ticket is refundable and you haven’t used it, you get the entire value of your ticket back. If it isn’t refundable, you can change it without any extra charges. Just buy another one, send us the details of both bookings and we’ll refund the cheaper ticket. No questions, no quibbles.

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What day trips from Glasgow by train are there?

Glasgow is well-situated in the Central Belt of Scotland. This means that it’s easy to jump on a train (or something else!) to visit somewhere new. Whether you want to see a new city or embrace the great outdoors, there’s something for everyone.

Isle of Arran

Fancy popping to an island for a day? It’s perfectly easy to do! Just book your train tickets with SmartSplit to Ardrossan Harbour, then head over to the CalMac website and reserve yourself a space on a ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. You can reach the island from Glasgow in around two hours.

Once you reach the island, you have a selection of Stagecoach Buses at your disposal to help you to reach all parts of this beautiful island with ease. You can take the bus to the Lochranza Distillery, Brodick Castle and the beautiful Blackwaterfoot:

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful day trips from Glasgow that you can embark on! A day return (valid after 9am weekdays) is £9.50 out to Ardrossan Harbour, while a return on the ferry starts at £8.40. It’s a quick and easy connection, too. Just walk straight ahead out of the station and follow the signs.

Stirling

You can get to Stirling in as little as 30 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street. This makes it one of the most practical day trips from Glasgow by train.

If you make your way up to the Old Town, you’ll find a wealth of history to explore. The main attraction of course is Stirling Castle:

It had a part to play in many a historical event. Did you know that the Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls?

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Looking to learn about a darker side of Stirling? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It has a ‘sweet’ history too, as it was a sweet factory for part of its life, as well!

A day return to Stirling is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 9am on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Hoildays).

Linlithgow

This is one of the ideal day trips from Glasgow if you’re just looking for a walk in the great outdoors. The main attraction you’ll find in Linlithgow is the Peel and Palace.

You’d never guess that this was just half an hour from the bustling City Centre of Glasgow:

You can take a stroll around the whole of Linlithgow Loch (pictured above). It’s a pretty level and short walk (around an hour), so it’s perfect on a nice day with the kids or to walk the dog.

At the time of writing (June 2023), it’s unfortunately not possible to go inside of the palace while works are going on. However, you can still take a close look at the palace that once served as a royal nursery for James V, Mary Queen of Scots and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I):

A day return to Linlithgow is £13.60 if you’re travelling after 9am on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Edinburgh or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Thinking of trying one of these day trips from Glasgow soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you even the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

Visting Glasgow? We’ve got plenty of inspiration for you, as we’ve taken a day trip to Glasgow ourselves.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 05/06/23. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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Can I get to London Airports by train?

Yes, all of the London Airports are accessible by train! One of them isn’t served by a ‘mainline’ train, though. Instead, you’ll take a driverless Docklands Light Railway train.

Let’s take a look through the list, so you know how to make your trip start without a hitch.

What are the London to Luton Airport train options?

There are two companies that run a London to Luton Airport train. First of all, you can take East Midlands Railway, which runs non-stop from London St Pancras. These trains are branded as the Luton Airport Express, and they run every half hour.

You can also take Thameslink. These trains make a few stops on the way, but you’ll find up to six of them every hour. They also serve London Blackfriars, City Thameslink and Farringdon. All of the trains, no matter which company you pick, go to Luton Airport Parkway, which is a short distance from the Airport:

Once you reach Luton Airport Parkway, you’ll need to take the DART. This is a driverless train which takes you direct to the terminal. When it comes to your London to Luton Airport train options, there isn’t any difference in cost between them.

An Anytime Return (valid to return within a month) is £46.60 without any Railcards, reducing to £42 if you’re travelling after 09:30. If you’re travelling out on a Saturday and returning on a Sunday/Bank Holiday, then it’s cheaper to buy a Super Off-Peak Single each way, as they’re £17.90 each before any Railcard discounts, bringing the total to £35.80.

As for which train you should pick, you’ll find that the Thameslink train has more luggage space and more space in general to move around. Don’t forget that the First Class area at the back of every train is always available for passengers with a Standard Class ticket!

What is the London to Stansted Airport train like?

The next of the London Airports that you can get to by train is Stansted Airport. Stansted Express runs all of the London to Stansted Airport train services.

It takes just under 50 minutes to make the trip, and trains run every half hour. This increases to every 15 minutes during peak hours on a weekday.

In terms of cost, an Anytime Return between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport is £36.30. It’s £23 if you’re just making a one-way trip. The return ticket is valid to return within one month.

All of the trains on the route are Class 745 ‘FLIRT‘ units. They have 12 carriages:

You’ll find plenty of luggage space on board, though there aren’t any full-size tables. Looking to know more? We’ve written a dedicated guide to getting to Stansted Airport.

What are my options for getting from London to Gatwick Airport by train?

Going to Gatwick Airport by train? You’ve got three options from London. The ‘headline’ choice is Gatwick Express. It runs every half hour from London Victoria and takes roughly half an hour to reach the Airport. It’s the most expensive choice, though. At £23 for a single and £45.80 for a return (valid for a month), you’ll be forking out a lot for a short trip.

You can also take Southern, if you prefer. They run from London Victoria as well, but the cost is a little lower. It’s £20.40 for a single, or £40.60 for a return valid for a month. If you’re making a short day trip though, you can get an Off-Peak Day Return for £20.50. The journey time is about the same as Gatwick Express, too.

Your final option for getting from London to Gatwick Airport is Thameslink. They run up to eight trains an hour, which serve St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge. The fastest trains (the ones bound for Brighton) take around half an hour to get to the Airport from London Bridge. The cost is the big winner too, as it’s only £25.70 for a return that’s valid at any time, and lets you return within a month. It gets even cheaper on weekends.

Want to know more? Have a read of our guide to getting to Gatwick Airport by train.

Are there trains to Heathrow Airport?

Heathrow is the London Airport you’ll be going to by train if you’re off on a big adventure. You have two train options for Heathrow Airport.

The Heathrow Express runs non-stop from London Paddington every 15 minutes, and can take as little as 15 minutes. If you’re buying on the day, it’s £25 for a single journey on the Heathrow Express, or £39 for a return. 

They have lots of luggage space and you’ll normally always have one waiting for you to board at each Paddington or Heathrow Terminal 5.

If you’re after cheaper trains to Heathrow Airport, then you can take the Elizabeth Line. They come from Abbey Wood, Shenfield and Central London. Four trains per hour go to Terminal 4, while two per hour go to Terminal 5. It’ll take just over half an hour to get to Paddington using this option.

It’s £12.30 for a single, or £24.60 for a return valid to come back within a month (from Paddington). If you’re coming from elsewhere in London, you might find that a London Zones 1-6 Travelcard is cheaper, as it’s £15.90 per day.

We’ve written an article about the best train to Heathrow, so you can take a look at both trains in detail.

Can I get the train to Southend Airport?

When it comes to getting to London Airports by train, this is probably the one you’re least likely to have heard of! Don’t worry though, you can get there in just under an hour from London Liverpool Street. All of the trains to Southend Airport are operated by Greater Anglia.

They run roughly every 20 minutes, and a single fare is £20.90. A return is £42.20 if you need to leave London during the weekday morning and evening rush hour, or arrive back in London before 10am on weekdays. If you can avoid these times, a return is £32.40.

The trains on the route are fairly new, but just beware that the aisles are rather narrow. We’d recommend walking down the platform in London to find the ideal seat, rather than trying to squash your way through it.

Is there a London City Airport train?

Well yes, sort of! London City Airport isn’t on the national rail network. It’s on the DLR network, which is a driverless train that links parts of East London to Stratford, Bank and Tower Gateway.

You can change onto the DLR from mainline trains at Woolwich Arsenal, Lewisham, Greenwich, West Ham, Limehouse, Stratford and Stratford International. If you’re coming from Fenchurch Street, then it’s just a short walk from there to Tower Gateway.

Trains run every few minutes on this route. If you’re heading to London City Airport by train, you’ll need to buy a rail ticket that includes travel to London Underground Zone 3. Alternatively, you can use your contactless card. Just remember to tap in and out at the start and end of your journey. A single fare from Central London is £3.00 (or £3.70 in peak hours).

What else do I need to know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to understand your ticket, and how to navigate the Elizabeth Line. Don’t forget to take a look at our quick guide to crossing London, either.

Ready to take a trip to one of the London Airports by train? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you even the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 14:00 30/05/23. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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What’s the best way to take a day trip to Glasgow?

Glasgow is very well-linked by train, so that’s the best way! It has two major stations, which will bring you in from just about anywhere in Scotland, as well as a variety of destinations in England.

You’ll be arriving into Glasgow Queen Street if you’re coming from most large cities elsewhere in Scotland. This includes Stirling, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh. Don’t forget that if you want to book a cheap train ticket in Advance on ScotRail (who operate on all of these routes) then you’ll need to make sure that you buy it before 18:00 the day before you want to go. After this, you can only buy ‘flexible’ singles and return tickets.

Glasgow Central is where you’ll arrive if you’re coming from England, as well as places such as Kilmarnock, Ayr and Stranraer. If you’re travelling from Yorkshire to Glasgow, keep an eye out for fares routed ‘via Appleby’. Here’s an example travelling from Leeds:

You need to look for journeys with just one change where the first leg is a Northern train. You’ll even get to travel over the scenic Settle & Carlisle Railway on the way!

Getting around Glasgow

While Glasgow is full of attractions, you might want to use public transport to help you get around on your day trip. The Glasgow Subway will take you to a number of destinations that we mention on this page, while you could also take local ScotRail trains to reach some of them, too.

The Subway (also known as the Clockwork Orange) runs from early til late Monday to Saturday and during shopping hours on a Sunday. Did you know that it’s the third-oldest underground railway in the world?

A single ticket is £1.75, while a day pass is £4.20. You can find more information on the Subway’s website.

Free Museums to visit on a day trip to Glasgow

No day trip to Glasgow is complete without taking in some of the free museums on offer, so it’s a great place to start. You might struggle to get around them all in a day, but there’s something for everyone. It’s a great backup plan if the weather is a bit dreich, too.

Gallery of Modern Art

Coming off the train at Queen Street station? It’s just a short walk past St George’s Square to the Gallery of Modern Art, making it a great place to begin on your day trip to Glasgow. The building was originally constructed as the townhouse of William Cunninghame, a Tobacco Lord who made his fortune in the slave trade.

It’s now home to four different galleries as well as a library. The exhibitions change regularly, so you’ll always find something different to look at. Here’s the Taste! exhibition:

You can visit the gallery every day. It’s open from 10 til 5, except on Fridays and Sundays when it opens an hour later at 11am. Click here to find out more about what you can see when you visit.

Riverside Museum & The Tall Ship Glenlee

Heading a little outside of the City Centre, you’ll find the Riverside Museum, which is also home to the Tall Ship Glenlee. It’s a 15-minute trip on the Subway to Partick Station (also served by ScotRail trains), followed by a well-signed 10-minute walk.

Inside the museum, you’ll find a plethora of historic buses, trains, trams, cars, ships and more:

Don’t forget to take a look at the reconstruction of a typical Glasgow street. From a sweet shop to a Subway Station, they’ve included everything:

Finally, why not pop outside and take a look at the Tall Ship Glenlee? After a career sailing to the Americas, trading across the Mediterranean Sea and being used as a military training vessel, she returned to the Clyde in 1993.

You can jump on board and see what life was like at sea, as well as learn about the importance of the Clyde and the shipbuilders that graced it.

Both the museum and the Tall Ship are open every day. The museum is open 10 til 5 (11am Fridays and Sundays), while the Tall Ship is open 10 til 5 every day except Tuesday (11am).

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

One of the grandest-looking museums in Glasgow has to be the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. It’s a 10-minute trip on the Subway from the City Centre to Kelvinhall, followed by a 10-minute walk.

The best way to describe it is that it has just about everything! With 22 galleries to explore, it’s one of the most comprehensive museums that you’ll find on your day trip to Glasgow. It’s been a firm favourite with visitors and locals alike since it opened in 1901:

From Charles Rennie Mackintosh to a Spitfire plane, and the depths of Ancient Egypt to the wonders of Dutch Art, you’ll be taken on a journey to the deepest corners of Glasgow and the world.

The museum is open from 10 til 5 every day (11am Fridays and Sundays). You can download a full guide to what’s on here.

People’s Palace

Open to the people of Glasgow (and beyond) since 1898, the People’s Palace was designed as a place of recreation, pleasure and learning. Since the 1940s, it’s been telling visitors about the social history of Glasgow. Set on Glasgow Green, it’s a 15-minute walk from the City Centre.

This is an essential part of any day trip to Glasgow if you’d like to know about the people that make Glasgow great. Take a step inside the minds and streets of Glaswegians and explore the issues and triumphs that they faced and embraced.

The museum is open from 10 til 5 every day (11am Fridays and Sundays).

Green Spaces

You might associate Glasgow with heavy industry, bustling streets and a general sense of urban-ness. While it’s a vibrant and busy city, this doesn’t mean that green spaces are out of your reach. If you want to get closer to nature, then Glasgow is still the city for you. Here are some of our favourite spots to take it all in.

Pollok Country Park

Our first stop is just 10 minutes by train from Glasgow Central. Hop off the train at Pollokshaws West and you’re almost already at the gates of the Pollok Country Park. It’s the largest park in Glasgow, too.

While you’re having a wander around the extensive grounds and woodlands, don’t forget to say hello to the Highland Cows:

The country park is also home to Pollok House, which was built in the mid-18th Century, though the site itself was actually home to the Maxwell family for six centuries. Home to an extensive art collection, it was also the founding site of the National Trust for Scotland.

Another thing to look out for is the scattering of rather quirky paintings around the park. They’re part of the Art Gone Wild trail:

Finally, the park is home to the Burrell Collection. It contains over 9,000 different objects, including stained glass, armour and over 200 tapestries.

Whether you just want a brisk walk or an entire day of exploring, the Pollok Country Park is a great place to make part of your day trip to Glasgow.

Botanic Gardens

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been a part of the city for over 200 years. Originally opened in 1817 on a different site, the Gardens were such a success that they moved to their current home on the banks of the River Kelvin in 1839. They’re just a short Subway ride away, a few-minutes walk from the nearest station at Hillhead.

You’ll find over 9,000 plants here, with the greatest number being in the plethora of glasshouses around the Gardens. The plants hail from all over the world, and not only are the Gardens a beautiful place to explore, but they help to keep endangered species alive in the face of climate change.

They’re open every day. In the summer months, this is usually from 7am til around 8pm.

Kelvingrove Park

Finally, if you’re paying a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, it’s worth exploring the park that it sits in.

Kelvingrove Park was purchased and created for the rapidly growing West End of the city in 1852. It was actually the first purpose-built park in Scotland! We’d recommend having a stroll after you take in the delights of the museum.

Is there anything else I should do on a day trip to Glasgow?

Naturally, we haven’t covered everything. So here are a couple more things that you might like to see. With this much to take in, you might want to extend your day trip to Glasgow and make it a weekend!

Glasgow Necropolis

So, who fancies a trip to a cemetery? It doesn’t seem like an obvious place to make a part of your day trip to Glasgow, but it has a fascinating history. The Necropolis has over 50,000 people buried in it, and contains over 3,500 monuments. It’s a bit of a climb, but you can enjoy some great views over the city:

Unusually, not all of the monuments here relate to someone actually buried in the Necropolis, either. You can find out more on the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis site.

The Duke of Wellington Statue

Well, we’ve got to end on something light-hearted. Why is this statue famous, you ask? The cones on top of it! You’ll find the cone-adorned monument outside of the Gallery of Modern Art.

Sticking a cone on the statue has been a local sport since the 1980s, if not earlier. While the council and the authorities have spent much time and energy asking people not to do it (and even trying to put the statue out of reach), it’s always been met with defiance and outrage.

So, just enjoy snapping a picture and embracing the humour of Glaswegians. Why is there a cone on the statue? Why not.

Where should I eat and drink?

Glasgow is a foodie’s paradise. Whatever kind of cuisine you want to try, it’s probably going to be here. In fact, you could probably spend weeks eating the same kind of cuisine at dozens of different restaurants! It’s difficult to know where to start, but we have a couple of recommendations.

If you’ve been to the Botanical Gardens or you’re just wandering around the West End, then Ashton Lane is a great place to start. Whether you’re in the mood for ramen, a curry or even just a beer at the Innis & Gunn Taproom, there’s something for everyone.

Just around the corner, you’ll find KoKo House. We’d definitely suggest trying their soufflé pancakes. It’s cash only, but there’s a cash point nearby!

Fancy something more substantial? The Brunch Club is just a quick stroll from the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. They specialise in all your favourite brunch items, and even do a bottomless brunch with cocktails. We opted for the chicken and waffles with a drizzle of Hoisin sauce:

Is there anything else I should know?

Now that you know what to do on your day trip to Glasgow, it’s important to book everything as smartly as possible. When you book smarter with SmartSplit, we don’t charge you any fees. All of our tickets can be changed without any extra charges, or refunded if it’s a refundable ticket.

We’ve produced a bunch of useful content about travelling by train, too. Did you know that we’ve gone out to find the best First Class train, or even the best one to store your luggage?

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What are the choices for getting to Stansted Airport by train?

If you’re travelling to and from London, then you’ll be taking the Stansted Express. There’s just the one operator here!

When it comes to getting to Stansted Airport by train from other destinations, there are a couple of choices:

Greater Anglia run roughly every hour between Norwich, Cambridge and Stansted Airport. They operate Class 755 Stadler ‘FLIRT’ trains which have either three or four carriages. These modern trains also have power sockets at every seat and free WiFi:

CrossCountry operate trains every two hours (with some extras in the morning peak) between Stansted Airport, Peterborough, Leicester and Birmingham New Street. If you have a lot of luggage and don’t want the hassle of travelling via London, then they’re a good option for getting across to the Midlands without needing to change.

On this route, you’ll find Class 170 ‘Turbostar’ units, which have either two or three carriages. Unfortunately, they don’t have any power sockets for charging devices in Standard Class:

What’s the Stansted Express?

As we mentioned before, your main option for getting to Stansted Airport by train is the Stansted Express. It runs every half hour during Off-Peak hours, and from May 21, 2023, it’ll run every 15 minutes between 06:00 and 09:15, and 16:45 and 20:15.

All services typically take between 45 and 50 minutes to complete their trip. During Off-Peak hours, all trains stop at Bishops Stortford, Harlow Town and Tottenham Hale, with one per hour stopping at Stansted Mountfitchet. When trains are more frequent, they’ll stop at either Bishops Stortford or Harlow Town (all trains still call at Tottenham Hale). One train per hour still calls at Stansted Mountfitchet, too.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect on your trip.

The cost

Before any Railcard discounts, an Anytime Return between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport is £36.30. It’s £23 if you’re just making a one-way trip.

The return ticket is valid to return within one month.

The trains themselves

All Stansted Express services are operated by Class 745 Stadler ‘FLIRT’ trains. They have 12 carriages and were introduced during 2020.

They’re good-looking trains and we’re definitely a fan of them:

Storing luggage

Getting to Stansted Airport by train is pretty simple when it comes to storing your luggage. The overhead racks are good for keeping large backpacks and other items while you’ll find plenty of bigger racks near the doors:

The trains are also fully walk-through. This means that you can move between carriages without needing to pass through any doors, so moving around with a suitcase doesn’t have to be difficult.

The seat experience

Getting to Stansted Airport by train doesn’t have to be uncomfortable! The seats used on these trains are actually soft and well-padded, with a decent amount of legroom.

They’re all in a 2+2 layout. Just be mindful that there aren’t any full-sized tables, though the ‘airline’ style seats have a small table on the seatbacks.

Personally, we’d recommend seating on the ‘raised’ seats towards the carriage ends. It feels a bit more open and airy being sat a little higher! There aren’t any steps up either, so they’re easily accessed.

You’ll find power sockets between every pair of seats:

Onboard service

There aren’t any on-board staff on these trains. Regular automated announcements keep you informed about where you are during the trip.

Fancy an upgrade?

First Class was actually abolished when these new trains were introduced. However, it’s possible to sometimes get an ad-hoc upgrade!

Greater Anglia operates two almost-identical fleets of these trains. There’s this fleet, and there’s one for the Norwich route. The trains that go to Norwich have First Class, a buffet area and tables at seats.

While they usually stick to their own routes, occasionally a train with First Class ends up on the Stansted route. When this happens, First Class is open to all ticket-holders. It’s a bit more spacious and in a 2+1 layout.

How do you know if your train has First Class? You can do one of two things:

• Check the number on the front of the train. Trains with First Class will start with a 0, eg. 003. As you’ll see in the picture above, the normal Stansted Express trains start with a 1, eg. 109
• See if the outside of the train has carriage letters. Trains with First Class have carriage letters marked by the doors.

Is there anything else I should know about getting to Stansted Airport by train?

If you’re travelling towards Stansted Airport, head to the front of the train. Stansted Express trains are huge and tend to be much emptier at the front, even when the rear is quite crowded. You should have your ticket ready when you exit, too. There aren’t any ticket barriers but staff will regularly check tickets at the station exit. Leave some extra time to allow for this, as queues can form.

Travelling from Stansted and need a ticket? Don’t queue up at the machines in the baggage claim area if they’re busy. The station itself has many more machines for you to use. We found this out ourselves when we missed a train due to waiting so long!

Travelling on a CrossCountry train? The platform can be difficult to find. These trains leave from Platform 2:

It’s a small platform which is almost fully outside. To get to it, just keep heading forwards once you enter the station. Leave some extra time if you can, as it can take a couple of minutes to do this if you have heavy luggage.

Finally, why not book your tickets before you travel? You can skip the queues by booking an eTicket and head straight for your train. When you do it with SmartSplit, you can refund or change your ticket without fees if you need to.

We’ve even produced guides for getting to Gatwick and Heathrow.

The post Getting to Stansted Airport by Train appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the options for getting to Southend by train?

When it comes to getting to Southend by train, you have two options. You can either take c2c from London Fenchurch Street, or Greater Anglia from London Liverpool Street.

When we compare the two options, we’ll be looking at the quality of the train, the journey time and how much it costs. Neither train has First Class, any sort of catering nor does it have a conductor on board. Both lines use commuter-style trains, so we aren’t expecting any luxury!

c2c

During Off-Peak hours, you’ll find four trains per hour between London Fenchurch Street and Southend Central. You have a choice of two different routes:

• Two trains per hour running via Grays. These trains take around 75 minutes to complete the trip
• Four trains per hour operate via Basildon and go further to Shoeburyness. They take just over an hour, so this is the fastest option.

On a frequency basis, this is the best way to Southend by train.

The cost

A day return to Southend is £23.20 (before any Railcard discounts). This reduces a little to £20.20 if you travel after 09:30, before 16:00 or after 19:00 on weekdays. If you’re after the cheapest train, then this is the best way to Southend by train, too.

The train itself

For the moment, most services on the c2c route are operated by Class 357 ‘Electrostar‘ trains. Built between 1999 and 2002, they’ve been running on the route for just over 20 years.

They have four carriages and usually run in pairs to form an eight-coach train. Some peak trains also run as 12 carriages.

Storing your luggage

As you’re most likely to be taking a day trip to Southend, storing heavy luggage probably won’t be an issue. There aren’t any bigger luggage stacks, but you’ll find space for small items and backpacks above the seats.

The seat experience

The layout of the carriage will depend on the ‘type’ of train that you catch. Most trains operated by c2c have a 3+2 seating layout throughout most of the train. If you’re travelling with family or you’d like a table though, head for the ends of each ‘unit’. This is because the areas behind the driver’s cab have seats in a 2+2 layout with a full-sized table. On an eight-coach train, this means that you should aim for the outer ends of coaches 1, 4, 5 and 8:

The exception is on trains that have ‘Metro’ written on the doors. These have a 2+2 seating layout throughout so there’s more standing space.

There aren’t any power sockets on c2c trains. So, you’ll want to make sure that you bring a powerbank or that your devices have enough charge before you travel.

The journey

One of the positives about the journey between London and Southend on this route is that it does actually get quite scenic!

Once you get through the urban sprawl of London, you’ll be running alongside the Thames Estuary:

Final thoughts

c2c are certainly the most affordable way to get to Southend by train, and the route is actually quite pleasant once you get alongside the Thames Estuary!

The lack of power sockets is a shame though, and we found the train in general to be extremely dirty and not all that well cared-for. If all you’re after is a cheap train from A to B, then this is likely to be the best option for you.

Our train was also bang on time. c2c trains tend to be fairly reliable as they run on a small and mostly self-contained section of lines.

Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia run three trains per hour for most of the day on their route between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria.

Two of these trains run fast between Stratford and Shenfield, while the other train stops at Romford as well. In any event, all trains on the route take roughly an hour to travel between London and Southend. Time-wise, this means that Greater Anglia is very slightly the better way to get to Southend by train.

The cost

Greater Anglia is a little more expensive, with a day return being £32.00. This goes down to £27.70 if you travel after 09:30 and £22.90 if you travel after 12:00 (or all day on weekends and Bank Holidays).

Don’t forget that you can’t buy a ticket from London that’s valid on both routes (c2c and Greater Anglia), so even if you buy a ticket for this route you can’t return on the cheaper c2c trains.

The train itself

All of the services on the Greater Anglia route are operated by brand-new Class 720 ‘Aventra‘ trains. They’ve been gradually introduced to the route since 2020, so they’re about as modern as you can get:

They’re all formed of five carriages, but they often run together to form a 10-carriage train. If you’re after a newer (and longer!) train then this will be the best way to Southend by train.

Storing your luggage

These trains were designed to have as many seats as possible, so you won’t find any luggage stacks. Any luggage storage will be above your seat.

As we said earlier though, it’s unlikely that you’ll be taking lots of heavy luggage on a day trip. So, the racks above the seats will suit backpacks and smaller items just fine.

The seat experience

Well, these trains certainly have a lot of seats. They’re pretty firm though, but should be fine for the hour’s trip between London and Southend.

The main issue is that the aisles are very narrow, so we wouldn’t recommend walking down them with any big bags if you’re trying to get down the train. You’ll probably end up hitting yourself on the sides of the seats:

Every seat comes with a three-pin socket and two USB ports. If you want to stay connected, then this is definitely the train for you:

The journey

There certainly isn’t any seaside scenery on this route, as it stays inland. However, you should keep an eye out for the London Stadium and Olympic Park shortly after leaving Liverpool Street.

Final thoughts

If we were looking at train quality alone, then Greater Anglia would be the best way to Southend by train. We found the trains to be clean and well looked after, with them being given a thorough run-through by multiple staff at Southend Victoria.

The very narrow aisles pose a bit of a problem though. We’d recommend walking down the platform to look for a seat rather than squashing through the train itself.

The main issue is that the station at Southend Victoria isn’t as convenient for the beach. It’s a lot more inland and better located for shopping and bus connections rather than a day by the seaside.

Final thoughts – What’s the best way to get to Southend by train?

Based on what the typical daytripper to Southend is after, c2c has to be the best way to get to Southend by train.

The trains are cheaper, run more frequently and arrive at a more convenient station for the seafront. They certainly aren’t the best in terms of the trains themselves, but they do just fine for a journey of just over an hour. c2c have also ordered a small fleet of new trains (the same as you’ll find on Greater Anglia) to supplement the existing trains.

If you’re coming from Stratford, then Greater Anglia is likely to be the better option. But, for people coming from Central London, you’re best sticking with c2c.

Looking for more tips on travelling by train? Take a look at our guide to travelling as a family. We’ve also provided some inspiration for more day trips from London with our very own top 5.

The post What’s the best way to Southend by train? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the best eateries near stations?

Howst (Sheffield)

Kicking off our best eateries near stations list is HowSt in Sheffield. Located at the top of Howard Street, next to Sheffield Hallam University, it’s a short five minute walk or so up (or down!) the hill to/from the station.

They specialise in a selection of breakfast and brunch foods, as well as your standard hot drinks and even cocktails. You can find the menu here.

It’s quite popular too, and we were lucky to get a table when we visited around midday. It’s really cosy and welcoming though, and the staff give you some true friendly Sheffield hospitality.

For food, we picked the ‘Sroom’, which is poached eggs on toast with mushrooms and a Bloody Mary sauce. It came to £9.50:

We’d definitely recommend paying a visit. Just try to avoid the rush around 12 to 1pm, as it can get very busy! The food here is delicious and the service is brilliant.

Meat:Stack (Leeds)

Okay, so Meat:Stack don’t actually have their origins in Leeds. They’re a Geordie-born business, but their Leeds branch is just around the corner from the station. Just pop out of the main entrance, turn left, then take a sharp right back along Bishopsgate Street.

It’s a pretty basic fast food-esque restaurant, but you wouldn’t come here to kill a lot of time. It’s all about filling yourself up with delicious food!

Think Five Guys burgers, but with some friendly northern service and way more flavour and creativity. If you want to see what’s on offer, click here.

We went for the New Mexico burger and some loaded spicy fries. A meal deal for a burger, fries and a drink starts at around £14:

When you order, you’re given a little buzzer that’ll go off when your food is ready. However, the staff just brought ours straight away as it was fairly quiet.

If you really want a good burger, then Meat:Stack is one of the best eateries near stations that you’ll find.

Partisan (York)

This is the most walking you’ll need to do for one of our best eateries near stations. Partisan is around a 10-minute walk from York Station, located on Micklegate. If you’re after an ‘elevated’ brunch, we’d recommend paying a visit.

It’s really popular, and even when we visited at 2pm on a Wednesday, it was pretty full. Thankfully, there’s a heated and covered outdoor terrace, so we sat there.

You’ll find the menu here. We went for the chorizo on toast (front) and vegan breakfast (rear) which were £14.50 each:

It’s a little expensive for just one dish, but it’s filling and tasty food. The chorizo on toast is very generous with the amount of meat you get, and the caramelised onions are absolutely delicious.

Partisan is one of the best eateries near stations for brunch. If you’re visiting York too, we’d recommend making it part of your itinerary!

The Sitting Room (Saltburn)

The Sitting Room is definitely one of the best eateries near stations if you’re all about location. Simply step off your train and turn left. Take a few steps forward and it’s on your right.

We just popped in for a cup of tea, so don’t have any food pictures to share. But as you can see, it has a cosy little bar and plenty of places to sit and relax with a book or the paper:

They specialise in sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks for the most part. It’s classic café food with friendly service. Once it gets a little later though, you’ll find cocktails and beers to choose from as well.

It seems to have two different ‘vibes’, with it being a cosy little cafe during the day, but it has a more intimate restaurant feel in the evening. We loved it as a spot to come in and enjoy a hot drink, especially on a cold windy day.

Zapatista (Newcastle)

Zapatista is a Mexican taco and burrito restaurant, which started out on Newcastle’s Ridley Place. Nowadays, you’ll find a branch on Grainger Street (just two minutes from the station) as well as one in Durham.

Each restaurant is full of quirky decor and has loads of places to sit and relax. The one by the station isn’t too busy if you want to sit down either, as it’s more popular with delivery apps and takeaway orders.

The menu is available here. You’ll find tacos, burritos and fajitas as well as items like nachos and chilli. As it happens, we went for the chilli and rice, which cost £7.20:

It’s customisable (like most dishes on the menu) so you can put your own twist on it, and it was a really filling bowl of chilli as well. It’s a great lunch spot and one that we’ve visited for a number of years.

Feeling hungry yet? Don’t worry. You can book a trip to all of these eateries with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees, including if you change your mind. All of our tickets are either refundable or changeable with no extra charges.

The post Best Eateries near Stations (in the North) appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What’s the best train to Heathrow Airport?

In this comparison, I’ll be taking a look at the two ‘rail’ options for getting to Heathrow. If you want to take the ‘super-budget’ option, then of course you can also use the London Underground Piccadilly Line.

However, it’s widely known that this is slow, uncomfortable and not the best for luggage! While I didn’t take a trip on it, you can find out more on the TfL website if you’d prefer that option.

I’ll be looking at the premium Heathrow Express and the slightly slower Elizabeth Line.

How do we work out the best way to Heathrow Airport?

With it only being a short hop to Heathrow, we’re most concerned about speed and luggage space. WiFi and a place to charge your phone would be good, too.

We don’t expect any luxuries like a three-course meal, of course. Instead, if First Class is offered, we just want to know if it offers anything ‘different’.

Heathrow Express

I was starting with Heathrow Express today. It hadn’t been the best start, as I’d ended up walking from Lancaster Gate tube station in the pouring rain, so I was a little bit soaked! But, there wasn’t long to wait for a train.

Heathrow Express runs four trains every hour between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5, stopping at Terminals 2 and 3 on the way.

The journey time is typically around 15 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3, and 20 minutes to Terminal 5. On speed alone, this is undoubtedly the best train to Heathrow. It’s quick!

The cost

If you’re buying on the day, it’s £25 for a single journey on the Heathrow Express, or £37 for a return. The return is valid for a month, so it’s ideal if you’re making a longer trip. You can also use Railcards on Heathrow Express fares.

While this is definitely a steep fare, you can bag yourself a bargain if you book in advance. Single fares start at £5.50 if you book up to six months beforehand. They’re only restricted to a particular day, too. This means that you don’t have to worry about flight delays, as you can use any train you like.

While it might seem a bit crazy to book a short Airport train trip so far in advance, you might as well do it if you already have your flights sorted.

The train itself

Class 387 ‘Electrostar‘ trains make up the entire Heathrow Express fleet. They normally run in pairs, with two four-coach trains coupled together.

They joined the Heathrow Express service in December 2020, but were originally new to Great Western Railway.

Storing your luggage

So far, my experiences of airport trains have been underwhelming when it comes to luggage storage. Usually, you’ll find the ‘normal’ amount of space you’d expect on any other train, at best.

I was impressed when I found that the Heathrow Express has lots of room for luggage. No matter the size, there are lots of dedicated racks for you to use:

It’s good that they’re in view, as well. There’s always somewhere to sit where you can keep an eye on luggage, or keep it close by.

This is definitely the best train to Heathrow for luggage. In fact, it’s likely to be the best for luggage, full stop. If you’re connecting in from a long-distance train, we also have a dedicated page about the best train for luggage.

The seat experience

All seats in Standard Class are in a 2+2 layout. Compared to other trains of this type, the seats have had some extra padding added, too.

There aren’t any full-size tables around bays of 4, but you’ll find cup holders and a small ledge to place drinks and other smaller items. Airline-style seats have a small seat-back table.

Plug sockets are at every window seat. At each socket, there’s a three-pin one plus two USB ports. You’ll also find reading lights above every seat, though I doubt they’d do much to illuminate whatever you’re looking at.

Overall, it’s a pleasant interior. The seats are comfortable enough for a 15 to 20 minute trip and there’s no shortage of legroom.

Fancy an upgrade?

It’s possible to buy a ticket for ‘Business First’ which gives you a bigger seat in a 2+1 layout. These seats also have a bigger table, so it might be better if you need to get some work done.

It’s £32 single or £55 return for First Class. Alternatively, you can pay the difference between the Standard and First Class single fares as an ‘upgrade’ on board, which is £7.

Is it worth it? For the average leisure traveller, probably not. I found that these compartments actually got quite busy, and you had more chance of some peace and quiet in Standard.

If you need to work on the move though, then the extra space might be a bonus. If you’re an employer, for example, it might be worth paying the extra for someone on a business trip.

I’ve done plenty of rating First Class products in the past, too. We’ve even got a dedicated page for the best First Class train in the UK, if you’re measuring up a few different trains.

Onboard service

There definitely isn’t any shortage of on-board staff. If you have a question or need some assistance, this is definitely the best train to Heathrow.

Regular on-board announcements keep you informed, too. They’re not too intrusive either, as I’ve travelled on this service before and almost lost my mind at what was quite literally a never-ending monologue. Heathrow Express have clearly listened, on this front!

A nice perk is the ability to keep an eye on your flight. Screens throughout the train tell you where to check-in and whether your flight is on time:

Staying connected

Free WiFi is available on the Heathrow Express. I found it easy to connect to and the speed was pretty good. Google thought it was ‘fine’:

So if you really have to catch-up on your favourite series on that 20-minute trip, you can technically use the WiFi to do it!

Final thoughts

I found Heathrow Express to be a fairly impressive product. It’s the most expensive option, but it is a genuine express train.

Rather than fitting in between slower trains, it shares the tracks that long-distance trains use towards the South West of England. This means that you can feel yourself actually travelling ‘fast’ and watching the landscape rush by.

The train was punctual, clean and well-staffed. Another plus is that there’s usually always a train waiting for you at Paddington, so you can get on board straight away.

Elizabeth Line

This particular service has gone by a couple of different names in recent years. It originally started off as “Heathrow Connect” and basically ran as a local service between Paddington and Heathrow.

It then became “TfL Rail” once TfL took over the running of the service. Finally, it became “Elizabeth Line” as new trains were introduced and the new section of railway through Central London opened.

Four trains per hour run between Paddington and Heathrow on this route. Two of them run to Terminal 4, and two run to Terminal 5. All of them serve Terminals 2 and 3. It takes around 30 to 35 minutes to travel from Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, and about 35 to 40 minutes to reach Terminal 4 or 5. All trains typically stop at all stations on the way.

Of course, it’s now also possible to travel direct to Heathrow from Central London (Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street), Canary Wharf and beyond.

The cost

A paper single ticket for the Elizabeth Line will cost £12.30 or £24.60 for a return. In a nutshell, there’s no advantage to buying a return!

A London Zones 1-6 Travelcard is £15.20 and is also valid on Elizabeth Line trains to Heathrow, so you might find this to be best if your origin isn’t Paddington. It’s valid on most public transport in London Zones 1-6.

The train itself

All services on the Elizabeth Line are run by nine-carriage Class 345 “Aventra” trains, which were gradually introduced from 2017 onwards.

Storing your luggage

To be honest, I couldn’t see any dedicated luggage racks. These trains were designed to transport lots of people rather than lots of luggage.

However, the aisles are pretty wide and there’s plenty of space. I couldn’t imagine there being an issue unless you tried to get on an especially full train.

The seat experience

You’ll find the seats in two different layouts. They’ll either be in bays of four or longitudinal, facing the inside of the train.

To be honest, they’re pretty firm. The Elizabeth Line won’t be winning any awards for comfort, but the seats are fine for short journeys.

You won’t find any power sockets, tables or anything like that. But there are hand-straps throughout the train in case you need to stand.

Another perk is that you can walk through the entire train without needing to go through any separate doors. This makes it a lot easier to find yourself some space.

Fancy an upgrade?

You’ll struggle, in that case! First Class isn’t available on any Elizabeth Line train.

Onboard service

There are no on-board staff other than the driver. There are automated announcements on the train which will tell you where it’s going and what the stops are, though.

Staying connected

WiFi is available on the train but only in sections where it’s above-ground. If you’re travelling past Paddington and going into Central London, be aware that there is no mobile reception or WiFi available.

Final thoughts

The Elizabeth Line offers a reasonable, more budget-friendly option for travelling to Heathrow. It’s likely to be the best train to Heathrow if you’re coming from East or Central London, as it avoids the need to change at Paddington. It’s also the cheapest option if you need to travel at the last-minute.

However, the on-board facilities aren’t great and it’s very much a railway designed to transport lots of people. It just so happens that some of those trains terminate at Heathrow Airport.

What’s the best train between Heathrow Terminals?

I feel like it’s also worth touching on this. There’s no cost for travelling between the Heathrow terminals. You can tap in/out with a contactless card or device or get a free transfer ticket from a machine.

If you need to get from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 (or vice-versa) you’ll need to change at Terminals 2 and 3. It’s a simple interchange straight across to the other platform.

It’s also possible to do this on the tube, but you might need to change at Hatton Cross to get between terminals. Most buses between terminals are not free.

The journeys between terminals only take a few minutes, so your best bet is to take the first train that’s due to leave. This map will tell you more about transfers at Heathrow Airport.

The verdict – what’s the best train to Heathrow?

The Stations

Before I get into this, I think it’s important to discuss my thoughts on actually using the Heathrow Stations. Namely, Terminals 2 and 3.

There are lots of announcements, and they’re all very wordy. When announcing a train, it’ll tack what you should do if you’re going somewhere else onto the end, which might confuse matters even more. It’s naturally aimed at tourists and those who don’t speak great English, but it felt like a complete overload.

When I was travelling between Terminals 2 and 3, and Terminal 4, I found that the staff kept herding everyone right to the front of the platform. This seemed to be so we’d be near the exit when we got off, which is fair enough. The only issue was that it caused boarding to take a very long time due to so many people trying to get on with large luggage. If you’re changing for Terminal 4, don’t go too far forwards as it’ll be an uncomfortable trip.

The final verdict

It’s difficult to say that one train will suit everyone better. However, I’d say that Heathrow Express is the best train to Heathrow.

If you’re travelling from Heathrow, you’re probably travelling a fair distance. Even if you’re not, the airlines that fly out of there generally give the best fares when you plan ahead. So, if you plan ahead with your rail fare as well, you’ll get the best value on Heathrow Express. You can get yourself straight onto a waiting train at Paddington, store your luggage and relax.

If you happen to be coming from somewhere like Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street or Tottenham Court Road, then the Elizabeth Line will probably suit you better. I’d not recommend getting off the Elizabeth Line just to ride the Heathrow Express as the transfer time between the two isn’t great, especially with luggage.

Whatever you choose to take though, you can book in confidence with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees if you need to get a refund or change your ticket, so you can rest assured that changing your plans won’t cost you anything more than it should.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to understand your ticket, and your best options for reaching other London airports, including Gatwick. Don’t forget to take a look at our quick guide to crossing London or the Elizabeth Line, either.

The post What’s the best train to Heathrow Airport? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Taking place on April 23rd, the London Marathon is one of the most important sporting fixtures in the capital. Whether you’re taking part or just want to see runners in action, it’s a real spectacle. Getting to the London Marathon might seem like a bit of a challenge, but we’ve put all of the essential information in this guide.

How do I get to the London Marathon start line?

If you’re taking part in the race or know somebody who is, you’ll probably want to get to the London Marathon start line. Depending on which route you’re taking at the beginning of the race, your best bet will either be Greenwich, Maze Hill or Blackheath stations.

• Use Greenwich or Maze Hill if you want the Red start line
• Travel to Maze Hill for the Green start line
• Blackheath is the best option for the Blue start line.

Red & Green start lines

Southeastern will be running extra trains to Greenwich and Maze Hill, so that there’ll be a train every 10 minutes from London Bridge from around 7am til 10:30am. Of these, four per hour will start back from London Cannon Street. If you want the best chance of a seat, then head for Cannon Street.

The additional trains will run to either Slade Green or Dartford, and will call only at Greenwich and Maze Hill after London Bridge.

If you’re coming from Dartford, four trains per hour will go to Maze Hill and Greenwich. An extra two non-stop trains will also run from Slade Green every hour.

Blue start line

Roughly six trains per hour will run from London Bridge to Blackheath. Most of them will start at Charing Cross, so that’ll be your best bet for a seat. Additionally, trains will leave London Bridge at 0805 and 0835 for Barnehurst, stopping only at Lewisham and Blackheath on the way.

Trains will also leave Charing Cross at 0750 and 0820, which will be non-stop between Waterloo East and Lewisham or Blackheath.

Only a limited service will run from New Cross and St Johns during the morning (every 30 minutes). You will also need to change at Lewisham.

You can find more information about how to get to the London Marathon start lines on their official website.

What will the trains to the start line be like?

Southeastern will be running the majority of trains to the start line. All trains should be at least eight carriages long (some will be 10 carriages) and most will be operated by ‘Networker‘ trains that look like this:

They have 3+2 seating inside and are the sort of commuter train that you’d expect in London. Just know that they don’t have power sockets, so you’ll need to have any devices already charged before you start the race! The inside will look very similar to this:

When it comes to getting into London itself, lots of different kinds of train run on the railways that serve the capital. Take a look at our guide to what your train might look like for some further insights! We’ve even got some tips for first-time train travel.

How do I get to the London Marathon if I’m spectating?

If you’re spectating, then the capital is your oyster. There are quite a few places to choose from if you want to get in on the action. Here’s how to get to some of the key locations on the route:

• If you want to see the race around the Cutty Sark, head for Greenwich. You can take a Southeastern/Thameslink train from London Bridge or the DLR
• Want to get in on the action twice around The Highway? London Overground will take you to Shadwell or Wapping. You could also take c2c trains or the DLR to Limehouse
• The Elizabeth Line to Canary Wharf will be your best bet if you want to see the racers among the skyscrapers. The Jubilee Line and DLR also serve the area
• Heading for the finish line? Southeastern trains will be running into Charing Cross and Victoria, and Southern trains will be serving Victoria. You can also take the District and Circle lines to St James’ Park. Just be aware that this part of the route will be very busy!

Travelling from further afield

If you’re planning to get to the London Marathon from further away, then we’d recommend planning your journey in advance. Depending on how far you’re coming from, it might be best to travel on the Saturday (22nd April) and stay somewhere nearby. Not all stations will have trains to London that arrive in time for the start of the race.

London Overground will also be running extra trains between West Croydon/Crystal Palace and Highbury & Islington. Each line will have trains every 15 minutes from around 6:45am.

Other rail operators may choose to run extra services on the morning of the race. More information will be available on the dedicated National Rail page if they do.

How do I buy rail tickets to the Marathon?

If you’re running in the event and you’re looking to get to the London Marathon, then you might be entitled to some free travel. During previous events, both TfL and Southeastern have offered free travel if you show your runner’s number. At the time of writing (4 April) neither have confirmed this for 2023.

If you just want to make a single journey to a point on the London Marathon route, you can buy a ticket to “London Underground Zones 1-2”, “London Underground Zones 1-3” or “London Underground Zones 4”. For example, if you want to travel from Cambridge to London Victoria for the finish line, get a single or return to London Underground Zones 1-2.

Just travelling within London all day? You can use your contactless card or device. Just tap it on the gate (or reader if there aren’t any gates) and do the same when you leave.

If you’re making multiple journeys within London and travelling from outside of London, you might prefer to buy a Travelcard. This will give you a day return journey from your origin into London, then unlimited travel on all public transport in London Zones 1-6. Just search for a return to your destination within London. If it’s available, we’ll show it on the SmartSplit website like this:

To show all the fares available, just click on the price offered in the journey selection.

The best part about booking with SmartSplit is that we don’t charge any booking fees, or any fees at all for that matter! If you need to postpone or change your plans, we offer refunds or amendments free of charge.

Wondering if it’s worth going First Class on your trip? We’ve got a guide for that, too.

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It’s a city built on seven hills, meaning that you’re in for plenty of exercise when you visit. It’s also one of the greenest cities, too. You’ll find four trees for every person! It’s famous for steel, cutlery, Henderson’s Relish and being reyt friendly, too.

What’s the best way to take a trip to Sheffield?

For most, that’ll be by train, of course! You can get to Sheffield from all over the country. Lots of cities have multiple options for this, too. Let’s take a look at the options you have from some key destinations:

• If you’re coming from London, the logical option is to take East Midlands Railway from London St Pancras. However, some of these trains can be quite short and don’t make for the most comfortable trip. It could be cheaper (and more comfortable) to choose from LNER, Grand Central or Hull Trains from London Kings Cross to Doncaster, and change trains there. We’ve written a guide on the best trains from Sheffield to London, too

• Manchester folk have three operators to choose from. You could take Northern, TransPennine Express or East Midlands Railway. Northern are undoubtedly the cheapest, but their recent popularity has meant that trains have been a lot busier than they used to be. They’re a good bet on a weekend though, when six-coach trains can be put on. East Midlands Railway is a good bet for a faster train, while TransPennine Express have been suffering from poor reliability on the route in recent times, so they’re probably best avoided

• There are a couple of routes to pick from if you come from Leeds. The absolute cheapest trains tend to be the ones that go via Castleford or Moorthorpe (if you’re booking an Advance single ticket) which are run by Northern. The faster ones are shown as ‘fast’ (naturally!) and go via Barnsley. The very fastest are run by CrossCountry, but they could get quite crowded at busy times.

This is just a basic run-down, but we’ve written plenty of articles about the different aspects of travelling by train. Take a look at our guide to the best First Class train as well as the best one if you’re travelling with luggage.

Seeing the sights

So, what is there to see in Sheffield? Well, I’m going to take you on a walk through the city to begin with. We’ll take a look at some of the main sights, the coolest streets and learn some weird and wonderful facts along the way.

The first thing you’ll see on your trip to Sheffield is of course, the station. Take a short walk straight ahead past the fountains first, then cross the road. After crossing another (smaller) road, you’re now on Howard Street. This is the first hill you’ll have to contend with, though it’s quite gentle by Sheffield standards! Not to worry, once you reach the next main road (Arundel Gate), our first attraction is straight in front of us…

The Winter Gardens

When you cross the road, head into the building in front of you. Up the escalator and straight through a gift shop, and you’ll find yourself in the Winter Gardens:

Pretty striking, isn’t it? For me, this was always a refuge from the chilly winter weather, as it has to stay somewhat mild inside to keep the plants happy.

The Winter Gardens were opened in December 2002 and were the largest glasshouse in any European City Centre at the time. You could actually fit 5,000 domestic greenhouses inside of it!

You’ll find 150 different species of plants in the Winter Gardens, and you’re free to wander around. There’s a café inside too, so it’s a nice spot to sit back and enjoy a coffee.

The Peace Gardens & Town Hall

You’ll find two different entrances either side of the Winter Gardens, each with their own attraction. We’ll head out of the west-facing one first, which brings us to the Peace Gardens. Completed in 1998, it’s one of the main public spaces in the City Centre.

It has water features (designed to represent each of Sheffield’s rivers) and plenty of green space to relax on. It’s a firm favourite during the summer and plays host to funfairs, seasonal markets and the like. It doesn’t look quite as exciting during a windy morning in March, but a couple of folk were still enjoying the breeze (and the cherry blossoms):

The rather grand-looking building in the background is Sheffield’s Town Hall. It’s been a Sheffield landmark since 1897, and it’s a favourite for protests, weddings or anything else you could think of. It’s undoubtedly one of the ‘grandest’ buildings in Sheffield, both inside and out.

My memories of it consist of being a student journalist and sitting in on the full meetings of the council. You’d expect local council meetings to be boring, but this was at the height of the Sheffield ‘tree saga’ (click here for an explainer on that!) I witnessed everything from people fainting mid-speech to protesters being escorted out after demanding someone’s resignation by drooping a giant banner from the public gallery.

The Crucible & Lyceum

If you head out of the ‘other’ Winter Gardens exit, you’ll reach the Crucible and Lyceum Theatres. The Crucible is of course famous for hosting the World Snooker Championship, so if you’re a snooker fan, a photo outside the Crucible will be an essential part of a trip to Sheffield.

Sheffield Cathedral

Just a short walk from here is Sheffield Cathedral. It’s a true melting pot of different architectural styles, with the earliest parts dating from around 1200, while the newest date from 1966.

You can pop in for a service or a guided tour. You’ll even find a 3D guided tour of the cathedral on their website if you’d prefer a day trip to Sheffield from the comfort of your own home!

It’s easy to get to if you’d prefer to take public transport, too. The Sheffield Supertram stops right outside:

Division Street

Heading back into the City Centre proper, you’ll find one of my favourite streets. I suppose it has to be, as I did live on it for a year! Division Street is home to loads of independent shops, cafes, barbers and just about everything you could think of. A stroll down here is an essential part of any trip to Sheffield.

If you fancy doing some shopping, then I’d recommend Preloved Kilo. As the name suggests, everything is sold by the kilo, so you can find some real gems for very little money.

If you turn left here into a small area called Aberdeen Court, you’ll also find one of my favourite coffee shops. Steam Yard is a great place to pop into when it’s a bit nippy outside, and there’s plenty of places to sit and have a natter or just chill out:

The other thing I loved when I lived around here was the murals. Keep an eye out for the giant toucan behind the Frog and Parrot pub:

Sheffield University

While a university campus doesn’t seem like the most exciting place to go for a walk, it’s a pleasant way to get from the City Centre to the likes of Weston Park. You avoid the busy traffic, and there’s a few interesting buildings to look at on the way.

St George’s Church

The best place to start is by heading up Mappin Street and taking a left turn past St George’s Church:

Despite appearances though, this is no church anymore! These days, it’s a lecture theatre (and a rather strange-feeling one, at that). It’s actually possible to live in it as well, as the clock tower houses at least one apartment, owned by the university.

Glossop Road

Keep heading straight and across the tram tracks, and you’ll eventually wind up at this trio of buildings:

On the left is Firth Court, which was the first purpose-built university building in Sheffield. It was actually funded by the people of Sheffield, too. Over £50,000 in penny donations were collected so that it could be built between 1903 and 1905.

On the right is the Arts Tower, which represents a different era entirely. It’s actually the second-tallest tower in the city, and is home to the Department of Architecture. Built in 1964, it’s home to one of the last remaining ‘Paternoster’ lifts in the country. What’s a Paternoster, you ask? It’s basically a lift that never stops. It’s a rite of passage for every Sheffield student to take a ride, and no trip to Sheffield would be complete without having a nosey at it. You can pop in during office hours Monday to Friday to take a look.

In the middle, that’s the Alfred Denny Building. Doesn’t look too exciting, does it? Take a closer look at the top row of windows though, and notice how they’re blanked out. This is the home of a morgue! If you choose to donate your body to science, it might come here.

Weston Park

Heading past these buildings, we reach Weston Park. It’s one of the best parks in Sheffield and I have many happy memories of spending spring and summer evenings here with friends. If the weather is nice, it’s a great place to have a picnic during your trip to Sheffield.

Opened in 1875, it was actually the first public park in Sheffield. Previously, it was part of the grounds of Weston Hall, which is today known as Weston Park Museum (more on that below).

Kelham Island

Finally, we come to Kelham Island. This isn’t in the City Centre itself, so you might want to take a tram to Shalesmoor. It’s just a couple of stops from town, and the trip takes less than 10 minutes. So, what is Kelham Island?

It’s one of the oldest centres of manufacturing in the UK. In fact, it’s been making and producing for over 900 years. Of course, as a city famous for steel-making, it was here that you’d find multiple steel mills who produced everything from cutlery to saw blades.

As industry declined though, it became rather run-down and notoriously rough. The opening of the Kelham Island Museum (more below) paved the way for regeneration and the chance for the area to get a new lease of life.

As well as the museum, it’s home to multiple breweries, pubs and eateries. Don’t forget to visit the monthly Peddler Market if you get the chance, too.

As for the pubs, my favourite has to be the Fat Cat. It serves a great variety of local beers (including Kelham Island Brewery’s very own Pale Rider) and always has a good chilled atmosphere. There are a few different rooms to choose from, as well as a pleasant beer garden.

Most importantly, Kelham Island is about evolution rather than pulling everything down and starting again. It still keeps that slightly grimy industrial vibe while being a modern and welcoming place to visit.

Fun (and free!) Museums

Sheffield is full of history. Plus, it’s a city known for taking a stand on social issues. Sheffield was the first place to pass a resolution calling for women’s suffrage, and it was at the forefront of the Miner’s strikes. During so many major events in history, you’ll see that Sheffield has stood up and had its voice heard.

Let’s take a look at three museums you should visit on your trip to Sheffield. They’re all completely free, too.

The Millennium Gallery

The Millennium Gallery joins onto the Winter Gardens, so it’s an easy place to pop into. It’s a fairly small art gallery, and it’s themed around a number of regional and national artworks. The most impressive is definitely the Sykes Metalwork collection:

Sheffield is famous for producing some of the finest cutlery in the world, and you can see a wide variety of it throughout the ages here.

The gallery is open from 10 til 5 Tuesday to Saturday and 11 til 4 on Sundays. You can find more information on the Sheffield Museums website.

Weston Park Museum

Set at the back of Weston Park, you’ll find the Weston Park Museum. It’s all about Sheffield and its people. and it brings everything from the past and present to life.

You’ll find the stories of its shops, neighbourhoods and even how they’d get around by public transport:

As I mentioned earlier, protest is a big part of Sheffield. Folk in this city aren’t the sort to just stand by and watch something happen if they don’t like it. So naturally, it’s a big part of this museum, too:

I even managed to spot two crisp packets from the 60s, donated from someone I’d previously interviewed in my student journalist days. She was a prolific litter picker (it’s quite the community activity in Sheffield, which is great to see) and had managed to dig them up after they’d survived in the bushes of the Gleadless Valley for decades.

The one thing that had appeared since my last visit was the ‘Pandemic Stories’ exhibition:

They’re all from everyday folk. The doctors, nurses, shop workers, students and the like. People that lived and worked in Sheffield that had their lives turned upside down.

It felt a little personal seeing as my pandemic story started in Sheffield, too. Just hours before the first lockdown was announced, I unceremoniously packed everything I could into a suitcase and abandoned my flat, bound for Newcastle, as I knew something was about to happen. And that’s how my experience at university ended!

It’s a truly fascinating museum and one that makes Sheffield as a wider city come to life. The Sheffield Museums website will tell you more about what’s on. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 til 5, and Sundays 11 til 4.

Kelham Island Museum

Interested in the industrial history of Sheffield or just generally in big moving machinery? Then Kelham Island Museum is a must-see on your trip to Sheffield. I talked above a little about how Kelham was one of the industrial heartlands of Sheffield, and this museum is there to bring it to life.

I’m ashamed to say I’d never visited before (despite at one point living five minutes walk away) so I was curious to see what was on offer.

The first section of the museum focuses on building and making. There’s quite a lot of moving (and working!) machinery in here, as well as this pair of cannons, originally designed to prevent a foreign invasion of Sheffield:

The Transport Gallery has a selection of different vehicles from across the ages, many of which were Sheffield-built:

And there’s a reconstruction of a Sheffield street (and WW1-era house), designed to tell the story of early 20th Century life in the city:

Steelmaking and cutlery plays a big part, too. You’ll find another extensive collection of metalwork with no stone left unturned.

The Kelham Island Museum is really fascinating and shows that Sheffield has much to be proud of as a city. Plus, it’s free. It’s open from 10 til 4 Tuesday to Saturday and 11 til 5 on Sundays, with more information (as ever!) on the Sheffield Museums website.

Fancy something to eat or drink?

Sheffield is a thriving city when it comes to independent cafes, bars and restaurants. It’d be impossible to suggest everything, but here are a couple of my suggestions if you’re feeling peckish on your trip to Sheffield:

• Lucky Fox (Division Street) does some amazing fried chicken. It’s juicy, delicious and packed with flavour. It’s a popular little spot though, so you might need to take your food with you!
• Mount Lebanon (West Street) is the perfect place for authentic Lebanese food. The service is super friendly, too
• Marmadukes (Norfolk Row) does some tasty-looking breakfast, brunch and lunch. It was a real favourite among my friends at university
• Bungalows & Bears (Division Street) is a great late-night spot if you fancy a drink. There’s some great music, a friendly atmosphere and the front of the bar opens up into the street on those warm summer nights.

On my trip to Sheffield, I paid a visit to Howst. You’ll find it at the top of Howard Street (the hill that goes from the station to the City Centre) and it serves brunch, lunch and even a selection of cocktails.

The atmosphere is friendly and cosy and the food is delicious. I went for the ‘Shroom’ which is poached eggs, mushrooms and Bloody Mary sauce on toast:

The busiest time seems to be around 12 to 1pm, so it’s worth getting there earlier or popping in for a later lunch.

Is there anything else I should see on a trip to Sheffield?

While I didn’t go there on this trip, the Botanical Gardens are another wonderful green space to visit during a trip to Sheffield. This part of the city is full of amazing walks and green spaces, and it was a favourite area of mine to wander around on warm summer evenings. The opening hours depend on the time of year, though you’ll find that they’re open until at least sunset on most days.

Just a little further away is Endcliffe Park. It’s a massive green space which is a firm favourite in warmer weather. From here, it’s possible to walk right into the Peak District, too.

The National Videogame Museum is also unmissable if you have even a passing interest in computer games, both modern and retro. It isn’t free, but it’s really hands-on. You can learn about the history of video games, but of course the fun part is playing them.

It’s £11 for adults and £9 for children, and booking ahead is highly recommended. You can do this on their website here.

Finally, I can’t write about Sheffield without mentioning Tabby Teas. It’s an adorable little cat café that I’ve had many happy visits to. The staff are really enthusiastic and the cats…well, they’re cats. There’s plenty of chances to feed them treats and enjoy their company:

It’s a little bit out of the City Centre (in Highfield) but the 218 bus will take you there from Sheffield Interchange, or it’s a 20 minute walk from the station. Booking ahead is advised, which you can do on their website here.

Heading further afield

Of course, the potential doesn’t end there. After all, Sheffield is on the doorstep of the Peak District National Park. Here are a couple more public transport-friendly things to do if you’re having a longer trip to Sheffield:

• Bus 218 will take you to Bakewell and Chatsworth House
• Take the 272 if you want to visit Castleton and the Peak Cavern
• Northern run hourly stopping trains to Edale, which is the ideal place to start a Peak District hike.

However you choose to spend your trip to Sheffield, SmartSplit can handle the rail tickets. We don’t charge any booking fees, and we don’t charge you if you change your mind about when you’d like to visit. Amendments and refunds are fee-free.

The post Day trip to Sheffield appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

But which is most worth it for the money, and which train tickets to Gatwick Airport are most budget-friendly? There was only one way to find out. I was going to take a nice afternoon trip to Gatwick Airport, but sadly not for a flight somewhere exotic. I’d try out each company, and provide the very scientific results to you!

How do we work out the best train to Gatwick Airport?

As it’s only a short journey from London to Gatwick Airport, we’re most concerned about speed, cost and the ability to store luggage. After all, an airport train isn’t much use if you end up with suitcases scattered around left, right and centre!

Considering that a lot of tourists might use the train as well, it’s always good for there to be a decent WiFi connection, as well as somewhere to charge a phone. Of course, we care about price, too. We want to know about the best value train tickets to Gatwick Airport.

Spoilers though, don’t be expecting any fancy catering options or extra luxuries. No matter which train you choose, they’re all different versions of trains designed for commuters.

Thameslink

I started out first with Thameslink, and chose London Bridge as the starting point. You can pick any of the London stations that Thameslink serve though, and all of the same trains will take you to Gatwick Airport. You’ll find eight trains per hour on the route, which have a couple of different stopping patterns between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport:

• Four per hour to Brighton (calling at East Croydon)
• Two per hour to Horsham (calling at East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley)
• Two per hour to Three Bridges (calling at Norwood Jn, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley)

You’re best aiming for a Brighton one, as most of the Three Bridges and Horsham trains will get overtaken. You might find them to be a little quieter though, if you really want a seat and time isn’t of the essence.

I was taking a Brighton train today, which was scheduled to take 29 minutes between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.

The cost

Before any discounts, it’ll cost you £24.50 for an Anytime Return on Thameslink. This allows you to return at any time within a month, so it’s ideal if you’re catching a flight. An Off-Peak Day Return is £14.60 and if you’re travelling at the weekend, a Super-Off-Peak Day Return is just £11.40.

Just travelling one way? It’s £13.20 for a single on weekdays and £11.30 on weekends. Based on cost alone, you’ll likely find Thameslink to be the best option. They have the cheapest train tickets to Gatwick Airport.

The train itself

All Thameslink services are formed of Siemens ‘Desiro City‘ trains formed of either eight or 12 coaches. They were essentially designed as ‘people-eaters’ – that is, to get people on and off the train as quickly as possible! They aren’t renowned for their creature comforts, but they do the job of transporting people very well.

I was taking a 12-coach train today, which is the more likely one that you’ll get on Brighton trains.

Storing your luggage

You’ll find a number of luggage stacks dotted around the train near the doors. There are also overhead racks throughout, which look to be capable of storing your typical cabin-sized suitcase. Because the seats on the train are fairly narrow, the aisles are quite wide and this makes wheeling cases down the train fairly easy.

The seat experience

The seats on these trains are known widely as ‘ironing boards’, so that perhaps doesn’t bode well for comfort! Now, they aren’t quite the same as sitting on an ironing board, but they’re narrow. After all, they were designed to swallow up rush-hour crowds rather than transport you in luxury.

You won’t find any plug sockets in Standard Class, but some seats have a table attached. For most journeys of this length, that’d be fine. But if you want something a little better at no extra cost, don’t fear. There is a solution…

Fancy an upgrade?

Now, this looks just a little nicer, doesn’t it? First Class on these trains will get you a bigger seat as well as a power socket. It isn’t groundbreaking, but what if I told you that you could use it for free?

First Class at the very back of every train is always declassified. It’s still marked as First, but you can sit in it with a Standard Class ticket.

A lot of Thameslink passengers know about this now, but it’s still worth aiming for the back of the train. One thing you definitely shouldn’t do is book a First Class ticket for these trains – why pay more for the same thing?

Onboard service

In a nutshell, there isn’t any. These trains just have a driver on board. There are regular and informative automated announcements, though.

Staying connected

Free WiFi is available on the train. I connected to it pretty easily and the speed was fairly typical of what I’ve experienced for on-train WiFi in Great Britain. Pretty slow! Here’s what Google thought:

You can use it to browse (as I did), but that’s about it. Don’t expect to be watching your favourite TV series on the way to the Airport.

Final thoughts

Thameslink is the cheapest way to Gatwick Airport if you’re buying a paper ticket, so for many, that’ll make it the best train to Gatwick Airport, too.

If you can get yourself a seat in First Class at the very back, it’s ideal. With at least four trains per hour (and another four that are a little slower) there’s plenty of choice, as well. You won’t have long to wait until the next train.

My train was punctual, if a little dirty. It did exactly what it needed to do and I can’t say I expected anything different.

Gatwick Express

You’d expect the train that calls itself Gatwick Express to be the best train to Gatwick, wouldn’t you? Well, in theory, it could be. These trains run twice per hour between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, with no stops on the way. It takes around half an hour to make the trip.

Today, I’d be taking the 13:10 train from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria. The trains usually leave from Platform 5 there, and from Platforms 13 and 14 in London.

The cost

See, this is the stickler. It’s expensive! A single from Victoria to Gatwick Airport is £21.90 or it’s £43.70 for an Anytime Return, before any discounts. This goes down to £33.60 if you want to buy an Anytime Day Return. These are some of the most expensive train tickets to Gatwick Airport.

Considering that it isn’t really any faster than Thameslink but has a massive price premium, it’s quite difficult to justify the cost. But, let’s take a look at the journey experience…

The train itself

All trains on this route are formed of Class 387 “Electrostar” units. They’ll usually run in pairs to form an eight-coach train, but can run as 12-coach trains as well.

They’re difficult to miss – the red livery is rather unmistakable!

Storing your luggage

These trains have a reasonable number of luggage stacks near the doors as well as overhead racks. However, for a dedicated Airport express service, they won’t be winning any awards for it.

These just looked like the normal luggage racks you’d get on any other variant of this train. Heathrow Express have the same kind of train, but they’ve gone to the effort of installing lots and lots of luggage space. So yes, luggage space exists. But surely, there should be more?

The seat experience

The seats are a similar kind of seat to the ‘ironing boards’ you get on Thameslink. They’ve been shaped a little better though, and you also get an armrest.

Every window seat gets a socket, too. You’ll (weirdly!) also find reading lights above every seat. They’re a bit high up, so I’m not sure how effective they’d be.

Fancy an upgrade?

Unless you have a First Class ticket from somewhere else, you really shouldn’t think about it. There is quite literally no difference. There’ll be a sticker on the window saying “First Class” and a tiny piece of cloth on the back of the seat saying the same.

We wrote more about the kinds of First Class on trains that are definitely worth it, and those that aren’t, here.

Onboard service

There was an On-board Supervisor on the train (basically a guard but they don’t do anything safety-critical) but I didn’t see her during the journey. On some services, they will check tickets (mostly to make sure you’ve paid full whack to use the train!)

She did however manage to make an announcement in English, French and Dutch which was pretty impressive. It’s quite rare for a member of railway staff in Great Britain to be speaking a different language!

Staying connected

You might expect a better WiFi connection with it being a ‘premium’ express service, but it didn’t look like that was the case. I got pretty much the same speed as on Thameslink. It would make sense, seeing as they’re essentially just brands of the same company (Govia Thameslink Railway), but a bit disappointing nonetheless:

Final thoughts

There’s nothing wrong with travelling on the Gatwick Express. But as a service, it’s far too expensive for what it is. On cost alone, it definitely isn’t the best train to Gatwick. That is, unless you have a ticket from somewhere else to Gatwick. In that case, it won’t have any restriction on it that stops you getting the Gatwick Express, so you may as well jump on!

The train was clean and I thought it was comfortable enough. We were punctual, too, but it was clear that the sheer number of trains running on the lines towards London meant that a ‘fast’ run was really difficult. You may as well call at East Croydon and Clapham Junction too – it probably wouldn’t add on much time.

Another issue is that it’s only half-hourly. If you just miss one, not only is waiting for the next one more expensive, but you’ll be letting multiple Southern services go as well.

Southern

Southern is probably who you’ll travel with if you need to travel from London Victoria but don’t want to splash out on the Gatwick Express. You’ll find up to six trains an hour heading to Gatwick, all of which have the same calling pattern. They all stop at Clapham Junction and East Croydon on the way to Gatwick, taking around 30 minutes. Yes, that’s the same time that the Gatwick Express takes!

The trains head to Eastbourne, Ore, Littlehampton, Southampton or Portsmouth. Trains heading to any of these places will do you just fine.

I jumped on a Littlehampton service – though decided not to take it all the way back to Gatwick yet again. I was more interested in what the train itself was like!

The cost

Before any Railcard discounts, you’ll find that a single costs £19.40, with an Anytime Return costing £38.80. An Off-Peak Day Return costs £19.50. There isn’t a huge difference between Southern and Gatwick Express in the peaks, but if you need to make an Off-Peak return journey on the same day, there’s a much larger difference.

Still, a £4.90 saving is money you could spend on your actual holiday!

The train itself

Southern services are operated by Class 377 “Electrostar” trains. They look pretty much the same as the Gatwick Express trains, but they’re a bit older. Most services will have eight or 12 coaches, depending on the time of day and where the train is going.

Storing your luggage

I noticed that this particular type of train didn’t have any stacks visible in the carriages. Instead, you just had the overhead racks which looked able to take a cabin-sized suitcase:

Because of the way the seats were laid out, you could also store some luggage between the seatbacks. It certainly isn’t the best train to Gatwick Airport for luggage, but only those with the larger cases would struggle. In any event, the stacks available on Gatwick Express would struggle with the biggest cases, too.

The seat experience

Weirdly, you’ll find two types of seat on most Southern trains. The outer carriages of each four-coach train (so on a 12-car, that’ll be coaches 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12) have seating arranged in a 2+2 layout. You’ll find full-sized tables, too. It looks a bit like the image below (but without the First Class stickers):

In the ‘centre’ carriages of the train, it’s laid out a little differently. You’ll find seating in a 3+2 layout with smaller tables in the bays of four and six:

Both kinds of seats are fine, though naturally the ones in the top image are a little nicer. In fact, if we were rating the trains on seat comfort alone, then this would be the best train to Gatwick.

Some trains have sockets at the window seats, but not all. Southern is working their way through refurbishing their trains at the minute, so in time they’ll all have the same features. For example, one four-car set had them on my train, but the others didn’t.

All seats have reading lights – this seems to be a feature of all the Electrostar trains!

Fancy an upgrade?

On this trip, you really don’t. Much like on Gatwick Express, you aren’t getting much more for your money. You might get a power socket, but that’s about it. First Class on these trains used to be a way to get a seat in the morning peak rather than a chance to sit in the lap of luxury.

Save your money and treat yourself to something nice when you go on holiday instead!

Onboard service

Similar to Gatwick Express, there was an On-board Supervisor on the train. He made an announcement and said where he was located, so at least you knew where to go if you needed anything.

Staying connected

As I’d realised by now, the WiFi is the same as on Thameslink and Gatwick Express, so I didn’t test it. Basically, it’s fine for browsing but not much else.

Final thoughts

Is Southern the best train to Gatwick Airport? Well, luggage space isn’t great, but it’s a lot more frequent than Gatwick Express and it’s a little cheaper. There’ll always be a train waiting for you at Victoria to take during most of the day.

The train I caught was clean and there were lots of free seats, so it seems like a good and dependable option.

On a cost basis, I’d still prefer Thameslink – but Southern has the benefit of all trains taking the same amount of time and there being someone on board if you have any questions.

Verdict – what’s the best train to Gatwick Airport?

I’d have to say that Thameslink is the best train to Gatwick Airport. That’s for a number of reasons:

• It’s the cheapest option. The most expensive paper return ticket is £24.50, which isn’t too bad at all. Same-day return trips at weekends are exceptionally cheap, too. All round, they’re the cheapest train tickets to Gatwick Airport
• The choice of London stations. Unless you’re connecting through Victoria, you’ll probably find a Thameslink station that suits you well
• The chance to upgrade for free. Just aim for the back of the train and you’ll probably bag yourself a First Class seat for no extra cost
• Finally, the amount of space. The trains are well designed to leave as much room in the aisles as possible, so they’re easy to move through with heavy luggage.

It isn’t perfect, by any means. There’s nobody else on board other than the driver, and the amount of luggage stacks isn’t fantastic. But the thing is, none of the operators, in my view, offered enough luggage space.

Gatwick Express is simply too expensive for what it is. Plus a half-hourly train isn’t exactly turn up and go.

Whichever company you choose though, you can book without fees on SmartSplit. We won’t charge you any fees if you change your mind and need a refund on your Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off-Peak tickets, either.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to understand your ticket, and your best options for reaching other London airports, including Heathrow. Don’t forget to take a look at our quick guide to crossing London or the Elizabeth Line, either.

_{^{*All fares quoted in this article are correct as of 28/03/2023 and represent the options when purchasing an eTicket or paper ticket. Cheaper options may be available on some routes at some times of the day when using contactless payments. SmartSplit is not responsible for any loss or inconvenience as a result of the information provided. Visit tfl.gov.uk for more information.}}

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Advance train tickets are always cheapest

It would make sense that this would be true. After all, they come with more restrictions and you need to book them in advance. But you need to be careful, as sometimes an Advance ticket isn’t much cheaper than the flexible option. Let’s also take a look at an example (24 hours in advance) where it’s cheaper to buy a flexible ticket:

As you can see, you can buy two Advance singles for this Newcastle to York (and return) trip on the same day. The total will come to £48.70.

But if you select ‘Return’, it’s £47.30. This ticket will also let you travel on trains other than the one you select. Whenever you book on SmartSplit, you’ll have the options of ‘Singles’ or ‘Returns’. Be sure to check out both. We’ll always offer you the cheapest return or combination of single tickets (depending on which you select) for your journey.

If a flexible ticket is only a little more expensive, it’s often worth picking it. After all, that small difference gives you the freedom to travel on a different train. Plus, you can refund it if you’re not able to use it.

If my train is cancelled, I need to buy another ticket

While you can’t necessarily jump on whatever train you want straight away, this is one of the common rail travel myths. If you’re travelling on an Advance ticket, at minimum, you’ll be allowed to travel on the next train operated by the same company. This usually extends to the train before, as well.

On flexible tickets (such as Off-Peak or Anytime), there’s no need to get any permission to take another train unless it’s restricted to a certain route or company. In this case, you should take the next available train that your ticket would allow.

In widespread disruption, there’ll be ticket acceptance arranged on a different route or company. The National Rail website or railway staff will let you know if this is the case. In any circumstance, rail companies cannot leave you stranded or out-of-pocket during disruption.

The National Rail Conditions of Travel state that:

Where disruption prevents you from completing the journey for which your Ticket is valid and is being used, any Train Company will, where it reasonably can, provide you with alternative means of travel to your destination, or if necessary, provide overnight accommodation for you.

National Rail Conditions of Travel, Section 28.2

If you have a ‘split’ ticket (where you use a combination of tickets to make a journey), exactly the same advice applies. You’ll of course need to make sure you’ve left enough time for changing trains, though. We’ve produced a full guide to disruption (including what to do when it happens) here.

I need a seat reservation to travel

This is one of the rail travel myths that came about with COVID-19. Back when social distancing was a thing, rail operators would ‘enforce’ this by making sure that they didn’t sell more tickets than there were seats. How did they do it? They forced websites (including us!) to make a ticket come with a seat reservation.

Now that Covid restrictions have ended, you’d expect this to have stopped. The thing is – it hasn’t! The data that gets attached to trains when they appear on ticket-selling websites still says the same thing. So, when the reservable seats run out, it’s impossible to buy a ticket.

There are some ways around this. For example, you could buy the ticket but select a different train, so long as you know it’s valid on the train you also want. This can be tricky to know for some types, so you’re always welcome to contact us if you have a problem or you’re unsure.

With the exception of overnight ‘Sleeper’ trains, there are no trains in Great Britain that require a seat reservation in normal circumstances. In fact, there’s a handy little SmartSplit article on where to find an unreserved seat!

You always have to travel on the train specified on your ticket

Yes, on Advance tickets, you have to do this. As you’d expect, it’s valid only on your booked train. As we’ve mentioned above though, Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off-Peak tickets are valid on more than one train.

Even though you’ll often need to pick a service in order to book your time, it’s definitely one of the most frustrating rail myths that by picking a train, you’re stuck with it! Here’s what your ticket might look like:

As you can see, the journey details are listed as ‘Optional Reservations’. This means exactly what it sounds like – there’s no need to follow them to the letter! So long as your ticket is valid on the train you’re catching, you don’t need a reservation. Having a train specified on a flexible ticket doesn’t take away any of its validity.

‘Peak’ trains are the busiest or most expensive

This is one of the rail travel myths that in some ways, used to be true. Before COVID-19 struck, it was undeniable that peak trains were some of the busiest. They were undoubtedly the most expensive, too.

In some ways, long-distance rail operators don’t help with this. For example, by marking a train as ‘peak’ (and usually charging higher for Advance tickets, too), it’s going to discourage people from using it. By contrast, the first train where it’s no longer considered ‘peak’ will be a lot busier.

COVID-19 and the rise of flexible working has also changed what we consider to be ‘peak’. If you’re travelling to London, a Friday morning is often the quietest time to go. Wednesdays are usually the busiest weekday, by comparison.

Put simply, there’s no ‘clear-cut’ peak anymore. When it comes to Advance train tickets too, some operators might have lower prices on what were traditionally ‘peak’ trains, to try and encourage people to travel in the empty seats once used by weekday commuters.

Are there any other rail travel myths I should know about?

The final one you might want to know about is that no ticket-selling website has access to ‘special’ discounted fares that nobody else does (in normal circumstances). They can however choose to only show you certain fares and make it harder to see the cheapest ones that might be on a slower route. We’ve written a handy guide to finding the best fare, too.

It’s up to them what fees they charge, too. Here at SmartSplit, we don’t charge any at all. You can refund a flexible ticket (or change an Advance ticket) and you’ll only pay the difference. Nothing more.

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