Train Travel in England: London/Bath/Liverpool
Replies: 32 - Last Post: Feb 25, 2013 11:06 AM Last Post By: go_2
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Train Travel in England: London/Bath/Liverpool
Hi,The two of us will base ourselves in London for a few days this September and also plan to spend a night at Liverpool and (possibly) a night at Bath.
Our idea is to make two separate train trips being:-
1) London (Euston station) - Liverpool (Lime Street) - London. Travel time = 2.5 hours each way
2) London (Paddington Station) - Bath Spa - London. Travel time = 1.5 hours each way
I don't think that it would be more time-efficient or cheaper to travel from London-Bath-Liverpool-London but please let me know if I am wrong here.
My main quandary is the vast array of rail ticket options in terms of carriers / class of travel / peak or off-peak / pay on the day or prepay /and, most importantly, prices.
Our main criteria is that we wish to spend an entire 24 hours in Liverpool (doing a Beathes tour) and almost an entire day in Bath just re-visiting the main historic sites (we last visited here in 1978 but by car). Overnight accommodation in Bath is not essential. The class of travel is flexible as long as we get seats together.
So what train travel options do you recommend and what websites are the most useful and easiest to use?
Thanks in advance for your patience and assistance.
2
Right.London to Liverpool is served by http://www.virgintrains.co.uk . However, peak time fares apply; in Virgin trains case up to a breathtaking 09:26 in the morning. This is a pain in the backside for you, because either you pay top dollar and go early to maximise your time in Liverpool, or you take the 09:40 and arrive at 12:10 (and half the day's gone). If you go early, it's an insane £289 return each for any time travel but you can chop that down to £77.30 return per person if you take normal off peak trains. However, if you click on ticket offers on their website, you can chop that £77.30 down to £25 by searching for really super cheap trains! Confusing huh? Book wayyyyyy in advance
London to Bath is a different story. This is served by http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk and they don't do any of this cheap fare nonsense. They say they do, but they're hard to find. I struck quite lucky on a random Friday in March, but they were like gold dust for random Wednesdays in May. If you're REALLY lucky it could be as low as £19 return per person, but more realistically it's gonna be £37 to £41 per person return. However, at that price, you might as well hire a car, because it would likely be cheaper (including fuel burn and parking costs in Bath.
4
For a low-cost option, you could take a coach, but this will swallow several hours in each direction. You'd be looking at 5-6 hours and £25 each way.You may do better to take an evening train up to Liverpool and overnight in a hotel there before you do your Beatles tour, then overnight again before leaving after 09:36 the next morning?
5
For cheap and uncomplicated train fares I've found it hard to beat the http://www.redspottedhanky.com site.Megabus is also cheap if you book ahead - the price rising as you get closer to the date you travel. They also do train/bus combinations which are a good compromise to save both time and money, being cheaper than the train but faster than a single bus journey. Worth looking at to see if they do your proposed route/s. See http://uk.megabus.com/
6
To book train travel on any network use www.thetrainline.com, if you book a specified train 3 months in advance you'll get the best priceYou could do the London - Bath - Liverpool - London, there isn't a direct train from Bath to Liverpool so your plan of going back via London makes it an easier journey
I agree that Megabus is worth a look for cheap travel options
8
Discount fare tickets usually go on sale about 12 weeks in advance. For example, I found discount fare tickets for London Paddington-Bath Spa on the Great Western site all day long for 22 April.9
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search is the Network Rail site which combines all train operators and gives the prices.Those online booking companies offer occasional discounts - but often are more expensive.
Megabus (as recommended by go_2) is your best chance.
If you've the time then there are many permutations to try on the nationalrail website to work out cheaper fares...eg get a ticket from Liverpool to Severn Bridge, but get off at Bristol and then get another ticket to Bath = cheaper than direct ticket to Bath for which you have to change at Bristol anyway! (NB This is just an example, I havent' checked to see if this is still true)
But be careful as being on the wrong platform with a through ticket, even if you got off by accident or just to stretch your legs, could result in a big fine.
Welcome to the World's most backward public transport system!!!
10
chris it may be worth looking at a brit rail pass - http://www.britrail.com/3 day consecutive pass is worth $225 for standard or flexible 3 days within 2 months is $289aud. You would need to check the fine print from memory though, you can travel on peak trains without any extra charge.
11
Having found the cheapest fare between London and Liverpool the next step is to try out a few 'vias'. eg 'via Birmingham' or 'via Leeds'. These may produce cheaper fares.Also check out intermediate stops and compare the price as if you had brought a ticket to the intermediate stop and then another to the end.
Also check out websites of individual companies. There may be special offers only available on that website.
Not surprised you are in quandary!
12
You can't go past the Trainline (http://www.thetrainline.com/) for rail tickets in the UK. Put in your journey, and 9 times out of 10 it'll return the cheapest option for you. I used it all of the time when I lived in the UK.Re Cornwall itself, you'll love it. Here are some tips for when you're in the area. One of the most beautiful parts of the UK imho. http://thecitylane.com/cornwall-1-3-may-2010/
13
You can't go past the Trainline (http://www.thetrainline.com/) for rail tickets in the UK. Put in your journey, and 9 times out of 10 it'll return the cheapest option for you. I used it all of the time when I lived in the UK.Re Cornwall itself, you'll love it. Here are some tips for when you're in the area. One of the most beautiful parts of the UK imho. http://thecitylane.com/cornwall-1-3-may-2010/
Paul
14
Main tip is to book early, but not too early. 10-12 weeks ahead for rail tickets, 6 weeks ahead for megabus/trainAnd despite the previous poster, you will ALWAYS be overcharged by the trainline. The ticket may be the same price, but they add on fees which most other outfits don't. Glitches and special offers aside, they all sell the same tickets at the same price.
Forget the split ticketing unless you are buying walkon tickets - with advance tickets (well ahead of time) it's rarely worth the hours of work working them out, on through journeys from London anyway.
And look at London Midlend for London Liverpool - they operate a rather slow, but cheap, service
