marronn

I need to get from London to Edinburgh on a Monday in April and would love to experience the train. Is it less expensive to buy the tickets soon from home or when I arrive in England a week before. And do I need reserved seats? 2nd class good?. Thanks for any help

fredandgingermad

Normally the sooner you can buy tickets the better, train companies release tickets 12 weeks in advance. For a long distance route i'd definitely recommend reserving a seat, i don't mind standard class, look at the price cost between standard and first perhaps

janisj

"<i>Is it less expensive to buy the tickets soon from home or when I arrive in England a week before. And do I need reserved seats? 2nd class good?.</i>"

It is MUCH cheaper to book ahead. As soon as the booking period is open because the number of really cheap seats is extremely limited.

2nd class is just fine, first class is 'finer'

If budget is a consideration, I wouldn't even consider First Class.

marronn

thank you, very helpful!

opus

Taking the same train in two weeks booked advance fares on the train line. You can book using a US credit card and choose your seat (I like having a table but like facing forward). Try to travel at non-rush hour. Edinburgh trains travel from Kings Cross station.

There are just two classes, one of which is first. If you are booking in advance enough or on a weekend this is a well worth reaching for first as it is comfortable and you get regular 'free' tea on the pushcart that passes down the aisle. Waverley Station is central Edinburgh and Haymarket one stop on.

You can pick up your ticket at the kiosk at the train station (bring the credit card you booked with and res number). When you board, look at your ticket for train car and seat. Yours will be the the one which reflects your ticket.

The train ride to Edinburgh is lovely. Purchase a nice baguette in the train station prior to boarding, bring a good book and enjoy the world outside the window. We once glommed on to Berwick on Tweed through the Edinburgh train window—so much we went back one day and stayed a bit.

PatrickLondon

You may find you have no choice about reserving, but I would certainly recommend it. This is a busy service, not only between London and Edinburgh but also between intermediate stops.

If you can, get a seat on the right-hand side going to Edinburgh (right-hand as you face the direction of travel, that is) for the best views of Durham and the sea-coast

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Ackislander

I came here to say what PatrickLondon said about sitting on the right, facing forward. Well worth the trouble.

Wa145nzJeffery

Going first class for a free cup of tea makes it a very expensive cup of tea. Unless you get a very very good deal for first class it really isn't worth it. The seats in second class are comfortable and there is room for luggage either near your seat or in racks near the door.

qwovadis

seat61.com/scotland have done this 2nd class is fine do book in advance to save. Castle View Guest House nice in Edingurgh
londontown.com

qwovadis

Using this advice, one traveller avoided a $183 (£110) London-Edinburgh fare and found a cheap £14 ($24) train ticket instead!

www.seat61.com/UK-train-travel.htm

ncounty

It is interesting.... rail europe has paris to london for $67 right now for late June but other sites say that schedule is not open yet. It is also interesting that paris to london is more expensive than london to paris, or am I wrong?

alanRow

Raileurope sell tickets on trains even when timetables aren't published. NORMALLY that wouldn't matter much as the Eurostar timetables are pretty consistent throughout the year but this year given the Olympics are in London I wouldn't buy tickets from anyone except Eurostar. Prices will differ depending on which direction you wish to go as travel patterns are not symmetrical just like on airlines.

I certainly wouldn't use Raileurop to buy tickets for travel in the UK as they rarely sell the cheaper tickets and have a nasty habit of charging for the free seat reservation or a seat reservation on trains where you can't reserve seats.

But as this has nothing to do with London to Edinburgh travelk why do you ask

ncounty

Thanks for the info.

As to why I ask, I am planning a trip to the UK and Paris and since it is in the formative stage, I am getting as much info as possible. I opened this thread because I want to go to Edinburgh but don't know if it will work in the time constraints of this trip. It was very informative to see the train costs and times. I asked in this thread since so much good info had been given already, including the seat61 site which had very low rates, and I figured those contributing posters would have this pop up for them.

The raileurope prices at this time don't seem to be notably more than any other method; it is showing $67 (US dollars) for a one way from Paris to London.

I had a horrible experience last year flying into Heathrow with about 2 hours getting through customs with massive lines. Wanting to do open jaw, I thought this year I would fly into CDG and train to London and fly out of London to Dublin or train to Edinburgh from London. Still calculating routes....

marronn

wonderful tips much appreciated!!

PatrickLondon

Re your message on the other thread (might as well stick to the one):
>>Thanks for all the help but still find this confusing.When you are looking at fares for trains is standard always first come basis for seating? is first class always reserved? And best to pick up tickets at station or is this the only option. Thanks again<<

You decide as part of the booking process whether you wish to reserve a seat (or sometimes they may require it). On this route it is advisable to do so anyway.

Likewise the arrangements for picking up tickets or having them sent in advance will be outlined as part of the online booking process. Picking them up at the station isn't usually a problem.

tttman

Go to Scotrail website and check out the "Bargain Berths." Buy them in advance and save a ton. Usually the cheapest ticket to and from Edinburgh. You get a sleeper berth there and back and that will also save you two nights hotel room. You also travel at night so you don't miss the daytime activities you would while riding the train in the light of day. Although daytime travel allows you to see the UK countryside.

Man_in_seat_61

Book daytime trains at www.eastcoast.co.uk, as they are the operator and give an extra 10% off their own cheap 'Advance' fares.

Booking opens 90 days or so in advance, o the day it will cost £119 one-way, £120 return or thereabouts, in advance pirces start at just £18 each way.