Our itinerary is extensive: London to Edinburgh, then to Cardiff, then to Oxford, and back to London (not to mention the day trips from all these places). We have choosen to purchase an 8-day BritRail Pass. The cost difference between Adult First and Adult Standard is around $200 per pass. Can anyone who has traveled these routes recommend 1st over standard class? Why or why not?

If so, should we make reservations in advance for seats in 1st class?

Go for it. The seats are bigger, the seating density is lower, you get to use the First Class lounges in the stations, and you only live once.

<i>p.s.</i> Reservations are suggested for the short-haul routes, because they may not have 1st Class cars and tend to fill up, especially at commuting time.

My erstwhile travel agent had an embroidered pillow on a chair in her office:

<b><font color="blue">Go First Class; your heirs will.</font></b>

Hi idle,

Did you enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com to see if you need a railpass?

Actually we went first class with a recent BritRail Pass. It was more comfortable, and the cars were a lot less crowded. We did not get reservations, but we weren't traveling during the peak commuting hours. It was very relaxing to not have to worry about buying tickets- just hop on the train when we wanted. We had a train pass for 7(or 8?) days usable during a 16 day period, and we used every day of the pass. Some days were just for short day trips.

Yes Ira, thank you for suggesting, we compared point-to-point and the Pass using railsaver.com. We come out better purchasing a BritRail Pass.

Thank you Sally and Robespierre for responding. And to Robespierre: my dad would have to agree with that pillow!

I highly recommend the Brit Rail Pass and definately First Class. It is more comfortable. Went Standard class once and have done
First Class ever since, which has been just about every year for the past 12 years. Haven't yet had a problem getting into a first class car, but would recommend looking into making reservations on certain trips. Have done the London to Edinburgh three times and definately recommend that trip for comfort and great views. Enjoy.

ditto to above - first class on British trains, at least mainline InterCity trains there is a world of difference - far less crowded and far more roomy. On many long-distance trains first class passes get free drinks and at times lots of food (always take Virgin Trains if you have a choice as you'll get a full meal, in my experience, plus lots of drink, including booze. Other trains many only give tea or coffee and a snack but so what it's free - not so in second class which often resembles a Greyhound bus - often very full, litter and drinks cans everywhere - and tiny seats - in second class i've come to learn that you always test the seat before you slide into it - i've had several slide down when i sat down - causing me to embarrasinly slide down to the floor - seems trains have a lot of vandalism, including breaking seats. I've never seen this in other countries in my 40 year of European rail travel - but a huge difference in classes in UK on mainlines. Reservations can often be made free in first class up until 6 or 7pm the day before - but i've been on hundreds of trains in UK in first class and have never not found an empty seat! If you have any questions on UK trains call BETS (800-441-2387), who i buy BritRail passes thru - whoever you talk to will have travels years on UK trains. Their free European Planning &amp; Rail Guide has an extensive chapter on UK train travel and itineraries. Now on sidelines some may not even have first class, such as on commuter trains around London, but mainline trains like you'll be taking yes a big difference. To check UK fares hit www.nationarail.co.uk - but consider the walk up fares for flexibility - there are deeply discounted and hard to actually book far in advance purchase, non-refundable/changeable but the BritRail pass is good for walk up entry to any train any time - these type fares cost a fortune in UK so for your plants the pass is a great deal.

Yes, well worth it when my teenaged dtr and I took First Class RT London Edinburgh. Great service esp'lly on the Edinburg to London train. I figured, how many times in life will we go first class anywhere? It wasn't much more expensive than standard, as we got some sort of pass where teenagers /students are much less.

YES, if it doesn't stretch yor budget too much. We were sorry in Canada and Norway that were didn't do 1st class.

Since every board needs a dissenter, in my trips to Europe, the only times I've really been happy to have first class and/or upgraded seats is on night trains. Sharing a sleeper cabin with 4 strangers is not nearly as pleasant as having your own cabin. During the day, standard train seats never bothered me except for Italy, but hopefully that was just a particularly bad day for the Italian train system... That said, you can't really go wrong by choosing First Class. On past trips, I've always purchased reservations for overnight trains (to get sleeper cabins) and would often make reservations as I arrived in a city for my outbound train ride if the train station's employees thought the train could be crowded. Have fun!