Buying Train Tickets in the UK
 

I will be in the UK for an overnight stay before travelling to France.. I will return to nth UK a week later for a one week stay. I need to purchase some train tickets form London to YOrk. Should I do this is person the day Ia in the Uk before going to France or should I book on the internet? Thanks.

You can save a ton of money by booking on the internet - walk up fares can literally be a $100 or more above the advance purchase restricted fares - and these seats may go quick. www.nationalrail.co.uk for fares, schedules and booking.

Booking on the day means you pay the highest prices (£71 one way) but you get the most flexibility.

Booking 2-3 weeks in advance will get you the lowest prices (£9.50 one way) but means you have to take a particular train.

If you use www.thetrainline.com ou can pick up the tickets at Kings Cross (where the London train leaves from) using a fasticket machine BUT you need both the booking reference & the credit card used to make the booking

alan: is there a difference between thetrainline.com and nationalrail.co.uk?
Obviously a difference but is one better or easier to use - nationalrail.co.uk has always worked so well. I'try thetrainline site and see i guess.

At the weekend, I had to travel to Leeds, and used www.qjump.co.uk - the First class fares are so very cheap indeed!

qjump is owned by thetrainline & the websites are the same.

As for the difference between thetrainline & nationalrail, nationalrailallows you to get the prices without being registered and it has an OBVIOUS option to show the cheapest route as opposed to the quickest.

It's a while since I used NR but I thought that you had to leave it and go to thetrainline or the website of the particular train company to book.

Oh one other thing, thetrainline charges a booking fee of £1.50 whether it's one ticket of £9.50 r 2 of £71

thanks alan - seems you can book on nationalrail.co.uk but i've never done - always have a BritRail pass when i do the UK as i ride trains incessantly. See the trainline on their site is owned by Virgin Trains but claims to be impartial on listings. I'll give it a whirl - nationalrail seems easy to use though a bit sluggish at times.