East coast trains
 

I am waiting for our August dates to open up for London to Edinburgh. We will be in a hotel near London Bridge then on the return need to get to our hotel at Heathrow. Should I book a one-way ticket as soon as my outward journey comes up then wait for the return journey date to open up or just do everything at once. I notice that they don't return to LHR so where would be the best place to come back to in London with easy access for Heathrow. I can't e-mail them as their website doesn't accept our US phone number. Thank you for your help.

"<i>I notice that they don't return to LHR so where would be the best place to come back to in London with easy access for Heathrow. </i>"

Trains from Edinburgh (except for the sleeper) all arrive at Kings Cross - which is on the Piccadilly tube line to LHR.

"<i>I can't e-mail them as their website doesn't accept our US phone number. </i>"

OK - maybe I don't get something, but what does ones phone number have to do w/ e-mail?

Buy when they become available as there's no saving in waiting for all the dates to be available.

To save a significant amount of money pick "Heathrow Undergd" rather than any of the other Heathrow options as that will give you a ticket to use on the direct Tube line to Heathrow rather than using the Heathrow Express.

Collect at London Bridge as you are staying there.

And I hope you've already booked your accommodation in Edinburgh as it's rather busy in August

As for the phone number - put a UK one in

If your destination, returning from Edinburgh, is a foreign airport you really should investigate flying to Heathrow (check carriers and rough schedule at the "departures" section of the Edinburgh airport website). It's a very great deal less hassle than messing about with the tube (never mind than having to overnight in London), and often more or less the same price.

If you use a partner airline to your international carrier, you'll probably be able to persuade the Edinburgh checkers-in to tag your luggage straight through to your final destination.

Am I right in assuming that the trains start and return to Kings Cross? I looked at Aug 11 just to get an idea of the fare and it's ten times the price than it was in July. Is it because of the Edinburgh Tattoo? We might be cheaper flying or driving up. We are actually staying in Fife and have accommodation and also our Tattoo tickets.

10 times, eh? Slight exaggeration maybe?

At any rate, it's probably because they haven't released the discounted fairs yet. If it says "Off-Peak" then that's the standard (high) fare. You want "Advance".

My experience is that you don't have to be hovering around waiting for them to release the tickets -- just check every day or so. They won't immediately evaporate.

<i> Is it because of the Edinburgh Tattoo?</i>

No, it's because as of today cheaper tickets have only been released up to the 9th August, all that is currently available is the tickets you could buy a few minutes before travelling.

It's on the East coast home page under the heading "book now for travel"

In any case higher prices aren't because of the Tattoo - that's only a few thousand people a day most of whom are bussed in from outside Edinburgh. Higher prices are because of the World's largest arts event - the Edinburgh Festival Fringe