I was able to book early two standard sleeping berths for 39 pounds each, even though I was traveling alone, so I had a compartment by myself. I am normally a heavy sleeper anyways, so I had no trouble falling asleep on the train. Very excited before the train ride and it still was one of the highlights of my trip, afterall, what originally attracted me to York was its railway museum (ended up loving my walk on the city walls too). The train compartment walls were thin though, because I could hear people in the next compartment chatting when they did for a few minutes. I got a cold from walking up to Arthur's Seat and tried hard not to cough in the middle of the night on the Caledonian Sleeper. I had arranged with the train attendant to deliver the morning tea at 6 AM, and he knocked on the door at 5:59, so they really stick to the times on the train. The train left Edinburgh on time, and like I mentioned before, arrive in London Euston 30 minutes early, at 6:10, which is fantastic but posed a little problem at the Euston underground station. The vending machine would not take my card to buy a 7-day travelcard, and the ticket counter did not open until 7:30 (if I remember correctly), so I just bought a single ticket to Victoria with cash. If I had known that, I would've stayed on the train until 7:15 (allowed to stay on the train until 8:00).

thanks for the report penelope - and for 39 quid traveling between London and Scotland it is an absolute bargain - a night in a hotel would cost a whole lot more as well as a daytime train ticket could (or may not). Thanks

There are some really nice train deals. The London-Dover-Calais train/ferry combo, day return ticket for only 36 pounds.

And I got the train/entry fee combo for Hampton Court Palace for only 22 pounds; great bargain when the ticket for HCP at the door is 17 pounds alone; and the train ticket with this deal is actually a Zone 6 unlimited day travel ticket.

There is also a long list of 2-for-1 deals that PalenQ had mentioned.

There are some really nice train deals. The London-Dover-Calais train/ferry combo, day return ticket for only 36 pounds.>

It used to be at least that on these super cheap shooping trips for Brits that you could not carry luggage on the ferry as a bona fide day tripper would not. Not sure that is still the case but if planning that as a cheap way to France check it out if having luggage with you.

I know it's an old thread but I'm planning another London trip for later this year, so I thought I'd put down what I did last time as reference.

Day 1: Mid morning arrival at LHR. Took the train to St. Pancras, walked around to see the station (I like trains), then walked to King's Cross to wait for mid-afternoon train to York.
Day 2: Morning walked around York and walked up York Minster tower. Mid day walked entire York city wall. Afterwards went to York Castle Museum.
Day 3: Morning went to National Railway Museum then afternoon took the train to Edinburgh.
Days 4-6: Rabbies Isle of Skye tour.
Day 7: Holyroodhouse in the morning. Mid day walked up to Arthur's Seat. Afternoon walked through the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, onto The Meadows.
Day 8: Rabbies Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle tour.
Day 9: Morning at Edinburgh Castle, afternoon at Calton Hill.
Day 10: Rabbies St. Andrews and Fife tour. Sleeper train to London overnight.
Day 11: Morning BBC television centre tour, afternoon Houses of Parliament tour.
Day 12: Weather forecast showing clear sunny day, so I did a day trip to Dover to get a good view of the White Cliffs. Walked from Dover Priory to White Cliffs of Dover visitor centre. Mid afternoon took the ferry to Calais and back.
Day 13: St. Paul's Cathedral in the morning, London Eye mid-day, London Museum mid afternoon. Early evening at Harrods.
Day 14: Hampton Court Palace day trip. Evening saw a performance of War Horse at Covent Garden.
Day 15: Morning at Westminster Abbey, then walked by No. 10 Downing Street, caught changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace at noon, then walked through Regent's Park. Heavy rainstorm at this point, but went to the Sherlock Holmes museum anyways.
Day 16: Tower of London in the morning, late lunch at Borough Market, then Brixton Market. Evening saw Swan Lake by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.
Day 17: Cambridge day trip.
Day 18: Flight out of LHR.