Any tips/suggestions for obtaining train tickets for a day trip to Wales? I want to leave early in the morning and return that evening. Should I buy online (what site) or should I wait until I'm in London next month and buy the tickets thru the hotel?

You should buy online as soon as possible. Walk up prices at the station will be the most expensive way.

Using this www.nationalrail.co.uk will direct to the particular train company's site

your hotel won't usually sell you rail tickets.


get them asap as prices will go up the longer you leave it.

The longer you book in advance, the cheaper the tickets. Even 24 hours in advance can give you a saving. You can buy tickets at any railway station in the UK that has a booking office, or on line. www.firstgreatwestern.com (the train operator that serves South Wales) and www.thetrainline.com (an online booking service that sells tickets for all UK train operators) will have up to date information on train times and tickets. I believe that in the US you can also book through Rail Europe - www.raileurope.com . The biggest mistake is to turn up at the station and buy a ticket to travel the same day!

And the second biggest mistake, usually, is to buy from RailEurope! For loads of info on train travel and buying tickets, from someone who used to work for the British railways, visit seat61.com

Sorry - but definitely don't buy through thetrainline ( as slight mark up) or raileurope (a big mark up)

Use either nationalrail.co.uk or firstgreatwestern.co.uk

That's assuming you are traveling to Cardiff and/or south Wales. North Wales would be different rail companies (but not really practical as a day trip)

I bought tickets for Cardiff as soon as the advance tickets went on sale (12 weeks before travel) to get the best price. To get the cheapest tickets you have to travel outside of peak time which meant my daughters didn't leave London until 10am. Their return train was at 7:30pm. They had plenty of time in Cardiff (assuming that might be where you are going). We used firstgreatwestern.co.uk because those are the trains that go to Cardiff from London. If you're going somewhere else, use nationalrail and it will tell you what trains go there, then you can buy the tickets either directly from the company or nationalrail. Then, you just use the same credit card you made the purchase with at the train station on the day of travel to get your tickets from a machine or manned desk. Cardiff is a bit over 2 hrs each way.

Where are you planning to go for a day trip to Wales? My DH & I are looking for a day or 1 nt. trip out of London. We just booked a 3 day trip to Edinburgh. Now looking at somewhere in Wales. Have not done any research yet. We will be in London from 10/23-11/7. and am looking to break up our stay with our son & DIL. Probably not the best time of year to go, but we adapt well to the weather with layers of clothing. Not sure what to expect in Wales or Edinburgh.

What are your interests? Where else in the UK have you been? At that time of year Oxford or Cambridge or Bath might be better destinations than Wales. Or York on the way to/from Edinburgh.

>>Where are you planning to go for a day trip to Wales?<<

The OP posted this back in July (and hasn't been on the forums since) and and the trip was in August . . .

"The OP posted this back in July..."

My reply was to fluff224 who isn't traveling until late October. That said, fluff would do better to start a new thread.

Oh - I know you were responding to fluff. I was too . . .

(Fluff seemed to be asking the OP where she is planning to go . . . )