Train Ticket from Liverpool BACK to London
 

Oh my! Why is it so expensive to get back to London from Liverpool? Yikes. It's only 50 pounds to go and 150 to come back (a lot for my family). I have checked several websites - am I missing something? We want to go the Mendips/Forthin tour and Fab Four Tour then scurry right back on the same day. Suggestions please for economy website? Many thanks for helpful suggestion ;-)

Tell us what website(s) you are using and what date(s) you plan on travelling and we can probably tell you if you are missing anything, or if that is just the way it is for the dates you've chosen. Are you quoting per person fares or are the fares for some number of people that you have chosen not to state?

Sounds like you are trying to return during weekday morning peak period. Trains arriving in London by 10 am are very expensive, but will be cheaper for those arriving in the afternoon (best around 4 pm). Go to www.virgintrains.co.uk for a list of fares on a particular day. Cheaper Advance tickets are only loaded onto the system about 2 months in advance.

You may find that even for one return trip, a Family and Friend Railcard at £26 may more than save the cost of the card, by giving you 1/3 off adult fares and 2/3 off for those aged 15 or under. You can only buy the railcard in UK from a station ticket office (not online if you live outside UK). To see how much you can save, select Raicard option on fares and trains site. Even preak trains may become quite affordable.

Wow Alec, if that would work for us, that would save a bundle!

We did a day trip from London to Liverpool with the kids a couple of years ago (I highly recommend the Fab Four Taxi Tour - wonderful private tour).

The Virgin high speed rail was great and very reasonable! As you've already been advised, the cheaper fares aren't released until closer to the travel dates - we had the same shock as you did when we first looked up the prices way in advance.

Trains were pretty empty as well, not to worry. Have a great trip!