Travel by Train
Whether you don’t drive or just don’t want to, Travel by Train is a great way to get around both in the UK and Europe.
In this post you will find:
Why you should Travel by Train
Cheapest ways to Travel by Train
Where to Travel by Train in the UK
Where to Travel by Train in Europe
Why You Should Travel by Train
Convenience
No stress of planning a route, sitting in traffic, or having to follow a satnav, and my favourite is no hunting for a parking space, simply hop on and off!
Comfort
I can only speak for myself here but driving for longer than an hour and a half makes my knees ache, my right foot start to get cramp and my butt goes to sleep!
Sitting and chilling on a train where I can stretch out and even get up and walk to the bathroom is a win-win, especially if you have children!
Cost
No car parking, emission zone, or toll road fees.
Train tickets are usually very reasonable in comparison to the cost of fuel and the convenience and comfort of not having to drive.
There are many ticket and railcard options so do a quick search beforehand to make sure your getting the best deal.
Speed
Especially compared to big cities where traffic can be a nightmare, getting in and out of a city by train is definitely a better option.
For Comparison:
From London, Liverpool Street Station to Manchester, Oxford Street Station:
By car = Typically between 4 / 5 Hours. By Train = Typically between 2hr 40 / 3 Hours.
From Edinburgh Station to Leeds Station:
By car = Typically between 3hr 50 / 5 Hours. By Train = Typically 3 Hours
Safety
Did you know traveling by train is over 20 times safer than driving the same distance? Need I say more?
This information is taken from the Rail Safety and Standards Board, check out their page for more facts and figures.
Health
According to studies, 71% of carbon emissions from transport comes from road users, compared to only 1.8% coming from rail users.
So not only are we protecting the planet by reducing our emission output by taking the train but we are also protecting our own health by lowering the about of fumes and pollutants we are breathing in.
Cheapest Ways to Travel By Train
Railcards are a great investment if you plan on traveling by train more than a couple of times in a year, and they soon pay for themselves.
The majority of UK railcards available are £30 for a year allowing you to save 1/3 on tickets, the savings really do start to add up quickly. There are a few different options so check them out here.
European Railcars and Passes are also a huge stress and time saver if you’re looking to travel by rail through either one European country or throughout many, there are plenty of options to suit.
Click here to find out more from Rail Europe.
Off-peak Tickets
Off-Peak hours are the cheapest times to travel, weekends and bank holidays are classed as off-peak all day. Weekdays after 9:30 am in larger towns and Cities and from 9 am in villages and smaller towns.
Top Tip:
If you want, or need to leave on a peak-hour ticket consider splitting your journey.
If you depart at 8 am but your journey is two hours long you are paying the peak price for travel time that is actually off peak.
Only travel until off-peak, hop off at the most convenient location, and have an off-peak ticket for the rest of the journey.
This does take a little planning but worth it to save those extra pounds! Also when traveling with children aged 5-15 there is 50% off that applies to all off-peak tickets so be sure to check.
Now this doesn’t apply to all journeys but often advance tickets are cheaper, be sure to check a few weeks in advance for prices, however just know they are usually non-refundable.
Where To Travel By Train In The UK
The UK has so many amazing places to discover and explore whether your looking for a quiet weekend break, some time to soak up our limited sun by the beach or an adventure filled experience.
Brighton, East Sussex
In a central location Brighton train station is perfect for heading into the town or taking a walk to the beach.
The walk to the beach is around 20 minutes or hop on the bus straight from the station.
York, North Yorkshire
Bursting with things to do and places to see.
You’ll find an array of unique shops, museums and Cafe’s along The River Ouse.
They also have bike hires dotted around the city to make it more accessible to get around.
Weymouth, Dorset
A tiny 4 Minute walk to the Beach or head to RSPB Radipole Lake for a peaceful wander.
Weymouth is a good choice for summer especially if you have children with you.
St Ives, Cornwall
An absolute gem of a place!
Popular with surfers, beach and nature lovers.
From London it’s around 5.5 hours journey depending on the time of day but those beautiful waters and sandy shores makes up for the journey time for sure!
Where To Travel By Train In Europe
Paris
Perhaps the most obvious choice from the UK.
The Eurostar only takes 2.5 hours to get into Paris and at a very reasonable cost with tickets often below 30 Euros.
Barcelona
Paris to Barcelona is another gem to visit.
Journey times can be around 6 hours but for under 20 Euros and no stress of driving on the other side of the road or paying tolls I’d say that’s still pretty good.
Bruxelles-Midi (Belgium)
Travelling from London this journey only takes around 2 hours depending on the time of day for departure.
Another City full of culture and amazing sites to see. From here you can easily head into other towns within Belgium such as Antwerp.
Budapest
This journey will take you through France changing trains in Paris before heading through Germany to arrive in Budapest, Hungary.
Why not visit the Famous Szechenyi thermal Baths.
The best site I can recommend for you is Interrail, here you will be able to see all the different Railcards and journey options for traveling through Europe in detail. It’s a great site for planning journeys and understanding the railcard options to suit your needs.
I hope this has been useful, please leave a comment if you have any questions or would like further recommendations.
Safe Travels ✌️
