Only part of journey needs to be flexible. Hence difficult to get best price.

[suzanneparis]

Tomorrow, Monday 6 July I want to travel from Leicester to Bath Spa. Then spend some time in Bath Spa. Then travel from Bath Spa to Ealing Broadway.
I would like to arrive in Bath Spa around 11am.

There is a train from Leicester to Birmingham at 07.50 which would suit me. Or (possibly better) 07:43 from Leicester to Derby. They both put me on the same train into Bristol and then on to Bath.

I am happy to have a fixed ticket time for the journey TO Bath Spa. But I would like flexibility on when I depart Bath Spa to Ealing Broadway (probably depart Bath around about 4.30/6.30 pm.

I have a senior railcard. I am only travelling one way.

Can anyone please help me with the cheapest journey?

Many thanks

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Can anyone please help me with the cheapest journey?

Wouldn't you just look for two separate journeys? Leicester to Bath using Advance tickets if available and then Bath to Ealing Broadway with an Off Peak Single. There could be a choice of routes to Ealing, depending on whether you change to the Elizabeth at Reading or double back from Paddington. Prices may be different.

 

[suzanneparis]

Many thanks. But I think I found a cheaper way? Not sure. Buying a single to Cheltenham. Then Cheltenham to Ealing via Bath. But am not sure about the terms and conditions of breaking journey at Bath Spa. Which is why I asked the question. Because the split ticketing sites allow you to specify flexible or not. But I want not flexible to Bath S. Then flexible from BS to EB. Thanks again

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2026 ==

Does 'any permitted route' allow me to go from Cheltenham Spa to Bath via Bristol on the way to Ealing Broadway? Or must I travel via the more direct route to London? Thanks again

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Because the split ticketing sites allow you to specify flexible or not. But I want not flexible to Bath S. Then flexible from BS to EB. Thanks again

If you want to only buy the one ticket from Cheltenham to Ealing (via Bath), it's either an Advance (inflexible) or it isn't. If you want an Advance from Cheltenham to Bath and flexible thereafter, it would need two (or more) tickets. If you know what you want, tickets can be split by putting them through as separate transactions.

 

[jfollows]

Does 'any permitted route' allow me to go from Cheltenham Spa to Bath via Bristol on the way to Ealing Broadway? Or must I travel via the more direct route to London? Thanks again

Yes.
Map LG at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps
The ticket has to allow break of journey and be routed “any permitted”.
NOT VIA LONDON is also valid via Bath, and is a cheaper ticket. The “any permited” ones all allow travel via London.

 

[suzanneparis]

Yes.
Map LG at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps
The ticket has to allow break of journey and be routed “any permitted”.

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2026 ==

I have found this. Can anyone please comment on whether it will work or not.
dept lei 6july 07.43 to derby then on to cheltenham spa arrive 09.50 £22.50
dept cheltenham for london paddington at 09.52 arrive london pad at 12.36 £29.95. BUT.. I plan to break this journey at Bath Spa. then travel on to paddington later in the day (I've decided on paddington rahter than Ealing as the train to ealing from Reading takes a long time.

Any comments please on whether this would work or not? Many thanks

 

[yorkie]

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2026 ==

I have found this. Can anyone please comment on whether it will work or not.
dept lei 6july 07.43 to derby then on to cheltenham spa arrive 09.50 £22.50
dept cheltenham for london paddington at 09.52 arrive london pad at 12.36 £29.95.

If you are changing trains at Cheltenham, you need to allow at least 5 minutes for a connection. That's not the case here, so just mentioning that for clarity.

As it's the same train, that simply calls at Cheltenham, then that's fine.

BUT.. I plan to break this journey at Bath Spa. then travel on to paddington later in the day (I've decided on paddington rahter than Ealing as the train to ealing from Reading takes a long time.

Any comments please on whether this would work or not? Many thanks

Are you asking if you can break a Cheltenham to Ealing journey at Bath Spa, yes you can, on a flexible ticket such as:

Purchase flexible walk-up fares for any British train journey

Purchase flexible single/return tickets & Travelcards – in 3 clicks, at face value with no fees. Every British rail fare shown, railcard discounts included.

www.brfares.com

 

[30907]

dept cheltenham for london paddington at 09.52 arrive london pad at 12.36 £29.95. BUT.. I plan to break this journey at Bath Spa. then travel on to paddington later in the day (I've decided on paddington rahter than Ealing as the train to ealing from Reading takes a long time.

That is fine.

There is a cheaper Cheltenham-London fare "via Stroud" which many people would choose - make sure you get the more expensive one

BTW: buying a flexible ticket doesn't mean you have to be flexible.

 

[suzanneparis]

That is fine.

There is a cheaper Cheltenham-London fare "via Stroud" which many people would choose - make sure you get the more expensive one

BTW: buying a flexible ticket doesn't mean you have to be flexible.

Many thanks. I couldn't see the two prices for Chelt to London via bath or via stroud. how can i force national rail to display that? thanks

 

[jfollows]

Many thanks. I couldn't see the two prices for Chelt to London via bath or via stroud. how can i force national rail to display that? thanks

Not applicable for Cheltenham-Ealing Broadway. The “via Stroud” fare is for Cheltenham-London. There is a cheaper “not via London” fare for Cheltenham-Ealing Broadway which is valid via Bath.
I notice now you’ve changed your requirement to a Cheltenham-London ticket. Fortunately map LG remains valid for this ticket. It’s not automatic that this is the case, each pair of stations for a ticket needs to be considered separately to discover valid routes between them. Clearly a “via Stroud” ticket for Cheltenham-London isn’t valid via Bath.

 

[30907]

Many thanks. I couldn't see the two prices for Chelt to London via bath or via stroud. how can i force national rail to display that? thanks

Choose a direct train, it should show the lower price.
Put Bath as a via point, it will be the higher one.

PS you've done well there, Cheltenham to Bath is costing you 80p

 

[suzanneparis]

If you are changing trains at Cheltenham, you need to allow at least 5 minutes for a connection. That's not the case here, so just mentioning that for clarity.

As it's the same train, that simply calls at Cheltenham, then that's fine.

Are you asking if you can break a Cheltenham to Ealing journey at Bath Spa, yes you can, on a flexible ticket such as:

Purchase flexible walk-up fares for any British train journey

Purchase flexible single/return tickets & Travelcards – in 3 clicks, at face value with no fees. Every British rail fare shown, railcard discounts included.

www.brfares.com

Many thanks Yorkie. Can you please help me amend that link for the journey to be From Cheltenham Spa To London Paddington. depart cheltenham spa after 9.30 and travel via bath spa with a break of journey in bath spa. then on to london paddington. Many thanks for your help.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2026 ==

Many thanks Yorkie. Can you please help me amend that link for the journey to be From Cheltenham Spa To London Paddington. depart cheltenham spa after 9.30 and travel via bath spa with a break of journey in bath spa. then on to london paddington. Many thanks for your help.

it says "

• 09:15 from Cheltenham Spa (if travel is via Bristol Parkway, the restriction time shown for Bristol Parkway also applies for journeys eastbound from this station); " which i find confusing. as the train does go via bp i think . and the restriction for bp is cannot be before
• 10:11 from Bristol Parkway; (also valid between 02:00 and 05:30)
• does that mean i cannot leave cheltenham spa before 10.11? or does it mean i cannot pass through bristol parkway before 10.11? thanks again

 

[yorkie]

Many thanks Yorkie. Can you please help me amend that link for the journey to be From Cheltenham Spa To London Paddington. depart cheltenham spa after 9.30 and travel via bath spa with a break of journey in bath spa. then on to london paddington. Many thanks for your help

It's £1.45 less to Paddington, compared to Ealing Broadway via Paddington

Look up fares for any train journey in Britain

Full details of all British rail Single, Return & Season tickets and Travelcards. Built-in Season Ticket Calculator.

www.brfares.com

Many thanks Yorkie. Can you please help me amend that link for the journey to be From Cheltenham Spa To London Paddington. depart cheltenham spa after 9.30 and travel via bath spa with a break of journey in bath spa. then on to london paddington. Many thanks for your help.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2026 ==


it says "

• 09:15 from Cheltenham Spa (if travel is via Bristol Parkway, the restriction time shown for Bristol Parkway also applies for journeys eastbound from this station); " which i find confusing. as the train does go via bp i think . and the restriction for bp is cannot be before
• 10:11 from Bristol Parkway; (also valid between 02:00 and 05:30)
• does that mean i cannot leave cheltenham spa before 10.11? or does it mean i cannot pass through bristol parkway before 10.11? thanks again

The journey you have planned is absolutely fine on a Super Off Peak from Cheltenham.

 

[suzanneparis]

Many thanks for your kind help. Much appreciated. Best wishes