American family needs advice

[Wigglehe@gmail]

Hello. My family and I are visiting the UK this summer and would appreciate some advice about the best way to buy rail tickets. We are big fans of train travel and will not be hiring a car. We arrive in London on June 21, 2015 and will spend 5 days there. On Friday June 26, we would like to take a train to visit friends in Nottingham. We are flexible as to time of departure. On June 29, we would like to take a train to either the town of Settle or Giggleswick. Again we are flexible as to times. On July 1, we would like to take a train from Settle (or Giggleswick) to Edinburgh, Scotland. Our daughters are ages 13 and 15. Is there a rail pass we can buy that would be valid for one week and could cover these trips or should be buy individual tickets?

Thank you.

Henry Wigglesworth

 

[Flamingo]

Britrail passes are what you are looking for:
http://www.britrail.net/passes/britrail-pass

or if you are planning on buying tickets over here, don't forget a family railcard discount (it works on London Underground tickets as well).

http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/

Also, there is two for one admission at a lot of attractions with your train tickets
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

If buying train tickets on-line, use a Train Company website, not the Trainline, as they charge commission.

If buying Advance tickets (very cheap. railcard discount, zero flexibility) they can be very cheap, both first and standard, and the Family and Friends railcard discount applies. They are available for sale from 12 weeks in advance, they operate on a quota system so the earlier they are bought the cheaper they may be. You can change them up until the time of departure if required, but there is a £10 charge per ticket plus any difference in price.

At weekends, a lot of train companies offer a cut-price First Class upgrade, payable on-board.

 

[yorkie]

Is this your itinerary?

• Friday June 26: London to Nottingham
• Monday 29 June: Nottingham to Settle/Giggleswick
• Wednesday July 1: Settle/Giggleswick to Edinburgh

And you are flying back from Edinburgh?

 

[Agent_c]

If you're returning to London for your outbound flight, you might want to consider the Caledonian sleeper. Leaves Edinburgh late, and you arrive in London in time for Breakfast. You can get cabins for the family, kinda like a mini hotel room.

 

[Hadders]

...kinda like a mini hotel room.

That's an understatement!

 

[Bidstonboy]

Despite the Wigglesworths in Giggleswick having a great sound to it, it does pose the problem of not having an advance fare to Edinburgh and so settling for Settle may be a better option with some much better deals? With the dollar rising and the bright summer evenings, I'm sure they'll have a great trip.

 

[najaB]

Despite the Wigglesworths in Giggleswick having a great sound to it, it does pose the problem of not having an advance fare to Edinburgh and so settling for Settle may be a better option with some much better deals?

If they're on a Britrail pass, the lack of an Advance fare is less of an issue.

 

[reb0118]

I think they may be heading to the ancestral home?

 

[30907]

Despite the Wigglesworths in Giggleswick having a great sound to it, it does pose the problem of not having an advance fare to Edinburgh and so settling for Settle may be a better option with some much better deals?

More importantly, Settle to Edinburgh is a far more straightforward journey. And unless someone is there to meet you, or you are staying at the Craven Arms across the bypass, alighting at Settle is a much better bet too.

BTW Long Preston is the station for Wigglesworth.