Cheapest way to get to london from Manchester

[dottie]

Hi, I'm going to London this weekend and as I'm still learning the ticket lingo, I would appreciate any help in finding the cheapest route. I have attached details below for your info. Thanks

The origin and destination stations of your whole journey: Manchester Piccadilly to Brixton London, via any route that you can recommend splitting?

The date(s) or day(s) you are travelling, and whether you are making a single or return journey: A return journey going on Saturday 1st December (in the morning) and coming back the next day (Anytime)

I don't currently have any railcard but I could purchase a YP railcard if necessary.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Deerfold]

The date(s) or day(s) you are travelling, and whether you are making a single or return journey: A return journey going on Saturday 1st December (in the morning) and coming back the next day (Anytime)


Thanks for your help.

Hi,

Do you mean you're happy to come back at any (possibly fixed) time or you want a ticket that lets you come back at any time.

 

[dottie]

Yes that’s slightly contradictory, my apologies!
I'm happy to come back at anytime, it would be nice to have some sightseeing time in london on the Sunday, I suppose but if is cheaper any other time I would be happy to come home any time.

I would have thought it would be a lot more expensive for an anytime ticket, is that right?

 

[telstarbox]

A Manchester-Brixton Off-Peak Return is £77.50 without Railcard or £51.15 with a Railcard. This ticket would allow you to travel down at any time on Saturday and back at any time on Sunday.

There are cheaper ways to do the journey but they involve either a longer journey time or restricting yourself to a particular train rather than being able to travel at any time on the weekend.

Also - whichever tickets you end up using - don't use www.thetrainline.com as it's more expensive than any other website (they charge a booking fee which other sites don't, even for the same tickets).

 

[dottie]

Ok brilliant thank you, I will weigh up my options.

Thanks again for your help

 

[gnolife]

If cost is THE driver then also checkout MEGATRAIN which offer coach at c£12/each way to London Victoria for a sub 5hr journey.
(Otherwise for future plan ahead lol.)
MKD

Surely it'd be Megabus if they were taking a coach?

 

[cuccir]

If you are willing to extend your journey time then you can reduce the price further:

Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent Off-Peak Return £14.80
Stoke-on-Trent to London Super Off-Peak Return London Midland Only £26.00

Total cost £40.80
With railcard £26.35

With these tickets you can only use slower London Midland trains between Stoke and London. These take just under 3 hours, compared to 1 and a half hours on the faster trains which go to Manchester (so no need to change either). But, you save money!

Suggested itinerary:
Manchester - Stoke: 08:35 or 09:07 trains (earlier one allows for delays!)
Stoke - London: 09:54, arrive 12:49

Returning, trains are at :50 minutes past the hour throughout the afternoon. If you get the 15:50 you'd get into Stoke for 18:38, and then Manchester for about 19:30.



You'd then need to buy separate travel for getting to Brixton - what's cheapest will depend on your travel plans in London (ie Travelcard v Single Ticket)