Sleeper London to Glasgow

[Ipsomatic]

Hi,

I am thinking of travelling from London to Glasgow by the sleep train with my six year old son. I understand that we can't board the train until about 11pm, but my son goes to sleep at 8pm.

I wondered if anyone might know what we do in the evening? I was thinking maybe we need to check into a hotel, get him to sleep and then bring him sleeping to the train. Perhaps there is a better way that others have thought of though?

Thanks!

[OccasionalNachos]

It seems a bit of a waste of money to book a hotel room and only use it for a couple of hours.

If he had a few hours sleep - going to bed a bit earlier - and then woke for an hour to board the train & quickly get back to sleep, would that work? Or do you think he would be too interested in the train & the little cabin etc to fall asleep again?

I don't have a six year old but I do travel on the sleeper a lot (although to Edinburgh not Glasgow) & it is good fun. It's not always easy to sleep though.

[AgentProvocateur]

I love the (non) sleeper between Glasgow and London. It feels like an adventure. In answer to your question, is there a Caledonian Lounge where you can sit and he can sleep before you get on the train?

[Ipsomatic]

Is the sleeper not great for sleeping then? I was thinking that it would make travel easier because we'd all be conked out.

I did travel on a sleeper once as a child and I remember sleeping like a log the whole way.

I did also wonder if there was a lounge or something where we could sit for a while and maybe if we took a pushchair he could sleep in that. Ds is a lively sort of chap and not always easy to convince about things like going to sleep and staying asleep.

Thanks for answering. I really appreciate any thoughts about what it's like going by sleeper.

[NotMrsTumble]

I will be doing this with a 4 year old in a few weeks time. They normally goto bed between 7 & 7.30. My plan is to try to get cheap(er) show tickets or even go to the cinema to try to keep them awake and engaged until it's time to go to the train. I figure a solid block of sleep will be best for them. Phone the train company and ask what time you will be able to board the train, several people have said to me you can usually board earlier, though not sure by how much.

[AgentProvocateur]

It's not the most comfortable nights sleep you'll ever have, particularly if you're bigger than, say, Kylie. But the thrill of being in a bed on a train, knowing you'll wake up in another city, makes up for the lack of sleep.

[AgentProvocateur]

It says on the website you can board at Euston from 8.30.

[NotCitrus]

Is there an earlier one to Glasgow? Assuming you have a cabin, I took a 7 and 4yo recently on the sleeper and had a fantastic night sleep despite having to take kids to the toilet 3 times. The rocking was really soothing.

What about just letting him curl up in a blanket in the Euston lounge, after a late night snack and hot chocolate upstairs?

[Inthesleeplessnightgarden]

We've taken the sleeper a few times with our kids, though mainly to Fort William which leaves, and boards, earlier.
I think you may have to just settle for a late bedtime. Unless your DS is an amazing sleeper I can't imagine getting a child (not baby) onto the sleeper already asleep. Euston is really noisy, there are carriages being shunted back and forth and people noisily getting into their berths. There is a steward who will show you where to go and talk you through things, and all the lights will be on when you get in. Once he's in bed he should sleeper like a log esp with the movement of the train.
Sleeper passengers used to be able to use the lounge (Virgin?) I think at Euston while waiting to board. If not, I'd plan to leave home as late as possible so you haven't got too much hanging around. Or if that's not an option, leave your luggage at Euston and maybe go to the cinema or something for the evening.
It's such a fun way to travel but the late boarding on that route isn't ideal for little ones.
This is a good website to get an idea of what to expect if you haven't taken the sleeper before www.seat61.com/CaledonianSleepers.htm

[Inthesleeplessnightgarden]

Also, on your pushchair plan, you'll have to leave that in the guards van as no room in the cabin. You have to take it there and pick it up yourself so not ideal if you have a sleeping child in it and you're by yourself.

[Ipsomatic]

Gosh! The website says

"As of Sunday 11 December 2017, we are offering early boarding on our Lowland services departing London Euston to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Guests travelling on these services are welcome to board at London Euston from 2200.
Download a PDF copy of our timetable."

Hmm. I was thinking a bit sooner than that.

[Ipsomatic]

Oh yes I found it! It says room available from 8.30 in London Euston. Score!Thanks for that.

www.sleeper.scot/images/PDFS/CaledonianSleeperTimetableDec2016toMay2017.pdf

[OccasionalNachos]

The ones that go further north have earlier boarding - don't get mixed up with those. The lowland sleeper doesn't set off until nearly midnight. Highland sleeper is much better!

[Inthesleeplessnightgarden]

As the poster above says, make sure you're looking at the right route.
The London to Glasgow sleeper leaves late and at the link you posted says rooms available from 2200. (See pic below).
The London to Fortwilliam sleeper does go through Glasgow, and picks people up who are travelling north in the non sleeper carriages, but it's not the one you'll be on if you're only booking London to Glasgow and going no further.
If you do book, get a friends and family railcard. And keep your fingers crossed that it's running a bit late so you can claim for the delay and get extra time in bed!

[Ipsomatic]

Does that mean that if we got the fortwilliam train, that even when it stops at Glasgow we wouldn't be allowed to get off there?

It would be ideal for us as it boards at 8.30pm and stops at Glasgow at 5.45pm, and ds (and dh and myself if I'm honest) sleep from 8pm to 6am every night.

[Inthesleeplessnightgarden]

You'd need to check with the Sleeper people (in my experience they are really helpful on the phone) but I think the answer is no. As far as I know passengers can't disembark at Glasgow on that route. The highland routes (to Fort William and Inverness) are always fully booked way in advance and the train splits at Edinburgh in the middle of the night to go to the final destinations. If you want to only go as far as Glasgow you'll be booked onto that direct route instead of on one going further. But no harm in giving them a call to check.

[Ipsomatic]

I have phoned and asked. I will report back.

[Inthesleeplessnightgarden]

Do update when you know.
Maybe if you request it specifically you'll be allowed.

[NapQueen]

A regular train journey london to glasgow is only about 4.5 hrs though isnt it?

Wouldnt you rather save the stress (and possible loss of a nights sleep) and jist travel during the day?

[ILikeThatSong123]

We are planning London to Edinburgh sleeper train soon so I am marking my place. Thanks for the good info so far. [smile ]

[ILikeThatSong123]

[TheBogQueen]

I'd just fly. I do this trip regularly with three DC and the trains are very expensive even with railcard. Flying is much better value.

As fur the sleeper - I used to do it and got to work straight away when I got to London. It's not the greatest night's sleep you will ever have and the train stops in a siding for a fewhours during the journey.

I think the sleeper is reinventing itself as a luxury service so might be better now.

[Ipsomatic]

Back again!

Apparently I can book from Euston to Dalmuir (the stop after Glasgow) and they will then allow us to get off the train at Glasgow.

That would be ideal for us as it would mean boarding at 8.30pm in London and getting off at 6.03am. Yay!

I must have a look at the return journey now. Gosh! Quite excited now.

[Ipsomatic]

Mmmm. The return journey looks harder. Boarding late, and presumably hanging around a city station in the dead of night with a small child. Tricky.

[Ipsomatic]

I have odd health problems left over from epic sleep deprivation during ds's baby years and I suspect that travelling on the flat with my eyes shut would be the best thing. Planes are not on the flat and day trains are harder to do with eyes shut.

In the past I always travelled London to Glasgow by the GNER or Easyjet. I really love both journeys actually. I love the train because I get to see all the cities up the east coast. It takes about 8 hours door-to-door because I'm not in London here and my destination isn't quite Glasgow.

I also enjoy the Easyjet flight because it's quick and I can go from Stansted, but I think just at the moment, the sleeper might be the best way.

Now if I could only get about two years of sleep fitted in right now, it would all be a different story...

[Fridayschild]

We did the sleeper last year to Inverness and the DC loved it. My niece is about the same age as your DC. The excitement of it all kept her awake till she boarded but then she went straight to sleep.

You need a first class ticket to use the lounge. However with a friends and family railcard first class is much cheaper.