National rail

[MochiPie]

Was planning to do a day trip to Bournemouth next week but the train fare would be £200 to take my children. Is this a normal price or am I doing something wrong?! We haven't been before. (Coming from London)

Do you have a family railcard? Saves a lot so may be worth it even for occasional journeys. Also, are you travelling at peak or off peak times?

I've looked all day and it's the same price no matter what time, don't have a rail card and probably wouldn't be ready by next week as wanted to take them next week during the hot weather, just wondered if it sounded right

You can buy a railcard instantly.. just google railcards and you can buy and add to an app. Then use it to buy tickets.
The Trainline is good for finding deals on fares.

If you have tesco clubcard (with unused points) then get a ‘free’ railcard using that, only takes 24hrs max as it’s on internet, definitely will be cheaper.

Trains generally cheaper if you book a few weeks in advance.

No I don't really use Tesco, didn't realise the rail card was instant that's good thanks

Which London station would you be travelling from?

Waterloo

Some of the other train lines (Southeast & Southern I think) are doing summer child fares for £1 or £2. I know you said Bournemouth but it may work out a lot cheaper to go somewhere else on the South Coast.

We've been to Margate and Brighton a lot and kids are bored of them now and want to try somewhere different they don't like pebble beaches which is why we was looking at Bournemouth

Yep get a railcard, you can do it all on your phone (you have to upload a photo of yourself). It’ll pay for itself in a couple of trips.

If you’re with Monzo (also really quick to set up on your phone) they give you one with their £7 a month perks plan so you might be able to work out how to get one even cheaper and then check the T&Cs about cancelling the perks plan.

I’ve just done one adult and two children, this Thursday leaving Waterloo 9.05 returning on 18.22, with a family and friends railcard (£35 for a year) and the cost is £65…

That’s on Trainline

Same website

You’ve got ‘open return’ there. Try putting in a day/time for the return journey and that should sort it.

That's because you're leaving before 9.30am - peak time, which is much more expensive. Try leaving after 9.30 and see what it comes up with.

Not the time, and I tried a timed return but it was about £30 cheaper so not a massive difference

@MochiPie

How many adults and children are travelling

I would try a website that isn't the train line. If you're able to change journeys look at split ticketing. I've found you can get from London to Manchester for £40 return if you're willing to change at Crewe and not get the avanti train. Cross Country have a tiny line at the bottom of their website saying for slower journeys click here and this gives you the low fares, but you have to do it on a desktop.

How many children are you taking? I'm on the Trainline app right now, adding 4 children just because that's the max I think you can take with one F&F Railcard and I'm getting very different results for an open return leaving after 9.30am...

There's an image under review but it's £107 and some pence for pretty much every open return Waterloo-Bournemouth after 9.30am for 1 adult plus 4 DC.

Odd - this is what I get on Trainline for one adult and 2 kids.

I'm not going with 2 children I have 4 children and one adult.

I don't have the family and friends rail card, it's £225 without it yes that's a massive difference!

Oh sorry I thought you said you were getting one! Must have misread. Got to be worth shelling out the £35 as you'll be saving loads and will probably use it again over the 12 months? And you can do it online and get a mobile version instantly.

@MochiPie

With a railcard Ive found tickets for £103
Buy the railcard, it pays for itself in one triip