Frigging hell! The price of train tickets to London!!

[Hellotoallmyfans]

Why have train tickets become so expensive? (I don't use public transport usually so not very aware of fluctuating prices)

Every couple of years or so I book for us to go to London as a family (2 adults, 3 dcs) to go see a show and take in some sights - the theatre tickets were £600(!) but I was expecting that as I know that's what it costs for decent seats, ditto the hotel which is £500 for two rooms for one night. But what I wasn't expecting was to then have to pay another £340 on top for train tickets from Manchester to get there! Last time we went, before covid, the train was £90 for a family ticket! There doesn't seem to be any options for family tickets and all the websites I've looked at are showing the same price.

I don't know what I'm looking for here, just having a moan really! Or maybe the name of a secret website that does cheap train tickets?

Everything is so bloody expensive isn't it? I guess I will have to suck it up and pay as I've booked the theatre tickets now which I'm sure will non-refundable. It's just gutting that I am looking at close to a grand just to get there and stay for one night. We could literally have flights/hotel for a week in Europe for that! Not taking into account the theatre tickets and the £££+ we will probably end up spending on food/drink and other attractions (wanted to maybe do a boat ride and some museums).

It's going to be at least £2k+ spent on one night in London! I don't know if it's even worth it? Grrr.

How far in advance are you trying to book?

I am a Londoner. My last holiday at Manchester (just after the third lockdown) cost me and DH around £1500 too but for 5 days. So it works both ways too. This included a stay at the Edwardian Manchester- Radisson- £556 for 4 nights (I just looked it up and it seems to be going for £147-£300 per night!). Our train tickets cost £106 return for 2 adults, we have the two together railcard (it costs £30 per year), so we get 30% off all train tickets. we spent a lot on food and drink- just as much as we would spend in London, and also went for a fancy afternoon tea at the hotel.

YANBU. Train tickets are extortionate prices for a very poor service. Even booking well in advance doesn’t help.

Railcard were running some unbelievably good discounts on London shows recently.
If you book via thetrainline it’s often much cheaper, with more transparency. If you have revolut you can save I think 10% on your booking there.
Another idea is to look at grand central trains. We got a great deal to London recently.

There was an article few yeras back where a lad flew through Germany from North England to London and it was cheaper than train

Last minute train tickets are super expensive. if you can book it 8 weeks ISH in advance I've found the priced reasonable

If you’re not going for a while the cheaper tickets might not have been released yet. Avanti to a family ticket which is reasonable - it cost me and my DS £110 return to go London from the north earlier in the summer. The tickets didn’t go on sale until about 3 weeks before though - you can sign up for an email when they go on sale.

Also in terms of a reasonable hotel in a great location a the St Giles is a great option.

Drive to a peripheral tube station with parking. Parking+petrol+tube fare would most likely be cheaper. You don’t have to spend that much on rooms either. Premier inn and travelodge have rooms pretty central for less that £100 a night. We often do London breaks on the cheap, it just takes a little while to research and plan. Use Tesco vouchers and check Groupon and Wowcher.

@Francescaisstressed

Last minute train tickets are super expensive. if you can book it 8 weeks ISH in advance I've found the priced reasonable

I disagree. The price seems to be the same whether you’re booking for a couple of days or a couple of months.

Thanks for all the responses and for making me feel I'm not being unrealistic to not expect to pay those prices!

The coach is a good idea but would just take too long - ditto driving really although I may discuss that option with dh (I doubt he'll want to drive though and I certainly don't!)

Tesco club card would've been a good idea but I don't have one! I shop at Waitrose mainly as it's so near and you don't seem to get any perks at all with your Waitrose clubcard 😞 (they don't even do free coffee any more..)

Also railcards - we'd have to get one each wouldn't we so I doubt we'd end up saving anything as we don't usually travel on trains.

Unless you're requiring something very specific then £500 on two rooms for one night is ridiculous. We go quite regularly and have never paid more than £70 for a room, ditto theatre

Wow, staying where? Last year we stayed at a premier inn and it was more expensive than this one and wasn't very nice(the rooms smelt!) - this one is a radisson blu and looks nicer for less money but maybe the photos are just better!
I admit those prices are for staying in Covent Garden as I don't want to be wasting time getting the tube everywhere really and like the buzz of being central.

Thanks for all suggestions - I just wanted my feelings validated 🤣 it's my own fault for having 3 kids!

I have given up on the train. I took add up for a couple of nights in August, £90 for a premier inn in Chiswick and £24 for two nights parking

Pricing of UK internal travel does appear to invert the likely carbon impact. Train more expensive that both private driving of petrol or diesel car even taking account of parking and flights. Suspect it will eventually change.

You only need one Family and friends card.

We are 2 hours out of London on a direct line. It is ludicrously cheaper to drive in and park. Would maybe be cheaper for one adult, but otherwise no.

There is definitely a ‘golden window’ for cheaper train tickets - usually about 11 weeks before. I’ve just booked returns from midlands to Edinburgh for just £30 per person. Doesn’t help spontaneous travel I know - I had to pay an extortionate amount to stand up between Manchester and Sheffield the other weekend.

also railcards - we'd have to get one each wouldn't we so I doubt we'd end up saving anything as we don't usually travel on trains.

No, you don’t need one each.

You could probably fly for less!

I would honestly check flights🤷🏻 youight score some cheap man to lon ones

I used to live in London (Mancunian) - the drive isn’t so bad, especially if you use the M40. When I go down there from Mcr now I drive to Westfield at Stratford, park in the shopping centre on the 24 hr rate and get the tube in - it’s easy. The M40 has nice services for a break too.

We have a two together railcard and have just booked 2 different London trips for Nov/ December from the North...£56 each trip.
You need a family railcard.

You can get a family railcard. Don't need one each.
There used to be a fare splitter site ? Maybe on Martin Lewis.
Or Red Spotted Hanky ?

What dates are you looking at? I bet a mumsnetter can find you cheaper!

Having the family and friends card makes a big difference. I've just done a quick search on trainline and a return for two adults and three kids, Friday morning to Sunday afternoon in two weeks time is coming out at £178 link

55 quid eith stop over in dublin😂

And Premier Inn Kings Cross which is fab...£165 for 1 room, gor 2 nights. So would be under £350 for 2