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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm scared about the costs in England

261 replies

Mooshamoo · 03/07/2023 01:03

I'm in Ireland. Last time that I went to England, I was worried about how much things cost there. It's so expensive. It was the transport that totally wiped me out.

Now I'm going to England again next week. I'm going to work on a temporary job there for a month. And I have to get there on Saturday.

The thought of the costs is scaring me!

I will need to stay for one night in London. Then I will get a train to another city. Then I get another train and a bus out to the remote location of my job. That is going to be costly.

My flight from Ireland to England cost 18 euro. My train in Ireland cost 14 euro (I travelled for 2.5 hours on the trap for this price)

I'm worried about all the train costs in the UK. They are so expensive! It's a worry. I remember last time I was in England , I travelled for a very short journey on the train and they charged me fifty pounds.

I'm trying to book the cheapest route in advance. It's a stress though. Just wanted to vent

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 03/07/2023 07:27

Honestly OP, you could find something similar, with far less expenses, here in Ireland.

You knew the travel costs would be an issue before applying.

And yes, the train fare costs always gave me a shock too - but I never had to pay (or rather I did, but then claimed in expenses).

LittleBrenda · 03/07/2023 07:27

I'm not sure of the point of this post..."some stuff costs more in other countries" shocker.

She should stay clear of Monaco.

DeathMetalMum · 03/07/2023 07:30

The train from Liverpool or Manchester is pretty much the same price as the train from Stansted. It may be you can save money getting cheaper flights to a different airport.

Train pricing is rather strange IMO tickets to one big city near me are almost four times the price of another big city. Driving takes about the same time to either.

WhamBamThankU · 03/07/2023 07:30

I would look into buses or FlixBus if you're going to another city.

Cailin66 · 03/07/2023 07:32

Chocolateship · 03/07/2023 06:11

What a pointless thread, you know full well you can look up the costs online, just another attempt to say how shit England is right?

it is clear the OP is struggling. She’s also coming from a remote part of Ireland with not much knowledge of UK trains and with little money.

LimeCheesecake · 03/07/2023 07:33

Yep, flying into London when you then have to stay over in London is madness. If you’ve not booked your flight yet, look at cheaper options - flying to stanstead, Birmingham etc then train or bus or hiring a car from there.

the UK is expensive - I’m guessing you’ve taken the summer school job because it’s well paying, not factoring in it is relatively well paying because the UK is expensive.

Andanotherone01 · 03/07/2023 07:34

Chocolateship · 03/07/2023 06:11

What a pointless thread, you know full well you can look up the costs online, just another attempt to say how shit England is right?

Exactly this. I’ll remember this thread the next time I’m in Ireland and paying almost 3 Euro for a loaf of bread.

Totaly · 03/07/2023 07:35

OP sounds like she’s employed as a teacher and is going to take a temporary job over the summer for a summer camp - I’ve seen lots of these jobs advertised -

Yes it’s expensive - I fly to UK for £23 each way - train Liverpool to Manchester - off peak - £40 return

Not all airports are covered by Ireland -

Where I live the choice is Gatwick, Liverpool, Manchester or Bristol on cheap airlines and include Birmingham for an expensive airline - £130 single ticket.

Why are people so amazed at the cost?

SunnyEgg · 03/07/2023 07:35

userofsorts · 03/07/2023 07:27

Come on OP. You're only travelling Ireland to Norwich! Hardly Outer Mongolia. Just go on Trainline, rather than all this being 'scared' on MN.

Ha

Greentree1 · 03/07/2023 07:36

Luton Airport, don't know where you are going but train station, coach station, bus station in Luton plus cheap hotels, B&Bs.

ItsCalledAConversation · 03/07/2023 07:37

Try the trainline app. I got sent a code for 20% off some fares 20ISPLENTY try that?

SavedbytheBe11 · 03/07/2023 07:37

I dont read the OP as having genuine intentions. It reads more as wanting to have a go / antagonise.

LodiDodi · 03/07/2023 07:38

Where's your job? As PPs have said, coach travel is a lot more affordable here. We literally invented trains and yet can't run an adequate service. Honestly, you'll be paying upwards of £80 for a one way ticket and the train won't even turn up half the time.

Greentree1 · 03/07/2023 07:38

I thought there were lots of cheap flights Ireland/Luton big Irish population there. Maybe not any more?

Motnight · 03/07/2023 07:40

National Express is your friend here!

LetItGoHome · 03/07/2023 07:42

Are you not booking hotels and travel well in advance? I wouldn't be sorting this out as I went along. It should be booked as early as possible to get the best prices.

Ifailed · 03/07/2023 07:44

You're only travelling Ireland to Norwich! Hardly Outer Mongolia

I'd rather go to Outer Mongolia than Norwich.

Batalax · 03/07/2023 07:44

Definitely fly to stanstead but don’t go into London to stay the night. That’s a long way in the wrong direction. Go by coach to the nearest big city to your destination.

PaperSheet · 03/07/2023 07:44

Is this the same OP who says all people in England/UK already rude? Thought I recognised the user name but I could be wrong.

Callixte · 03/07/2023 07:44

I know you said "just wanted to vent", so please feel free to disregard...

I always find trains exorbitant in the UK; they way they "work" is if you can book tickets more than 30 days ahead, if you use the same service regularly and have a subscription, or if you benefit from reductions. Otherwise, coach or bus is significantly cheaper and usually does not penalise you for buying at the last minute if you're not sure of the times.

Which London airport is it? We may be able to give practical suggestions. If money is tight, don't rule out simply staying at the airport overnight and getting onward transportation in the morning.

(All that said - I also find Ireland insanely expensive now, so I suppose it's all relative.)

LetItGoHome · 03/07/2023 07:45

Why on earth are you staying the night in London if money is tight? If you need to stay the night anywhere don't do it in London.

Sleeepdeprived · 03/07/2023 07:45

It might be cheaper to hire a car from the airport and drop it off at a depo near your work. I do that when flying from London

Testina · 03/07/2023 07:46

“There aren't many regional airports on the East Anglia and south east side of England. “

I thought you were travelling somewhere remote, like the Scottish Highlands!

Access to East Anglia from Luton and Stansted, both big airports and both hubs for very famous low cost airlines.

Have you heard of Michael O’Leary?

Fair enough if you’re not living in England and you’re a bit slow at the Google you might not have thought of the bus… but what’s the point in a hand-wringing post here? Would you not just say, “trying to get to Oundle” so there’s actually a point to it?

ThelmaBorden · 03/07/2023 07:48

For someone who has backpacked around the world for 2 years it is surprising you cannot organise a trip to deepest darkest Norfolk without being fearful.
Travelling west to east or vice versa across England is never easy. It isn’t essential though to do the dogleg of to London then out again.
Hiring a car at Stansted make most sense, seeing as you will be geographically isolated in the hinterland of Norfolk, without transport.
However if you have already booked train, accommodation in London why are you
”scared” of cost of travel? is it because of the dragons ?

Cakesandbabes · 03/07/2023 07:48

Didn't you move to Bristol or something like that few months ago?