Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
treacledan71 · 03/07/2023 08:14

As said above try national express or mega bus straight from the airport. The 2.00 bus thing is a good idea too.

JudgeJ · 03/07/2023 08:20

listsandbudgets · 03/07/2023 06:16

Not unreasonable to worry about costs of UK train travel.. astronomical, frequently over crowded and plagued by strikes and unreliability.

Show quote history

And let's not forget tht the rest of the world is Utopia! The OP should be glad she's not travelling in France at the moment.

JaneJeffer · 03/07/2023 08:21

Am I the only person who has to sing the song every time I see National Express?

SunnyEgg · 03/07/2023 08:21

JudgeJ · 03/07/2023 08:20

And let's not forget tht the rest of the world is Utopia! The OP should be glad she's not travelling in France at the moment.

Show quote history

I think that’s the fault of the UK media too

Apparently

Cailin66 · 03/07/2023 08:23

JudgeAnderson · 03/07/2023 08:12

Coach travel like National Express is much cheaper and ironically much more reliable than the trains.

I'd hardly call Ireland cheap in general though.

Ironically it is very cheap for two things. Rail fares are unbelievably cheap as are flights. Even car hire can be surprisingly cheap (not JulyAugust).

Examples

  • return train Dublin - Galway €30 (2 hour journey) . Around the same for Sligo, Waterford. NOT Cork.
  • alternatives are the private buses from the cities, and some towns, direct into Dublin airport.
  • flight booked last week from Shannon to Edinburgh for this week, €18 each way (no seat, or bag, only small backpack)
  • car hire for weekend last May, Fri to Mon, about €50

Hotels, eating out, petrol, drink are all very expensive. Especially Dublin, major cities and tourist areas.

ThelmaBorden · 03/07/2023 08:24

OP, sure you will, ‘get there fine’

This post is a form of taunting, withholding information essential to allowing helpful comments, designed to harness the good nature of posters, wind them up then drop them hard. Kindly people doing their best for someone presenting themselves as hapless and ‘scared’ whilst self misrepresenting and being utterly disingenuous.

Its also crying wolf and we know what happened at the end of that story.

Truly, I hope you stick this summer school out for the month and do not let them or the fee paying scholars down.

Danikm151 · 03/07/2023 08:25

If you qualify it’s worth getting a railcard sometimes to take 30% off your journey.

most bus companies are taking part in the £2 bus fare journey

have you seen if a national express coach can get you nearby- they’re doing 20% coach fares atm

JaneJeffer · 03/07/2023 08:27

I forgot this was in AIBU. I was wondering why so many people are being contrary.

Cosycover · 03/07/2023 08:27

ThelmaBorden · 03/07/2023 08:24

OP, sure you will, ‘get there fine’

This post is a form of taunting, withholding information essential to allowing helpful comments, designed to harness the good nature of posters, wind them up then drop them hard. Kindly people doing their best for someone presenting themselves as hapless and ‘scared’ whilst self misrepresenting and being utterly disingenuous.

Its also crying wolf and we know what happened at the end of that story.

Truly, I hope you stick this summer school out for the month and do not let them or the fee paying scholars down.

Is it really that serious?

Bloody hell.

Over40Overdating · 03/07/2023 08:28

OP if you are travelling next week why have you left booking trains til now? You’ve been here before so you know trains are expensive unless booked in advance.

As PPs have said, use the trainline app which will find the cheapest versions and buy a Network Rail card.

Buses are frequent and cheap to most destinations. A one night in London, booked late and in peak tourist season is never going to be anything but expensive, so this shouldn’t have been a surprise.

And I agree with a PP that trains should absolutely be more affordable but paying 18 euros for a flight massively skews our view on what transport should cost.

Elfblossom · 03/07/2023 08:31

I'm in England - best pal is Scottish but lives in Ireland and I'm often shocked at things she tells me - like the fact you pay for around €50 for bog standard GP appointment there.

And she had to pay for a compulsory ipad for daughter to have for school which also could only be purchased through the school at top whack.

And that you can't buy cheap secondhand anything - busted filthy old sofas still going for €100+

But yes, travel here is extortionate and often not fit for purpose. It sucks ... be thankful you'll only be using it for a short time.

Testina · 03/07/2023 08:32

@Mooshamoo you might have meant it when you said you were “scared”, but as a result you’ve had people suggest airports to try, bus companies and details of discount cards available.

Did you notice in your posts you’d not said thanks ?

You might want to try that.

Testina · 03/07/2023 08:33

Oh and an all recommendation and the practice of fare splitting.

AmenAmin · 03/07/2023 08:33

Get a coach, far cheaper

Twiglets1 · 03/07/2023 08:34

Mooshamoo · 03/07/2023 01:27

London is the closest airport. There aren't many regional airports on the East Anglia and south east side of England.

There are lots of regional airport on the West of England. Manchester , Liverpool etc.

But anytime I've had to go anywhere on the East of England I've had to fly to London

Show quote history

Standsted airport is the closest one to East Anglia that has lots of flights and accommodation close to that airport will be cheaper than London.

showmethedata · 03/07/2023 08:34

Mooshamoo · 03/07/2023 01:27

London is the closest airport. There aren't many regional airports on the East Anglia and south east side of England.

There are lots of regional airport on the West of England. Manchester , Liverpool etc.

But anytime I've had to go anywhere on the East of England I've had to fly to London

Show quote history

Ahem. Ever heard of Stagnated airport?

£16 Dublin - Stansted in July:
https://www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/dub/stn/230720/?adultsv2=1&cabinclass=economy&childrenv2=&inboundaltsenabled=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&preferdirects=false&qp_prevScreen=HOMEPAGE&ref=home&rtn=0

If the trains scare you, take a bus.

Cheap flights from Dublin to London at Skyscanner

https://www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/dub/stn/230720/?adultsv2=1&cabinclass=economy&childrenv2=&inboundaltsenabled=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&preferdirects=false&qp_prevScreen=HOMEPAGE&ref=home&rtn=0

Abhannmor · 03/07/2023 08:34

Cailin66 · 03/07/2023 08:11

I think there is way more of an issue here than people realise. This is not about goading.

As an aside, Irish rail is very heavily subsidised, so many might be unaware that rail costs elsewhere, not just U.K. are very expensive. There is also only one rail company and all routes are to Dublin. London/UK is a different planet entirely.

Show quote history

Not strictly true. Eg one can travel from Cork to Limerick with one change. Killarney to Limerick with 2. But yes mostly it's easier to go to Dublin and back out. Mental.

The UK network is complicated by having so many operators. And very pricey. But it is very big and extensive. I'd just use coaches if I was OP tbh.

showmethedata · 03/07/2023 08:35

Stansted airport: ruddy autocorrect.

JaneJeffer · 03/07/2023 08:36

Stagnated Airport made me laugh

Twiglets1 · 03/07/2023 08:38

showmethedata · 03/07/2023 08:35

Stansted airport: ruddy autocorrect.

I quite liked Stagnated airport though

JohnnysSoLongAtTheFair · 03/07/2023 08:38

showmethedata · 03/07/2023 08:35

Stansted airport: ruddy autocorrect.

…Stagnated airport?

I think I’m in a silly mood this morning but the autocorrects on this thread are making me laugh.

shivawn · 03/07/2023 08:39

Mooshamoo · 03/07/2023 08:05

Yeah but who wants to work in Ireland all the time. I've worked in lots of different countries. I love seeing new places.

Show quote history

It seems like you're really overthinking this so. If you want to work in another country then it's going to have higher transport costs.

It's only one month. I'd understand if you were going for a year and had to factor in all the extra UK monthly expenses that you don't have in Ireland, like council tax and water charges, but you're not.

Prettybutdumb · 03/07/2023 08:40

Mooshamoo · 03/07/2023 01:16

Nope. Has your employer done that for you?

No employer has ever paid me travel costs for getting to a new job.

Show quote history

I received an Oyster card for all my work related travels, it’s not that unusual.

Original poster
Mooshamoo · 03/07/2023 08:41

ThelmaBorden · 03/07/2023 08:24

OP, sure you will, ‘get there fine’

This post is a form of taunting, withholding information essential to allowing helpful comments, designed to harness the good nature of posters, wind them up then drop them hard. Kindly people doing their best for someone presenting themselves as hapless and ‘scared’ whilst self misrepresenting and being utterly disingenuous.

Its also crying wolf and we know what happened at the end of that story.

Truly, I hope you stick this summer school out for the month and do not let them or the fee paying scholars down.

What the actual fuck. Wow you have some issues.

Saying train fares are expensive in England is "taunting people?" . Wow you are a sensitive flower.

If I say "hotels are expensive in new York" is that taunting people in New York?

You're strange.

I can write about all the expensive things in Ireland. Someone could tell me that hotels are ridiculously expensive in Ireland, and I would agree with them as it's true. I definitely wouldn't get offended about it.

OP posts:
Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 08:42

Get coaches rather than a train, much cheaper.