Universities on a decent train line from the South West!

[Stugs]

Dd was thinking about applying to Lancaster but it's a 5 hour drive or an absolutely hideous 6 or 7 hour train journey with 3 or 4 changes including getting across London. Sadly that rules it out as she will want to come home a few times a term (please no dismissive comments about this there's a good reason!).

She will apply yo Bath but it will be very much the aspirational choice - A* A A and she's more AAB. Doesn't fancy Exeter. Bristol doesn't do the course. I'm being lazy and asking here if there's anywhere further away that has a good rail connection to Bristol or Exeter???

Years ago I drew a line for universities 4 to 5 hours away from Cornwall with a change at Plymouth and/ or Bristol. The final list was Swansea, Cardiff, Bath, Warwick & Reading. Plymouth and Exeter were both too close to home.

I definitely suggest taking a look at Cardiff and Swansea.

When my Dd was at Cardiff and we lived in East Anglia she used National Express coaches, so much cheaper and guaranteed a seat. Changing coaches at Victoria was easy and not a hike across London to change trains.

Southampton or Bournemouth?

I'd echo those suggesting you also look at coach rather than rail options. My DD is at Bristol, we're in SW London, and we're finding coaches to be much cheaper and more frequent than trains. Possibly slightly slower and prone to traffic delays at busy times, but the journey back to our house from the coach station is easier than from the rail terminus anyway. Definitely worth looking into!

Transferring GPs or hospitals for university and then back again each holidays is a complete pain, and very unreliable if you need regular repeat prescriptions. Also it may be that OP's DD needs to see a specialist – 2 of my 3 have Type I diabetes, and we've yet to come across a GP that knows jack about it, including those who think they do!

@Stugs I think you are very wise to bear this mind, good luck to your DD.

Thanks - one change is fine, itsnjust the having to go to London then from Paddington or waterloo to Euston that she wants to avoid.

Are you anywhere near the CrossCountry line from Cornwall through Birmingham to the north east? CrossCountry trains are awful, but no changes needed. Or change at Birmingham New Street to go north west. Easypeasy.

For Sports Science, Birmingham is the way to go & it's got reputational value.

Trainline is pretty rubbish (I do a lot of travelling by train for work).

From the SW, CrossCountry train to Birmingham, then change there for the West Coast line. It's a much nicer line/trains than CRossCountry, which are always overcrowded & full of quite rude passengers, so if she needs to use it frequently - advanced bookings & reserved seats - DON'T use the Trainline - book direct with the train operating companies.

Reading

Can you fly from Newquay or Bristol, because that opens up some possiblities much further north and woulds be quicker (and cheaper!) than the train

OP i understand the wish for anonymity but could you tell us the nearest biggish railway station to where you live?

With the Elizabeth Line going through London, Thameslink and the line from Gatwick to Reading getting from Sussex(?) doesn't need to be a slog.

For example, I am trying to get to London from Bath today and the line was shut at Maidenhead for a few hours because of a fire

I could:

1. sit tight on my train
2. travel down to Salisbury, then catch a train to Waterloo
3. travel down to Westbury (checking whether I could get to Reading) and squeeze onto the stopping service to Clapham Junction.

Have a look at University of Gloucestershire. Cheltenham for Psy and Gloucester campus for Sports.

Cardiff or Swansea. I’m from the SW and about half our 6th form went to one or the other!

& Swansea has the advantage of being on the edge of the Gower for anyone missing the sea.

I agree that it would hell knowing your nearest station, as there is a world of difference between St Erth & Taunton.

No useful comments, just sending sympathy. DD has a progressive condition with both pain and fatigue symptoms, so both the physical and time factors of travelling are very difficult, especially if the mental fatigue of changes etc are added. She is under 3 specialists and a GP, in 3 different places all remote from where we live and hard to reach from uni (except the GP).

I do do a lot of driving, tbh. Some of the train journeys are possible but just too fatiguing.

(Finally diagnosed after uni application and acceptance - if we had thought in advance as you sensibly are, we would gave set it up differently)