rail travel from Devon to London

[ceppy]

Going to Cornwall and Devon this summer with kids camping (bringing car from Ireland). Would like to bring kids to London for a night (7,9,10). Should I travel by train of drive ourselves. Looked up train fares and seem very expensive. Maybe I'm looking at wrong trains etc - haven't a clue as never been to South Engladn before.

Personally, I would take the train but I would book tickets in advance. They will go on sale I think three months in advance, and you have to commit to particular trains on particular days, but that way they will be a lot cheaper.

Can I also say that if you do choose to drive, there is a big difference between driving from Devon and driving from Cornwall. I might consider driving from Devon, if I could share the driving from someone else, but I wouldn't much care to drive to and from Cornwall for just one night.

Don't drive to London whatever you do. The train is a far better option and as previous poster says tickets in advance are not too bad. Plus you will need a Family Railcard - you can get it at any train station for £15 -this will make tickets for children much cheaper.
Whereabouts are you likely to be based? Knowing the best stations to travel from makes a lot of difference.

Consider a family railcard, you can sometimes save the cost on a single journey. It will also give you discounts on Tube tickets. Rail tickets often have 2 for 1 entry to London attractions. Choose the place to leave the car carefully - perhaps leave at Bristol Parkway rather than Devon or Cornwall? I think the trains from that station are possibly faster than Exeter or Plymouth, parking maybe easier and you'll be presumably going that way back.

Were are you going to be based, ceppy? It'll be a looong drive for one overnight, as others say, esp from Cornwall ... train would be more relaxing I'd say.