UK TRAIN TRAVEL FOR 1ST TIMERS | How to Take Trains in England, Scotland & Wales (Step by Step!)

New to taking trains in the UK? Not sure how to get the best deal on UK train tickets or how to navigate the stress of UK train stations? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know so that you can conquer the UK train system with confidence!

BUT do know the cheapest option will almost always be to book directly with the train operator!

00:00 INTRODUCTION
00:47 A BRIEF INTRO TO THE UK RAIL SYSTEM
1:42 TYPES OF TRAINS IN THE UK
2:50 STEP BY STEP HOW TO TAKE TRAINS IN THE UK (INTRO)
2:54 1) DECIDE IF TRAINS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE
4:22 2) BUY TRAIN TICKETS
6:16 RAILCARD VS NO RAILCARD
7:05 TICKETS VS RAILPASSES
8:18 ADVANCE VS. ANYTIME VS. OFF-PEAK
10:17 SPLIT TICKETS
10:54 1ST VS STANDARD CLASS
11:41 RESERVED VS. UNRESERVED SEATS
12:34 3) BUY SNACKS BEFORE YOUR TRIP
13:26 4) ARRIVE AT THE STATION
14:38 5) GET TO THE PLATFORM
15:50 6) FIND THE RIGHT CARRIAGE
16:35 7) FIND YOUR SEAT
17:27 8) GET COMFY & ENJOY THE JOURNEY
18:12 9) DISEMBARK

HELPFUL LINKS

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I hope you enjoy this guide on how to take trains in the UK! I cover lots of topics from how to get the best deals on UK train tickets, how seat reservations work on UK trains, how to find the right platform and train carriage, amenities and perks of UK trains, 1st vs standard class on UK trains, the difference between different types of UK trains, and more.

[HappytoWander]

BUT do know the cheapest option will almost always be to book directly with the train operator!

[Jack-miin]

feels stupid to say but this helped me as a british person

[teslaandhumanity]

I’m English and about to travel 🧳 4 hours 30 mins up north and watched your video to learn how to get a long distance train . Thanks . ❤

[seeker]

Wow, You really put some work in here. I think the rail companys should employ you. You understand there systems better than there own staff.

[JimJamesMyName]

So very informative and useful for my upcoming first trip to the UK in March! I appreciate your insight and firsthand knowledge.

[jerry]

As someone who's been driving in the UK for 35 years, there's no way that I would drive into London. Hire cars are fine if you're in the countryside outside the big cities, but not a good choice within a conurbation.

EDIT: if you're travelling on local lines, Anytime tickets are sometimes the only ticket available. Also, local Anytime tickets are often not excessively expensive (unlike on long-distance trains).

With Off-peak tickets, you really need to check the rules for when they're not valid. For instance, from the same station you can have different periods of validity for different destinations. So for instance, a Leeds to Skipton Off-peak day return is valid after 09:30, but not in the evening peak between 16:00 and 18:30, but a Leeds to Settle (a station a bit further down the line) Off-peak is valid any time from 09:00 with no evening peak black-out. And some trains from Leeds serve both Skipton and Settle!

Day return tickets (where the return journey has to be made the same day as the outward journey) are often not much more expensive than the equivalent single, so you save a lot by using these if you're having a day trip out.

Many local trains don't have first class.

A tip if travelling on TransPennine, especially between Manchester and Leeds: a LOT of reservations often aren't used, because the trains run several times per hour, and passengers can get an earlier train than expected. So if you see a seat reserved from an earlier station that isn't occupied, you will probably be OK to sit on it (unless the passenger has gone to the loo).

[antonyreid]

Thanks for a great video. It demonstrates just how bad and confusing the privatised UK rail system actually is. I've not used a train for decades so looked for a refresher course so a big thanks.

[OneRedFeatherStudios.]

Yet another highly informative and useful video Christina, with a lot of topics and options covered. Loved this one. The many times I've been in the UK as a visitor, train travel has always been reliable, safe and cost effective. I've never really had a bsd train experience. So all the information you provide here, is wonderful and timely. Great job.

[Tobberz]

Brits love to hate our railways, and it's true that there is a lot to be improved. However, our safety is world class, trains are broadly on time when compared to European neighbours, and they cover most of the country: there's a lot to love. The main issue honestly is price (and a lack of true High Speed rail!)

[margueritec]

This video has been so helpful in planning our trip to the UK. Thank you so much for all your hard work and research putting this together!

[alanduffell]

The deal with split tickets as I understand it (I'm a railway worker but as with all things British, it's complicated) is: it's to do with the way that responsibility for setting fares was divided up when British Rail was privatised in the mid 1990s. E.g., company 1 has responsibility for setting the fare between station A and station C, whilst company 2 has responsibility for setting the fare between stations A and B, and between stations B and C, even if both companies' trains stop at station B on their way. As such the fare from A to C bought in one transaction may be different from the sum of the fares from A to B and B to C. Why? As with all things British, it's complicated.

[DivineDianne]

Very informative video but I would have liked more information about navigating the platforms, since that is the step in the journey I find most daunting.

[ziyizhao]

Thank u so much for telling us these😮 These bloggers taught me a lot and once learned how to buy a railcard cheaper❤

[KS-xzrq]

Absolutely brilliant presentation.Me and my wife are visiting the UK for three plus weeks and plan to use our multiple rail passes very efficiently.We are a senior couple from India and plan to criss cross the mainland countries and try to see as many diverse cities and towns as possible.The big advantage of travelling by train in Britain is that most of the main stations are located in historic town centers and one needs just a couple of hours to alight and see a few fascinating sights by walking and get back on the train easily for the next journey.

[anikaaltiman]

Excellent video for first timers -- covers key points, tips and graphics for a complete trip!!! I am so glad I watched this video. Thank you.

[garryscott]

Exceptional details for first timers. Thankyou

[oliverstemp]

Thank you for mentioning to use the whole platform when boarding. Often people just crowd around the station entrance causing hassle.

[billmilligan]

One thing worth noting if your journey involves a ferry within Scotland you can get a combined train and ferry ticket. Also of note it is sometimes cheaper to buy your train ticket through ScotRail or LNER due to promos. Split ticketing can be fun it is possible to go from Glasgow central to London Euston for £4.50

[CodeRTE-TRAINPAL]

Thanks for sharing. Saving a bit on travel is always good!

[adebanjosegun]

This was super super helpful. Thanks for creating this video