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Post by Phar Lap on May 14, 2014 4:33:53 GMT -5
I'd like to visit a few places when I'm in England and from what I've been given to understand, it's cheaper to book your ticket in advance, but I don't really want to have to pre-book them now for a date eight weeks away because it means I'd be locked in. I think I'd like to do it as I go. Any idea what the price difference is between advance booking and buying on the day?
York interests me a lot, I'd initially planned on staying overnight but a day trip means I don't have to pay for accommodation, so it will be a day trip. What are some other places that would make a nice trip? Chester I read is a walled city? Is it similar to York? Would you go to both or choice one?
Some day trips am thinking of are Brighton and Bath. The south east? - is that the area known as the garden of England? Any ideas on that area?
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Post by poppy on May 14, 2014 6:16:02 GMT -5
you can check that easily - look up the train web page, put in today's date and destination. Then put in the same info with a date 8 weeks ahead. One of the tricks to train travel in the UK is travelling off peak or after 9.30 a.m.. Our first trip to the UK, I was heading to Cambridge for the day at the ticketmaster at the station near where I was staying, nicely told me to go and sit down until after 9.30. Apparently the saving was worth it. Back then I think the trip Bowes Park to Cambridge cost me £16. From memory I think our day trip to Portsmouth cost around £44 return or it may have been £22 each. Can't remember what the train to Brighton cost guessing around the £20 mark. I haven't been to Chester, I hope to my next trip but what another train fare costs it might be worth having a night in York and spending two days exploring the town. York is probably my most favourite place I have been to. If you have to chose between Brighton or Bath - go with Bath. Brighton is nice but Bath is nicer and easier, imo to get around.
My offer still stands, if you make your way to my place I am happy to go through this trip with you.
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Post by wombatrois on May 14, 2014 6:58:58 GMT -5
York - spend at least one night and do the ghost walk - it's a bit cheesy, but good fun and fabulous to walk around the old town at night. Bath definitely over Brighton - it's fabulous. Harrogate is also a favourite of mine Winchester is worth it for the cathedral alone, but is also another favourite (even if my relations did live there) Cornwall - Penzance, St Ives - all worth it, but day trips wouldn't give you a great overview, Have your thought about a Britrail pass? www.railplus.com.au/uk-by-rail/britrail-passes/britrail-flexi-pass/prices-info.htm
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Post by HalcyonDaze on May 14, 2014 7:06:37 GMT -5
Yes, York is such a beautiful place I'd certainly say stay overnight rather than do a day trip. Even if you leave you main bag back at the main hotel/hostel in London and just take a small overnight bag.
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Post by cakemonkey on May 14, 2014 14:50:33 GMT -5
Also,sometimes it's cheaper or just a little more to travel first class (and your meals are included) so it's worth checking out first class prices too.
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Post by riverhorse on May 14, 2014 16:13:05 GMT -5
Chester is definitely worth a visit, it's really lovely, with great city walls and Roman ruins.
Another trick with train fares is that sometimes it's cheaper to book two single tickets instead of a return for exactly the same trip. Or to break the one journey up into several sectors, buying a ticket for each one, even though you never get off the train or leave your seat for the whole journey.
Whilst I agree with Wombat3 that Bath is lovely, I think Brighton is equally worthwhile of a day trip, for completely different reasons. What time of year are you coming over, Phar Lap? Brighton on a warm summer day is just unbeatable!
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Post by kneazle on May 14, 2014 23:31:54 GMT -5
I loved Chester as well - I did a day trip from Liverpool (Beatles pilgrimage) I'd also second Womatrois' suggestion of Winchester I spent about two months living there Jane Austen is buried in the cathedral, Bloody Mary was married there, the remains of Ancient kings ares stored in coffins that you can see.
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Post by Phar Lap on May 15, 2014 21:11:34 GMT -5
Good idea about checking dates Poppy. I checked London to York return for tomorrow, cheapest fare is £37.75 leaving at 6.15 in the morning, all other fares are £48.50. This is one way. Yesterday, I put in date of travel as 30 July, fare was £13.00 each way, making a total of £26.00, so yes, advance bookings are way cheaper. I'll PM you about your place, that's good of you. thanks.
Not sure if I'd save with a Britrail pass Wombat, I think it depends on how many trips I do for it to be cost effective but I'll keep it in mind. I'll be in London the first week of July, then 26 July to 7 August. I'm travelling around Europe for three weeks so much as I'd like to stay overnight, it comes down to finances. I can do a number of day trips, factoring in accommodation means less day trips and I would like to see different parts/towns while I'm there.
Bath for its architecture and old buildings, Roman baths, Brighton because it's where people go to the seaside (according to books and films) and I've always wanted to go there.
I'll have a look at Harrow gate and Winchester Wombat. I love history and old places, walking around narrow cobble-stoned streets, quaint tea shops, old buildings etc. .
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Post by sprite on May 16, 2014 17:11:37 GMT -5
have you checked out YHA? their dorm rooms are very good (£26 per night across the street from saint pancras) but they also have private rooms.
rail fares: book in advance if you can. it's annoying, but yes take the time to do the rail pass math. if you book in advance, first class tickets are often only slightly more expensive and they are excellent value. we took virgin first class from liverpool to london. we got: very comfy seats with table, newspaper, coffee, tea, proper sandwich for lunch, small glass of wine, snacks for dessert... once i took it at night, and my coffee, aside from coming in a proper pot with proper cup, included a stroopwaffel. it's also quieter and less crowded. or, you can book a seat in the quiet car, but you can't use your mobile.
however, bus fares with national express can be extremely cheap, and the busses are comfortable.
york--you will need an overnight stay (a day trip out of london will be exhausting), and yes, the ghost tour is a must. there are free tours, but i took one called 'snickleways' which looked at the viking history as well, and it was great. again, with hostels and advance tickets you can do this very cheaply. do not miss the underground of the york minster, which is a microcosm of the city's history. i haven't been to the viking attraction so can't comment.
chester: the main attraction here is the roman history. we had a 2 hr walking tour with a guy in a centurion's outfit--he was great. he was an archeology student and really knew his stuff, and passionate. if your tight for time and money, i would take york over chester but if you can find a way to do both, go for it. it might be cheaper to go from york to liverpool, and then get a local train to chester--if you are on the national rail website, they have maps of their routes to help with this.
bath: can include bristol, which is lovely and only 20 minutes away. i really enjoyed the SS Great Britain. and accomodation here may be cheaper than in bath, which is a pricey town.
brighton: an easy day trip from london. the pier, the tiny alleyways, and the pavilion. the pavilion is a bit pricey, but worth every penny. get the audio guide and move slowly.
Winchester: easy access to stonehenge.
there lots of web pages with guides to free london. my favourite is to walk from the london eye to london tower bridge. the area is great, lots of funky stuff, and the ruins of a 1000 yr old bishop's palace, plus the southwark market and cathedral. there are also boats you can take along the river as part of the public transport system; one of them links london tate and tate modern, both free.
you may also love Rye, which is very old and quaint and full of antique shops you can't afford but will enjoy looking in anyway. closer to london, you could take the train to rochester which is very charles dickens. it has a norman castle (pay) and nice small cathedral (free, donation appreciated). you could get an amazing sandwich at the deli cafe and picnic on a hill overlooking the river. (do not go to 'dickens world' its crap.)
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Post by Phar Lap on May 24, 2014 19:57:24 GMT -5
Just an update and to let you know how it's going. I have a day tour on a Monday, and was intending to go to Chester on the Wednesday and York on the Friday. But train tickets for Chester are expensive, even with an advance fare it's still going to cost me around £39.50 which is $72! York, though is cheaper at £26.00. So, what I've done - have booked a day return to Brighton for the Wednesday and although will most likely book York train tickets for the Friday, I'm holding for a couple of days while I have a think bout it.
I also thought if I do day trips every day it will probably be very tiring so doing a trip every second day might work out wiser. If I don't see Chester I will be a bit disappointed and I have to balance disappointment and finances and see which one wins.
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Post by tucano on May 25, 2014 2:10:58 GMT -5
Brighton is less busy during the week so good time to go.
Echo the recommendation for the Royal Pavilion. The gardens have a nice cafe for lunch if it's sunny and you can also pop into the free museum next door - I like the World Stories galleries and they also have a real Dali couch.
If you like architecture I recommend walking west along the seafront as far as Brunswick Square.
Happy to offer more tips if you need them!
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Post by lisamnz on May 25, 2014 17:33:57 GMT -5
Phar, have you tried a bunch of different times for chester? Like after 10am or whenever the offpeak time starts? I'm surprised it's that expensive still.
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Post by Phar Lap on May 26, 2014 8:25:27 GMT -5
Yep, tried all that Lisa. Surprisingly the only cheaper fare was for the Saturday which is when we're going to the Cotswolds.
And for the Monday, the cheapest "Advance" fare is £111.50! Looks like they haven't released the advance fares yet. On a later train the "off-peak" fare is £39.85. Off-peak is a higher fare.
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Post by tzarine on May 26, 2014 23:02:40 GMT -5
tucano
love that brighton walk!
really liked salisbury, especially the cathedral
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Post by Phar Lap on Jun 4, 2014 5:09:40 GMT -5
Tucano, I looked up the Royal Pavilion - that's my kind of place. Will definitely be going there. What else can you tell me about Brighton? I want to walk along the pier, eat fish and chips, visit the Royal Pav just generally have a lovely day at the beach.
The walk along the seafront you mentioned, do you do that walking along the beach, that is sand; or do you walk along a road?
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Post by tucano on Jun 4, 2014 6:19:44 GMT -5
Sorry to break it to you but the beach is pebbles! You can walk along the lower seafront (next to the beach but below the road) which starts from next to the pier – there are a few artists galleries immediately to your right as you go down onto the path.
My favourite place for fish and chips isn’t on the beach, but you could try the Regency which is just up from the bandstand on the seafront road. Personally I’d avoid the fish and chip places on the beach itself, not as nice. If you fancy an icecream Boho Gelato in Pool Valley (across the road from the pier) is great.
It’s nice to wander round the little alleyways in the Lanes – mostly jewellery shops but there are a few others. Avoid West St.
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