PI4EVER From United States of America, joined May 2009, 465 posts, RR: 1 Posted (3 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 828 times:
I need some advice for a reasonably flexible travel schedule. Arriving in London and visiting friends in Essex and Surrey for several days. Planning on visiting Perth, Scotland. Will be picked up by friends in either EDI or GLA depending on travel arrangements from London.
I know the train to EDI and GLA is about 4+ hours in duration and accomodations include economy and first class type seating. Pricing by air would be for Y class only and fares appear to vary greatly depending on flights selected. We likely would travel to EDI or GLA on Wed and return to London on a Saturday. Airfares priced on BA and BD only so far.
I am considering the train for the journey up, and a flight back to LHR on the Saturday as we will fly back to the US on Sunday. Will overnight at a LHR hotel on Saturday. Baggage would be one bag to check and 1 carry-on.
In your opinion and/or experience......best value for the $$ and convenience for this travel?
Thanks for your help and feedback,
Thomas
TCASAlert From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (3 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 822 times:
Definitely fly, the train from Kings Cross to Edinburgh is good but takes a long time. If you take the train don't bother with first class, standard class is fine and I believe has free Wifi. Get a seat in the quiet coach and there is really no difference.
Once you get north of the Midlands it's quite a scenic journey, especially as you go through Northumberland and into the Scottish borders. If you're planning to travel up on at rush hour (4-7pm) forget it, the train will be packed out and usually standing room only on the busiest trains. It's also generally a lot more expensive on the train. Don't forget you'd have to cart your baggage across the tube as well to get the train.
BA/BD are pretty reasonably priced from LHR-GLA/EDI, and usually sit around the £40-£50 each way mark. Flights are frequent and efficient. The price goes up as you get closer so try and book in advance if you can. Alternatively you could take easyJet from LTN, the prices are marginally cheaper but you don't have the convenience factor of being at LHR, although there is a bus between the two which takes around 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic on the M25.
FlyBE go from LGW and will be more expensive, then you have BA from LCY which will be more again, both of the latter are ERJ-190s.
Roseflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 7614 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (3 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 813 times:
I've taken the train and since there's hourly or more train service, it is relatively easy if you are in Central London and can get to Kings Cross. Taking the train is easy and you don't have to deal with any of the hassels of flying.
However, if you are going to be connecting and flying out of heathrow, I'd fly. It's a nice quick flight once you get through the airport.
To me it depends on where you are going and what the prices are. If you are going to the city center within walking distance or an easy Tube ride, the train is easier. If not, flying can save some time. Regardless, the journey will take 4-5 hours either way when you factor getting to the airport and out of the airport compared to the quick transition on the trains.
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fiscal From Australia, joined Oct 2009, 199 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 793 times:
I think it gets down to time, comfort and the experience.
Thy plane will get you there quickly, but there will be delays at both ends for check in, security and baggage collection. Return fares are usually better than one way.
Contrary to reply 1, I would consider First class on the train if you want comfort (as in space) and the experience of seeing the world go by (assuming daytime travel).
For Edinburgh you would travel from London Kings Cross on an East Coast service. I think they may now offer free food in first class, but not entirely sure on that, but there will be ample tea and biscuits.
For Glasgow you would travel from London Euston on a Virgin Trains service. They do offer free meals, (an excellent breakfast) and tea and biscuits.
Both stations do not connect well with LHR, so a taxi to/from London Paddington station is your best bet and the heathrow Express, although London Kings Cross is connected via the tube, but this takes about an hour and can get crowded (but is cheap)
Check out a BritRail pass, purchased before you leave home, it can be a very economic way of just hopping on board and going where you please.
YXD172 From Canada, joined Feb 2008, 352 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 766 times:
I can't say much about the train, but as far as flying goes I took BD from EDI-LHR in the spring - short flight, no hassles, and the T1 domestic arrivals in LHR is pretty quick.
However, if you fly BD, I'd recommend booking through expedia.com or another online booking site to save the CC booking fee and the currency conversion (in stead of booking through BMI's site - you'll save about $8. Not much, but a nice lunch)
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PI4EVER From United States of America, joined May 2009, 465 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (3 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 667 times:
Thanks everyone for the great advice. After reviewing your suggestions with our friends, we've decided to:
1. Ride the Virgin Train from London Euston to Glasgow. One-way First Class just 72.50GBP each, just 20GBP more than regular coach. Our friends in Surrey will drive us to Euston.
2. Fly BA back from EDI or GLA to LHR so we can arrive at T5 for a quick transfer to the Hilton in T4. We leave the next day from T4 on DL.
3. We definitely considered the BritRail pass, but considering our friends in Essex are picking us up at LHR, we did not need any other rail transport except the ticket to GLA.
Will book the Virgin Trains and BA flight on a travel agent GDS here in the US to avoid any booking/credit card fees.
Thanks again for the help. Looking forward to our 5th trip to the UK......and first time on to Scotland.
Thomas
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