Rail/Coach tickets to London - deals or the cheapest way to buy

[bizzylizzy]

My hubby and I want to travel from the Evesham area to London on one day over the weekend of Saturday 12th or Sunday 13th June. We want to go to an exhibition. The rail sites don't seem to offer any suggestions as to the best way of bringing the price of a ticket down. We can go on either day and travel at any time, as long as we get a few hours in London. The cheapest rail price so far is over £120 for us both. What a crazy price for a day return ticket. It's no wonder people are deserting the railways. I wondered if anyone knew of any vouchers codes or special offers that we could use to try and bring the price down. Thank you.

[cherrychapstick]

http://ojp.nationalra...uk/en/s/fares/tickets

[tamborine]

seems to be £30 single here

http://www.firstgreat...rn.co.uk/Default.aspx

[puternut]

Go to www.thetrainline.com

I tried Saturday leaving Evesham 08:27 to Paddington (arrive)10:29

Return Paddington 19:50 (arr 21:46)

Cost £66 return assuming no railcards

[cherrychapstick]

sorry that went on to sunday return heres the saturday one 33 pound return each which is nearly half the price so far x

http://ojp.nationalra...uk/en/s/fares/tickets

[puternut]

^^^ Thats £66 for 2 Adult Same Day Returns

[cherrychapstick]

yes i know i was writing it when you put your answer up sorry 33 pound each for returns

[cherrychapstick]

i meant half the price in the posters question which was £120 for 2 people

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

Where on earth are you searching for ticket prices? While the 'Anytime' return rail fare from Evesham to London is £61.00 (which does, indeed, result in a total fare of over £120), the 'Offpeak' fare (which applies to all services, both outbound and return, between Evesham and London at weekends) is only £33.00 (giving a total, for two people, of £66.00).

With the possible exception of Megatrain services (which don't operate on your route) there are only two websites which should ever use when seeking the cheapest rail fares. (They'll both give the same results). One is the website of whichever train operator serves the relevant routes. The other is that of National Rail:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
All available fares, other than possibly for some Megatrain services, are always listed on the National Rail site. Other sites, such as TheTrainline.com, have no access to any cheaper fares and often add on a booking fee. (Further, as a former rail station supervisor I know only too well that the independent ticketing sites have a nasty habit of selling tickets which aren't valid for travel on any trains at all!) There are no 'advance purchase' cheap tickets on that rail route (on the dates which you've specified).

[Buenchico]

Megabus doesn't operate from Evesham. The nearest pick-up point is Cheltenham. If you could get to/from Cheltenham you could catch the 0745 coach, arriving at London Victoria Bus Station at 1100. Return travel is at 2000, arriving in Cheltenham at 2320. The current TOTAL fare (for two people, including the 50p booking fee) is £30.50 on the Saturday or £22.50 on the Sunday.
http://www.megabus.com/uk/

National Express can take you directly from Evesham to London (on either the Saturday or Sunday), departing at 0650 on 12/06, arriving at 1015. Return travel is at 1830, returning at 2135. The TOTAL (for 2 people) fare is £46.40.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm

Chris

[bizzylizzy]

What a helpful lot you are, thank you. It's become a bit of a challenge. A friend has now found that if we drive to somewhere like Leamington we can cut the costs even further, something like £31 for us both. I can't even begin to imagine how visitors to this country manage to use the train service can you? Talk about complicated. When you compare our service to many others in Europe, it's shameful... you can tell I'm a grumpy old (well middle aged) woman these days :-) Thanks again everyone.

[rowanwitch]

Try national express Funfares I go to london regularly from Birmingham and rarely have to pay more than a fiver each way sometimes its only 2 0r 3 quid

[dzug2]

There are no advance fares on the Evesham line - ever.

At weekends the fare structure is very very simple - £33 a head day return to London. Any train out, any train back. No need to book in advance - just buy on the day.

I don't see whats complicated abiout that.

Should you end up driving to the Chiltern line I'd avoid Leamington (next to no parking) - Warwick Parkway is the place to go.

[dzug2]

Actually to add to your confusion - if you are going to travel by tube to/from the exhibition, then you can buy a 'one day travelcard' at Evesham for £37.50 which covers that same day return journey plus freedom of the underground, buses, etc, while in London.

There will be something similar from Warwick, etc, but I'm not sure of the comparative costs there.

[Dee Sa]

check and make sure they are not working on the line, there are often disruptions at the weekend.
I think the coach would probably be cheaper.

[bizzylizzy]

What train aficionados you are, my thanks to you all for all of your trouble. Much appreciated.