In the UK, the school holidays pose an exciting challenge for families looking to get away from the usual grind of their long working – or scholastic! – weeks.
Holidays during this in-demand time can be expensive and difficult to book, especially if you’re working to a tight budget. Monetary constraints are tough, but at National Rail, we have valuable insight in how to travel for less, without scrimping on enjoyable experiences across the country.
Read on for some of our finest travel tips for families, where you can utilise our train network – whilst keeping an eye on train times – to streamline your holiday experience and make it cheaper.
Book your transport in advance
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, city breaks have become a popular solution for UK families to make the most of UK holidays. For this reason, we highly recommend booking your transport well in advance. This includes your train tickets.
Advance tickets are generally released three months prior to your travel date, and they increase in price the longer you wait to buy them. The quicker you book, the more you save! Discounts may also be included if you’re travelling with children.
Always travel on off-peak train times
When embarking on your school holidays via the rail network, opting for off-peak train times can also save you some serious pounds. Off-peak tickets are always cheaper and make for less crowded trains, which is generally a more comfortable journey for families with young children. Of course, off-peak train times can vary depending on where you are located, the day of the week, and even the train company that you use.
Make use of a railcard
Across the UK, a Family & Friends Railcard is perfect for saving your family money when travelling by train. You receive a 1/3 discount off train travel for adults, and 60% off for children. It’s only £30 for one year to purchase this railcard, or £70 for three years.
As a result of this one-time purchase, you can spend far more at your final holiday destination!
Choose family-friendly destinations
Outside of our tips regarding the rail network, we highly recommend choosing family-friendly destinations, such as London or Edinburgh, for the school holidays. This may seem like an obvious choice, but it isn’t always!
Carefully search for cities with free or discounted entry to their attractions for families. For example, most parks and museums in these places will have special rates for children and families. You can coordinate your train times to coincide with the opening hours of these attractions, and make the most of the holiday period.
For more advice, contact the National Rail
As the gateway to rail transport throughout Great Britain, there’s nothing we at National Rail don’t know about travelling on a budget. You can quickly plan an affordable journey through our website, or for more personalised advice, contact a support person directly at your earliest convenience. Book train tickets online today!
