LNER or Lumo – the trains

When it comes to comparing the actual trains, you won’t find much difference! They look pretty much the same on the outside:

Lumo operates all-electric Class 803 trains, which are five carriages long. Meanwhile LNER operates a mix of bi-mode (diesel and electric) Class 800 trains, and some all-electric Class 801 trains. The vast majority of their trains from Edinburgh will be formed of nine carriages.

They come from the same family and were built by Hitachi. Our only issue would be that the Lumo trains are only five carriages, which means they’re likelier to feel a bit ‘cosier’ on busier services!

SmartSplit says: LNER has the edge with longer trains and more seats, but the trains themselves look much the same!

Waiting to get on board

In Edinburgh and London, you can usually board an LNER train around 20 minutes before the train leaves. Before that time, the platform number won’t be advertised on any screens, but you might find a slow trickle of people wandering over earlier as some apps/sites will show it before the station boards do! As a result, most trains, other than the busiest ones, have a pretty calm and gradual boarding process.

Lumo is extremely variable. When we caught our train from Edinburgh on a Thursday afternoon, a crowd was allowed to build on the platform until we were eventually allowed on around 10 minutes before departure. This made boarding a little chaotic as people tried to rush on to find their seats.

The following week, we caught a Wednesday evening train, the last one of the day. Despite the train needing to be swapped at the depot, it came in with about 20 minutes to spare and everyone was allowed straight on.

SmartSplit says: With Lumo, there’s a chance that boarding might feel a bit more chaotic or left to later. No problem if you’re alone, but it might not be ideal if you’re with family.

LNER or Lumo – the seat test!

When you’re travelling such a long distance, you’ll want to know whether or not your seat will be comfortable. With LNER, we’re just going to look at Standard Class – as Lumo doesn’t have a First Class option at all!

LNER

Here’s what you can expect with LNER:

The seats are pretty firm, we’ll be honest. While legroom is good, they won’t be winning any awards for comfort. You’ll also find a tray table for each seat that’ll pull out to make some more room for a laptop.

Under your seat you’ll see that there’s a four-pin socket each. To our surprise, Standard Class didn’t have any USB sockets! However, the seats themselves were in good condition and the sockets worked. Everything felt clean and well-looked after.

There are between four and eight sets of table seats in each carriage for families and groups, so it won’t be difficult to keep yourselves sat together.

Lumo

The Lumo seat actually looks a little more impressive, at first glance:

You can tell that some more thought has gone into these. The headrests are winged, which make them perfect for a nap, while the seat isn’t quite so fully upright. Yes, the seatback is pretty thin, but this means that legroom is only slightly tighter than on LNER, despite more seats being squeezed in.

You’ll find a power socket and two USBs under the seat in front of you:

The only issue with this is that it makes putting things under your seat a little more difficult. The overall shape of the seat base is quite curved as well, so kicking a bag under there is a bit more of a squeeze.

On the back of the seat, there’s a tray table and even a reading light:

One thing to note with the tray tables is that any drinks need to go in the contoured part (pull the table out to reveal) as the rest of the table is totally smooth with no lip. Anything capable of moving will slide off.

Our only complaint was everything felt a bit worn already. Around the socket was quite scratched and one seat in the carriage even had a tray table missing. For trains only introduced in 2021, it was clear that some parts weren’t very hard-wearing.

Lumo trains also only have two sets of table seats per carriage. This makes it very likely that larger groups won’t be sat together, so you should bear this in mind when booking.

SmartSplit says: Despite being a bit well-worn, Lumo wins the seat battle. They were more comfortable, have USB sockets available and most importantly, they’re better to nap in! You might prefer LNER if you want a table, though…

Travelling with luggage?

The Hitachi trains that both companies use have been criticised for lacking luggage space. In fact, LNER ended up taking out some seats so people had enough space to store bigger bags and cases!

LNER

In every carriage on LNER, you’ll find at least two luggage racks at the ends of the carriage. On a nine-coach train, coaches B, C, H and J have four, while G has three. Five-coach trains (rarely seen on the Edinburgh to London route) have two in each carriage. The racks have two parts, with a smaller top part for smaller cases (visible in the picture below), with a bigger part for large cases.

The overhead racks will take a cabin-sized suitcase, while backpacks can be slid under the seats. The overhead racks are angled a little bit downwards too, to minimise the risk of anything falling out.

Put simply, LNER have made an extra effort to make sure everyone’s luggage can fit. That’s essential on a long-distance train.

Lumo

Lumo, in an effort to squeeze in seats, have kept the bare minimum luggage space. In coaches B, C and D, you’ll find just one luggage rack. Meanwhile A and E don’t have one at all, so you’ll need to rely on the overhead racks.

That is, unless you’re sitting in any of the seats without a window at the carriage ends, in which case you don’t get an overhead rack either. The worst seats on the train for people with luggage are E01 to E12, as coach E doesn’t have any luggage racks at the carriage ends nor do those seats have them above.

SmartSplit says: If you have a lot of luggage, stick to LNER. Otherwise, expect a scrum to get to a luggage rack before somebody else beats you to it on Lumo.

If you’re feeling peckish

LNER have a QR code on the back of every seat where you can use their “Let’s Eat at Your Seat” service, as well as an on-board cafe bar. You can take a look at their menu here.

Lumo have opted for a ‘LumoEats’ pre-ordering service if you’d like anything substantial, having partnered with M&S, the Pasty Shop and Upper Crust. It’s a decent idea, but only allowed if you’re travelling from Edinburgh or London – no good for anyone jumping on in Newcastle! Equally, if you’re leaving early in the morning, it might not be offered – meaning that there’ll be a more limited drinks and snacks selection. If you don’t pre-order, a trolley will come through and offer drinks and snacks.

There’s no dedicated menu, but you can see what’s on offer if you type in some journey details here.

Which is cheaper?

But how do they measure up? Well, whether you choose LNER or Lumo, there’s the option to have food brought directly to your seat. But what about cost? Let’s go for a simple sandwich, bag of crisps and a drink:

On Lumo, the cheapest option we could find was:

• M&S Egg & Watercress sandwich – £2.30
• Burts Salt & Vinegar Crisps – £1.45
• Harrogate Still Water – £1.50

That comes to £5.25, which isn’t bad value at all for a train! Meanwhile, LNER offer a £6 meal deal. This allows you to pick any sandwich or rice pot, any bag of Walker’s crisps or chocolate bar, and any hot or soft drink.

SmartSplit says: Lumo definitely offers the more ‘interesting’ food options if you’re able to pre-order. But, if you’re indecisive or want something on the go, LNER is best. When it comes to price, both actually offer decent value for a train.

LNER or Lumo – which is cheaper?

Travelling alone

When picking between LNER or Lumo, most of us will be thinking about price. After all, it’s a budget product, so we expect a budget price! To start with, let’s take a look at an Off-Peak trip, midweek, around a month in advance. We’ll be going from Edinburgh to London, one way, without any other discounts.*

What have we found? Lumo definitely offers cheaper single fares. There isn’t a ground-breaking difference in this example, but you can certainly save a reasonable amount. The trend continues throughout the day in our example. For instance, you could take the 16:00 to London (LNER) for £45.70, while the 16:13 (Lumo) is £37.90.

Travelling a little sooner* can cause the results to go either way. For example, we can see that there’s a bigger difference between LNER and Lumo for a late-evening trip down to London:

However, if we move that to the afternoon, it’s actually cheaper to choose LNER:

SmartSplit says: So, which is cheaper, LNER or Lumo? In most cases, we would say Lumo will have the edge when you’re travelling alone. If you’re travelling last-minute, you might snap up a great deal on quieter trains. However, busier trains might have little or no difference – it might even be cheaper to pick LNER.

*_{^{Fares quoted correct on SmartSplit.co.uk on 28/02/23 for travel on 04/04/23 and 07/03/23 respectively. All are subject to change at any time.}}

LNER or Lumo – our verdict

So, we’ve been through everything. But what’s our view in a nutshell? Here’s what we’d rate each part of the experience out of 5:

SmartSplit says: For an overall predictable and stress-free experience for all passengers, LNER definitely has the edge. But, we think that each company has its own market and purpose.

If you’re travelling as a family or in a group, we’d still recommend sticking with LNER. It has better luggage provision, more table seats and it’s likely to be less stressful trying to board and get settled. It also has the full range of food options no matter when you choose to order.

If you’re travelling light, alone or as a couple, Lumo might be the one for you. When you’re booking for yourself or for a couple of adults, Lumo is undoubtedly cheaper most of the time. The seats are more comfortable and the lack of luggage space won’t be a problem if you just have a backpack or small case.

So, LNER or Lumo? It just depends who you’re travelling with and what you’re bringing with you!

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about the Capital? Take a look at our guide to travelling to London. We’ll tell you about getting the best fares on routes like Birmingham to London and Southend to London, as well as whether it’s worth upgrading to First Class on LNER.

You can book all of the tickets we’ve discussed on the SmartSplit website. There’s no fees if you change your plans, either.

^{_{All fares and other prices, as well as times of trains, were issued on this page in good faith, and were correct at the time of writing (28/02/2023). SmartSplit is not responsible for any loss, inconvenience or otherwise, as a result of the information provided.}}

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What kind of day trips from Edinburgh by train are there?

Scotland has a great network of railways that make day trips from Edinburgh by train simple. For the most part, there’s just one operator (ScotRail) as well, so you don’t have to worry about getting on the wrong one.

Whether you just want to make a short hop and go for a walk somewhere new, or fancy a lie down on the beach, we’ve got you covered.

Aberdour & The Fife Coast

Did you know that the beach is just a 30-minute train trip from Edinburgh? Simply hop on a train to Aberdour and you can enter a completely different world. The beautiful sights begin before you’ve even left the station:

What better way to start one of these day trips from Edinburgh by train than by arriving at a station adorned with hanging baskets and beautiful flower arrangements? In fact, the village has won a Britain in Bloom award and has over 80 volunteers making sure that the entire community keeps looking spick and span.

It’s just a short walk down to Black Sands, which faces the Firth of Forth and gives great views back towards Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat:

This is definitely a good one if you fancy a walk. If you’d prefer some more peaceful surroundings, then you can head to Silver Sands. It’s connected to Black Sands by the Fife Coastal Path, or it’s a 15-minute walk if you’re coming from the station directly:

Silver Sands is great if you just want to lie back and relax. It has a wee cafe too, so you can enjoy a cold drink on a warm day (or a hot one if you’ve decided to have a bracing stroll in the colder months!)

You could pay a visit to Aberdour Castle & Gardens, too. It’s one of the oldest standing Castles in Scotland, with some parts dating back to the 1100s. Over the years, different families added their own touch to the castle, giving a real insight into the fashions and attitudes of the time. We can’t forget the beautifully-kept grounds, either:

Getting There

Ready to make this one of your next day trips from Edinburgh by train? The fares are pretty simple. It’s £8 for a day return that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Trains leave twice every hour, and the trip takes around 30 minutes. On a Sunday, the trains run hourly. The most common route to Silver Sands beach (via the station car park) has no step-free access, so you’ll need to bear this in mind if you’re travelling with kids and a buggy. Instead, you’ll need to go via Main Street to join Hawkcraig Road.

Linlithgow

This is one of the quickest and simplest day trips from Edinburgh by train. You can be there in less than 20 minutes! So, what is there to do in Linlithgow?

If you want some peace and quiet (and to get your step count in) then you can take a walk around Linlithgow Loch:

It’s just over two miles and should take you around an hour. It’s pretty level too, so this makes it a nice and easy afternoon stroll with the family, the dog, or if you just want to have a leg stretch. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as well. The loch itself is home to a lot of water birds, such as the rare Great-Crested Grebe.

You can also take a look at the magnificent Linlithgow Palace:

It’s just re-opened to the public after a two-year renovation project (as of June 2023), and it’s a fascinating building to explore. Did you know that the Palace is the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots? Construction began in 1424, and it served as a Royal Residence for over 300 years.

Getting There

Looking to visit a royal residence for one of your next day trips from Edinburgh? A day return ticket is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 09:15 on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Holidays).

You’ll find four trains an hour on weekdays (with more during peak times), six per hour on Saturdays and four per hour on Sundays.

Glasgow

While Edinburgh might be Scotland’s capital, it’s Glasgow that takes the crown for Scotland’s largest city. It has a plethora of free museums, parks and more, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for action-packed day trips by train from Edinburgh.

One of the longest-running and largest museums in the city is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. You’ll find 22 different galleries to explore (and the odd plane suspended from the ceiling):

What’s more, it’s completely free to visit. Whether you want to know more about Dutch art, Ancient Egypt or Scotland’s very own Charles Rennie Macintosh, there’s something for everyone to learn about and enjoy.

Is a hundred years not old enough for you? The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been a part of the city since 1817, and they’ve been at their current spot since 1839:

The gardens are home to over 9,000 plants. Not only are the gardens a great (and free) place to visit, but they’re a key part of the effort to preserve many endangered species of plant in the face of climate change.

We know that Glasgow is full of things to see and do, and that we couldn’t squeeze everything in here. Don’t worry though, you can take a look at our guide to a Day Trip to Glasgow if you’re after some more inspiration.

Getting There

If you’re travelling on a weekend, or outside of the evening peaks, then it’ll cost £14.20 for an Off-Peak Day Return. This means that you can travel after 09:15, and then return before 16:43 and after 18:16. It’s valid all the time on weekends and Bank Holidays.

An Off-Peak Return is £19.10. It has the same restrictions on a morning weekday, but you can return whenever you like in the evening. Finally, an Anytime Day Return is £27.60 if you want to be up bright and early on a weekday.

The fastest trains go to Glasgow Queen Street and take around 50 minutes. You’ll find four trains per hour in weekday peak hours, as well as on Saturdays. Two trains run every hour during weekday Off-Peak hours and on Sundays.

Pitlochry

This is one of the longest day trips from Edinburgh by train, but it’s great if you want to get away from it all. Pitlochry is just on the edge of the Tay Forest Park (and not far from the Cairngorms National Park). So, what is there to do?

You can take a walk across the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about how the area generates hydroelectricity. The fish ladder sees over 5,000 salmon come upstream to breed every year, too. It was once feared that building the dam back in 1947 would wreck the tourist trade here. It’s actually done the opposite!

You can take all of this in on a simple circular walk around the town. Don’t forget to take in the views of the River Tummel, including the 12th-century hamlet of Port na Craig:

Looking for more places to walk? You’re spoilt for choice. There’s an entire network of Pitlochry Walks to take you out into the wilderness. Whether you want your day trips from Edinburgh by train to be a gentle look at nature or a bracing hike into the hills, you’re sure to find the one for you.

Getting There

A day return is £24.20 and it’s valid after 8am on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). Trains run roughly every hour or two, though you’ll need to change at Perth or Stirling for some trips. Direct trains leave Edinburgh in the morning at 08:33 and 10:36 (Monday to Saturday) and take just under two hours.

On a Sunday, the best direct train for a day trip leaves Edinburgh at 09:25.

Stirling

Finally, let’s take a look at Stirling. It’s one of the best choices for day trips from Edinburgh by train if you want to explore the history of Scotland. It’s less than an hour away, too.

The main attraction is of course Stirling Castle. The Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls, and it’s had a front seat for many events in Scotland’s history:

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Do you prefer your history to be a little darker? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It isn’t all doom and gloom though, as the building was once home to a sweet factory.

It’s £10.60 for a day return ticket that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). For most of the day, you’ll find two trains per hour on this route, and the trains take around 50 minutes.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Here at SmartSplit, we know how difficult it can be to navigate the world of train tickets. Why not check out our pages on the best time to travel for cheap tickets and the best First Class train next? If you’re looking to get to Edinburgh first, we also have a guide to cheap train tickets to Edinburgh.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 27/06/23. All times stated were correct at the time of writing. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. Always check before you travel.}}

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What sort of day trips from Newcastle can I do?

Newcastle is in a great spot. You’ve got the coast nearby, the rolling hills of Northumberland, and a fair-size train station with routes criss-crossing the region. Whether you’re after a walk along the beach, a hike in the hills, or getting up-close and personal with the trains of yesteryear, there’s something for everyone.

As a child, we were a pretty active family. Sundays always meant going out and exploring somewhere new (or old), even if the weather was, well, British. I’ve been a rail geek since I was little, too, so there was always an excuse to jump on the train.

I’m going to take you from north to south, so these day trips from Newcastle are in no particular order of preference!

1. Berwick-upon-Tweed

We’re starting right up near the Scottish border. In fact, it’s just under three miles from the station before you end up in a different country. It’s been part of Scotland, too. The town has actually switched hands many times in history. It’s been the site of wars, battles and bloodshed, though it’s been a part of England since 1482.

When you take the train, you’ll find yourself getting quite the introduction to the town. The railway line hugs the coast, before sweeping to the left and taking you over the Royal Border Bridge, which carries the line over the River Tweed:

It’s around here that you’ll also find the remains of Berwick Castle. Back in the 13th Century, this castle was at the forefront of defending Berwick from outside intruders. Parts of the walls still survive as well, though funnily enough it was the advent of the railway that saw much of the building demolished.

The Town Walls and Ramparts also form part of the defensive structure of Berwick, and it’s possible to walk a complete circuit of the town on them. Rather than trying to defend the town these days though, you might prefer to just take in the views:

Finally, you can’t beat a good beach, and Berwick has plenty of coastline to let off some steam. You could take the dog for a walk, get your steps in or simply lie down and listen to the waves.

Getting There

There are frequent train services to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Typically, you’ll find two trains per hour (one LNER and one CrossCountry), with extra ones at some hours of the day. It’ll take you between 45 and 50 minutes to reach the town from Newcastle.

All of the attractions are within walking distance, and when I visited, I walked to all of the places above at a relaxed pace in around two hours.

2. Alnmouth (and Alnwick!)

The nearest station to these places is called Alnmouth for Alnwick, so it made sense that I took a trip to both of them. One is a sleepy seaside village, and the other is a bustling market town. So, what do they have to offer on day trips from Newcastle?

Alnmouth

It’s about a 20-minute walk from the station to Alnmouth, so that’s where we’ll begin. My only memory of this quaint little village is driving in when I was little, usually when it was pouring with rain. We’d park up, realise this was a terrible idea, and try to find somewhere a little more sheltered. In fact, until last week, I’d never seen this place in the sunshine! So, why is it one of the best day trips from Newcastle? Put simply, this beach:

When I popped down on a mid-week morning, it was sheer bliss. You just had a couple of dog-walkers, and some holidaying families moseying around the village, which is full of independent cafes and shops.

It’s possible to walk all the way around the bay and up towards Seaton Point and the village of Boulmer, or you can follow the path of the estuary and the start of the River Aln. I ended up picking the latter, as I needed to head back towards the station:

For bonus points, you can try and spot the train in the background. I passed a few dog-walkers on the way along the river, before heading up the hill into the village of Lesbury, where the station is located.

Alnwick

If you go to Alnmouth to get away from it all, then Alnwick is where it’s all happening. People have been making day trips from Newcastle to Alnwick for years, and I’ve been coming here since I was a toddler.

But why? First of all, it’s home to Alnwick Castle. This is the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK. Its popularity increased massively when it started appearing on the big (and small) screen, too. The castle has featured in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and even the Transformers Movie.

Just next door, you’ll find the Alnwick Garden. It’s been welcoming visitors since 2001, and I can remember coming here just after it opened, and many times since! When I was around eight, we had an annual pass, so many day trips from Newcastle on a weekend involved a trip to the Alnwick Garden. So, what’s on offer here? Well, the first thing you notice is the impressive Grand Cascade:

We can’t forget the Poison Garden, either. I can remember coming here when it opened and essentially getting a personal tour. These days it’s a little more popular, and I had to wait half an hour to get in! As the name suggests, it’s full of plants that could kill you. Don’t worry though, there’s a guide on hand.

Did you know that Alnwick is home to Barter Books? It’s one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Europe:

Does the poster look familiar? They uncovered the original one back in 2000. Fast forward a decade, and it was suddenly impossible to use Facebook or Twitter without scrolling past ‘Keep Calm and Drink Tea/Wine/Whisky’ memes. Well, the renaissance of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ was spurred by this discovery at Barter Books.

Getting There

There is at least one train per hour from Newcastle to Alnmouth, operated by LNER. Additional trains are also operated by CrossCountry and TransPennine Express. It’ll typically take half an hour on the train, followed by a 20-minute walk to the village of Alnmouth.

Looking to get to Alnwick? The X20 bus runs every hour, and leaves from nearby. Just leave the station, cross over and turn left down the hill towards the village for around two minutes. On an evening and Sunday, the X18 goes this way instead. The bus journey should take no more than 20 minutes.

Direct buses also run from Alnwick to Newcastle down the A1 Motorway, so you might find it easiest to make a triangular journey by train up to Alnmouth, then a bus to Alnwick and back to Newcastle if you want to visit both destinations.

3. Morpeth

Heading down the coast a little (and popping inland), we make it to Morpeth. This is one of the simplest day trips from Newcastle by train, as the trains will all get you here in less than 20 minutes. It’s the main town in the county of Northumberland, and I’ve been coming here since I was little.

Why? It’s an easy place to come to for a relaxing stroll. Plus, while just about everywhere has a park, there’s something quite special about Carlisle Park:

It’s immaculate! There’s plenty to do as well, especially for the kids. You can even take a rowing boat for a spin down the river.

At the edge of Carlisle Park, keep an eye out for the Floral Clock. It’s not just a beautiful floral display, either. It’s an actual working clock which has been telling locals the time since 1972:

Finally, if you take a stroll along the river, don’t forget about the Stepping Stones. Hopping across the river on these little rocks is one of my first memories of Morpeth.

How about something completely different? I was surprised to discover that the town is home to the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum. It’s on the top floor of the Tourist Information Centre, and takes you on a journey through the history of different kinds of Bagpipe. This includes the (more famous) Scottish Bagpipe, and the lesser-known (and gentler-sounding) Northumbrian Pipe. It’s a quirky little place that you can pop into for half an hour or so to learn something new:

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train service from Newcastle. Throughout the day, a more limited number of long-distance trains also stop. It’s a 10-minute walk from the station to the main attractions.

4. Corbridge

We’re now into Hadrian’s Wall Country. You’ll find relics in Corbridge that date back to the Roman-era, so it’s a perfect place for History buffs looking for day trips from Newcastle. To start with, you could take a 10-minute walk down the river to the Roman Bridge:

It was built to carry Dere Street, which was the Roman road from York to Scotland. To give you an idea of just how old this bridge is, it’s been out of use since around AD670!

Hungry for more history? Corbridge Roman Town isn’t far from the village centre. This was once the most northerly town in the entire Roman Empire, and it gives a fascinating insight into the life of a soldier around Hadrian’s Wall.

Back in the pandemic, I spent a lot of time out walking, and this is one of the places that I came to. You can actually keep walking all the way along the river and head towards Hexham, which is what I did. It’s one of the Tyne Train Trails which links up stations along the Newcastle to Carlisle line. Just make sure that you bring the right footwear, as I have many memories of having to dodge giant puddles and squeeze through a few overgrown tracks.

Getting There

Northern runs an hourly train direct from Newcastle to Corbridge. It’ll take you around 40 minutes to make the trip. From the station, it’s a 10-minute walk to the river and village centre.

5. Hexham

Just one stop up the line from Corbridge, you’ll find Hexham. Where do you begin here? Well, the Abbey is a great start. It was founded in AD674, and the existing building was completed in 1250:

Make sure that you don’t end up causing any mischief, though. You could end up in the Old Gaol, which is one of the oldest purpose-built jails in the country:

It’s been around since roughly 1332, but these days it’s just a museum, so there’s no danger of accidentally being locked up!

Hexham is also the gateway to Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re looking to dive further into the Roman history of the region, then you can jump on bus AD122 from outside of the station. It’ll take you to the likes of Housesteads and Vindolanda Roman forts.

Getting There

Hexham is one of the simplest day trips from Newcastle, thanks to the frequent train service. On a Monday to Saturday, up to three trains per hour run to Hexham, operated by Northern. The fastest trains take around 30 minutes.

6. Seaham and the Durham Coast

Looking to embrace the great outdoors? Take a trip down to Seaham for one of the most bracing day trips from Newcastle. Up until recently, I’d only seen the Durham Coast from a train window, but decided to leave the rails behind and take a stroll down to see what was on offer.

Seaham is the starting point of the 11-mile Durham Coastal Footpath, which will take you down to the outskirts of Hartlepool. So, it’s a great place to come if you want to blow the cobwebs away with some refreshing North Sea air.

I chose to stay closer to the town itself, which is no bad thing. You have Seaham Beach, Seaham Hall Beach and the Glass Beach, all linked by a promenade:

You could have a look at the Lighthouse or visit the Heritage & Lifeboat Centre, too. Either way, I was impressed. It’s a bit weather-dependent, but you shouldn’t overlook Seaham for day trips from Newcastle.

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train from Newcastle, which takes roughly 30 minutes to reach Seaham. The 60 bus also runs to/from Sunderland, where there are more frequent Metro connections to Newcastle. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to the seafront from the station.

7. Hartlepool

Hartlepool is full of naval and maritime history. So, if you want to take a step back in time to Georgian England, then this is a day trip from Newcastle for you.

The main place that you’ll want to come to is the National Museum of the Royal Navy. You can get aboard HMS Trinkolee, which is the oldest floating British warship. It’s not just the ships though, as the museum has recreated the entire 18th-Century seaport experience.

It’s next door to the Museum of Hartlepool. This museum is completely free, and it takes a look at the history of the town and its Maritime heritage.

Don’t forget to take a look out the back too, where you’ll find PS Wingfield Castle:

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train service from Newcastle, which takes around 45 minutes. Grand Central also connects Hartlepool to Sunderland, where you can change for Metro services to Newcastle. The Museum of the Royal Navy and Museum of Hartlepool are a 15-minute walk from the station.

8. Shildon (for the Locomotion – National Railway Museum)

I’ll confess that Shildon itself isn’t much of a tourist destination, but it is a place where everybody’s doing a brand new dance now, as they’re visiting the Locomotion. Think of it as the younger brother of the main National Railway Museum in York! It was opened in 2004, and I remember my parents bringing me here not long after that. This is one of the day trips from Newcastle that rail geeks, history buffs and anyone with a passing interest in trains will love.

After all, the museum is in a part of the world which pretty much birthed the modern railway as we know it. It’s near the site of Timothy Hackworth’s Soho Works, which built and maintained locomotives and wagons for the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This was the world’s first public railway, and it was opened in 1825.

Shildon Station is pretty much on the site of the museum, which is an open-air museum around 1km in length. When I visited most recently though, most of the activities were going on in and around the Main Hall:

I must admit that it is a strange feeling seeing that a train you’ve rode behind (43102, on the right) is now in a museum! Locomotion is home to dozens of different exhibitions, which cover the days of the early railways right up to the modern day. If you commuted by train in the north up until around 2019 though, you might not be too happy to see the infamous Pacer train:

The best part? It’s completely free to visit. So, you can pop in and out as you please. The only thing that’s paid-for is the train rides through the museum site.

Getting There

Frequent trains link Newcastle to Darlington, where you can change for an hourly Northern train to Shildon. It’s possible to reach the Locomotion in roughly an hour and the station is on the Museum site.

9. Saltburn

Back when I was seven or eight, I became a regular visitor to Saltburn. My Dad used to take me out on a Saturday morning while he worked as a delivery driver. He covered just about everywhere in the area (Middlesbrough down to Staithes, on the edge of North Yorkshire), plus the then-booming ‘Corus’ Steel Plant in Redcar. Saltburn was a regular stop for us.

Why is this one of the great day trips from Newcastle? It’s a charming little town full of independent shops and cafes, and that’s before we get onto the beautiful beach:

Whether you want to soak up some sun (on a rare hot day in this part of the world) or just take a walk, you’re sure to love Saltburn Beach. It’s home to a 208-metre-long pier (with all of the classic amusements you’d expect), colourful beach huts and the quirky Cliff Lift.

You can actually walk all the way down the beach to Redcar. It’s about four miles, and you can pick up the train in Redcar as well, rather than needing to walk all the way back.

Like I said, the town itself is full of great places to grab a bite to eat and drink. When I visited, I popped into The Sitting Room for a cuppa. It’s a quirky little café (and bar) with lovely staff, and it’s situated in the old railway station building:

A final bit of trivia from Saltburn is the existence of Saltburn Bank. As this piece is about day trips from Newcastle by train, you’ll not have to worry about negotiating it, but this zig-zagging piece of road is rather infamous for being difficult to drive around. You might have seen it in this clip from the snowy winter of 2010!

Getting There

Three trains per hour run from Saltburn. Two Northern trains go to Middlesbrough and Darlington every hour, where you can change for regular services to Newcastle. An additional TransPennine Express train also goes to Middlesbrough every hour, where you can change for trains to Newcastle via Hartlepool.

It’s around a 10-minute walk from the station to the seafront.

10. Whitby

Whitby is probably one of the most famous places on this list. After all, anyone who’s read Bram Stoker’s Dracula knows about the existence of this quaint seaside town. It’s a firm favourite with North East folk (and all folk!) so I have memories of many happy day trips from Newcastle to Whitby.

The station is right next to the harbour, where you can take a boat trip or climb aboard the Bark Endeavour and learn about Captain Cook and his sea-faring voyages:

On this visit, I opted to take a walk down Sandgate, before braving the 199 Steps up to Whitby Abbey and the Church of St Mary:

Don’t forget to take a stroll down Whitby Beach, either. It’s a beautiful stretch of coastline, though I rocked up during high tide, so there isn’t much beach visible!

Now, Whitby is of course famous for Fish and Chips. There’s much debate about which is best, and I wouldn’t want to say that one is the best. Whenever I’ve visited though, I’ve always opted for Magpie. Just don’t be surprised if you need to queue for a wee while!

Getting There

Northern operates five trains per day in and out of Whitby. Two each way are direct to/from Newcastle, while you’ll need to change at Middlesbrough on the other journeys. The fastest train takes around three hours to complete the journey along the scenic Esk Valley and Durham Coast lines.

Is there anything else I should know?

I hope that you’ve found some inspiration for your day trips from Newcastle by train! This part of the country is full of things to see and do. Fancy a bite to eat or a pint? Take a look at our guides to Station Pubs and Eateries in the area.

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Leeds, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

The final thing I’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next adventure. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All information on this page is issued in good faith and was correct at 14/08/2023. It’subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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The cost of Avanti vs LNER First Class

One of the most important factors to consider when you’re booking an Avanti vs LNER First Class journey is the cost. After all, First Class can be expensive, so you’re likely to want to book it in advance. Let’s say that we want to travel from London to Edinburgh a month in advance, in the middle of the day, and see how much it costs:

The 12:16 Avanti West Coast service is £151.00. There’s also the option of paying £94.00 for Standard Premium if you’d prefer.

Meanwhile, it’s a little cheaper to take LNER at 12:30 instead:

It’s £132.40 to make this trip. It isn’t a huge saving, but LNER just edges out Avanti in the battle of Avanti vs LNER First Class. As I mentioned in my look at Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class, the advent of Standard Premium has caused First Class to generally be more expensive.

Avanti vs LNER First Class seats

So, let’s start out with the seats. Who has the better place to sit? Let’s start with Avanti West Coast. The trains are slowly getting a freshen up, and I was lucky enough to travel on a refurbished one:

The seats were well-padded and comfortable with a good amount of recline. There’s a bit of a wing on the headrest which provides good support, too. You’ll find plenty of power sockets if you need to get some work done:

The only awkward thing is the huge ‘lip’ on the table as it curves upwards towards the window. You’ll probably struggle to use a mouse without leaving a fair amount of extra space, if you’re right-handed. The same goes if you’re left-handed and sat on the left. On the plus side though, the ride quality is nice and smooth.

As for LNER, they have fairly large First Class seats:

They have a reasonable amount of recline and I’m always able to get fairly comfortable in them. The headrest is a bit hard though (it’s not like the ones in the photo above anymore), and they’re a bit prone to falling off the seat entirely.

Power sockets are in a better place as they’re under the armrests. There’s still a bit of a lip on the tables for four, but it isn’t quite as drastic as on the Avanti trains. The ride quality is a bit bouncy though, and I’ve witnessed glasses of red wine splashing all over the table (plus it can make working on your laptop a bit trickier).

Overall, the seats are fairly similar. In terms of Avanti vs LNER First Class seats, I’d say that the actual seat and ride quality is a little better on Avanti, but you have more space to work (and better placed sockets) on LNER.

Who has the better service?

When you’re comparing Avanti vs LNER First Class, you also want to be sure that you’re going to get a great level of service. After all, it’s a premium product, so you’d expect premium treatment.

On my journey from Carlisle to Crewe, I was genuinely impressed by the staff. As soon as I boarded, someone approached me and asked what I’d like to eat, and listed off the options. I hadn’t even sat my laptop up or put my bag away! The staff were friendly, but professional and unobtrusive. I was even offered a hot drink on a shorter subsequent journey (Crewe to Liverpool). Nothing was too much trouble.

I’m an LNER regular, as I’m from the North East. So, I’ve had plenty of experience with the sort of service that you get over the years. In general, the staff are great (particularly the Geordie and Scottish crews) and we’ve left the rather weird days of Virgin Trains East Coast where you got the impression that quite a few of them didn’t really want to be there.

On my journey from Newcastle to Edinburgh, the service was a bit mixed. The drinks trolley came around asking if people wanted hot drinks (I didn’t). But then, I watched the gentleman on the trolley giving out cold drinks so I had to call him back and ask. The menu was also drastically more limited than advertised (with no apologies made, more on that later). The crew were doing their best though, and I wouldn’t say that they did a bad job. It was just poor luck that it was a very busy train with a limited menu.

Avanti vs LNER First Class food

So, what’s on the menu? These days, it’s fairly ‘static’ and First Class menus on trains don’t seem to rotate as often as they used to. Both of the trains I’m comparing were scheduled to offer a fairly similar menu, which in this case was their most extensive breakfast menu.

Avanti West Coast

The menu on Avanti West Coast can vary, depending on whether you’re travelling on a Voyager or Pendolino train. It’s a bit more limited on weekends, too. In my case, I was travelling on a weekday Pendolino train.

So, did the food live up to expectations? I thought it looked the part:

The toast was a welcome addition, too. Everything was tasty, well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. My only gripe was the scrambled eggs! The best way to describe them is that they were like the ones you’d find at a hotel buffet abroad. That is, they were a bit gritty and the texture in general was rather off. The good news is that if you made the same journey today, you’d get a fried egg instead.

Was it a huge portion? It wasn’t, but combined with the toast, it was fair. It kept me satisfied and it didn’t feel too stingy.

LNER

So, what about LNER? The Dine menu is what my train had scheduled for it. It was even off to a great start, as the right menus were out on the tables.

“We don’t have a chef”.

Oh dear.

It wasn’t the first time that this had happened. I’ve never actually seen the ‘full LNER’ breakfast with my own eyes. Instead, it was the lowly bacon roll:

The vegan sausage roll was available too, or overnight oats. The bacon roll was fine, and it was well-cooked and well-filled. As a bacon roll, you can’t complain. But it was still just a bacon roll.

Lounges

The last thing it’s worth comparing with Avanti vs LNER First Class is the lounge experience. Both companies have lounges for you to use both before and after you travel.

I popped into the Avanti lounge at Crewe and found that it was pretty good. You had plenty of different kinds of seating to choose from

You had plenty of food to choose from as well. It was mostly snacks, but homemade banana bread was a nice surprise. You can find a full menu online and there’s also a more substantial menu if you’re travelling from London Euston.

The LNER lounges are all rather stylish, like this one in Edinburgh:

The only issue is that none of the seats are very comfortable! They’re all a bit style and aesthetics over substance and functionality, and everything is a lot firmer than it looks. The food and drink offer is very much just hot drinks, water, biscuits and crisps, too.

Both lounges do their main function well though, which is to give you a quiet place to wait before you train, and maybe to get some work done. The railway is never going to be wining and dining you like in airline lounges.

So, who has the best First Class?

See, this is a tricky one. As you’d think that based on what I’ve said, I’d be all over Avanti West Coast and recommending them to everyone. Yes, they do a good product and have great lounges, as well as some lovely staff. But, and it’s a big but, they’re often very expensive. I’d recommend staying well away on weekends as you effectively only have half a carriage of First Class on most trains (Coach K).

The introduction of Standard Premium has also meant that many of the passengers who just want a cheap upgrade for a better seat are better off sitting there instead. It’s often a lot cheaper.

Meanwhile, LNER can be great value if you’re travelling last minute. Journeys to and from London can be pricey, but let’s take Newcastle to Edinburgh as an example:

This is for a journey tomorrow morning. It’s only an extra £11.80 to upgrade, which is a difference that many wouldn’t mind paying. You just can’t go in with expectations that are too high. You’ll be fed something, you’ll get a bigger seat and you can use the lounge at both ends of your journey.

In a sense, Avanti West Coast First Class is only worth it if you go on a weekday and the price difference isn’t too stark. LNER on the other hand is fine at any time of day, just don’t always expect the full works. My experience shows that the menu isn’t set in stone! It’s a great operator for getting a last-minute upgrade at a reasonable fare, while Avanti West Coast can be very expensive if you leave it too late.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with finding the best First Class train, our Top 5 Tips for getting cheaper fares, upgrading on board and even how to use First Class for free. We’re also here to help with our guide to travelling to London.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 16:00 05/07/23. Both they, and the First Class products shown, are subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. All opinions expressed in this post are based on real-life experiences.}}

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How we found the best value railway station pints

Well, we had to do our research! We worked together to compile a list of all of the station pubs that we knew about. We’re based in different parts of the country, so everyone could chip in and add some local knowledge to the mix. Then, we reached out to them for their help.

Of course, we had to do some in-person research as well. We’ve had the pleasure of going into a wide selection of these pubs and sampling some railway station pints for ourselves.

We found some great beers, superb pubs and brilliant community spirit along the way. All that’s left to do is to show you what we found!

What was the cheapest of the railway station pints?

That honour goes to Aberystwyth. If Ruddle’s Best is your thing, you can get a pint of it on the station for just £1.71. Whether or not you’re a fan, that’s undeniably brilliant value in 2023.

We’ve put all of this information into an easy-to-read map. So the next time that you’re wondering if there’s railway station pints to be had nearby, you’ll know what awaits you, and how much it might cost:

You can download and view the entire map here. We’ve included dedicated maps for London and Greater Manchester, as they’re just so full to the brim with places to enjoy a drink before your train.

What were the pubs like?

We can’t deny that we came across some real gems when we were checking out the prices of railway station pints. A station pub isn’t just a place to drink, but it’s somewhere that locals cross paths with travellers from across the country (and even the globe), and it serves as a meeting place for the community, too.

Track & Sleeper on Knaresborough station is a fairly ‘young’ station pub. The brewery behind it, the Gorilla Brewing Co, was only founded in 2019! Yet, it’s already a firm favourite with the community and with rail travellers alike:

It serves a variety of its own beers, as well as other guest beers on tap and cask. If beer isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of gin on offer.

Meanwhile, in Newcastle, you’ll find the Centurion. It has a selection of local cask beers as well as your usual lagers on tap, but the main thing that sets it apart is, well, the pub itself. It was the former First Class lounge back in the day, and nothing beats sitting back in surroundings like this:

Is there anything else I should know?

We hope that you’ve found our map of the best value railway station pints useful. All that’s left for you to do is to hop on a train and pay some of the pubs a visit! Looking for more about pubs? You can take a look at our favourite pubs in Yorkshire and the East Midlands, the North East and even a quick round-up of the cheapest pints. We’ve also taken a trip to find some of the best beer in East London.

It’s just as well that we specialise in great-value rail tickets, as well as beer. You can get all of your train tickets with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

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What is Standard Premium?

If you’re not used to travelling on Avanti, you might be wondering what this third class of travel is all about. In a nutshell, it’s a First Class carriage with no at-seat service. You get the bigger seat, a quieter carriage and that’s it.

All of the photos you see today are of First Class, but the seats and environment themselves are exactly the same in Standard Premium. The only difference is a headrest that says ‘Standard Premium’ instead.

The upgrade cost starts at £10 and goes up to £30 depending on the length of the journey. You can pay the upgrade fee on the train, or you can also buy Advance tickets that skip this step and allow you to pay for everything at once.

What’s the difference between Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class?

In a nutshell, Standard Premium is the same environment, you get the bigger seat, a guaranteed table and better access to a power outlet.

First Class gives you at-seat service. During the week, that means a chef-prepared hot meal on some journeys, as well as other hot and cold options. You get lounge access, too.

The First Class lounges come with complimentary refreshments, such as snacks and hot drinks.

Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class pricing

This is the big stickler when it comes to comparing Standard Premium vs First Class, and had me questioning whether the extra upgrade to First was worth it anymore. Put simply, it can be a little bit extra to take Standard Premium compared to Standard, then a massive jump to upgrade to First Class. Let’s take a look at a couple of journeys a month in advance:

So here, we want to travel from Glasgow to London. It’s £55 for Standard Class, £74 for Standard Premium and £125 for First Class. Standard Premium, at minimum, seems like a bit of a no-brainer for a long trip. First Class is definitely a bit steeper.

Let’s try London to Manchester:

So, it’s £44 to travel in Standard Class, £69 in Standard Premium and £120 in First Class. Again, there’s a fair difference there. So, when it comes to Standard Premium vs First Class, there’s definitely a steep price difference. The question is: what do you get for your money if you pay the extra?

It’s worth mentioning that you can only get Standard Premium on Pendolino trains. The limited number of Super Voyager trains only have First Class and Standard Class. These trains usually run between North Wales, Chester and Crewe or London Euston, as well as on the Shrewsbury to London route. It’s easy to tell which is which – as you won’t get offered a Standard Premium ticket for a Super Voyager!

The First Class service

I set out on June 15th, 2023, to find this out. I’d booked a ticket on the 09:10 train from Carlisle to Crewe, which took roughly two hours. This seemed like a decent length of journey to allow me to judge what kind of service you’d get in First Class.

The train rolled in a couple of minutes late, and I was already keen to jump on. The weather was hotting up and I was looking forward to a blast of air conditioning!

Getting on board

I boarded the train in Coach J and found a table for two fairly easily. It seemed to be around a third full, and I found there to be very few people sat in Coach K, as well. I had a refurbished 11-car Pendolino train, which had been given new seating throughout First, Standard Premium and Standard Class:

The seats were comfortable (though the same as you’d get in Standard Premium) and had a reasonable recline. The tables had an ample choice of power sockets to choose from, too:

My only complaint about the table is the massive wedge where it curves up. This can make working at a laptop a bit tricky if you have a larger device as it takes up a fair bit of room. Thankfully my work laptop wasn’t too big, so I had no problems.

Okay, so we’ve covered the seat experience (which you’d get in either class), so let’s get onto the First Class exclusives.

Food and drinks service

The big differentiator for Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class is the on-board service. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when a friendly crew member came through straight away taking breakfast orders. We hadn’t even left the station yet! The selection on offer was great (menu here) and I went for the Great British Breakfast. You also had the choice of white or brown toast to go with it.

Five minutes after leaving Carlisle, a drinks trolley came around offering hot and cold drinks (alcohol is available later in the day, though not at 9am) and I had myself an orange juice. It came in a proper glass, too.

The brekkie verdict

It took around 25 to 30 minutes for my food to arrive. I didn’t see that as a bad thing, as it meant that it hadn’t just been chucked in the microwave. Equally, it does mean that you can’t jump on for a 15-minute journey and hope to fill your boots. The portion size of the food was pretty decent:

The dish came with two rashers of bacon, one sausage, scrambled egg, a giant mushroom, a slice of black pudding and two slices of toast with butter. You also had the option of a roasted tomato, but I skipped out on that as I’m not a fan. It wasn’t a gut-busting mega-brekkie that you’d get down at your local greasy spoon, but it didn’t seem too skimpy. You get a choice of sauces too, and my brown sauce came in a nice ceramic dipping pot.

The sausage was delicious, as well the bacon. They were both ‘meaty’ and were of an excellent quality. The black pudding was great too, and it’s not something I usually opt for. The mushroom was tasty but a nightmare to cut into, and it let out a fair amount of liquid on the plate. The least impressive item was the scrambled egg. The texture was off, though the flavour was fine.

You can’t go wrong with toast and butter. Even the butter was delicious and easy to spread. Overall, it was a solid 8/10. As of the 19th of June, a new menu is coming in which replaces the scrambled egg with a fresh fried egg, too. A massive improvement, I reckon.

Final thoughts

After leaving Preston, I had another orange juice. That was it for the service, though. It was friendly, professional and well-focused. Quality over quantity, shall we say. Everyone around me was pleased with the food on offer, too. I heard a couple of ‘delicious’ comments about the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, so that seemed to be a hit. The only person not impressed was the overly-loud bloke in a suit who aggressively batted away any offers of food and drink. He could have saved his money and gone for Standard Premium!

Standard Premium looked to be fairly busy when I popped my head in. The advent of Standard Premium Advance tickets has definitely bumped up occupancy levels, as it used to be pretty normal to get a carriage to yourself when it was a case of being ‘in the know’ and upgrading on the day.

I stepped off at Crewe into glorious sunshine, and was pretty impressed by the service I’d received:

Of course, that isn’t all. First Class entitles you to visit lounges that are located at most major stations on the Avanti network. So, that was my next stop.

Lounge Access

The lounge at Crewe is up on the footbridge towards the exit, just above Platform 5. You press the intercom, show your ticket to the camera, and you’re in.

You’ll find lounges at Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International and London Euston. There is also one at Glasgow Central, but information on the Avanti website suggests that this one is closed at the time of writing.

As for Crewe’s lounge, it was pretty pleasant. It had a nice atmosphere and plenty of different kinds of seating areas to use:

As for food and drink, the drinks selection was everything you’d expect. You had teas, a coffee machine and a fridge with water, fizzy drinks and even kombucha.

The food offering was decent, too. I could see muesli bars, banana bread, porridge pots (and honey), muffins, fresh fruit and pouches of olives:

There is a dedicated menu for the lounges which you can view online. The lounge at London Euston has a different menu with more substantial items available, as well as a paid-for bar! I went for a piece of banana bread in the end, and it was delicious.

I was once again, impressed. There was a clear differentiation appearing in the Standard Premium vs First Class experience, rather than just ‘you get food’.

Taking a shorter trip: Standard Premium vs First Class

Finally, I wanted to see how Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class faired on a short journey. After all, it isn’t uncommon to completely miss out on any service if your journey is too short. That might be because the staff are packing away, or they just haven’t seen you.

So, I was going to go from Crewe up to Liverpool Lime Street, which was just short of 40 minutes. The bizarre thing about this journey is that a one-way Standard Class fare is £16.60 if you’re travelling before 9am on weekdays, but just 30p more at £16.90 if you travel in First! The Off-Peak fare is still £13.80, but the difference isn’t huge. If it’s a return trip though, it’s a much bigger difference, as the return fare is £33.90 in First Class. In fact, two First Class singles are 10p cheaper than the return.

The Standard Premium upgrade price is £10 on this journey. Put simply, that isn’t worth it on top of the Standard Class fare!

So, what did I get? First of all, this was a nine-car train that hadn’t been refurbished yet, so it was a little different inside:

The lamps on the tables were a bit irritating and each window seat had just one three-pin socket (that I couldn’t get to work).

As for the service, a friendly host (also called Richard) popped down straight away and asked if I wanted anything to drink. I took him up on the offer of a coffee, which was really well-presented:

The crew, to their credit, stayed present in the carriages right up until arriving into Liverpool. My overall impression of Avanti’s staff was that they were passionate about what they did – and I did drop their social media team a message of thanks.

Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class – weekdays vs weekends

This is where things get a bit more complicated. You see, on weekdays, here’s how the formation of the train works:

• Nine-car train: Coach H is Standard Premium, J and K are First
• 11-car unrefurbished train: Coaches G and H are Standard Premium, J and K are First
• 11-car refurbished train: Coach H is Standard Premium, J and K are First.

On the refurbished trains, Coach G is converted to Standard Class to add in some extra capacity, which is where that carriage ‘disappears’ to.

So, what happens on weekends? Only Coach K is First Class. Coach K is part-kitchen, so it has a very limited number of seats. Just 18, in fact. Coach J becomes Standard Premium, alongside Coach H (and G on unrefurbished trains!)

First Class becomes very busy and the menu is different, too. It isn’t as substantial, basically. Meanwhile, you’ve loads of room to try Standard Premium. My advice is that you should choose Standard Premium on a weekend if you want an upgrade. First Class just isn’t big enough.

Standard Premium vs First Class – Is First Class worth it?

This is the million-dollar question. When it comes to Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class, is First Class worth it at all? My answer is: it can be.

If you’re travelling between stations with lounges and need somewhere quiet to work before the train for example, it’s great. You have access to refreshments (or even a bar), and it’s a world away from a busy platform.

Travelling on a weekday? Great. You have a decent number of First Class seats on every train and a substantial menu of food and drink. You’ll get a chef-prepared hot meal if you want one. The staff on board the trains are truly excellent and I can’t fault them. Their service was passionate, but sincere, and it wasn’t over-the-top or tacky.

You even have the weird fare anomalies (like a one-way trip from Crewe to Liverpool in the morning peak) where the fare is essentially the same between Standard and First.

So, when isn’t it worth it? I’d say definitely don’t bother on a weekend. Just plonk yourself in Standard Premium. I’d also say it isn’t worth it if you won’t make full use of what’s available to you. If you’re not bothered about lounge access and food and drink, just stick to Standard Premium. If you want a proper ‘experience’, then by all means try out First if the price is right. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with upgrading on board, tips to help you get a cheaper fare and even how to travel in First Class for free. We’ve also compared Avanti West Coast and LNER.

So, are you ready to take a trip? SmartSplit doesn’t believe in adding any fees on. No booking fees, no admin fees and no fees for all of the useful information and insider tips that we have about travelling by train!

Changed your mind? No problem. If your ticket is refundable and you haven’t used it, you get the entire value of your ticket back. If it isn’t refundable, you can change it without any extra charges. Just buy another one, send us the details of both bookings and we’ll refund the cheaper ticket. No questions, no quibbles.

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What’s the best train to Heathrow Airport?

In this comparison, I’ll be taking a look at the two ‘rail’ options for getting to Heathrow. If you want to take the ‘super-budget’ option, then of course you can also use the London Underground Piccadilly Line.

However, it’s widely known that this is slow, uncomfortable and not the best for luggage! While I didn’t take a trip on it, you can find out more on the TfL website if you’d prefer that option.

I’ll be looking at the premium Heathrow Express and the slightly slower Elizabeth Line.

How do we work out the best way to Heathrow Airport?

With it only being a short hop to Heathrow, we’re most concerned about speed and luggage space. WiFi and a place to charge your phone would be good, too.

We don’t expect any luxuries like a three-course meal, of course. Instead, if First Class is offered, we just want to know if it offers anything ‘different’.

Heathrow Express

I was starting with Heathrow Express today. It hadn’t been the best start, as I’d ended up walking from Lancaster Gate tube station in the pouring rain, so I was a little bit soaked! But, there wasn’t long to wait for a train.

Heathrow Express runs four trains every hour between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5, stopping at Terminals 2 and 3 on the way.

The journey time is typically around 15 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3, and 20 minutes to Terminal 5. On speed alone, this is undoubtedly the best train to Heathrow. It’s quick!

The cost

If you’re buying on the day, it’s £25 for a single journey on the Heathrow Express, or £37 for a return. The return is valid for a month, so it’s ideal if you’re making a longer trip. You can also use Railcards on Heathrow Express fares.

While this is definitely a steep fare, you can bag yourself a bargain if you book in advance. Single fares start at £5.50 if you book up to six months beforehand. They’re only restricted to a particular day, too. This means that you don’t have to worry about flight delays, as you can use any train you like.

While it might seem a bit crazy to book a short Airport train trip so far in advance, you might as well do it if you already have your flights sorted.

The train itself

Class 387 ‘Electrostar‘ trains make up the entire Heathrow Express fleet. They normally run in pairs, with two four-coach trains coupled together.

They joined the Heathrow Express service in December 2020, but were originally new to Great Western Railway.

Storing your luggage

So far, my experiences of airport trains have been underwhelming when it comes to luggage storage. Usually, you’ll find the ‘normal’ amount of space you’d expect on any other train, at best.

I was impressed when I found that the Heathrow Express has lots of room for luggage. No matter the size, there are lots of dedicated racks for you to use:

It’s good that they’re in view, as well. There’s always somewhere to sit where you can keep an eye on luggage, or keep it close by.

This is definitely the best train to Heathrow for luggage. In fact, it’s likely to be the best for luggage, full stop. If you’re connecting in from a long-distance train, we also have a dedicated page about the best train for luggage.

The seat experience

All seats in Standard Class are in a 2+2 layout. Compared to other trains of this type, the seats have had some extra padding added, too.

There aren’t any full-size tables around bays of 4, but you’ll find cup holders and a small ledge to place drinks and other smaller items. Airline-style seats have a small seat-back table.

Plug sockets are at every window seat. At each socket, there’s a three-pin one plus two USB ports. You’ll also find reading lights above every seat, though I doubt they’d do much to illuminate whatever you’re looking at.

Overall, it’s a pleasant interior. The seats are comfortable enough for a 15 to 20 minute trip and there’s no shortage of legroom.

Fancy an upgrade?

It’s possible to buy a ticket for ‘Business First’ which gives you a bigger seat in a 2+1 layout. These seats also have a bigger table, so it might be better if you need to get some work done.

It’s £32 single or £55 return for First Class. Alternatively, you can pay the difference between the Standard and First Class single fares as an ‘upgrade’ on board, which is £7.

Is it worth it? For the average leisure traveller, probably not. I found that these compartments actually got quite busy, and you had more chance of some peace and quiet in Standard.

If you need to work on the move though, then the extra space might be a bonus. If you’re an employer, for example, it might be worth paying the extra for someone on a business trip.

I’ve done plenty of rating First Class products in the past, too. We’ve even got a dedicated page for the best First Class train in the UK, if you’re measuring up a few different trains.

Onboard service

There definitely isn’t any shortage of on-board staff. If you have a question or need some assistance, this is definitely the best train to Heathrow.

Regular on-board announcements keep you informed, too. They’re not too intrusive either, as I’ve travelled on this service before and almost lost my mind at what was quite literally a never-ending monologue. Heathrow Express have clearly listened, on this front!

A nice perk is the ability to keep an eye on your flight. Screens throughout the train tell you where to check-in and whether your flight is on time:

Staying connected

Free WiFi is available on the Heathrow Express. I found it easy to connect to and the speed was pretty good. Google thought it was ‘fine’:

So if you really have to catch-up on your favourite series on that 20-minute trip, you can technically use the WiFi to do it!

Final thoughts

I found Heathrow Express to be a fairly impressive product. It’s the most expensive option, but it is a genuine express train.

Rather than fitting in between slower trains, it shares the tracks that long-distance trains use towards the South West of England. This means that you can feel yourself actually travelling ‘fast’ and watching the landscape rush by.

The train was punctual, clean and well-staffed. Another plus is that there’s usually always a train waiting for you at Paddington, so you can get on board straight away.

Elizabeth Line

This particular service has gone by a couple of different names in recent years. It originally started off as “Heathrow Connect” and basically ran as a local service between Paddington and Heathrow.

It then became “TfL Rail” once TfL took over the running of the service. Finally, it became “Elizabeth Line” as new trains were introduced and the new section of railway through Central London opened.

Four trains per hour run between Paddington and Heathrow on this route. Two of them run to Terminal 4, and two run to Terminal 5. All of them serve Terminals 2 and 3. It takes around 30 to 35 minutes to travel from Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, and about 35 to 40 minutes to reach Terminal 4 or 5. All trains typically stop at all stations on the way.

Of course, it’s now also possible to travel direct to Heathrow from Central London (Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street), Canary Wharf and beyond.

The cost

A paper single ticket for the Elizabeth Line will cost £12.30 or £24.60 for a return. In a nutshell, there’s no advantage to buying a return!

A London Zones 1-6 Travelcard is £15.20 and is also valid on Elizabeth Line trains to Heathrow, so you might find this to be best if your origin isn’t Paddington. It’s valid on most public transport in London Zones 1-6.

The train itself

All services on the Elizabeth Line are run by nine-carriage Class 345 “Aventra” trains, which were gradually introduced from 2017 onwards.

Storing your luggage

To be honest, I couldn’t see any dedicated luggage racks. These trains were designed to transport lots of people rather than lots of luggage.

However, the aisles are pretty wide and there’s plenty of space. I couldn’t imagine there being an issue unless you tried to get on an especially full train.

The seat experience

You’ll find the seats in two different layouts. They’ll either be in bays of four or longitudinal, facing the inside of the train.

To be honest, they’re pretty firm. The Elizabeth Line won’t be winning any awards for comfort, but the seats are fine for short journeys.

You won’t find any power sockets, tables or anything like that. But there are hand-straps throughout the train in case you need to stand.

Another perk is that you can walk through the entire train without needing to go through any separate doors. This makes it a lot easier to find yourself some space.

Fancy an upgrade?

You’ll struggle, in that case! First Class isn’t available on any Elizabeth Line train.

Onboard service

There are no on-board staff other than the driver. There are automated announcements on the train which will tell you where it’s going and what the stops are, though.

Staying connected

WiFi is available on the train but only in sections where it’s above-ground. If you’re travelling past Paddington and going into Central London, be aware that there is no mobile reception or WiFi available.

Final thoughts

The Elizabeth Line offers a reasonable, more budget-friendly option for travelling to Heathrow. It’s likely to be the best train to Heathrow if you’re coming from East or Central London, as it avoids the need to change at Paddington. It’s also the cheapest option if you need to travel at the last-minute.

However, the on-board facilities aren’t great and it’s very much a railway designed to transport lots of people. It just so happens that some of those trains terminate at Heathrow Airport.

What’s the best train between Heathrow Terminals?

I feel like it’s also worth touching on this. There’s no cost for travelling between the Heathrow terminals. You can tap in/out with a contactless card or device or get a free transfer ticket from a machine.

If you need to get from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 (or vice-versa) you’ll need to change at Terminals 2 and 3. It’s a simple interchange straight across to the other platform.

It’s also possible to do this on the tube, but you might need to change at Hatton Cross to get between terminals. Most buses between terminals are not free.

The journeys between terminals only take a few minutes, so your best bet is to take the first train that’s due to leave. This map will tell you more about transfers at Heathrow Airport.

The verdict – what’s the best train to Heathrow?

The Stations

Before I get into this, I think it’s important to discuss my thoughts on actually using the Heathrow Stations. Namely, Terminals 2 and 3.

There are lots of announcements, and they’re all very wordy. When announcing a train, it’ll tack what you should do if you’re going somewhere else onto the end, which might confuse matters even more. It’s naturally aimed at tourists and those who don’t speak great English, but it felt like a complete overload.

When I was travelling between Terminals 2 and 3, and Terminal 4, I found that the staff kept herding everyone right to the front of the platform. This seemed to be so we’d be near the exit when we got off, which is fair enough. The only issue was that it caused boarding to take a very long time due to so many people trying to get on with large luggage. If you’re changing for Terminal 4, don’t go too far forwards as it’ll be an uncomfortable trip.

The final verdict

It’s difficult to say that one train will suit everyone better. However, I’d say that Heathrow Express is the best train to Heathrow.

If you’re travelling from Heathrow, you’re probably travelling a fair distance. Even if you’re not, the airlines that fly out of there generally give the best fares when you plan ahead. So, if you plan ahead with your rail fare as well, you’ll get the best value on Heathrow Express. You can get yourself straight onto a waiting train at Paddington, store your luggage and relax.

If you happen to be coming from somewhere like Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street or Tottenham Court Road, then the Elizabeth Line will probably suit you better. I’d not recommend getting off the Elizabeth Line just to ride the Heathrow Express as the transfer time between the two isn’t great, especially with luggage.

Whatever you choose to take though, you can book in confidence with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees if you need to get a refund or change your ticket, so you can rest assured that changing your plans won’t cost you anything more than it should.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to understand your ticket, and your best options for reaching other London airports, including Gatwick. Don’t forget to take a look at our quick guide to crossing London or the Elizabeth Line, either.

The post What’s the best train to Heathrow Airport? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

It’s a city built on seven hills, meaning that you’re in for plenty of exercise when you visit. It’s also one of the greenest cities, too. You’ll find four trees for every person! It’s famous for steel, cutlery, Henderson’s Relish and being reyt friendly, too.

What’s the best way to take a trip to Sheffield?

For most, that’ll be by train, of course! You can get to Sheffield from all over the country. Lots of cities have multiple options for this, too. Let’s take a look at the options you have from some key destinations:

• If you’re coming from London, the logical option is to take East Midlands Railway from London St Pancras. However, some of these trains can be quite short and don’t make for the most comfortable trip. It could be cheaper (and more comfortable) to choose from LNER, Grand Central or Hull Trains from London Kings Cross to Doncaster, and change trains there. We’ve written a guide on the best trains from Sheffield to London, too

• Manchester folk have three operators to choose from. You could take Northern, TransPennine Express or East Midlands Railway. Northern are undoubtedly the cheapest, but their recent popularity has meant that trains have been a lot busier than they used to be. They’re a good bet on a weekend though, when six-coach trains can be put on. East Midlands Railway is a good bet for a faster train, while TransPennine Express have been suffering from poor reliability on the route in recent times, so they’re probably best avoided

• There are a couple of routes to pick from if you come from Leeds. The absolute cheapest trains tend to be the ones that go via Castleford or Moorthorpe (if you’re booking an Advance single ticket) which are run by Northern. The faster ones are shown as ‘fast’ (naturally!) and go via Barnsley. The very fastest are run by CrossCountry, but they could get quite crowded at busy times.

This is just a basic run-down, but we’ve written plenty of articles about the different aspects of travelling by train. Take a look at our guide to the best First Class train as well as the best one if you’re travelling with luggage.

Seeing the sights

So, what is there to see in Sheffield? Well, I’m going to take you on a walk through the city to begin with. We’ll take a look at some of the main sights, the coolest streets and learn some weird and wonderful facts along the way.

The first thing you’ll see on your trip to Sheffield is of course, the station. Take a short walk straight ahead past the fountains first, then cross the road. After crossing another (smaller) road, you’re now on Howard Street. This is the first hill you’ll have to contend with, though it’s quite gentle by Sheffield standards! Not to worry, once you reach the next main road (Arundel Gate), our first attraction is straight in front of us…

The Winter Gardens

When you cross the road, head into the building in front of you. Up the escalator and straight through a gift shop, and you’ll find yourself in the Winter Gardens:

Pretty striking, isn’t it? For me, this was always a refuge from the chilly winter weather, as it has to stay somewhat mild inside to keep the plants happy.

The Winter Gardens were opened in December 2002 and were the largest glasshouse in any European City Centre at the time. You could actually fit 5,000 domestic greenhouses inside of it!

You’ll find 150 different species of plants in the Winter Gardens, and you’re free to wander around. There’s a café inside too, so it’s a nice spot to sit back and enjoy a coffee.

The Peace Gardens & Town Hall

You’ll find two different entrances either side of the Winter Gardens, each with their own attraction. We’ll head out of the west-facing one first, which brings us to the Peace Gardens. Completed in 1998, it’s one of the main public spaces in the City Centre.

It has water features (designed to represent each of Sheffield’s rivers) and plenty of green space to relax on. It’s a firm favourite during the summer and plays host to funfairs, seasonal markets and the like. It doesn’t look quite as exciting during a windy morning in March, but a couple of folk were still enjoying the breeze (and the cherry blossoms):

The rather grand-looking building in the background is Sheffield’s Town Hall. It’s been a Sheffield landmark since 1897, and it’s a favourite for protests, weddings or anything else you could think of. It’s undoubtedly one of the ‘grandest’ buildings in Sheffield, both inside and out.

My memories of it consist of being a student journalist and sitting in on the full meetings of the council. You’d expect local council meetings to be boring, but this was at the height of the Sheffield ‘tree saga’ (click here for an explainer on that!) I witnessed everything from people fainting mid-speech to protesters being escorted out after demanding someone’s resignation by drooping a giant banner from the public gallery.

The Crucible & Lyceum

If you head out of the ‘other’ Winter Gardens exit, you’ll reach the Crucible and Lyceum Theatres. The Crucible is of course famous for hosting the World Snooker Championship, so if you’re a snooker fan, a photo outside the Crucible will be an essential part of a trip to Sheffield.

Sheffield Cathedral

Just a short walk from here is Sheffield Cathedral. It’s a true melting pot of different architectural styles, with the earliest parts dating from around 1200, while the newest date from 1966.

You can pop in for a service or a guided tour. You’ll even find a 3D guided tour of the cathedral on their website if you’d prefer a day trip to Sheffield from the comfort of your own home!

It’s easy to get to if you’d prefer to take public transport, too. The Sheffield Supertram stops right outside:

Division Street

Heading back into the City Centre proper, you’ll find one of my favourite streets. I suppose it has to be, as I did live on it for a year! Division Street is home to loads of independent shops, cafes, barbers and just about everything you could think of. A stroll down here is an essential part of any trip to Sheffield.

If you fancy doing some shopping, then I’d recommend Preloved Kilo. As the name suggests, everything is sold by the kilo, so you can find some real gems for very little money.

If you turn left here into a small area called Aberdeen Court, you’ll also find one of my favourite coffee shops. Steam Yard is a great place to pop into when it’s a bit nippy outside, and there’s plenty of places to sit and have a natter or just chill out:

The other thing I loved when I lived around here was the murals. Keep an eye out for the giant toucan behind the Frog and Parrot pub:

Sheffield University

While a university campus doesn’t seem like the most exciting place to go for a walk, it’s a pleasant way to get from the City Centre to the likes of Weston Park. You avoid the busy traffic, and there’s a few interesting buildings to look at on the way.

St George’s Church

The best place to start is by heading up Mappin Street and taking a left turn past St George’s Church:

Despite appearances though, this is no church anymore! These days, it’s a lecture theatre (and a rather strange-feeling one, at that). It’s actually possible to live in it as well, as the clock tower houses at least one apartment, owned by the university.

Glossop Road

Keep heading straight and across the tram tracks, and you’ll eventually wind up at this trio of buildings:

On the left is Firth Court, which was the first purpose-built university building in Sheffield. It was actually funded by the people of Sheffield, too. Over £50,000 in penny donations were collected so that it could be built between 1903 and 1905.

On the right is the Arts Tower, which represents a different era entirely. It’s actually the second-tallest tower in the city, and is home to the Department of Architecture. Built in 1964, it’s home to one of the last remaining ‘Paternoster’ lifts in the country. What’s a Paternoster, you ask? It’s basically a lift that never stops. It’s a rite of passage for every Sheffield student to take a ride, and no trip to Sheffield would be complete without having a nosey at it. You can pop in during office hours Monday to Friday to take a look.

In the middle, that’s the Alfred Denny Building. Doesn’t look too exciting, does it? Take a closer look at the top row of windows though, and notice how they’re blanked out. This is the home of a morgue! If you choose to donate your body to science, it might come here.

Weston Park

Heading past these buildings, we reach Weston Park. It’s one of the best parks in Sheffield and I have many happy memories of spending spring and summer evenings here with friends. If the weather is nice, it’s a great place to have a picnic during your trip to Sheffield.

Opened in 1875, it was actually the first public park in Sheffield. Previously, it was part of the grounds of Weston Hall, which is today known as Weston Park Museum (more on that below).

Kelham Island

Finally, we come to Kelham Island. This isn’t in the City Centre itself, so you might want to take a tram to Shalesmoor. It’s just a couple of stops from town, and the trip takes less than 10 minutes. So, what is Kelham Island?

It’s one of the oldest centres of manufacturing in the UK. In fact, it’s been making and producing for over 900 years. Of course, as a city famous for steel-making, it was here that you’d find multiple steel mills who produced everything from cutlery to saw blades.

As industry declined though, it became rather run-down and notoriously rough. The opening of the Kelham Island Museum (more below) paved the way for regeneration and the chance for the area to get a new lease of life.

As well as the museum, it’s home to multiple breweries, pubs and eateries. Don’t forget to visit the monthly Peddler Market if you get the chance, too.

As for the pubs, my favourite has to be the Fat Cat. It serves a great variety of local beers (including Kelham Island Brewery’s very own Pale Rider) and always has a good chilled atmosphere. There are a few different rooms to choose from, as well as a pleasant beer garden.

Most importantly, Kelham Island is about evolution rather than pulling everything down and starting again. It still keeps that slightly grimy industrial vibe while being a modern and welcoming place to visit.

Fun (and free!) Museums

Sheffield is full of history. Plus, it’s a city known for taking a stand on social issues. Sheffield was the first place to pass a resolution calling for women’s suffrage, and it was at the forefront of the Miner’s strikes. During so many major events in history, you’ll see that Sheffield has stood up and had its voice heard.

Let’s take a look at three museums you should visit on your trip to Sheffield. They’re all completely free, too.

The Millennium Gallery

The Millennium Gallery joins onto the Winter Gardens, so it’s an easy place to pop into. It’s a fairly small art gallery, and it’s themed around a number of regional and national artworks. The most impressive is definitely the Sykes Metalwork collection:

Sheffield is famous for producing some of the finest cutlery in the world, and you can see a wide variety of it throughout the ages here.

The gallery is open from 10 til 5 Tuesday to Saturday and 11 til 4 on Sundays. You can find more information on the Sheffield Museums website.

Weston Park Museum

Set at the back of Weston Park, you’ll find the Weston Park Museum. It’s all about Sheffield and its people. and it brings everything from the past and present to life.

You’ll find the stories of its shops, neighbourhoods and even how they’d get around by public transport:

As I mentioned earlier, protest is a big part of Sheffield. Folk in this city aren’t the sort to just stand by and watch something happen if they don’t like it. So naturally, it’s a big part of this museum, too:

I even managed to spot two crisp packets from the 60s, donated from someone I’d previously interviewed in my student journalist days. She was a prolific litter picker (it’s quite the community activity in Sheffield, which is great to see) and had managed to dig them up after they’d survived in the bushes of the Gleadless Valley for decades.

The one thing that had appeared since my last visit was the ‘Pandemic Stories’ exhibition:

They’re all from everyday folk. The doctors, nurses, shop workers, students and the like. People that lived and worked in Sheffield that had their lives turned upside down.

It felt a little personal seeing as my pandemic story started in Sheffield, too. Just hours before the first lockdown was announced, I unceremoniously packed everything I could into a suitcase and abandoned my flat, bound for Newcastle, as I knew something was about to happen. And that’s how my experience at university ended!

It’s a truly fascinating museum and one that makes Sheffield as a wider city come to life. The Sheffield Museums website will tell you more about what’s on. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 til 5, and Sundays 11 til 4.

Kelham Island Museum

Interested in the industrial history of Sheffield or just generally in big moving machinery? Then Kelham Island Museum is a must-see on your trip to Sheffield. I talked above a little about how Kelham was one of the industrial heartlands of Sheffield, and this museum is there to bring it to life.

I’m ashamed to say I’d never visited before (despite at one point living five minutes walk away) so I was curious to see what was on offer.

The first section of the museum focuses on building and making. There’s quite a lot of moving (and working!) machinery in here, as well as this pair of cannons, originally designed to prevent a foreign invasion of Sheffield:

The Transport Gallery has a selection of different vehicles from across the ages, many of which were Sheffield-built:

And there’s a reconstruction of a Sheffield street (and WW1-era house), designed to tell the story of early 20th Century life in the city:

Steelmaking and cutlery plays a big part, too. You’ll find another extensive collection of metalwork with no stone left unturned.

The Kelham Island Museum is really fascinating and shows that Sheffield has much to be proud of as a city. Plus, it’s free. It’s open from 10 til 4 Tuesday to Saturday and 11 til 5 on Sundays, with more information (as ever!) on the Sheffield Museums website.

Fancy something to eat or drink?

Sheffield is a thriving city when it comes to independent cafes, bars and restaurants. It’d be impossible to suggest everything, but here are a couple of my suggestions if you’re feeling peckish on your trip to Sheffield:

• Lucky Fox (Division Street) does some amazing fried chicken. It’s juicy, delicious and packed with flavour. It’s a popular little spot though, so you might need to take your food with you!
• Mount Lebanon (West Street) is the perfect place for authentic Lebanese food. The service is super friendly, too
• Marmadukes (Norfolk Row) does some tasty-looking breakfast, brunch and lunch. It was a real favourite among my friends at university
• Bungalows & Bears (Division Street) is a great late-night spot if you fancy a drink. There’s some great music, a friendly atmosphere and the front of the bar opens up into the street on those warm summer nights.

On my trip to Sheffield, I paid a visit to Howst. You’ll find it at the top of Howard Street (the hill that goes from the station to the City Centre) and it serves brunch, lunch and even a selection of cocktails.

The atmosphere is friendly and cosy and the food is delicious. I went for the ‘Shroom’ which is poached eggs, mushrooms and Bloody Mary sauce on toast:

The busiest time seems to be around 12 to 1pm, so it’s worth getting there earlier or popping in for a later lunch.

Is there anything else I should see on a trip to Sheffield?

While I didn’t go there on this trip, the Botanical Gardens are another wonderful green space to visit during a trip to Sheffield. This part of the city is full of amazing walks and green spaces, and it was a favourite area of mine to wander around on warm summer evenings. The opening hours depend on the time of year, though you’ll find that they’re open until at least sunset on most days.

Just a little further away is Endcliffe Park. It’s a massive green space which is a firm favourite in warmer weather. From here, it’s possible to walk right into the Peak District, too.

The National Videogame Museum is also unmissable if you have even a passing interest in computer games, both modern and retro. It isn’t free, but it’s really hands-on. You can learn about the history of video games, but of course the fun part is playing them.

It’s £11 for adults and £9 for children, and booking ahead is highly recommended. You can do this on their website here.

Finally, I can’t write about Sheffield without mentioning Tabby Teas. It’s an adorable little cat café that I’ve had many happy visits to. The staff are really enthusiastic and the cats…well, they’re cats. There’s plenty of chances to feed them treats and enjoy their company:

It’s a little bit out of the City Centre (in Highfield) but the 218 bus will take you there from Sheffield Interchange, or it’s a 20 minute walk from the station. Booking ahead is advised, which you can do on their website here.

Heading further afield

Of course, the potential doesn’t end there. After all, Sheffield is on the doorstep of the Peak District National Park. Here are a couple more public transport-friendly things to do if you’re having a longer trip to Sheffield:

• Bus 218 will take you to Bakewell and Chatsworth House
• Take the 272 if you want to visit Castleton and the Peak Cavern
• Northern run hourly stopping trains to Edale, which is the ideal place to start a Peak District hike.

However you choose to spend your trip to Sheffield, SmartSplit can handle the rail tickets. We don’t charge any booking fees, and we don’t charge you if you change your mind about when you’d like to visit. Amendments and refunds are fee-free.

The post Day trip to Sheffield appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

But which is most worth it for the money, and which train tickets to Gatwick Airport are most budget-friendly? There was only one way to find out. I was going to take a nice afternoon trip to Gatwick Airport, but sadly not for a flight somewhere exotic. I’d try out each company, and provide the very scientific results to you!

How do we work out the best train to Gatwick Airport?

As it’s only a short journey from London to Gatwick Airport, we’re most concerned about speed, cost and the ability to store luggage. After all, an airport train isn’t much use if you end up with suitcases scattered around left, right and centre!

Considering that a lot of tourists might use the train as well, it’s always good for there to be a decent WiFi connection, as well as somewhere to charge a phone. Of course, we care about price, too. We want to know about the best value train tickets to Gatwick Airport.

Spoilers though, don’t be expecting any fancy catering options or extra luxuries. No matter which train you choose, they’re all different versions of trains designed for commuters.

Thameslink

I started out first with Thameslink, and chose London Bridge as the starting point. You can pick any of the London stations that Thameslink serve though, and all of the same trains will take you to Gatwick Airport. You’ll find eight trains per hour on the route, which have a couple of different stopping patterns between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport:

• Four per hour to Brighton (calling at East Croydon)
• Two per hour to Horsham (calling at East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley)
• Two per hour to Three Bridges (calling at Norwood Jn, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley)

You’re best aiming for a Brighton one, as most of the Three Bridges and Horsham trains will get overtaken. You might find them to be a little quieter though, if you really want a seat and time isn’t of the essence.

I was taking a Brighton train today, which was scheduled to take 29 minutes between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.

The cost

Before any discounts, it’ll cost you £24.50 for an Anytime Return on Thameslink. This allows you to return at any time within a month, so it’s ideal if you’re catching a flight. An Off-Peak Day Return is £14.60 and if you’re travelling at the weekend, a Super-Off-Peak Day Return is just £11.40.

Just travelling one way? It’s £13.20 for a single on weekdays and £11.30 on weekends. Based on cost alone, you’ll likely find Thameslink to be the best option. They have the cheapest train tickets to Gatwick Airport.

The train itself

All Thameslink services are formed of Siemens ‘Desiro City‘ trains formed of either eight or 12 coaches. They were essentially designed as ‘people-eaters’ – that is, to get people on and off the train as quickly as possible! They aren’t renowned for their creature comforts, but they do the job of transporting people very well.

I was taking a 12-coach train today, which is the more likely one that you’ll get on Brighton trains.

Storing your luggage

You’ll find a number of luggage stacks dotted around the train near the doors. There are also overhead racks throughout, which look to be capable of storing your typical cabin-sized suitcase. Because the seats on the train are fairly narrow, the aisles are quite wide and this makes wheeling cases down the train fairly easy.

The seat experience

The seats on these trains are known widely as ‘ironing boards’, so that perhaps doesn’t bode well for comfort! Now, they aren’t quite the same as sitting on an ironing board, but they’re narrow. After all, they were designed to swallow up rush-hour crowds rather than transport you in luxury.

You won’t find any plug sockets in Standard Class, but some seats have a table attached. For most journeys of this length, that’d be fine. But if you want something a little better at no extra cost, don’t fear. There is a solution…

Fancy an upgrade?

Now, this looks just a little nicer, doesn’t it? First Class on these trains will get you a bigger seat as well as a power socket. It isn’t groundbreaking, but what if I told you that you could use it for free?

First Class at the very back of every train is always declassified. It’s still marked as First, but you can sit in it with a Standard Class ticket.

A lot of Thameslink passengers know about this now, but it’s still worth aiming for the back of the train. One thing you definitely shouldn’t do is book a First Class ticket for these trains – why pay more for the same thing?

Onboard service

In a nutshell, there isn’t any. These trains just have a driver on board. There are regular and informative automated announcements, though.

Staying connected

Free WiFi is available on the train. I connected to it pretty easily and the speed was fairly typical of what I’ve experienced for on-train WiFi in Great Britain. Pretty slow! Here’s what Google thought:

You can use it to browse (as I did), but that’s about it. Don’t expect to be watching your favourite TV series on the way to the Airport.

Final thoughts

Thameslink is the cheapest way to Gatwick Airport if you’re buying a paper ticket, so for many, that’ll make it the best train to Gatwick Airport, too.

If you can get yourself a seat in First Class at the very back, it’s ideal. With at least four trains per hour (and another four that are a little slower) there’s plenty of choice, as well. You won’t have long to wait until the next train.

My train was punctual, if a little dirty. It did exactly what it needed to do and I can’t say I expected anything different.

Gatwick Express

You’d expect the train that calls itself Gatwick Express to be the best train to Gatwick, wouldn’t you? Well, in theory, it could be. These trains run twice per hour between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, with no stops on the way. It takes around half an hour to make the trip.

Today, I’d be taking the 13:10 train from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria. The trains usually leave from Platform 5 there, and from Platforms 13 and 14 in London.

The cost

See, this is the stickler. It’s expensive! A single from Victoria to Gatwick Airport is £21.90 or it’s £43.70 for an Anytime Return, before any discounts. This goes down to £33.60 if you want to buy an Anytime Day Return. These are some of the most expensive train tickets to Gatwick Airport.

Considering that it isn’t really any faster than Thameslink but has a massive price premium, it’s quite difficult to justify the cost. But, let’s take a look at the journey experience…

The train itself

All trains on this route are formed of Class 387 “Electrostar” units. They’ll usually run in pairs to form an eight-coach train, but can run as 12-coach trains as well.

They’re difficult to miss – the red livery is rather unmistakable!

Storing your luggage

These trains have a reasonable number of luggage stacks near the doors as well as overhead racks. However, for a dedicated Airport express service, they won’t be winning any awards for it.

These just looked like the normal luggage racks you’d get on any other variant of this train. Heathrow Express have the same kind of train, but they’ve gone to the effort of installing lots and lots of luggage space. So yes, luggage space exists. But surely, there should be more?

The seat experience

The seats are a similar kind of seat to the ‘ironing boards’ you get on Thameslink. They’ve been shaped a little better though, and you also get an armrest.

Every window seat gets a socket, too. You’ll (weirdly!) also find reading lights above every seat. They’re a bit high up, so I’m not sure how effective they’d be.

Fancy an upgrade?

Unless you have a First Class ticket from somewhere else, you really shouldn’t think about it. There is quite literally no difference. There’ll be a sticker on the window saying “First Class” and a tiny piece of cloth on the back of the seat saying the same.

We wrote more about the kinds of First Class on trains that are definitely worth it, and those that aren’t, here.

Onboard service

There was an On-board Supervisor on the train (basically a guard but they don’t do anything safety-critical) but I didn’t see her during the journey. On some services, they will check tickets (mostly to make sure you’ve paid full whack to use the train!)

She did however manage to make an announcement in English, French and Dutch which was pretty impressive. It’s quite rare for a member of railway staff in Great Britain to be speaking a different language!

Staying connected

You might expect a better WiFi connection with it being a ‘premium’ express service, but it didn’t look like that was the case. I got pretty much the same speed as on Thameslink. It would make sense, seeing as they’re essentially just brands of the same company (Govia Thameslink Railway), but a bit disappointing nonetheless:

Final thoughts

There’s nothing wrong with travelling on the Gatwick Express. But as a service, it’s far too expensive for what it is. On cost alone, it definitely isn’t the best train to Gatwick. That is, unless you have a ticket from somewhere else to Gatwick. In that case, it won’t have any restriction on it that stops you getting the Gatwick Express, so you may as well jump on!

The train was clean and I thought it was comfortable enough. We were punctual, too, but it was clear that the sheer number of trains running on the lines towards London meant that a ‘fast’ run was really difficult. You may as well call at East Croydon and Clapham Junction too – it probably wouldn’t add on much time.

Another issue is that it’s only half-hourly. If you just miss one, not only is waiting for the next one more expensive, but you’ll be letting multiple Southern services go as well.

Southern

Southern is probably who you’ll travel with if you need to travel from London Victoria but don’t want to splash out on the Gatwick Express. You’ll find up to six trains an hour heading to Gatwick, all of which have the same calling pattern. They all stop at Clapham Junction and East Croydon on the way to Gatwick, taking around 30 minutes. Yes, that’s the same time that the Gatwick Express takes!

The trains head to Eastbourne, Ore, Littlehampton, Southampton or Portsmouth. Trains heading to any of these places will do you just fine.

I jumped on a Littlehampton service – though decided not to take it all the way back to Gatwick yet again. I was more interested in what the train itself was like!

The cost

Before any Railcard discounts, you’ll find that a single costs £19.40, with an Anytime Return costing £38.80. An Off-Peak Day Return costs £19.50. There isn’t a huge difference between Southern and Gatwick Express in the peaks, but if you need to make an Off-Peak return journey on the same day, there’s a much larger difference.

Still, a £4.90 saving is money you could spend on your actual holiday!

The train itself

Southern services are operated by Class 377 “Electrostar” trains. They look pretty much the same as the Gatwick Express trains, but they’re a bit older. Most services will have eight or 12 coaches, depending on the time of day and where the train is going.

Storing your luggage

I noticed that this particular type of train didn’t have any stacks visible in the carriages. Instead, you just had the overhead racks which looked able to take a cabin-sized suitcase:

Because of the way the seats were laid out, you could also store some luggage between the seatbacks. It certainly isn’t the best train to Gatwick Airport for luggage, but only those with the larger cases would struggle. In any event, the stacks available on Gatwick Express would struggle with the biggest cases, too.

The seat experience

Weirdly, you’ll find two types of seat on most Southern trains. The outer carriages of each four-coach train (so on a 12-car, that’ll be coaches 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12) have seating arranged in a 2+2 layout. You’ll find full-sized tables, too. It looks a bit like the image below (but without the First Class stickers):

In the ‘centre’ carriages of the train, it’s laid out a little differently. You’ll find seating in a 3+2 layout with smaller tables in the bays of four and six:

Both kinds of seats are fine, though naturally the ones in the top image are a little nicer. In fact, if we were rating the trains on seat comfort alone, then this would be the best train to Gatwick.

Some trains have sockets at the window seats, but not all. Southern is working their way through refurbishing their trains at the minute, so in time they’ll all have the same features. For example, one four-car set had them on my train, but the others didn’t.

All seats have reading lights – this seems to be a feature of all the Electrostar trains!

Fancy an upgrade?

On this trip, you really don’t. Much like on Gatwick Express, you aren’t getting much more for your money. You might get a power socket, but that’s about it. First Class on these trains used to be a way to get a seat in the morning peak rather than a chance to sit in the lap of luxury.

Save your money and treat yourself to something nice when you go on holiday instead!

Onboard service

Similar to Gatwick Express, there was an On-board Supervisor on the train. He made an announcement and said where he was located, so at least you knew where to go if you needed anything.

Staying connected

As I’d realised by now, the WiFi is the same as on Thameslink and Gatwick Express, so I didn’t test it. Basically, it’s fine for browsing but not much else.

Final thoughts

Is Southern the best train to Gatwick Airport? Well, luggage space isn’t great, but it’s a lot more frequent than Gatwick Express and it’s a little cheaper. There’ll always be a train waiting for you at Victoria to take during most of the day.

The train I caught was clean and there were lots of free seats, so it seems like a good and dependable option.

On a cost basis, I’d still prefer Thameslink – but Southern has the benefit of all trains taking the same amount of time and there being someone on board if you have any questions.

Verdict – what’s the best train to Gatwick Airport?

I’d have to say that Thameslink is the best train to Gatwick Airport. That’s for a number of reasons:

• It’s the cheapest option. The most expensive paper return ticket is £24.50, which isn’t too bad at all. Same-day return trips at weekends are exceptionally cheap, too. All round, they’re the cheapest train tickets to Gatwick Airport
• The choice of London stations. Unless you’re connecting through Victoria, you’ll probably find a Thameslink station that suits you well
• The chance to upgrade for free. Just aim for the back of the train and you’ll probably bag yourself a First Class seat for no extra cost
• Finally, the amount of space. The trains are well designed to leave as much room in the aisles as possible, so they’re easy to move through with heavy luggage.

It isn’t perfect, by any means. There’s nobody else on board other than the driver, and the amount of luggage stacks isn’t fantastic. But the thing is, none of the operators, in my view, offered enough luggage space.

Gatwick Express is simply too expensive for what it is. Plus a half-hourly train isn’t exactly turn up and go.

Whichever company you choose though, you can book without fees on SmartSplit. We won’t charge you any fees if you change your mind and need a refund on your Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off-Peak tickets, either.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking for more information about London? Take a look at our page about travelling around London. You’ll find everything you need to know, including how to understand your ticket, and your best options for reaching other London airports, including Heathrow. Don’t forget to take a look at our quick guide to crossing London or the Elizabeth Line, either.

_{^{*All fares quoted in this article are correct as of 28/03/2023 and represent the options when purchasing an eTicket or paper ticket. Cheaper options may be available on some routes at some times of the day when using contactless payments. SmartSplit is not responsible for any loss or inconvenience as a result of the information provided. Visit tfl.gov.uk for more information.}}

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Who runs the trains between London and Birmingham?

Before we work out the best train between London and Birmingham, we should take a quick look at who runs them.

There are three companies to choose from:

• Avanti West Coast run the fastest trains between London Euston and Birmingham New Street. They take as little as 1hr 15min and are seen as the ‘premium’ option. They cost more and have catering options as well as First Class
• London Northwestern Railway run on the same route, but divert to also serve Northampton. They stop at more stations and a typical journey takes around 2hr 15min. The trains tend to be more of a ‘commuter’ style with tickets starting at much lower prices than Avanti
• Chiltern Railways operate on a different route between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill. The fastest journeys start at around 1hr 40min with a couple of different train types. You won’t find any catering but the trains are a sort of mid-point between the long-distance style of Avanti and commuter-style of London Northwestern. Prices can start even lower than on London Northwestern Railway, but are typically just a little higher.

Finding the best train from London to Birmingham – the plan

I was setting myself up for quite the day. Starting in Newcastle at 06:40, I’d need to make the 3hr 20min trip down to Birmingham New Street to start this scientific adventure.

First up was the slowest of the three – London Northwestern Railway. I’d be leaving Birmingham at 10:36 and getting into the capital for 12:49 before having a spot of lunch. I didn’t want to make the connections too tight in case of delays.

Avanti West Coast were next, taking me straight back up to Birmingham New Street at 14:16, arriving at 15:48.

Finally, I’d be taking a stroll across Birmingham to Snow Hill station where I’d be taking the 16:51 Chiltern Railways train to London Marylebone, arriving at 18:41.

All that awaited me now was the 05:30 alarm…

Trip 1 – London Northwestern Railway

First up in the battle to be the best train from London to Birmingham was the super-budget London Northwestern Railway. Leaving at 10:36 from Birmingham New Street, we were due into London Euston at 12:49. This was going to be the slowest train of the day!

They run trains every half an hour, with the timetable having been simplified on this route last December.

The cost

I paid £12.20 for an Advance single on my train (with a 16-25 Railcard) a week in advance. However, this is by no means the cheapest possible fare.

An Advance single (without Railcard) starts at £8 one way. Tickets on the day range from £29.00 for a Super Off-Peak Return to £99.20 for an Anytime Return (correct as of March 2023).

Waiting to get on board

Birmingham New Street can be quite the confusing station to navigate, with different coloured lounges and various sets of ticket gates to get onto the platforms. Fear not though, all of the departure boards tell you which coloured area to aim for:

If you’re coming off a connecting train instead, head to the ‘b’ ends of the platforms. This allows you to switch over to your connection without running in and out of different sets of barriers. I had a while to wait though, so ended up using an ‘a’ end and having a walk around the station. It’s a lot less bleak than the rather dark and dingy platforms!

My best advice if you’re peckish and on a budget would be to head up the escalator on the left of the picture above. There’s a Tesco on the upper level (part of “Grand Central”) which sells all the usual meal deals and such at the normal prices you’d expect.

With a cheese twist in hand, I headed for the platforms and was happy to see that my train was already there and ready for boarding. Most London Northwestern trains to and from London arrive around half an hour before they leave again and they’re usually left unlocked. So, you have plenty of time to find yourself a seat.

The train itself

London Northwestern Railway runs a fleet of Class 350 ‘Desiro’ trains on all services between London and Birmingham. There are a couple of different types, with some having tables and sockets, while others are laid out for short-distance commuter trips. Most run as eight coaches on these services. In the peak hours, you might find that an extra four coaches are added/removed at Northampton, so that 12 coaches run between London and Northampton.

They’re fairly decent looking trains, having been reliably running on the West Coast Mainline for nearly two decades:

The seat experience

So, remember when I said that some trains on the route are really meant for short-distance commutes? As soon as I got to the platform, my heart sank, as I could see that at least one part of the train was one of these. This is the chance you take when you book with London Northwestern!

A quick pace down the platform didn’t get me any further luck, as it turned out that both of the four-coach trains that formed the service were the same type. I gave up and went back to the rear, which seemed to be the quietest place to go. You’re most likely to get a seat in coaches 7 and 8.

So, what are the seats like? Let’s take a look:

Yep, they aren’t winning any awards for comfort. This type of train doesn’t have any sockets, either, so bring a powerbank just in case.

I found myself an airline-style pair of seats which had a reasonable amount of legroom (I’m 6ft). They were firm but I soon settled myself in, even if I was a little peeved that I’d drawn the short straw.

If you end up with the ‘other’ type of train on this route, you’ll get 2+2 seating with tables and sockets. Unfortunately you can’t guarantee which type you’ll get, though!

Storing your luggage

I couldn’t see any proper luggage stacks in the carriages I walked through, so the luggage racks you see in the image above are all you’ve got.

They looked large enough to store a cabin-sized suitcase so will be enough for most. I certainly wouldn’t take this train if I was taking the kitchen sink with me, though! Throughout the journey, I didn’t see anyone struggling to store anything and there weren’t any cases randomly left around the doors.

Fancy an upgrade?

First Class fares start at £20.30 one way (without a Railcard). No matter which type of train you get, it’s all mostly the same. This means that on a train like mine, it’s a bit of an upgrade, but it’s almost a downgrade on the more ‘luxurious’ ones.

What perks do you get? Curtains and a seat that reclines, as well as a guaranteed power socket. I was surprised to see that the compartment was really busy though, so this is the best photo I could get to show what the seats are like:

It certainly won’t be winning the award for best train from London to Birmingham in First Class, that’s for sure. If you really want to upgrade on the day though, it’s £10 single and £15 return on weekends. You can do it on board, too. There’s more info on the London Northwestern Railway website.

Update – From May 21st, 2023, First Class fares will no longer be offered on this route. So you can enjoy a ‘free’ upgrade to these seats from this date if you’d like!

If you’re feeling peckish

Then you go to the shop before you get on. There isn’t any catering on these trains! As I mentioned earlier, there’s a Tesco in Birmingham New Street if you’re on a budget. London Euston has plenty of options as well, including an M&S.

Onboard service

There were at least two different guards on board but they didn’t make good on their promise of ‘walking through the train’. All you’d get were slightly-too-loud announcements repeating what the automated ones had just said. No tickets were checked, either.

I wasn’t overly impressed but on one train we passed at Northampton I could see the guard with a ticket machine around the centre of the set. So it’s possible that your guard might actually make themselves seen!

Final thoughts

We arrived in London Euston on time, at 12:49. What did I think of London Northwestern Railway? It definitely isn’t the best train between London and Birmingham, but it can be very cheap, especially if you have a Railcard.

You have to know what to expect, which is that this is a commuter train between Birmingham and Northampton and Northampton to London. It just so happens that it runs all the way through. If time isn’t of the essence and you find a bargain, go for it. After all, it was a well-kept train and noticeably very clean.

Trip 2 – Avanti West Coast

After a spot of lunch in the Doric Arch pub over the road, it was time for the next train. My train was the 14:16 Avanti West Coast service to Preston via Birmingham, and it was set to take just over an hour and a half. This was a good 45 minutes or so quicker than London Northwestern! On time alone, you could say that this was the best train between London and Birmingham.

Avanti generally run two trains per hour between London and Birmingham, though the eventual aim is to get this back up to three. COVID-19 staff shortages and DfT cost-cutting have meant that this date keeps getting pushed back. At the minute, you’ll find a couple of hours in the morning and evening peaks where there’s a third train every hour.

The cost

It was £20.85 for an Advance single (with a 16-25 Railcard) booked a week in advance. If you want a much cheaper price on Avanti, you’ll need to plan ahead a little more.

Fares do start at £8 (without a Railcard) but it seems that this isn’t too common. The best I could find was £14 on the late-night trains two months ahead*. Even then, London Northwestern Railway undercut this by a fair amount:

If you want to buy a ticket on the day, it’s £65.80 for an Off-Peak Return or a whopping £188.80 for the Anytime version.

_{^{*Fares quoted are correct at 27/03/23 for 24/05/23 and are subject to change at any time. SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of this information.}}

Waiting to get on board

London Euston is pretty infamous for the ‘Euston Scrum’. This is what happens when everyone has to wait on the concourse before a train is announced before making a beeline for it as soon as the platform appears on the screen!

It isn’t pleasant, so Network Rail tried to ‘fix’ the issue by replacing the big set of departure boards with two smaller sets:

While the boards are definitely better, it’s a bit of a strange place to put them. In any event, I’d looked up my platform online already, so I just hovered around at the top of the ramp. Just under 20 minutes before the train leaves, the platform is announced. There’s also a full ticket check before you get on.

This just applies to Avanti trains. If you’re taking a London Northwestern train, there’s usually nobody checking tickets or you’ll just have to pop it in a gate.

I had to be quick after the train was announced, as people were already running for the platform! The general atmosphere for this way of boarding is never great, and it affects Avanti the most here.

The train itself

I was taking a nine-car Pendolino train today. Introduced to the route in the early 2000s, they’re certainly rather striking. They’re capable of tilting around corners and have a bit of an ‘airplane’ feel inside.

In the early 2010s, some sets were extended to 11 cars and several new ones were built, as well. As we speak, they’re also getting a pretty extensive refurbishment.

Unfortunately, I was in for the ‘original’ experience, which was an unrefurbished nine-car. At the time of writing, most trains haven’t been refurbished just yet.

Storing your luggage

I headed for the unreserved coach, which is Coach C on these trains. Every carriage has quite a few luggage stacks dotted around, so you won’t struggle for space.

I wrote in my review of luggage space on trains that I was pretty impressed by the overhead racks, too. Just beware that they’re smaller in some parts of the train. This is usually where there’s equipment on the roof.

The seat experience

The seats are fairly pleasant, though legroom is a little tight in the airline-style ones. The reason I made a beeline for a table seat is that they’re the only seats with sockets on the unrefurbished trains. By each window table seat, you’ll find two USB sockets and a three-pin one:

The one ‘hack’ for getting around needing a full-sized table to use a socket is in Coach A. Seat A28 has a half-sized table but it faces a luggage rack, so you’ll not have anyone sat opposite you. A21 is the same, but it doesn’t have much of a window view. You’ll find these seats at the very back of the train heading south, and the very front going north.

On the refurbished trains, there are sockets at every seat. It’ll just take a little while for every train to be done.

The one thing I had noticed though was that everything was fairly shabby. The seat next to me had a massive rip in it and the seat-backs had paint peeling off. Clearly with refurbishment on the horizon, standards have slipped.

Fancy an upgrade?

First Class fares start at £42 one-way for an Advance single (without Railcard). For this, you’ll get a bigger reclining seat, as well as complimentary food and drink (menus available here).

However, if you just want to upgrade on the fly, you can try Standard Premium. In a nutshell, it’s the First Class carriage without the free food and drink. It’s £25 to upgrade on board. I’ve tried this before and it was definitely worth it for the extra space, but remember that £25 is the price no matter how far you go.

If you’re feeling peckish

There’s a shop in Coach C. It sells quite a variety of food and drink, and it has the positive of allowing you to browse what’s on offer without needing to ask.

It opened pretty much straight away after leaving Euston, and was doing good business all the way through to Birmingham. Prices were about what you’d expect for a train, with a meal deal including a sandwich coming to £5.90 (as of March 2023). You can find the full menu here.

At the time of writing, at-seat service is technically available in Standard. I say ‘technically’, because I have never known this to be working. From May 2023, it’s going to be discontinued.

Onboard service

The Train Manager made an announcement and again claimed that they’d be walking through the train, but I never saw them. We did however have regular runs from cleaning staff with bin bags.

Final thoughts

If you want a ‘long-distance train’ experience, then Avanti is likely to be the best train between London and Birmingham. The main stickler is that it’s quite expensive, and even booking in advance doesn’t get it anywhere near the price of London Northwestern Railway.

Coach C was very busy, too. I had two other people at the table with me for most of the trip. It’s definitely better if you have a seat reserved in advance (and a suitable one, at that), as some trains just don’t have many unreserved places.

Still though, we arrived into Birmingham New Street on time. It’s a better bet if you have lots of luggage too, as there’s plenty of space for it.

Trip 3 – Chiltern Railways

It was time for the final trip. So far I didn’t have any overwhelming feelings about what the best train from London to Birmingham was, as both companies had been pretty much as expected. One was cheap and felt like a commuter train, one was more expensive and felt like a ‘proper’ one.

Chiltern almost falls in the middle. My 16:51 train from Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone took 1hr 50min, which is one of their faster ones on the route.

You’ll find two trains per hour on the route for most of the day, though one per hour tends to start from Birmingham Moor Street during Off-Peak hours.

The cost

My Advance single ticket from Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone cost £13.20 (with Railcard) booked a week in Advance. Tickets start at £6.40 (without Railcard) one way. Even on the day I booked, you could find some cheaper trains at a similar time for £10.55 (with Railcard).

If you want to buy on the day, fares range from £36.40 (Super Off-Peak Return) to £135.30 (Anytime Return) as of March 2023.

Waiting to get on board

Birmingham Snow Hill station certainly won’t be winning any design awards. It’s a pretty depressing Brutalist building with all of the platforms underground. That said, it’s small and there’s plenty of space to wait, so it isn’t truly awful. If you want some fresh air, you can go right to the back of the platforms.

It’s worth mentioning that the other station, Birmingham Moor Street, is significantly nicer. Restored back to its original GWR heyday, you’ll probably prefer to wait around here if you can:

The reason I’d picked Snow Hill was so that I could have the first pick of seats when the train arrived. It was also so I could show you what the interior was like before it became swarmed with people!

The train arrived in from London on-time at 16:39, meaning that it was a fairly short wait til it went back to London. This varies throughout the day, but usually the train will be there a little earlier. In any event, there wasn’t much of a crowd waiting, with most people who want this train jumping on at Moor Street instead.

Notably, quite a crowd joined at Birmingham Moor Street. If you’re taking a train that starts at Snow Hill at a busy hour of the day, it might be best to book from there. The platform that these trains use at Moor Street is quite narrow and it didn’t look like the most comfortable place to wait.

The train itself

Today I had a three-car and two-car Class 168 Chiltern Clubman coupled together to make a five-car train. Anything from three to six cars is common on the route, but I’ve never experienced anything severely overcrowded.

My train had been built in 2000, so it was around the same age as me! I couldn’t get a photo until we arrived in London, but it’s the train on the left:

Storing your luggage

It did take a bit of looking, but there are luggage stacks on this train. You’ll find them right at the inner ends, usually opposite a toilet or next to the doors between the carriages.

The overhead racks looked capable of storing cabin-sized suitcases at a push, but it might have been a little cosy. It certainly wasn’t the best train from London to Birmingham for luggage, but most people wouldn’t have a problem. During the journey I certainly didn’t notice anyone struggling to store anything.

The seat experience

The one thing that you notice when you board is that these are fairly classy looking trains. There are actually two kinds of seats, with the ones at the carriage ends having a bit of a flatter and thinner back and headrest. The most comfortable ones have more of a wraparound headrest and look like this:

You’ll find a socket at every window seat, including at the tables. The seats themselves are really quite comfortable and probably the best of the three trains I’d tried.

Fancy an upgrade?

In most cases, it’s tough luck. Chiltern abolished First Class quite a few years ago! According to their website, the ‘Business Zone’ carriage isn’t available either. This was a carriage on certain trains where you could pay on board and upgrade for a bigger seat and more space. However, I’ve noticed trains still running around with this carriage, and consensus seems to be that if it’s available, you can travel in it without an extra charge.

If you’re feeling peckish

Go to the shop beforehand! There isn’t any catering on Chiltern trains. Snow Hill is near a number of shops including a Tesco. At Marylebone, you’ll find an M&S Food.

Onboard service

All Chiltern trains need to have a guard on board between Birmingham and Banbury. After that, the driver can operate the doors in most cases.

Before we left Snow Hill, the guard made an announcement and came through the train checking tickets multiple times on the trip. After two trips with totally invisible staff, this was quite a breath of fresh air. He was friendly, efficient and enthusiastic.

Final thoughts

This was probably my favourite journey of the three. The train was clean, comfortable and laid out properly for the sort of journeys being made on it. The atmosphere on board as well was completely different to the other two trains.

Everyone was chatting to each other and I spent the second half of the trip talking to a mother and daughter off to the theatre. Naturally this isn’t going to happen on every train, but it was nice nonetheless.

We arrived four minutes late into Marylebone, having followed a late-running West Midlands Railway train for the first part of the trip out of Birmingham. It was only 15 minutes or so slower than the more expensive Avanti train, which seemed a fair compromise considering how much cheaper it was.

Marylebone is a charming little terminus to arrive and depart from, too. It’s one of the smallest London stations and doesn’t have the ‘chaotic’ feeling of the likes of Euston:

Keep an eye out for some of the old Network South East signage, too (like the ‘tickets’ sign). Rather quirky considering it hasn’t existed for three decades!

The verdict – what’s the best train from London to Birmingham?

I’d say that the best train from London to Birmingham, all things considered, is the one operated by Chiltern Railways.

It doesn’t do catering or First Class, but it was a good balance between cost and journey time. The trains are classy and comfortable, too. It’s also the only train I caught where the guard actively walked through and checked tickets.

There’s no doubt that London Northwestern Railway will likely give you the cheapest of the cheap fares, but the trains often reflect that.

Avanti West Coast would likely for some be the best train from London to Birmingham. After all, it’s the fastest and has the most amenities. But boarding at Euston can be quite stressful and the price is quite a bit higher than the alternatives. The train I caught also felt rather unloved!

Both London Northwestern Railway and Avanti West Coast are receiving new and refurbished trains on these routes, so it’d be interesting to give this another go in the future and see if Chiltern still come out on top. Notably, from May 2023, it’s expected that the average journey time on Chiltern will increase to around two hours. The trade-off is that the likes of Warwick get more direct trains to London.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about the Capital? Take a look at our guide to travelling to London. We’ll tell you about getting the best fares on routes like Edinburgh to London and Southend to London, as well as whether it’s worth upgrading to First Class on Avanti.

No matter which train you choose though, don’t forget that you can book all of them fee-free with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees if you change your plans, either.

The post What’s the best train from London to Birmingham? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Journey 1 – Newcastle to Carlisle

Now, I’d tried to cover as many of the “key” train types of possible that have the widest coverage. For example, this first train, a Class 158 “Express Sprinter”, runs on many short and medium-distance Northern services. However, you’ll also find them on East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales, ScotRail and South Western Railway.

I ended up getting on at the wrong end of the train to the big luggage stacks, of which Northern has one per carriage. So, it was time to give the overhead racks a go. I managed to get it up there, but it was looking a little precarious:

However, I decided to have faith that it wouldn’t jump out and give a fellow passenger concussion. And, to be fair, it stayed put the entire way. It wasn’t the best train for luggage, but it did the job. Just don’t try and put anything bigger above your head.

And so, my day had started as it meant to go on: looking like a right weirdo taking photos of a suitcase in a luggage rack.

Journey 2 – Carlisle to Crewe

For my first long-distance trip, I was taking a famous “Pendolino” train, operated by Avanti West Coast. They’ve always been known for feeling a bit cramped (and having tiny windows) so I didn’t have a great deal of hope for this one.

You can imagine my surprise when I jumped on and my case fitted perfectly above the seat. It didn’t even stick out and look like it was about to injure someone, which was a bonus.

On board, there’s also quite a few luggage stacks if you’re bringing a big case or something else that won’t quite fit above your head. Some are even in the centre of the carriage, so you can keep an eye on your things without needing to trek down to the ends.

It should be noted though, that it does depend on where you’re sitting in some carriages. For example, most of Coach C has equipment on the roof, so the overhead racks are tiny. Only seats 1 to 22 have the full-size rack.

Journey 3 – Crewe to Nottingham

It was back to the wee regional trains for the next one, and I was taking a Class 170 “Turbostar” operated by East Midlands Railway. You’ll also find these trains on CrossCountry, ScotRail and Northern, though they all have slightly different layouts. Most importantly though, the overhead racks are broadly the same size.

My case just about fit in the overhead rack, much like the first train. There was a luggage stack towards the centre of the carriage as well, but I decided to trust that gravity would stay on my side. This was a tricky one to illustrate as everyone seemed very aware of the strange man photographing his luggage:

The lack of decent (or at least obvious) luggage storage became rather apparent when we rolled into Stoke. Four different people with positively huge suitcases got and looked a bit dumbfounded as to where to go. Where did they go? Nowhere. They all stood by the doors with their precious cargo. Not ideal on a two-car train, but there’s no way all four would have fitted in the rack. The main issue was that it wasn’t totally obvious as you boarded.

Thankfully there were a fair amount of people jumping on and off at different points so the little train didn’t completely descend into chaos. My main issue was that these trains also make mammoth journeys across England (such as Stansted Airport to Birmingham and Nottingham to Cardiff) – hopefully nobody turns up with anything heavier or bigger than a Tesco carrier bag! (other supermarkets are available)

Journey 4 – Nottingham to Derby

Spoilers: It was exactly the same train as the last one.

The only difference was that I turned up struggling to breathe after it chose to leave from the furthest platform possible from the entrance. Cue me legging it with a suitcase in tow while being screamed at by the dispatcher to go faster. It wasn’t entirely my fault I was so late, as the self-service till at the supermarket in the station had had a bit of a meltdown on me.

The train wasn’t quite so busy this time, so I found a table seat and the case went under it.

When I got into Derby, I had a second attempt at getting something to eat and was served by the friendly lasses in the Pumpkin cafe. They even warmed up my pasty (us Geordies love a pasty – even if it wasn’t quite Greggs) which was welcome on a bit of a blustery day.

Journey 5 – Derby to Sheffield

For this next train, I’d be jumping on board a “Meridian” operated by East Midlands Railway. You’ll also find similar trains on CrossCountry or Avanti West Coast, where they’re known as a “Voyager” or “Super Voyager”. While the seating layouts are a bit different (and Meridians can be a bit longer), the trains themselves are mostly the same.

I found myself a free table, lifted my case up into the rack and…it was nowhere near fitting. Safe to say, this wasn’t the best train for luggage – it was pretty much the worst. The trade-off was that some cases would fit between the seat-backs (I had a go, mine squeezed in) but the train was empty enough to just stick it under the table next to me.

There were some luggage stacks at the carriage ends, so you aren’t left totally high and dry if your luggage is big, but I can imagine it being a challenge on busier trains. As you can see, someone’s managed to squeeze a tote bag in, but there’s already enough space under the seats for that!

Journey 6 – Sheffield to Doncaster

It was now time to head for home after a brief stop in Sheffield. Rush hour was looming too, so this would be a good test of luggage space with plenty of exhausted commuters around me. Namely making sure I didn’t block any seats or accidentally hit them in the head, as I’m sure lots of disgruntled tutting would ensue.

Northern had gifted me a Class 150 ‘Sprinter’ for the short journey to Doncaster. You’ll find these trains on much of the Northern network as well as across pretty much all of Wales. They operate everything from local hops to long-distance trains taking you from Manchester to Cardiff. In a nutshell, they have a pretty tough gig trying to meet all sorts of demands.

I’ll be honest, my expectations were rather low. So I was quite surprised when I lobbed my case it’s the overhead rack without any problems! Sure, this particular train had next-to-no legroom, but at least my suitcase was comfortable.

Journey 7 – Doncaster to Newcastle

I was now on the home stretch. One more train where I’d have to look a bit strange taking photos. I already knew what to expect from the LNER Azuma trains, as I can remember them being a bit of a revolution when they started running on the Edinburgh to London route.

While the seats were a bit harder than on the trains they replaced, I was at least able to comfortably chuck my case into the rack above my head. A welcome thing for a student going home with dirty washing to beat the costs of student accommodation washing machines.

You’ll also find some bigger luggage stacks dotted around the train, but where they are varies massively depending on who runs the train. After all, these Hitachi trains are operated by Great Western Railway, LNER, Lumo and TransPennine Express.

Great Western Railway trains have two per carriage, no matter their length. This is the standard number, and LNER Azuma trains which have five carriages are the same. TransPennine Express “Nova 1” trains have two as well. LNER Azuma trains which have nine carriages are quite generous, with some coaches having up to four luggage stacks. This is because some seats were removed to make way for extra space.

So surely, you’d think that these Hitachi trains were the best trains for luggage? Well, yes, unless you’re getting on a Lumo train. The number of stacks in the carriage ranges from one to none! If you’re in part of Coach E, you won’t even get an overhead rack. This is because they’ve tried to squeeze in as many seats as possible. They even have a restriction on the amount of luggage you can bring that’s a lot stricter than other companies.

The verdict – what’s the best train for luggage?

Out of the trains I’d travelled on today, the Pendolino felt like the best one. This was mostly because you could rely on every Pendolino having the same number of luggage stacks, and the overhead racks fit a cabin-size case comfortably. Some coaches have a smaller overhead rack in places, but this is compensated for with more stacks.

The LNER Azuma is a close second. The nine-car version is arguably the best train for luggage seeing as it’s had seats taken out for more luggage stacks. So, you’re in luck if you’re travelling between Edinburgh and London, in 99% of cases. By contrast, Lumo’s version of the Hitachi trains is probably one of the worst.

The worst I travelled on today had to be the Meridian operated by East Midlands Railway. The overhead racks are barely good for any luggage of any size! You’ll have to hope you can squeeze your case between the seats or find a luggage stack. There is some good news, as they’re being replaced by Hitachi trains similar to those on LNER in the coming years.

It had been a long day on the trains, but I was quite impressed by most operators. In my view, you’re well-covered for taking a cabin-size case on the vast majority of services! When you’re ready to take your next trip, you can book without fees (even if your plans change!) at SmartSplit.

The post What’s the best train for luggage? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Getting There

York is a true hub of the railways. You’ll find lines coming from every direction, so most of the country is easily connected to this historic city. Here’s how to get to it from some key destinations:

• Newcastle has trains operated by CrossCountry, LNER and TransPennine Express. You’ll usually find cheaper fares on TransPennine Express, but their reliability hasn’t been the best in recent months. LNER is likely to be your best bet if you can find a good fare, as they have the longest trains and the most generous amount of luggage space

• Coming from Leeds or Manchester? You have a choice of Northern or TransPennine Express. If you’d like to have seats reserved, you might prefer TPE. However, Northern have the cheapest fares and you’ll often find some bargains right up to departure. If you’re travelling from Manchester on Northern, you’ll need to change trains. Leeds has the greatest choice, but Hebden Bridge is a same-platform change if the times line up right

• London folk can choose from LNER or Grand Central. If you choose LNER, you’ll certainly have more choice. You’ll find up to three trains per hour on this route, ranging from stopping services to ones that go non-stop to and from the capital. If you’re after a cheaper fare, especially last-minute, Grand Central are best. Just know that they only leave a small number of seats unreserved in Coach B, so book at least the day before if you can.

Seeing the Sights

If you want to get started with some of the essentials in York, then it’s time to have a wander. The City Centre isn’t far away from the station. In fact, just turning left out of the station and popping under the walls will put the historic city within view. Here are some of the main bits that you won’t want to miss:

York Minster

If you mention York to someone, the first thing they’ll probably think of is the Minster. Depending on which direction you approach from on the train, it might well be the first thing you see, too. Founded in 627 AD, the current building was completed in 1472. It’s the largest cathedral of it’s kind in Northern Europe and is truly a sight to behold.

If you’d like to pray, attend a service or light a candle, then there’s no entrance charge. Otherwise, it’s £16.00 entry or £22.00 if you’d like to climb up the tower, too. Your ticket is valid for a year, so you can visit as many times as you’d like.

Opening times can vary, though it’s open every day. You can find out more on the Minster’s website.

The Shambles

These adorable streets are filled with shops full of trinkets, sweets and drinks to sample. Far from being a shambles, it’s one of the highlights of York and you could spend quite a while marvelling at every little store!

It’s one of the best-preserved Medieval shopping streets in Europe, with some reminders of that era still lingering. The small shelves you’ll see outside the shops (the ones you’ll be told not to use as a seat!) date from when cuts of meat were served on them. Thankfully the street is more likely to be awash with the smells of sweet shops and coffee than the stench of raw meat, these days.

Just know that things can get a little bit cosy on weekends and during the school holidays. After all, the Shambles wasn’t built with 21st Century crowds in mind! So, don’t plan to rush through it.

The River Ouse

The Ouse is maybe the second thing you’ll see when you enter York (other than the top of the Minster). You’ll need to walk over it to reach the City Centre, and it gives a more serene place to walk and chill out compared to the bustling city streets.

Whether you want to watch the sunrise or sunset (like we did in the picture below) or take a boat trip, it can give something to everyone. Did you know that it’s also the longest river in the UK to flow entirely within one county?

Walking the Walls

We can’t ignore the historical walls of York. The current wall dates from the 13th to 14th century, but there’s been a protective wall around the city since Roman times. They almost form a complete loop around the City Centre, with a number of historic gatehouses (known as ‘Bars’ – though you can’t grab a beer in them!) at different points.

They’re a great way to see the city from a height and a fantastic way to get your steps in, too. The nearest place to start your tour from the station is at Barker Tower, if you’d like to do an anti-clockwise tour. If you’d like to see a bit of the city first, then you can go clockwise from Bootham Bar, near the Art Gallery.

Find out more about the walls on the York City Council website.

York and the Railways

York is a true railway city. When the current station was opened in 1877, it was the largest in the world. It was also the home of train building from 1884 to 1996, with many trains operating on the network today having been built here. It’s truly possible that you might arrive in York on a train built there!

Nowadays, the main rail centrepiece of York is the National Railway Museum. Opened in 1975, it’s a place for rail enthusiasts, families and anyone even vaguely interested in trains. It houses a variety of relics (old and not-so-old!) from the National Collection, meaning that there’s something for everyone to marvel at.

The museum is currently undergoing an exciting period of change. Their Vision 2025 plans will see a number of new exhibits and a reimagining of existing ones to make it a museum fit for the future. It’s still possible to pop in and look at much of its collection while this work is going on, though.

Entry is free and the museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday. You’ll need to book a free admission ticket on the museum site before visiting.

Popping to the Museums

For a city full of history, it’s only fitting that there’d be plenty of museums to pop into! There are too many to list on one page, but here are a few highlights that you might like to visit:

Yorkshire Museum

If you’re wanting to know about the history of York and beyond going back through the past two millennia, then you won’t want to miss the Yorkshire Museum. It’ll probably be the first museum you encounter after jumping off the train, being just a stone’s throw from the River Ouse and Lendal Bridge.

At the time of writing, you can learn about York in the Roman era, as well as the mystery of the Ryedale Bust – an 1,800 year old bust of the emperor Marcus Aurelius discovered in May 2020. After all, who would bury such a fascinating object in rural North Yorkshire?

Don’t forget to visit the Medieval York exhibition, too. It’ll take you on a fascinating tale through time, exploring how York rose to become the second city of England.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, and entry is £8 online or £8.75 on the day. You can find out more on the museum’s site.

York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum tells us more about the recent history of the city. It’s home to Kirkgate, one of the oldest indoor recreations of a street in the world, and the oldest in Britain. It was opened in 1938 and named after the museum’s founder, Dr John Lamplugh Kirk.

Perhaps you’d like to relive your childhood? If you’re old enough, their Sixties exhibition might bring back some fond memories. To younger visitors, naturally such times might feel like centuries in the past!

Of course, we can’t forget York Castle Prison. After all, the entire museum is housed in a former prison! You’ll come face-to-face with some of its most infamous prisoners and learn about nearly one thousand years of justice being delivered at York Castle. Did you know that York Crown Court is on the site today, so the history continues to this day?

The museum is open every day of the week, with entry being £13 online or £14 on the day.

Clifford’s Tower

Spin your head 180 degrees (and maybe the rest of your body with it) if you’re facing the York Castle Museum and you can’t miss Clifford’s Tower. Even if you aren’t visiting it inside, it’s definitely worth popping over to take a look.

The Tower has certainly had quite the history. It was originally built to subdue the rebellious North by William the Conqueror (we’ve never been one to follow the rules, have we?) and has been a royal mint, medieval stronghold and Civil War garrison.

Clifford’s Tower has seen it all, and you too can experience its history by paying a visit. You can ‘see it all’ as well by taking in the views of the city from the very top!

Tickets start at £8.10. More information is available on its website.

York Art Gallery

Taking in more than 600 years of art history, the York Art Gallery is a true melting pot of creations from all eras and backgrounds. Located next to Bootham Bar at the start of the York Walls, it’s just a stone’s throw from the Minster, too.

There’s been some sort of art exhibition here since 1879, when the building hosted the second Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition. It became the city’s art gallery in 1892.

The best part is that it’s free to go in! It’s open Wednesday to Saturday, and it’s advised to book a free ticket here to guarantee entry.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list! If none of these take your fancy, take a look at the Visit York website for more inspiration.

Taking a Breather

After all that exploring, you’ll probably want somewhere to stop and take it all in. Maybe you’ll have a picnic or maybe you’ll just want to give your poor legs a rest. Either way, York has some sweet green spots to chill in.

York Museum Gardens

Whether or not you’ve visited the Yorkshire Museum, everyone’s free to explore the York Museum Gardens. They’re right next to the Ouse, and a great place to kick back and relax.

It isn’t just a haven for wildlife (having been a Gold award winner of Yorkshire in Bloom for three years in a row), but a treasure trove of historical buildings. You’ll find the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, which date from between 1271 and 1294:

The gardens are open all year round and it’s free to wander around. You can find more information on the Yorkshire Museums Trust website.

Rowntree Park

If you’re a fan of Fruit Pastilles, then the name will sound rather familiar! The park was gifted to the city of York in 1921 by the Rowntree Company and serves as a memorial for staff who were lost during World War I. Today, the Rowntree factory in York continues to be one of the largest confectionary factories in the world.

The park is just to the south of the City Centre, making it a peaceful getaway from the busy streets. It’s also home to tennis courts, a skate park, basketball court and a reading café among other amenities. As you can see below, it’s home to plenty of geese, as well!

Don’t be too intimidated by the geese, they’re part of the York experience. It isn’t unusual to see them crossing the road in the City Centre when they want to get somewhere!

When you’re Peckish

York is home to a plethora of restaurants and cafes, so it’s impossible to list them all. Whatever you’re after, you’re sure to find something to suit your tastes.

When we visited, we were feeling hungry earlier in the morning so went in search of somewhere for brunch. Our place of choice was ‘rise.‘ which is located on Fossgate, not far from the Shambles. It’s got a nice chilled atmosphere and ordering is nice and easy at the counter. Our Eggs Benedict was £8.50 and is probably the prettiest take on the dish that we’ve seen. Of course, it was delicious, too:

Drinks range from £2.50 to £4.00 and you’re offered a stamp card to earn yourself a free drink if you plan on making yourself a regular.

If you’re returning and fancy a drink (or pork pie) in the station, you can always visit the York Tap. Find out more in our guide to our favourite station pubs!

Heading Further Afield

If you want to explore a little beyond York, then there are a variety of options to try:

• Whitby and Pickering are reachable on the Coastliner 840 bus. It leaves from just outside the station, too
• Want to shop til you drop? You can take bus 7 to Designer Outlet from the station, as well
• If you want to explore further by train, there’s regular trains to Knaresborough and Harrogate. If you’ve booked an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket from Leeds, then your ticket is valid to stop off here on the outward or return trip.

However you choose to experience York, you can travel smarter with SmartSplit. Book tickets with us and you won’t pay any fees if you need to change your plans.

The post Day Trip to York appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Getting There

Newcastle is situated on the East Coast Mainline between London and Edinburgh, so it’s easy to get to. You’ve plenty of choice as well, with some routes having multiple operators to choose from. Here’s what you can expect from a selection of key destinations:

• London – From London, LNER operate twice per hour, and Lumo run several times per day. If you’re travelling in a group or with a lot of luggage, LNER is your best bet, as they have quite a few more table seats. They have a lot more luggage space as well! Travelling alone, as a couple or just travelling light? Lumo is a great choice for the budget-conscious. Their trains run non-stop from London or Stevenage to Newcastle, too

• Edinburgh is served by LNER and Lumo, too. You can also choose from CrossCountry and TransPennine Express. If you want a quieter train, TransPennine Express can be a good bet. This is because most of their trains to Scotland start and finish in Newcastle, so you can the have first pick of seats. York also has trains operated by LNER, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express

• If you’re coming from places such as Carlisle and Middlesbrough, then you’ll catch a Northern train. Look out for last-minute deals on ‘Advance’ tickets! They often sell them right up to departure of the train, so you could still save compared to buying a more flexible ticket.

The Main Sights – the City Centre

Newcastle Cathedral

First of all, let’s take a look at a few of the main sights. If you take a left turn out of the station and continue for a couple of blocks, you’ll reach Newcastle Cathedral, also known as The Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas. St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and boats, which makes sense considering how important the River Tyne was, and continues to be for the city.

The current building was completed in 1350 and was heavily restored in 1777. It’s open every day (free entry) between 8am and 6pm, so you can pop in and take a look for yourself!

Newcastle Castle

Now, if you walk just a little further, you’ll find Newcastle’s Castle Keep and the Black Gate. This does answer the obvious question of whether Newcastle literally does have a castle! There’s been a castle here since Roman times, but this one dates from around 1177. From the 1500s to the 1700s, parts of the castle were used as a prison, and there were even some private houses within its grounds.

Nowadays, you can visit both of the attractions, which form part of Newcastle Castle. At the time of writing (February 2023) it’s open from Thursday to Sunday, and an adult ticket costs £9.95.

If you’re interested in tracing the history of Newcastle as a fortress, you could also search for parts of the old town walls. You’ll find a fairly complete section of the West Wall near Stowell Street, situated on the edge of Chinatown. It’s just a short walk from other City Centre attractions.

Grey Street

Heading back to the Cathedral, you can continue onwards a little to Grey Street. It’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful streets you’ll find in a British city, and it was even rated the best street in the UK by Radio 4 listeners in 2010!

It was designed and built by Richard Grainger in the 1830s, and houses a variety of bars and restaurants. Most famously though, you’ll find the Theatre Royal at the very top.

Grey’s Monument

This brings us nicely to the last main sight on our whistle-stop tour, which is Grey’s Monument. It was built in 1838 to commemorate Charles Earl Grey’s work in passing the Great Reform Act of 1832, which increased the number of people able to vote in elections.

Nowadays, the Monument is the focal point of Newcastle. It functions as a Speakers Corner and plays host to events, performances, protests and more all year round. No matter the day of the week, there’ll probably be something gannin’ on!

Museums & Art Galleries

Newcastle is full of them! Most importantly, there’s a great deal of free ones, which is what we’re going to focus on. In the City Centre itself, you’ll find three attractions worth popping into…

The Great North Museum

Previously known as the Hancock Museum, the Great North Museum focuses on a mixture of natural history and the teaching of other world cultures.

You can learn about the wildlife of Newcastle and the wider region, and what makes it so special. Don’t miss the replica of a T-Rex either, we’ve checked and it doesn’t bite!

If you’re coming to the museum with your little ones, there’s a dedicated Mouse House to bring the rest of the exhibitions to life.

At the moment, it’s open between 10 and 5 every day. To reach the museum, you can walk to it or take the Tyne & Wear Metro from the station to Haymarket (two stops, five minutes).

You can find out more on the museum website.

The Discovery Museum

If you’d like to know more about the recent history of Newcastle, then the Discovery Museum is right up your alley. Located on St James’ Boulevard (turn left out of the station and continue straight on for around five minutes), it contains a variety of exhibitions about Newcastle, the river and its industry.

The centrepiece of the museum is the Turbinia, which was the world’s first Steamship, built in 1894. At the time, it was easily the fastest ship in the world, too. The ship itself was built in Wallsend, which is just a short distance down the river from Newcastle. Up until 2006, Wallsend was building ships that sailed to every corner of the world. A look at this list of ships built by one company there shows you just how powerful this small Tyneside town once was!

The Newcastle Story exhibition will take you through the history of the city from the Roman era to the present day, with all of the fascinating changes that came with it. Another feature is Destination Tyneside, which is the only permanent exhibition in the UK which tells the story of migrants who’ve made Newcastle and the wider region their home.

Of course, there’s something for the kids as well. The interactive Science Maze brings science and engineering to life. Whether that’s through exploring shadows and illusions, or having a go at a game of air hockey!

Right now, you can visit the Discovery Museum every day between 10 and 4 (11 and 4 weekends, closed Bank Holidays). You can find out more about everything on offer on the museum’s website.

The Laing Art Gallery

When you think of a traditional art gallery, something like the Laing Art Gallery will come to mind. The funds to build the gallery were left by Alexander Laing, so that it could be founded in 1901. He didn’t actually leave any art to it, but said that “by the liberality of the inhabitants [of Newcastle] it would soon be supplied with pictures and statuary for the encouragement and development of British Art.”

Sure enough, he was right! You’ll find a wealth of work by artists local and not-so-local. Artefacts from Newcastle and photography collections of the local area in times past have also featured before.

You can find out more about the gallery’s collection on their website. While most exhibitions are free, there might be a small charge for temporary ones. It’s open from 10 til 4:30 Monday to Saturday, and it’s located just off New Bridge Street – just a stone’s throw from Grey’s Monument and the rest of the City Centre.

The Quayside

The Quayside and the River Tyne have always been the lifeblood of Newcastle. In times past, it was teeming with industry. But, as this declined, the Quayside underwent a complete transformation. Nowadays, it’s a centre for hospitality, art and culture and just generally a great place to have a wander. Even today, Geordies always have a special place for the Tyne in their hearts. As the famous song goes, the fog on the Tyne is aal mine, aal mine!

The Bridges

Newcastle is famous for its bridges. As the old joke goes, there’s only one place that has the same number of bridges – Gateshead, on the other side of the river!

On the Quayside itself, there’s four main bridges that you’ll see:

• The Millennium Bridge was opened in 2001. It’s the newest addition to the river and gives pedestrian and cycle access from one side to the other. The bridge formed part of the redevelopment of the Quayside and was designed to link new developments on each side (such as the Baltic, more on that below!) When something needs to get down the river, it’s able to tilt up in the air and let it pass, as well.

• The iconic Tyne Bridge is an unmistakable symbol of Tyneside. Linking commuters from north to south (and vice versa), many locals say they know they’re home when they go past those green arches. It was opened in 1928, and is also home to around 700 pairs of nesting Kittiwakes, which can make quite the racket when you walk under the bridge! They’re part and parcel of the River Tyne experience.

• The Swing Bridge does exactly what it says on the tin. It can swing on a pivot to let any river traffic through! While in theory this can happen, the decline of industry on the river means that it’s a rare occurrence these days. Back when it was opened in 1876, it was also the largest swing bridge in the world.

• Finally, we have the fascinating High Level Bridge. Built in 1849, it actually has two decks. The bottom deck (within the structure itself) is for buses and taxis, while the top deck (exposed to the elements!) is for trains. Usually the only trains that use the bridge are those between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. If you choose to have a walk along the bridge, look out for the many ‘love-locks’ next to the path!

The Baltic

If the art in the Laing Art Gallery isn’t quite for you, then you might enjoy what’s on offer in the Baltic. Originally a flour mill, it was converted to an art gallery in 2002. It’s located on the Gateshead side of the Quayside, right next to the Millennium Bridge.

It features guest exhibitions from a variety of artists around the world, who can choose to express themselves in an almost endless number of ways. Take a look at this exhibition by Hew Locke which was on display when we visited:

It might look a little ‘unusual’ at first, but it’s actually a look at ‘processions’ and how they form the cycle of life. You can find out more here. Above all, Baltic is about thinking ‘outside the box’.

If you’d like a view down the river, then head up to the fifth floor:

If the weather’s nice, you’ll also find an outdoor viewing terrace on the fourth floor. It’s also home to more nesting Kittiwakes, just like the ones under the Tyne Bridge!

The Baltic is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 til 6 and entry is free.

The Sage Gateshead

As the name suggests, The Sage Gateshead is located on the south side of the river. Containing three performance halls, it was designed as a concert hall and musical education centre, opened in 2004. It’s also designed to be ‘acoustically perfect’, meaning that the different halls can be adapted to suit any kind of music.

If you’re not seeing a performance there, it’s still possible to have a wander inside. You’ll find a cafe and gift shop, as well as some pleasant views of the river. Just know that at the moment, the only way to access it from Newcastle is by walking over the Swing Bridge. Once you’re over the bridge, turn left and then cross the road to follow a path that leads up to the venue. Despite there being bus stops outside the Sage Gateshead, they’re no longer in use by any regular bus service.

The patch of land to the east of the venue will soon become the site of The Sage, which will be a brand-new arena. It’ll also house an international conference centre, bars, restaurants and hotels. The Gateshead side of the Quayside will truly become a hub for culture and the arts!

Eating and Drinking

Newcastle is a true melting pot of different cultures and cuisines, so it’s impossible to list them all. You can try local specialities and a famous stottie cake in the Grainger Market, while Chinatown has a plethora of restaurants serving traditional dishes from across Asia. Put simply, if you fancy it, somewhere will offer it!

The city also has a thriving craft beer scene. You’ll find little hidden bars like The Wobbly Duck in Old Eldon Square, which serve local specialities in a cosy and inviting atmosphere:

If you’re looking for somewhere near the station though, we have a couple of picks. For some tasty Mexican-inspired food, you could try Zapatista. They were Newcastle’s first Mexican-inspired burrito bar when they first opened over a decade ago.

Choose from burritos, nachos or chilli, with a wealth of options to make it your own. You can expect change from a tenner and a hearty meal to go with it. We tried the beef chilli:

You can find Zapatista on Grainger Street, just two minutes from the station. Alternatively, there’s another branch on Ridley Place, in the north end of the City Centre.

If you’d prefer to fuse craft beer and fresh pizza together, look no further than the Newcastle Tap. It’s located just over the road from the station’s taxi rank and serves an ever-changing selection of local and world beers.

Along with the drinks, you’ll of course find the pizza. The Newcastle Tap has its own pizza oven and the option to ‘half and half’ your pizza if you can’t decide on just one type of topping! Pizzas start at around £9 and work their way up to £14-£15. You can click here to find out more.

Heading Further Afield

Of course, Newcastle is just a small flavour of what Tyneside has to offer. Here’s some of the other things that you could do in a day if you come to visit:

• Take the Tyne & Wear Metro to Tynemouth. Along with a stunning coastline, you can take a look at the ruins of the historic Priory and sample some classic Fish and Chips
• Jump on bus 21 to the Angel of the North. The largest sculpture of an angel in the world, it was completed in 1998 and designed by Antony Gormley. If you come by train from the south, you’ll catch a glimpse of it on the right hand side. But what could beat getting up close and personal to the 246 foot tall behemoth?
• You could also take the Metro to Wallsend to visit Segudunum Roman Fort. Did you know that Wallsend Metro Station is the only station in the world to have dual English and Latin signage?

However you choose to experience Newcastle, you can travel smarter with SmartSplit. Book tickets with us and you won’t pay any fees if you need to change your plans.

The post Day Trip to Newcastle appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

How can I prepare for family train trips?

Family train trips are exciting stuff! But you want to make sure that you have everything you need before you go. You’ll also want to make sure that everything is well-planned and that you’re getting the best value for money.

Ticket types

When you’re planning family train trips, it’s important to consider how long the journey is going to be and how you’d like to treat it. Are you happy to stay on the train all the way to your destination, or would you prefer to have the option to jump off and have an explore and leg stretch on the way?

If you’re happy to stay on board the whole way, then cheaper Advance train tickets are the way to go. If you’d prefer to be able to hop on and off, then Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off-Peak are the best option. Simply click the ticket names to find out more about them!

We’ve also produced a list of some cheap train tickets that you might not have realised exist!

What to bring

When you’re planning family train trips, there’s a few things you’ll want to bring. You could be able to travel light if it’s a day trip, but certain things are always a must:

• Snacks/picnic depending on whether you want to buy food on board
• Power bank to charge devices in an emergency
• Lightweight blanket for napping on long journeys
• Change of clothes, especially for your little ones!
• Sickness tablets if you think they might get queasy on the trip
• Devices to keep the little ones and not-so-little ones amused!
• Games or activities. Take a look at the collection we’ve put together below!

Just remember: It’s important to pack light where you can, too! Some trains have limited luggage space, and you’ll need to be able to manage the little that you bring without any assistance.

How much will it cost for family train trips?

When you’re planning family train trips, you’ll want to know that it’s affordable. If you’re travelling more than a couple of times a year (or even just once!) then a Family & Friends Railcard is likely to be the best option. On this Railcard, you’ll have two nominated adults (a cardholder and another lead passenger).

So long as at least one of the nominated travellers is part of the group, up to four adults and four children can receive the discount. You’ll also need to be travelling with at least one child at all times.

Adults will get 1/3 off while children will receive a 60% discount. The adults don’t need to be related, and there’s no need for the same passengers to travel every time, so long as one of the named cardholders is part of the group.

Don’t forget that children under five travel free, though it’s usually cheaper to use a Railcard and purchase discounted tickets for both of you, if there’s one or more adults per child.

You can find more about Railcards with our handy guide or on the Family and Friends Railcard website.

Can we sit together?

When you’re on family train trips, it’s natural to want to be sat together! Especially when travelling with younger children. The vast majority of trains have a number of seats laid out in groups, either with or without a table. When you book with SmartSplit, you have the option to select ‘table’ as one of your preferences. If we aren’t able to get a table, we’ll get you all sat as close together as possible.

If you’re booking at late notice on busy trains, this may not be possible. In these cases, most trains have ‘unreserved’ seating, which means that passengers without a reservation (or requiring a more suitable seat) can sit there.

Trains to avoid if you’d like a table

On the following trains, there are fewer tables/group seats than usual, so it may be more difficult to reserve these seats:

• CrossCountry ‘Voyager’ trains (running between Edinburgh, Newcastle, Birmingham and Plymouth, as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Bournemouth) usually have only two tables per carriage in Standard Class. You’ll find the greatest number of tables in Coach B, if it’s available (four).
• Lumo services have only two tables per carriage

Where to aim for

Travelling with Avanti West Coast on a Super Voyager train? These trains run between Holyhead/Chester and London, as well as selected trains between London and Birmingham/Edinburgh. Coach D (and K, if it’s a 10 coach train) has all seats laid out around tables.

If you’re travelling with c2c on trains between Shoeburyness, Southend and London Fenchurch Street, you’ll find table seats at the far ends of the train behind the driver’s cab. Just be aware that some of this seating may be designated as a ‘Quiet Zone’.

When travelling on Thameslink, aim for First Class at the rear of every train. This compartment is always available to passengers with Standard Class tickets and has large tables.

I’m travelling with a pram, what do I do?

If you’re bringing a buggy with you, it needs to be capable of folding. While they aren’t required to be folded, they aren’t allowed to block any doors or aisles. They also can’t occupy any wheelchair spaces required by another passenger.

Need some assistance on your family train trip? Just ask a member of staff. While you’re expected to be able to manage any luggage (including a buggy) without staff help (as per the National Rail Conditions of Travel), they’ll be more than happy to help. At busier stations, they can also help you to board safely when it might become crowded.

We’ve also gone out on the trains ourselves and rated some of the most common train types based on how easy it is to store luggage. You can read it here.

If you (or someone else you’re travelling with) is elderly, disabled or has an invisible disability, then you can pre-book assistance. Just click here to find out more.

Is there any other assistance available?

If you’re travelling from London Paddington, then there is some extra help available and you don’t need to have any access requirements to use it. Great Western Railway are running a priority boarding trial at the moment for any passengers who just need a little extra help. Whether that’s with your luggage, with getting the kids onto the train or something else, you can just book online.

It’s available on most departures to Bristol Temple Meads, Plymouth and Penzance between 9am and 7pm. Click here to find out more.

Where are the toilets?

If you’re travelling with kids, especially little ones, then you’ll want to know that there’s a toilet nearby on family train trips. While most trains have more than one toilet, they all have to have at least one ‘universal’ toilet. These toilets are designed to be accessible to those with disabilities, and also come with baby-changing facilities. They’re also a bit less of a squeeze if there’s a couple of little ones that need to spend a penny at the same time!

Here’s where you can find them on long-distance trains:

^{*Selected trains between Edinburgh/Leeds and Plymouth are operated by HST trains (formed of 7 coaches). The universal toilets on these trains are in Coaches A and F only.}

^{**Class 185 trains operate the following long-distance routes: Cleethorpes/Hull/Saltburn-Manchester. All information provided in this table is subject to change and is provided without liability. SmartSplit are not responsible for any inconvenience, discomfort or loss incurred as a result of following the information provided. This list is not exhaustive.}

How do I keep the kids entertained on family train trips?

Family train trips can be fun, but if you’re on a long journey, then keeping the kids occupied can be a challenge. In the days of modern technology, it could be as simple as watching something on a device, but some rail operators have got you covered with more traditional activities. Follow the links below for a selection of activities to try on family train trips:

• Avanti West Coast
• East Midlands Railway
• LNER
• ScotRail
• Transport for Wales

You could also try coming up with your own scavenger hunt for longer trips. Come up with a list of things that your little ones might see along the way, and they can tick them off as they go.

If it’s a really long trip, you might all need a rest, too. So you could bring a lightweight blanket (or let a big coat double up as one during the colder months!)

Keeping devices charged

If you’re wanting to keep the kids entertained on family train trips (or adults, too!) with a mobile device or tablet, then you’ll want to make sure that it has enough power. Nearly all long-distance trains have power outlets, so you can keep them charged on the go. Here’s a quick guide to which trains have the ability to charge devices in Standard Class:

^{*Avanti West Coast are currently refurbishing their Pendolino trains so that every seat has power access.}

^{**Power sockets are not available in Coach H.}

^{All information provided in this table is subject to change and is provided without liability. SmartSplit are not responsible for any inconvenience, discomfort or loss incurred as a result of following the information provided. This list is not exhaustive.}

Family Lounges

Travelling from London Kings Cross? You’ll find a brand-new family waiting area. It contains a custom-made model train set and provides a safe and fun place to wait for your train.

Will there be something to eat and drink?

On most long-distance trains, you have the chance to order food and drink. This is either available from a designated carriage, from a trolley or it can be delivered straight to your seat. Here’s our guide to what trains usually offer in Standard Class:

^{All information provided in this table is subject to change and is provided without liability and all catering is subject to availability. SmartSplit are not responsible for any inconvenience, discomfort or loss incurred as a result of following the information provided. This list is not exhaustive.}

Of course, we’d always recommend bringing along some snacks for the trip. Many stations will have supermarkets or cafes that you can stock up in before you travel, too. Just be aware that it usually isn’t possible to warm up baby food and milk on board. This is because on-train microwaves work at much higher temperatures than we’re used to having in our microwaves at home!

Got more questions about travelling by train? Take a look at our guide on how to use the train in Great Britain. If you’re travelling with family, you might want to keep the tricky changes between trains to a minimum. We have a handy blog about changing trains, too!

The post Family Train Trips: Our guide to taking the kids on the train appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

We’ve already written about plenty of pubs on SmartSplit. I mean, you’ll even find a map with the cheapest pint in (most) station pubs around Great Britain. So, I originally went with the intention of trying the beer, taking some photos, recording the typical price of a pint and being on my way. But, this isn’t your typical station boozer, and it’d be criminal not to share a little more about it.

Getting to the Hartlepool Station Pub

You’ll find The Rat Race on the small station concourse at Hartlepool Station. So, you’re likely to be getting there by train.

Northern runs an hourly train from Newcastle to Middlesbrough which serves Hartlepool, and the trains on this route will usually extend in either direction to serve Hexham/Carlisle in the west, and Nunthorpe/Whitby to the south and east. On a Sunday, two trains each way will also take you to Darlington. Grand Central services to/from London also stop at Hartlepool.

For me, I was coming from Newcastle. I’d reached the station a little early, so figured it’d be more pleasant to pop over the road and bide my time in the Newcastle Tap, which I’ve featured before when I wrote about what to do on a day trip to Newcastle. As it happens, the bartender was from Hartlepool, and she was quick to interrogate about what on earth I could be doing down there.

“There’s a Hartlepool station pub??” she replied to my explanation. Her friend was sat at the other side of the bar with me, and she quickly whipped out her phone to locate this mysterious pub.

“It’s next to the caf.”

“Bloody hell, I can’t believe we’ve missed that.”

So, two Hartlepool natives who commuted by train had no idea of the existence of a Hartlepool station pub. We were off to a good start.

I bid my farewells and headed for the 14:40 train down to Hartlepool, which would give me a little time to get some photos of other attractions (in particular, for our Day Trips from Newcastle guide) before I could see what this pub was all about.

The Pub Itself

I sauntered up to the door at around 5 past 4. Apparently, I’d already been beaten inside by two thirsty and very keen patrons. Peter, the owner, was already taking their order. I squeezed myself past and took a seat, as I realised that this wasn’t quite the same as other station pubs I’d visited. I mean, the ‘NO LAGER’ sign on the door should have been a good indicator.

First Impressions

I mean, it’s small. It isn’t a place you can cram into either, as it’s table service only. So, only 22 people at a time can avail of the beer at the Rat Race. You won’t find any music, any shouting, any swearing and you certainly won’t find any lager. Are we clear? Don’t ask for lager.

The decor is rather beer mat-centric:

That said, it does a great job of demonstrating how this place is simply all about the beer. The rest of the walls are adorned with articles about the pub, ‘Dad’ humour and all sorts of other bits and bobs. It felt like you’d just entered someone’s living room, which I suppose is how this place functions. You come in, flop down in a seat, have a pint and a chat. A sign on the wall also proudly stated how many beers had been served since opening in 2009. It was 1,967 when I visited, but it’s since gone up to 1,970.

I picked myself a pint, and Peter disappeared into the little room which houses the bar. You can pay by cash or card, and I was sipping a beer within a minute. So, what is there to do in a place like this? The art of conversation, I suppose. I got talking to the couple who’d come in before me, and it turned out that they were Aussie expats. They had family in Horden (just one stop up the line) and had come back for a visit.

The beer

The selection of beer at the Hartlepool Station pub is pretty simple. You have four choices:

The beers are numbered 1 to 4, and they change ‘whenever they run out’. In fact, since I visited last week, I can see on the website that everything has changed already! From what I understood, 1 is an easy-drinker, 2 is normally a bit of a ‘wild card’, 3 is a stronger IPA-type beer, and 4 is a dark beer. On top of that, you’ll find two cask ciders (not fizzy), wine and snacks.

Price-wise, it’s all very palatable for a Northerner (and perhaps slightly unbelievable for a Londoner) with pints coming in at £3.50 to £4.00. You can take them away with you, as well.

I went for Consett’s Red Dust, which was a wonderfully malty and fruity red ale. Meanwhile, Lord’s New Wave IPA was a lot more complex (and less ‘smack-you-in-the-face citrus’) than your typical IPA. They were both great pints, I can’t say more than that! My Aussie companions were equally impressed, particularly with the IPA.

The Man behind the Magic

I wouldn’t usually end up talking to the owner of a pub, as they might have better things to do (or not be there at all). But, Peter was happy to chat and explain the method behind his own brand of madness.

Put simply, he serves good beer at a price that he’d be comfortable paying. Nothing wacky or expensive, just drinkable beer that locals can afford. After all, this isn’t some trendy part of London. People don’t want pomp or the latest ‘trendy’ drink at a daft price. Costs have gone up, but he’s absorbed much of them.

He certainly has plenty of tales of turning folk away. Usually they’re the ones that demand a lager, ‘the cheapest drink’, spirits or something else. In his words, Spoons exists for people like that. All of the signs about ‘no lager’ and the like might come across as a bit hostile to an outsider, but I didn’t get that impression at all. I felt welcomed and like Peter really cared about what he was doing. He has his regulars, after all. Like clockwork, as I finished my pint, two of them came in and were greeted.

I can’t forget that the Rat Race is also raising money for a local donkey sanctuary. Peter even has a stuffed donkey that joins him on all of his adventures!

My thoughts on the Hartlepool Station Pub

In a nutshell, the Rat Race is a man doing great beer the way that he wants to do it. Face it, if we had the time and the energy (and a few bob spare), I’m sure many of us would love to do the same.

It’s a window into a small community, too. You can hear everything and you can see everything that goes on. There isn’t any music, shouting or swearing, and the table service means that everybody gets the same level of service and attention.

Is the Hartlepool Station Pub for everyone? No. But, that’s not what it’s trying to be, and I’m not telling everyone under the sun to come running to it. It’s about relaxing with a reasonably-priced pint of good beer. I’d love to come back here, as sometimes I just want a beer. I don’t want to have to struggle to hear myself think over the UK Top 40 and someone’s relationship drama getting bellowed down the phone. I love a more ‘bustling’ bar, too, and that’s the beauty of station pubs (and pubs in general) these days. You have choices. More choices than ever, really.

So, if you want to enter Peter’s little world (and enjoy a couple of fantastic pints), then you can pay a visit on a Tuesday to Friday between 12:02 and 14:15, and 16:02 and 20:15, and on a Saturday from 12:02 to 21:00. If there’s football on, it might not be open, depending on who’s playing! You can also take a look at the website to find out more.

The post A visit to the Hartlepool Station Pub appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Where can you go for a beer on the East London Line?

Lots of places, as it turns out! Everywhere that we visited was within a short walk of a station. It was just as well, as the weather was liable to giving us a soaking at regular intervals. We ended up visiting a mix of independent taprooms as well as a couple of larger chains, in order to get a real feel of what it’s like popping for a pint in this corner of the Capital.

The Snooty Fox (Canonbury)

So, we’re starting off at Canonbury. Services on the East London Line actually start at Highbury & Islington though, and there are no shortages of venues on Holloway Road if you want to start from the beginning of the route.

Where better to start sampling beer on the East London Line than at a good old-fashioned pub? The Snooty Fox is basically just across the road from Canonbury station, so you won’t struggle to find it. Aside from a good selection of cask ales and other beers on tap, you’ll find plenty of quirky titbits on the walls, as well as a jukebox filled with classic LPs:

There was already a great buzz around the place when we arrived at about 12:30pm. In the end, I settled on a pint of NZ Pale by Redemption Brewing Co. They’re a Tottenham-based brewery, so it was a pretty local brew as well. I was impressed by the price too, as it was £4.90 for a pint of a nice, citrusy and easy-drinking pale. All in all, it was a superbly relaxed and cosy place to begin trying beer on the East London Line.

40FT Brewery (Dalston Junction or Dalston Kingsland)

Our next stop for beer on the East London Line perhaps wasn’t so cosy. But, that was more on account of the fact that it was mostly outdoors! We had to dodge a pretty heavy July shower to get here, but there was plenty of seating undercover. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s easy to reach from Dalston Kingsland (where we came from) as well as Dalston Junction.

So, what’s up with 40FT Brewery? They started up as three homebrewers crafting their own beer for house parties. In 2015, they moved to their current location, and they’ve been expanding ever since. These days, they’re producing over 7,000 pints a week!

The rain started to come down even heavier as the friendly bartender served me a pint of their Disco Pils for £5.50. Despite the splashes of rain, it was turning into quite a warm and humid afternoon, so a refreshing Pilsner was just the ticket to stay cool. My friend went for their Dalston Sunrise Pale Ale, which was big on citrus and pine notes. I wasn’t a fan, but he said it was his favourite beer on the East London Line of the day.

Aside from the beer, 40FT also shares its space with a couple of food outlets, and they also have plenty of board games for you to borrow. You could easily spend the whole afternoon here, and stay fed, watered and entertained.

Signature Brew (Haggerston)

Signature Brew has three locations in the Capital. You’ll find this one tucked under a railway arch just by Haggerston station, their brewery on Blackhorse Road, and a ‘collab’ location in Walthamstow, where they’ve teamed up with We Serve Humans (who do some great burgers and wings).

They do live music as well, and this location in Haggerston is the only dedicated space for live music photography in London. Put simply, it’s a place where beer on the East London Line and artistry collide.

The location was great. You can’t get closer to the railway than being physically under it! As for the beers, we wanted to try something completely different this time. At the moment, they’re offering their own range of Summer In the City sour beers, in a number of different flavours. I went for Watermelon, Strawberry & Raspberry, which was £6.00 for a 2/3 pint.

This was the priciest beer on the East London Line of the day, but I wasn’t too surprised. Sour beers are never the cheapest thing on offer, and I say that as a sour beer fiend. They’re quite a tricky one to get right, as some do just end up tasting of, well, sourness, and not much else.

Thankfully this wasn’t one of them. It was tangy, fruity and refreshing. There was definitely a nice hit of watermelon, too.

Brewhouse & Kitchen (Hoxton)

We headed our next stop for beer on the East London Line as we were feeling a bit peckish, too. I didn’t actually realise that Brewhouse & Kitchen is a fair-size national chain (though the furthest north they get is Nottingham) but this was a really pleasant-feeling Brewpub. It’s just a stone’s throw from Hoxton station, and as you’d expect, it has a great selection of different beers to choose from.

I went for a pint of Joseph Markovich, which was their house IPA on cask. At £5.20 a pint, it seemed fairly reasonable! Taste-wise, it was a pretty floral and slightly sweet pint. It wasn’t my favourite, but a decent beer nonetheless.

As for food, I just went for a hot pretzel and some cheese sauce. It was a fiver, and it hit the spot. I don’t think you could muck up a pretzel! My friend had a ‘Bang Bang’ Chicken wrap with fries, which was just short of nine quid. He said it was tasty, so I’ll take his word for it.

Overall, it was a cosy Brewpub. The atmosphere was pleasant, and the staff were full of smiles.

Simmons (Shoreditch High Street)

So, it was almost time to finish up for the afternoon. Shoreditch High Street was really busy, too, so we had a bit of a task trying to find somewhere that we could sit down. In the end, we found Simmons, which is about five minutes down the street from Shoreditch High Street station.

I’ll be honest and say that this isn’t a craft beer haunt, but the decor (and vibe) are bright, bouncy and welcoming:

It’s actually a decent-sized chain of bars, but hyper-local to London. So, if you’re a London local, you’ll probably know about them already, but less so if you never venture out in the Capital. For our last pint, my friend and I were simple men. As it was a Saturday, and they had their ‘Saturday Specials’ (discounts basically), we had a pint of Camden Hells for £5.00. It’s hardly a craft lager, but it’s a decent and drinkable one.

And so, our adventure for beer on the East London Line was over. Both we (and our wallets) were pretty impressed.

Is there anything else I should know?

Fancy visiting some of these places for yourself? They’re served by London Overground. Trains run on the main section between Dalston Junction and Surrey Quays (via Shoreditch) every few minutes, so you won’t be waiting long for a train. Canonbury has frequent (at least every 10 minutes) trains too. All trains are modern, air-conditioned and have five carriages:

In terms of tickets, it depends on where you’re coming from. If you’re travelling from outside of London, it might be worth buying a Travelcard from the SmartSplit website. This will include a return journey to London, then unlimited travel in London Zones 1-6, so you can hop on and off as you please.

Do you just need to travel within London? It isn’t worth buying paper tickets most of the time. Simply tap in and out with any Contactless card or device (like a phone with Google Pay or Apple Pay). If you have a Railcard, you can get an Oyster Card for £7.00 and ask a member of staff to pop the discount on. This means that you’ll get a third off Off-Peak fares.

Looking for more about pubs? You can take a look at our favourite pubs in the North East, Yorkshire and the East Midlands and even the cheapest pints.

We’ve also created a map of the cheapest pints at station pubs.

_{^{All information on this page was correct at 13/07/2023 and is based on real-life experiences and opinions. SmartSplit is not responsible for any disappointment caused as a result of information provided, and the information is subject to change.}}

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