When Is The Best Time To Buy A Train Ticket For A Long Journey In The Uk?

Train travel is really quite good in the UK. There are frequent and varied routes to all major UK cities. Most of the cities also have great rural access and even the most isolated areas of the country are accessible by rail.

Buying train tickets can be a tricky business because, like flying, the tickets vary in price depending on how close or far your travel date is, the class you travel etc.

You can buy your train ticket on the internet through websites like Trainline. You can also buy the tickets at your local railway station or through the train provider eg. Virgin.
It is difficult to get the timing right when buying tickets. If you see an offer advertised its better to go and speak to someone in your nearest ticket office as soon as possible – there may only be a limited amount of tickets and may only be on certain routes.  

I have been told the best prices are normally available two weeks before you travel. And, there are only a very few tickets at this price and sometimes it'll be cheaper to buy two singles. If you are eligible for a railcard get one! They are well worth it.