JD™ Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Hi all, I wanna take a trip up to Edinburgh in the near future to go ride my bicycle. I'm getting a bit sick of seeing websites stating that (for instance) you can get a single on the train for £16.50 and then being totally unable to find a way to book that particular price. Checked out some train sites, some coach sites, some flight sites as well as working out what it'd cost to do the (preferably avoidable) drive from the south. I'm not held to any particular weekend, but it'd be a case of leaving on a Friday afternoon/evening and coming back on the Sunday evening. Anyone know what the best options are, or whether there's a website which quickly compares all of the options? If not, that site is definitely going on my todo list! Cheers for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Drive up, stop off at mine, ride Sheff for a day, on you go, sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Only one genuine way to do it really..... (regarding the train). Basically you'll be coming up via East Coast Trains...they release there timetable 12 weeks in advance. When they do this they have an allotted amount of £16.50 tickets, so you need to basically book 12 weeks in advance (ideally). As they sell those off, you'll get a few £25 tickets, some £32's etc, until they run out and you're left with full price. Just use the -cheapest fare finder' on the East Coast Site. I think National Rail buys up a bunch of the left over tickets also, but it's hit and miss. With flying it's a bit more straight forward. Easyjet seems to regularly do flights in the price range of £30-£40 from (I think) Gatwick and Luton. London City airport flies with BMI but flights seems to always be around the £60 mark. I drove from my old London place to here in 7 hours, but it isn't much fun especially when a train is under 4.30 hours, and a flight is just over an hour. Which ever way you travel i'll be able to pick you up with your bike so no worries there..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Only one genuine way to do it really..... (regarding the train). Basically you'll be coming up via East Coast Trains...they release there timetable 12 weeks in advance. When they do this they have an allotted amount of £16.50 tickets, so you need to basically book 12 weeks in advance (ideally). As they sell those off, you'll get a few £25 tickets, some £32's etc, until they run out and you're left with full price. Just use the -cheapest fare finder' on the East Coast Site. I think National Rail buys up a bunch of the left over tickets also, but it's hit and miss. With flying it's a bit more straight forward. Easyjet seems to regularly do flights in the price range of £30-£40 from (I think) Gatwick and Luton. London City airport flies with BMI but flights seems to always be around the £60 mark. I drove from my old London place to here in 7 hours, but it isn't much fun especially when a train is under 4.30 hours, and a flight is just over an hour. Which ever way you travel i'll be able to pick you up with your bike so no worries there..... Seems like flying is the way to go, being as I basically live on the doorstep of Gatwick and fart arsing around with getting hold of a cheap train ticket is not high on my list of priorities! Driving to yours (Muel) on the way is all well and good, but it takes a day out of the actual destination time and I still have to think about the ridiculous drive back too: Not fun. Thanks for the offer though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Yeah i'd always recommend flying...if you can spare the dosh (and as I say you can usually get it for frig-all) then it's the most stress free, and quickest! Means we'll have time for a few beers out and about on the Friday also! The airport isn't too far out the City, so you can fling your bike in the boot and we'd be at mine in no time. I've got a room just for my bikes (Everyday i still marvel at the luxury of it - it's ridiculous), so feel free to being em both if you've got a bag suitable..../and/or want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Have you tried Mega Bus? Although like has been said, for that short weekend flying would be much more convenient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Have you tried Mega Bus? Although like has been said, for that short weekend flying would be much more convenient I hadn't checked that, not bad on the old pricing lark. To be honest that's potentially a goer because it's about half the price (which is pretty good right now) and I could travel during the day on Friday while still being able to work, which is all good. Cheers for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Be sure to check out bike conditions for whoever you end up travelling with. Don't want to get stung for taking it on the bus/plane if it puts the price way above the train or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Be sure to check out bike conditions for whoever you end up travelling with. Don't want to get stung for taking it on the bus/plane if it puts the price way above the train or whatever. Yea I'll just be dismantling the bike and sticking it in a suitcase whichever way I go, so just been comparing with normal luggage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Sehr gut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Only 60 pounds for a return, London to Edinburgh. That's dirty cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 You could probably get a return flight for £65-£70 though and it take 1 hour as opposed to 11........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 This makes me want to have a trials roadtrip weekend somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Does that mean it would actually be cheaper to fly than to drive?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Have you tried Mega Bus? Did London to Sheffield, and in that time period I wanted to die. I'm usually alright with most travel, and don't really give a shit how long it takes, but f**k - coaches are the worst. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Does that mean it would actually be cheaper to fly than to drive?! Yup, and a lot cheaper than the train. When I drove London to Edinburgh and back recently it cost me over £140 in fuel, and that was in my old little car. I was with my girlfriend so going 50/50 and it being a rushed visit meant it was the cheapest option. Flights are great if you've got a bit of notice, but I had to go within 2 days so it wasn't a goer. A single person return ticket to Edinburgh at that notice would have been £440 so that being £880 for the pair of us meant I sure as eggs wasn't going to do that. As I mentioned if you can get to Gatwick or Heathrow and have at least a weeks notice you can get flights on average for £35 each way, which if you're lucky like Jason and live near the airport, and have someone at the other end to meet you then it should be the cheapest option. I did recently do Northampton to Edinburgh (only 65 miles less than London to Edinburgh) for under £50 in fuel and that's in my new car with a much bigger engine...but even so if you're not sharing the fuel cost then it's still more expensive, aannnndd you know, there the 7+ hours driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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