Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
27 July 2018 09:26
Holidaymakers should buy train tickets in advance
UK holidaymakers heading on staycations this summer could be losing out on millions of pounds worth of savings by booking train tickets at the last minute, a study has revealed.
According to research by Trainline, in the period between July 23 and August 31 last year train passengers in the UK missed out on a total of £4.5 million by not buying cheaper Advance fares.
Londoners were shown to be the least saving-savvy, missing out on around £1.5 million in discounts.
The figures come as the country gears up for the school holidays, and heatwave conditions could lead to more families taking last-minute breaks to enjoy the hot weather.
More expensive
The poll of 2,000 adults found that a quarter (25%) book travel for UK breaks less than a week in advance, with one in 10 (10%) leaving it until the day of departure.
This is despite more than a third (34%) acknowledging that their trips are more expensive when they do not book ahead.
The majority (54%) of respondents blame worries about the weather for their hesitation in booking UK day trips or short breaks in advance.
Eleventh hour
Fergus Weldon, director of data science at Trainline, advised people to plan ahead to get the best savings on their tickets.
He said: "Waiting until the eleventh hour is costing Brits millions and often means missing out on important events and social engagements, with some even missing out on the break entirely.
"While spontaneity has its advantages, planning ahead could go a long way when it comes to savings this summer."
VisitEngland figures show that Britons took 47.2 million holidays in England last year, up 6% from 2016.
If you and your family are heading off on a UK holiday by train this summer, make sure you give yourself extra peace of mind by looking at our great family travel insurance options.
15 August 2018
A simple blood test could help GPs detect a rare form of bone marrow cancer much earlier, a new study suggests.
[more...]
14 August 2018
Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month faced queues of over two and a half hours at passport control, new figures have revealed.
11 August 2018
Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries.
10 August 2018
Fad diets that cut out carbs while increasing fat consumption could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, according to new research.
09 August 2018
HIV testing has become even more accessible after a self-testing kit was made available from a High Street retailer.
08 August 2018
Women patients are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated by a female doctor, a new US study has revealed.
07 August 2018
The head of British Airways has branded two-hour queues facing travellers at Heathrow's passport control as a "border farce."
04 August 2018
Simple factors such as gender and body mass can help doctors to personalise care for patients with type 2 diabetes and avoid harmful side effects, according to a study.
03 August 2018
Gatwick Express must no longer claim it runs "non-stop to Victoria station in half an hour" and "in just 30 minutes" unless it can achieve the time in most cases, a watchdog has ruled.
02 August 2018
A charity is calling for greater access to respite support after it emerged that 72% of Britain's 700,000 young carers feel lonely and isolated during the summer holidays.
01 August 2018
A plan to build new rail links with Heathrow Airport and connect Windsor's two train stations have been submitted to the Government.
31 July 2018
The head of International Airlines Group (IAG), the company that owns British Airways, is 'optimistic' about a legal challenge to end crippling strikes.