January 7, 2004 -- Brits simply don't get it when they disparage their public transportation systems. British trains are relatively fast, frequent and convenient, and a great way for travelers to zip between cities and towns across the United Kingdom. Now that rail passes are being discounted across the board, we can only wish we had it so good.
If your UK travels will keep you in England (as opposed to Scotland and Wales, or Northern Ireland for that matter), Rail Europe has a new way for you to save some dough. The new BritRail England Pass costs 20% less than a full UK pass, with prices starting at $149 for four consecutive days of travel.
The most useful forms of railpasses are Flexipasses, which let you travel on non-consecutive days. The England Pass comes in 4, 8 and 15-day Flexipass versions, letting you travel on that many days in a two-month period. The four-day version costs $189 ($47.25/day); the eight-day version costs $279 ($34.88/day), and the 15-day version $415 ($27.67/day). (If you're traveling this month or next, prices are even lower; see below.)
The new England pass joins the standard BritRail pass, the Freedom of Scotland pass, and the BritRail+Ireland Pass as an option for travelers to the UK.
UK rail passes are especially useful for travelers who don't want to plan ahead. That's because UK rail fares are like US airfares -- they're really low if you buy them weeks in advance for off-peak trains, but they get absurdly high if you book at the last minute.
For example, a round trip from London to the medieval walled city of York, a two-hour ride each way, can cost as little as £19 ($34.39) if you buy three weeks in advance. But a spur of the moment round trip will cost you £66.50-£100 ($120-$181). That makes the England Railpass a terrific deal if you want to keep your plans flexible.
Winter Travel Means Cheaper Travel
Whether you're traveling in England, Scotland, or the whole of the UK, railpasses are 25% off if you buy them this month or next for travel through the end of February.
That brings an adult, second-class, consecutive-days, four-day BritRail pass down to $149, a four-day flexipass down to $179, and an eight-day flexipass down to $259.
The BritRail England Flexipass we mentioned above is now $142 for four days, $206 for eight days, and $311 for 15 days. That makes the prices competitive with even the lowest advance-purchase rail fares.
Rail Europe is also offering a 30% discount on the Great British Heritage Pass if you buy it by the January 31. The pass gives you access to 600 historic properties, including every one of the 16 "best palaces, castles and historic homes" in Frommer's Great Britain. The pass gets you into most places for free -- the only two exceptions are that it's not valid for Buckingham Palace and it only offers half-off at the Tower of London, which is still a good deal given the Tower's extortionate admission fee.
The current sale prices are very good - $37 for a 7-day pass, and $52 for a 15-day pass. Considering admission to Edinburgh Castle alone will set you back more than $11 per person, Stonehenge will hit you for $7 or so, and the Tower of London will burn you for more than $17, the pass makes great sense if you intend to tour the monuments of Britain. The pass is good for six months from the date of purchase.
Buy all the passes we mentioned online at www.raileurope.com.
Have you ridden the rails through Scotland, England or Wales? Submit your trip report on our UK boards today.