If you have free time, slow down and relax, traveling by train is one of the best ways. Britain’s most breathtaking scenery can be admired from the train window, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money for an epic journey. You can buy the cheapest train tickets at trainpal.

Traveling by train is a beautiful and relaxing way to discover Britain, adding a real sense of adventure to your trip. The railway network covers the entire country and serves more than 2,500 stations. The system is efficient and reliable: you can leave London and reach Scotland in the shortest 4 hours.

Since London has 7 main terminals, most of the lines radiate outward from London, so there may be some changes when travel around the UK by train.

Train tickets are worth buying at trainpal because they will provide tourists with unlimited journeys and discounts, giving you the freedom to go at your own pace.

Train travelling across the Highlands in Scotland

How to buy train tickets

You can buy train tickets online through our ticket purchase page. First-class fares are about one-third more expensive than standard fares. Sometimes buying a two-way ticket is cheaper than buying two one-way tickets.

Plan enough time to buy your train ticket in advance before travelling, and check for special offers or reduced prices at any time. Advance tickets are usually cheaper than those bought on the day, but may limit your ability to change or cancel your journey. You always have to try to click through the page more. We will mark you the cheapest train ticket on the day of your trip, saving yourself a lot of money, which you can spend on the travel of the destination.

Two main reasons to travel in the UK by train

If traveling by car in the United States is the best choice, traveling by train in the United Kingdom is the best choice for these two reasons.

British driving on the left, the road is narrow, the speed is fast, and the requirements for the driver are very high. Especially when crossing roundabouts and intersections, British drivers are very fastidious about the road priorities. The driver with the road priority does not slow down at the intersection. They will think that the other driver will let them pass first. In fact, this is indeed the case. As long as the British drivers don’t have the road priority, they will not snatch the road, and they will stop obediently to let the other driver go first. In this new environment, domestic drivers are unaccustomed to driving on the left. Coupled with unfamiliarity with various road priorities, they often react slowly on the road and are prone to car accidents. The picture below is the famous roundabout in the UK. Most people are confused directly!

The train system in the United Kingdom is very developed. This is different from the United States. Basically, cities at all levels have trains. Take London as an example. It has been counted on Google maps. There are dozens of train stations of various sizes in the London area alone. So when traveling between different cities in the UK, trains can undoubtedly be your first choice.

As shown above, there are three railway stations in Euston, St Pancas and King’s Cross (the famous Harry Potter 9 and three quarters are here) just around the London University campus.

Tips on travel by train

The fastest and most comfortable trains in Britain are on the main line. It is always wise to reserve a seat in advance, especially if you want to travel during peak hours, such as Friday night. Mainline trains have dining cars and air conditioning, and are very fast – for example, it takes only 4 hours and 20 minutes from London to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, or 2 hours from London Paddington to Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

The yellow line above the train window indicates the first-class compartment. Note that even if the train is full, you cannot sit in first class without paying the full ticket.

Normally, buses will post eye-catching notices in the city center and major attractions, and buses will usually stop outside. Trains on Sundays and public holidays may be slower than usual and less frequent.

Be inspired for your next train journey

We picked some of the best places in the UK for you to explore by train. Check out our tour guide itinerary, find an inspiration, and see things you can do when you reach your destination.

Train TravelinTrip UKposted June 5, 2020

Scotland has a strong European aristocratic style since ancient times, like a gentleman with a suit, bow tie, always smiling. Just as Scotland belongs to the temperate maritime climate, it will never be sullen, there will be no severe cold, and it will not be hot. Cairngorms National Park is located on this gentle land.

Knowing about Cairngorms National Park before booking a trip

Cairngorms National Park was officially opened in 2003 after being approved by the Scottish Parliament. This is the second national park established in Scotland. It is not only the largest national park in the United Kingdom, but also a prestigious skiing resort in Scotland. The park covers an area of 1,750 square miles (approximately 4,500 square kilometers), the lush forest is the backbone of the park, and the wanton flowing lakes and streams are the blood of this park. It is also a habitat for all kinds of wild animals. Red squirrels, reindeer, eagles and other wild animals pass through the park from time to time.

There are 5 peaks in the Scottish region, and Cairngorms National Park occupies four of them, so it is regarded as an adventure paradise by challengers who seek excitement: from the dangerous high mountains to the glazed lake area, from the rocky mountains to the lush forests, from the deep and long royal castle to the special conservation area. In recent years, the park is facing the double test of local residents and tourists, and the landscape in the park is also under great pressure from huge traffic.

The economic development of Cairngorm National Park and the surrounding areas is heavily dependent on national parks, which on the one hand can promote the development of local tourism and recreational activities, on the other hand, it can also promote greater local protection for the survival of ecosystem.

How to get to Cairngorms National Park by train and why you must go there

Cairngorms National Park in Scotland is the largest national park in the UK, covering 4,528 square kilometers. This is almost twice as large as the Lake District National Park, but there are far fewer tourists. In fact, although the Lake District National Park is very beautiful and attracts 16.4 million visitors each year, Cairngorm’s desolate mountains, icy river valleys and Caledonian forests only attract 1.5 million tourists every year. It is very convenient to travel by train in the UK, including to national parks, and at trainpal you can buy the cheapest train tickets.

Take the train to Cairngorm National Park

On the west side of the park, there are two gorgeous entrance stations that can take you into the center of the park: Aviemore and Kingussie. If you are from southern England, one of the most adventurous ways to get to these mountain outposts is to take a sleeper train, which departs from London Euston Station at 21:15 Monday to Friday, and at 20:59 on Sunday. It reaches Kingussie at 7:20 and Aviemore at 7:45.

Of course, you can also take the faster day train from King’s Cross Station in London to Inverness Station. From the end of 2019, just with more than 8 hours, the train can take you directly to Kingussie and Aviemore. Other stations along the way include York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth.

There are other train services during the day, but there may be one or two train changes between Edinburgh and Perth. However, it is very likely that the price of the split tickets is much cheaper than the direct one.

You can also take a direct train from London to Aberdeen. Aberdeen is the closest station to the Royal Deeside area in the east of the National Park. For example, from London, it takes 7 hours and 4 minutes, leaving London’s King’s Cross Station at 10 and arriving at 17:04.

Things to do in Cairngorm National Park

The outdoor adventure scene in Cairngorm National Park has been established well and is a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, kayakers, skiers, wildlife observers, photographers, painters, etc. It has the 5 highest peaks in the UK, the most unusually vast wilderness area, and a large number of local mountain guides to take you to climb the highest peak. Those who like lowlands can easily take a lap in some of the park’s lochs such as Lochs an Eilein, Garten or Morlich. There are also many bike lanes, the most popular of which is crossing the Ryvoan Pass.

You can also book a guided tour locally, which is highly recommended for newcomers to the mountains, or choose an organized self-guided or guided vacation, a wilderness Scotland or Scottish mountain vacation with an ecological expert. The Cairngorms Tourist Board is also a source of information about places to stay, local guides, and of course, routes to be discovered.

Of course, it can be called a splendid legacy left over from history, and the Cairngorm National Park is much more than that. Despite the magnificent natural landscape, the cultural tourism supporting facilities of Cairngorms National Park have also become an important factor to attract tourists.

Stepping on the highest land center in the UK, the Cairngorms National Park’s entertainment projects go far beyond ice and snow. There are two aquatic entertainment centers specially designed for water sports enthusiasts in the park, and there are also planned fly fishing areas and stag tracking areas that are popular with fishing and hunting enthusiasts. Many winding and rugged walking paths provide hikers with a close encounter with Cairngorms National Park.

Climb high and look far away, and near the sea makes your heart wide open. The Cairngorms National Park is not only in a highland, but also has 12 golf courses, making it a golfing hometown in Scotland. Golf is always accompanied by fine wine. Due to the special geographical factors, there are many whisky distilleries in the Cairngorms area, which is an excellent place to taste the feelings of Scotland.