Great British Rail Sale: the cheap fares are real, but so are the catches
The Great British Rail Sale has returned with the promise of cheaper winter travel, though passengers quickly discover that the biggest savings depend as much on flexibility as on luck.
The sale runs from Tuesday 6 January to Monday 12 January 2026, covering journeys made between Tuesday 13 January and Wednesday 25 March 2026. Discounts of up to 50 per cent apply to selected Advance tickets, and on some routes a limited number of Off-Peak fares, with availability varying by operator and date.
Travel — More from EyeOnLondon
Three recent stories, selected to keep you reading beyond the headline.
Christmas getaway to see millions driving home
What the forecasts suggest, where delays tend to build, and how to plan around the pinch points.
Read the storyMore Travel
Europe without fingerprints
A clear guide to the rules changing at the border and what travellers should expect next.
Read the storyMore Travel
Social media accounts plan for World Cup announced by US
What the policy could mean for travellers, visas, and the wider practicalities of planning a trip.
Read the storyMore Travel
It is a familiar formula. The aim is not to reduce the cost of everyday travel, but to encourage people to use quieter services during the colder months. That distinction explains why commuters and travellers searching for flexible or peak-time tickets often come away empty-handed.
Advance tickets make up the bulk of the offers. These require passengers to commit to a specific train at a fixed time, with limited or no flexibility if plans change. Season tickets, flexi-seasons, Anytime fares and most peak services are excluded altogether.
Still, for those willing to adjust their plans, the savings can be real. Slower services, alternative operators and midweek travel often yield the lowest prices, particularly on long-distance routes where spare capacity would otherwise go unused.
The most reliable overview of which operators are taking part, which ticket types qualify, and how the rules differ by route is set out in the National Rail Great British Rail Sale guide, which lays out the conditions more clearly than most promotional material.
For Londoners planning winter visits to friends and family, or travellers with the freedom to avoid peak hours, the Great British Rail Sale can still offer meaningful value. Treated as a limited, quota-based offer rather than a universal fare cut, it becomes easier to see where it works, and where it does not.
Example fares in the Great British Rail Sale
Booking window: 6–12 January 2026
Travel window: 13 January – 25 March 2026
| Route | Example fare | Check fares |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle → London King’s Cross | £25.10 | LNER offers |
| Leeds → London King’s Cross | £19.70 | LNER offers |
| Edinburgh → London | £27.85 | LNER offers |
| Portsmouth → London Victoria | £4 | Southern tickets |
| Liverpool or Manchester → London | from £7 | Participating routes |
Cheapest fares are usually tied to fixed trains and may involve longer journey times.
For more stories exploring London life, travel and the real cost of getting around, follow EyeOnLondon for clear, independent reporting.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
