BritRail Passes Overview
You may have noticed that Great Britain is not included on Eurail Passes. No worries, though: there are rail passes for the isles. BritRail Passes, like their continental cousins, come in various configurations (consecutive travel days and non-, flexi, single- and multi-country, adult and youth versions) and prices.
With the exception of the Scottish Freedom Pass, the BritRail passes we've listed offer airport transfers into London (which can also be purchased separately for $24-28 on the RailEurope site) on the Gatwick, Heathrow, or Stansted Express. Some also offer discounts on the Eurostar train from London to Paris.
There are over a dozen BritRail Pass varieties available, so we've taken the liberty to write up the ones we feel will be most useful for you, dear Cheapos.
BritRail Consecutive
Four, eight, 15, or 22 days or one month of consecutive travel days in England, Scotland, and Wales can be yours with this pass. The BritRail Consecutive pass is available for first or second class travel for either adults or youths. Adult prices range from $327 to $1054 in first class, $218 to702 in second class; youth passes cost from $246 to $791 first class and from $163 to $526 in second class. Check prices.
BritRail Flexipass
Choose any four, eight, or 15 travel days in a two month period in England, Scotland, and Wales. This Flexipass is available for first or second class travel for adults and youths. The Stansted Express is not included on youth passes. Adult first class pass prices range from $409-901, and second class costs $275-604. Youth passes range from $307-676 in first class, or $207-453 in second class. Check prices.
BritRail England Consecutive Pass
You can see a lot of countryside in four, eight, 15, 22 days or one month of consecutive travel days in England only. Adult passes range in cost from $262 to $844 in first class or from $174 to $561 in second class. Youth pass prices cost from $197 to $633 in first class, and $131 to $421 in second class. Check Prices.
BritRail England Flexipass
Take your time seeing England! This Flexipass covers four, eight, or 15 travel days in a two month period in England only. Adult pass prices range from $327 to $721 in first class or from $220 to $483 in second class. Youth passes cost between $246 and $541 in first class, or between $165 and $363 in second class. Check prices.
BritRail Pass plus Ireland
See England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland with this pass, which offers five or 10 travel days in a one month period. Passes include some ferry and catamaran crossings between Britain and Ireland, as well as Thames Link trains. Prices range from $590 to $973 in first class or $427 to $680 in second class. No youth version of the pass is available. Check prices.
BritRail Scottish Freedom Pass
This pass covers four travel days in an eight-day period, or eight travel days in a 15-day period in Scotland. Travel days may be used consecutively or non-consecutively. Passes are not valid on weekday morning trains departing before 9:15. Adult passes cost $201 or $270 in second class - no youth or first class options are offered. Airport transfers are not included. Check prices.
London Travel Card
See the sights in one, three, or seven days of unlimited travel through central London (zones 1-2 for subway, and 1-6 for the bus), or all six zones of the city on bus and subway (available only with the seven-day all-zone card). The card costs from $12 to $41 for the central London cards, or $75 for the seven day all-zone card. Check prices.
Airport transfers
A great alternative to expensive taxis or spending time stuck in traffic, the Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stansted Express are trains that whisk you quickly and efficiently from the airports to major train stations in downtown London. The trains run seven days a week at 15 minute intervals during peak hours. The various airport expresses are included in most BritRail passes, but can also be purchased separately. The Gatwick Express goes from the airport to Victoria Station in about 30 minutes, and costs $24 in second class. The Heathrow Express breezes from airport to Paddington Station in 15-20 minutes, and costs $27 in second class. The Stansted Express will scoot you from London's newest airport to Liverpool Station in about 40 minutes for $28. Check prices.
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