travelling

Londoners can save more money on weekend breaks to five popular UK cities by opting for one particular method of transport over the train, new research has revealed

New research has revealed that anyone travelling from London to five UK cities can save up to £48 per journey, simply by making their journey via coach instead of the train.

The study, conducted by minibus and coach hire company SMC Coach Hire, analysed travel costs from the capital city to major UK destinations, comparing ticket prices against total mileage to identify where passengers are facing the most expensive rail fares.

The research showed Cardiff as the prime location for making travel savings. While a train journey from London Victoria to the Welsh capital costs an average of £61.39, the equivalent coach journey is just £13.35, a staggering saving of £48.04.

At just 10p per mile, opting to travel by coach offers a fraction of the rail cost for the 131-mile trip.

The top 5 best value routes

The North and Scotland also showed significant disparities, with long-distance travellers set to gain the most from making the journey on a coach:

1. Cardiff: £48.04 saving (£13.35 coach vs £61.39 train)
2. Aberdeen: £47.69 saving (£47.80 coach vs £95.49 train)
3. Leicester: £41.74 saving (£7.35 coach vs £49.09 train)
4. Glasgow: £37.34 saving (£39.45 coach vs £76.79 train)
5. Newcastle: £26.79 saving (£19.50 coach vs £46.29 train

However, distance doesn’t always have a direct impact on the savings. Leicester, one of the shortest routes on the list at just 89 miles, ranked third for total savings. Passengers can make the journey for as little as £7.35 by coach, compared to nearly £50 via rail.

1. Cardiff – train price to London – £61.39, train per mile – £0.47, coach price to London – £13.35, coach per mile – £0.10, approx distance (miles) 131.33, price difference – £48.04
2. Aberdeen – train price to London – £95.49, train per mile – £0.24, coach price to London – £47.80, coach per mile – £0.12, approx distance (miles) 398.15, price difference – £47.69
3. Leicester – train price to London – £49.09, train per mile – £0.55, coach price to London – £7.35, coach per mile – £0.08, approx distance (miles) 89.38, price difference – £41.74
4. Glasgow – train price to London – £76.79, train per mile – £0.22, coach price to London – £39.45, coach per mile – £0.11, approx distance (miles) 345.20, price difference – £37.34
5. Newcastle – train price to London – £46.29, train per mile – £0.19, coach price to London – £19.50, coach per mile – £0.08, approx distance (miles) 247.73, price difference – £26.79
6. Derby – train price to London – £38.19, train per mile – £0.34, coach price to London – £11.85, coach per mile – £0.10, approx distance (miles) 113.09, price difference – £26.34
7. Bristol – train price to London – £37.99, train per mile – £0.36, coach price to London – £13.35, coach per mile – £0.13, approx distance (miles) 106.38, price difference – £24.64
8. Leeds – train price to London – £43.89, train per mile – £0.26, coach price to London – £21.30, coach per mile – £0.13, approx distance (miles) 169.47, price difference – £22.59
9. Nottingham – train price to London – £35.89, train per mile – £0.33, coach price to London – £13.35, coach per mile – £0.12, approx distance (miles) 109.35, price difference – £22.54
10. Brighton and Hove – train price to London – £24.69, train per mile – £0.53, coach price to London – £5.40, coach per mile – £0.12, approx distance (miles) 46.89, price difference – £19.29
11. Manchester – train price to London – £31.29, train per mile – £0.19, coach price to London – £12.75, coach per mile – £0.08, approx distance (miles) 163.22, price difference – £18.54
12. Liverpool – train price to London – £30.19, train per mile – £0.17, coach price to London – £11.85, coach per mile – £0.07, approx distance (miles) 178.62, price difference – £18.34

Stephen Chesters, Director at SMC Coach Hire said: “With the cost of living still a major concern for many, these figures highlight just how much ‘rail tax’ people are paying for their commute or weekend breaks.

“Choosing the road over the rail isn’t just about the journey; it’s about keeping nearly £50 extra in your pocket. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway for Valentine’s or looking ahead to a half-term break for the family, coach travel is a great alternative to save some money.”