Riding the Train

We are so incredibly lucky to have easy access to the train to get just about anywhere in the United Kingdom!  Harrogate has access to Northern Line trains that will take you to either York or Leeds (or any of the little villages in between).  From either city, you can catch a train to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, or many other places near and far.  So far, we've only taken short trips into local cities, but will look forward to our longer journey to London in September.  A few pointers we've learned:

• Buy a Railcard: You can buy a railcard here - it pays for itself in just a few journeys because if you use the card, you get ~30% off.  Our trip to London alone paid the 30£ for the "Two Together" card.  This card requires that you travel as a pair and go off-peak hours (anytime except M-F 9-5).  This works great for our weekend adventures. 

• Purchase Long Trips in Advance: The earlier you buy, the cheaper the ticket.  A ticket from Harrogate to London can be as cheap as 20£ if you buy 3 months out.  It can be as expensive as 200£ if you buy a few days in advance. 

• Buy Online: It's usually a few £££ cheaper if you buy online -- even for short trips. Check out the Red Hanky site as well as the Northern Line (or whichever line you'll be taking)

• Bring Your Puppy - It's Pet Friendly: Fun fact - you can bring your dog on the train.  We haven't taken Alfie on the train yet, but are hoping to bring him to Scotland with us this fall on the train 

A train selfie!

The Train Station is quite beautiful in York (it also contains the rail museum)