Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Gary Armstrong

Edinburgh Rail Sale day trips you can take for under £4 and escape the city

Earlier this week, the UK Government announced a first-of-its-kind 'Great British Rail Sale', with cut-price train tickets made available across the country.

Tickets for some of the busiest routes in the UK, including from Edinburgh, have been slashed and in many cases, be on sale for half price. In total, more than one million discounted tickets being available to the public.

A single ticket from London to Edinburgh, which would usually cost £44, will be available for just £22, with journeys to York, Leeds, Cardiff and Liverpool all included in the list.

READ MORE: Best walk in Edinburgh according to TripAdvisor as reviews hail 'one of world's great urban walks'

But there are also deals to destinations closer to home too, meaning you can take a day trip from the capital for a fraction of the full price.

We found four trips you can take for under £4 a single ticket, which could be a great option for families to keep the kids entertained this Spring.

Dunbar - £2.40

Dunbar was recently named as one of the top staycation destinations for UK travellers according to Airbnb - and for those who have been there, you can understand why.

Beautiful Dunbar harbour (Getty)

The East Lothian town often provides the perfect escape from the city and is a hugely popular spot for those living in the capital when the sun comes out.

It's a kid-friendly place too, with families taking the trip to enjoy ambling around John Muir Country Park, or a visit to Dunbar Leisure Pool, East Links Family Park or Foxlake Adventures.

If you're a fan of seafood, it's worth booking into the highly-rated Creel restaurant close to the harbour.

Berwick Upon Tweed - £3.10

Thanks to the rail sale you can make it over the border for just £3.10 - although North Berwick may be considered a more attractive destination than its southern sister, it's still worth a visit to the Tweed.

Berwick's old bridge in the sunshine (Getty)

The tourist board for the the Northumberland town, the most northerly in England, promotes its 'cobbles, castles, beaches, and boat trips', meaning there's plenty of sights and activities for families to enjoy.

A trek along the length of Berwick's Elizabethan walls is often popular, while the castle and the barracks also offer a history lesson for the wee ones you might be bringing along with you.

The architecturally striking Royal Border and Berwick bridges are two of the town's most impressive focal points, while it might be worth a walk out to the lighthouse too, where dolphins can occasionally be seen splashing about.

READ MORE: Brand new Edinburgh restaurant, bars and cafe openings to enjoy this spring

Stirling - £2

If you haven't had your fill of castles living in Edinburgh, it might be worth getting a different view with a trip to Stirling. Alongside the magnificently perched landmark, the Wallace Monument is also a must-see, while art fans might consider a visit to the Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

There's some good food and drink options in Stirling too, with The Birds and Bees, River Side and Kailyard being top picks, depending on your budget.

READ MORE: Edinburgh's best beer gardens to enjoy a drink in the sunshine

Inverkeithing - £1.20

For little over a pound, you can land in Inverkeithing, a place often overlooked, but with plenty of things to do and see, including the Friary Gardens, potentially a perfect picnic spot on a sunny day, which gives beautiful views over the Forth.

The view of the Forth Rail Bridge from Inverkeithing (Getty)

If you're a history buff, there's plenty to pique your interest, such as the town's Mercat Cross, architecturally-impressive Fordell's Lodging and Greyfriars Convent, which dates back to 1350.

The idea behind the Great British Rail Sale is said to help connects friends and families, boost UK tourism and encourage green travel across the country, with rail travel being the most economical mode of transport.

Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased from participating retailers with the up to half-price rate applying to a huge range of off-peak tickets spreading the length of the country. The discounted tickets will be available on journeys from 25 April to 27 May.

Tickets can be found at: www.nationalrail.co.uk/railsale

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.