Sleeper trains

OrkneyStar

Not experienced the train, but just to say, I'd avoid any sort of overnight bus. Been there, done that. I had had enough by the time we hit Birmingham on the way up......mind you it was worth it to be walking through Glasgow on a Saturday morning instead of Stevenage.....the return trip was only slightly better as I didn't have the guy with 8ft (ok slight exaggeration) legs sitting on the seat next to me (I was on the inside!).........

tight_scotsman

Pixie5740 wrote: »

I've done the bus from Glasgow to London return once and that was quite enough for me. It was the Megabus (not quite as swish as the Megabus Gold) and was £6 return and I was on a tight budget and my bf at the time point blank refused to fly anywhere. In hindsight I should have let the whiny git take the sleeper whilst I flew.

The Gold sleeper service is entirly different frpm megabus. you get a bed and a courior serving complmentary tea coffee and snacks.

bap98189

Lily-Rose wrote: »

I didn't even know trains travelled through the night from London to Scotland! Isn't it five hours or something? (Depending on where in Scotland you are going to of course?)

There are 5 trains that run every night from London to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William and 5 trains that make the reverse journey. You can travel in a normal seat, or in a cabin with a bed etc.

beckstar1975

I like a pp have done overnight in France with 3 under 6 and wouldn't again. I'll explain why and it may be that some of the reasons dont' apply here.

Firstly, we couldn't get on the train until 10pm so had a long wait with 3 tired and crabby children, and when we got on it was bedtime straight away (and cabins made up with beds which made getting into night things a tad tricky).

SNCF in their wisdom had allocated the 6th berth in our cabin to another person, even through all the rest of the cabins in our carriage were no more than half full. So, had to manage the kids plus random man, including falling out of bed/sleep talking etc (and that was just the 4yo DD). Trains are really basic, bunks small, and no one slept very well at all (but due to said man couldn't put lights on/read etc).

Following year we did the same journey in 2.5 hours on TGV and stayed in hotel for night waiting for our car to arrive and MUCH more fun.

So, I would not do overnight with kids until much older, and would pay to book the extra berth so we are ensured of privacy - but due to above would rather do another quicker method of travel

Verix

I don't have kids but have done London to Edinburgh overnight a couple of times on the bus. If you are going to do it that way you most definitely want to do it with megabus gold. As has been said, with Gold everyone gets their own bunk and I actually had a really good nights sleep. I don't remember any children being on board though.

However I have done the regular megabus twice and both times it was absolutely awful, a few young families on board and the kids obviously hated it.

Rosemary7391

I've done London to Glasgow on the sleeper. No kids so can't comment on that, but I believe you can get linked cabins. It's basically like paying for a room with your travel, so not bad price looked at that way. Seats are much cheaper and more comfortable than normal train seats. I rather liked it, but I'm a fan of trains. It can be pretty noisy though especially when carriages are being attached/detached. Maybe listening to music through headphones or something would help with that.

waterbaby

Thank you everyone.

I didn't know about the Megabus Gold. I am a little confused though - it can't have seatbelts for people lying in bed, can it?

I actually began by searching for flights, but at the time I searched, flights plus car hire were in the thousands. Now that I look again, I can actually get a return flight for £300 ish, depending on date. The sleeper doesn't seem to be any more expensive than flying though, from the prices I was quoted.

I will prioritise flights for now, and look at the sleeper when the kids are a bit older. OH is a train enthusiast, as is youngest son, so it does appeal from that sense. I would like to give it a go at some point

It's been really helpful to read your replies, and I'll be checking back in case there's any more.

Pixie5740

Wouldn't you be hiring a car anyway if you're getting the train?

GwylimT

waterbaby wrote: »

Thank you everyone.

I didn't know about the Megabus Gold. I am a little confused though - it can't have seatbelts for people lying in bed, can it?

I actually began by searching for flights, but at the time I searched, flights plus car hire were in the thousands. Now that I look again, I can actually get a return flight for £300 ish, depending on date. The sleeper doesn't seem to be any more expensive than flying though, from the prices I was quoted.

I will prioritise flights for now, and look at the sleeper when the kids are a bit older. OH is a train enthusiast, as is youngest son, so it does appeal from that sense. I would like to give it a go at some point

It's been really helpful to read your replies, and I'll be checking back in case there's any more.

Its no different to any other coach with beds, you just sleep feet facing the driver.

waterbaby

Pixie - yes we'd hire a car whether we did train or plane. I only remember the total price (train + car) from my plane investigations a while ago.

Gwilym - I never knew any coaches had beds! As travelling without a seatbelt in a car is hugely frowned on nowadays, I must admit I am surprised that it's ok to lie in bed unrestrained while travelling by road.