Train Your Way Around The UK For Less With Our Ticket Discounts

Summer break is just around the corner (thank heavens), so there’s no better time than right now to think about how you want to spend the next few months.

We're guessing resting, recharging and relaxing so that you’re fully prepped and ready to tackle the autumn term come September are all on the menu!

But what to do? Going on a trip is a must, of course, but if you’re not keen on the idea of hopping on a plane and jetting off to foreign climes for whatever reason, the good news is that we’ve got an incredible amount of beautiful countryside right here in the UK, just ripe for exploration.

The even better news is that you can see it all with relative ease and relative cost-effectiveness if you hop on a train and make excellent use of our extensive railway network.

And, with TOTUM’s student travel discounts up for grabs, you can make significant savings on your travel costs while still seeing as much of the country as possible over the next couple of months.

But where to go? If you’re stuck for a few ideas and need a bit of a helping hand when it comes to inspiration for your mammoth train trip, here are just a couple of suggestions from the TOTUM team. We’d love to hear all about your summer plans and where you’re going - so drop us a line to let us know!

The St Ives Bay Line

For some restorative sea air, you can do a lot worse than a trip to Cornwall - and here you’ll find one of the most scenic rail journeys in the whole of England. Fabulous!

The train ride along the St Ives Bay Line may be short at about 15 minutes long but it’s certainly sweet and you’ll be treated to some incredible views as you wend your way from St Erth to St Ives. Sit on the right-hand side of the train if you want to see the sea!

And, of course, once you reach the end of the line you’ll find yourself in St Ives… a very real treat in itself! Top sights include the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Carbis Bay Beach, the bay and harbour, Tate St Ives and many, many more. You’re sure to have an incredible time, come rain or shine!

The West Highland Line

Head north of the border for a Scottish adventure along the West Highland Line, often described as the most scenic rail journey in the entire world! You might well recognise it, in fact, as it took a star turn as the journey to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movie franchise… yet another reason to put it on your to-do list.

Sights you’ll see as you travel from Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis (a journey of around 96 miles) include Loch Lomond, the Arrochar Alps, the Falls of Lora and, of course, the aforementioned Ben Nevis. Plus travelling along the famous curve of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, 100ft above ground, is definitely something not to be missed.

If travelling from Glasgow, it takes two hours to reach the end of the line, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore Fort William and the surrounding countryside. Top sights include the West Highland Peninsulas, the Ben Nevis Distillery, Neptune’s Staircase and the Highland Cinema (perfect if the weather is slightly inclement).

The Settle To Carlisle Line

Fancy a little trek around the north-west? Then put the Settle to Carlisle line at the top of your must-see list, one of the most famous scenic rail routes around the UK.

It’s a 72-mile stretch of beautiful sights, with countless viaducts, tunnels and views to behold, including the Ribblehead Viaduct, Keighley and Worth Valley (where The Railway Children was filmed) and lots, lots more.

Before you get on the train, spend a bit of time in Settle, a really lovely market town in the Yorkshire Dales, with some stunning architecture, traditional pubs, galleries, cafes, independent shops… and Castleberg, a 63m limestone crag overlooking the marketplace!

Check out our student rail discounts!

Travelling by train is both fun and convenient - and, thanks to our partnerships with lots of the main companies out there, it’s also nice and cheap to get from A to B, no matter where you want to go.

25% off railcards with Trip

New users on Trip.com can enjoy an impressive 25 per cent off their railcards thanks to our top-notch collaboration with the travel service provider. This particular promotion is valid until December 31st 2025, so you’ve got plenty of time to take full advantage.

£9 off UK railcards with Trainpal

New customers at Trainpal can enjoy a sweet £9 off UK railcards, helping you to save on all your journeys on train travel around the UK.

The deal itself is only valid for Railcard Buy-alone and has to be used on either one or three-year railcards, and you’ll need to activate your card with a ticket purchase within 30 days… but with summer just around the corner and some amazing scenic train trips to go on, that’s easily achieved!

23% off your first UK railcard

Check out another top student deal from Trainpal, where you can get a whopping 23 per cent off your first UK railcard… making it even easier to save while you head out and about on your jollies.

1/3 off ticket prices with Trainline

Get your hands on a digital railcard from Trainline and, thanks to our partnership with the app, you can get a third off the price of your train tickets.

The railcard itself costs £30 for the entire year (or £20 if you need the disabled persons railcard) and you simply store it in the Trainline app, so there’s no chance of losing it! You can use all railcards during peak times so you’ll be able to travel where and when you want, for a fraction of the cost!