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Cheap first class tickets

First class advance tickets

First class advance tickets can be cheaper than standard class. It's always worth checking, but they have the same restrictions as other advance tickets. 

Here is an example from the East Coast website, a shot taken from the top of its train ticket selection page:

Weekend First

The other first class option, if you're not travelling on an advance ticket, is to upgrade your existing standard class ticket to first class at the weekend (you can also do this during the week, but only by paying the difference between standard and first class fares). The cheaper Weekend First option is only available at weekends and on public holidays. 

You usually buy the upgrade onboard, although you can buy weekend first tickets in advance from some train companies. 

Being able to buy a weekend first upgrade depends on there being space for you to move to. 

National Rail has a list of train companies offering weekend first; our table below shows the longer distance train companies' first class offerings

Sleeper trains

Britain has two sleepers:

• First ScotRail's Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to places in Scotland including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William
• First Great Western's Night Riviera from London Paddington to Devon and Cornwall

The Caledonian Sleeper

This runs every night except Saturday. It is by far the cheapest of the two sleepers if you can get a Bargain Berth, which start at £19 single. This is a fantastic bargain as you can take the train as far as Fort William or Inverness. The higher-priced Bargain Berths are £29, £39 and £49. 

The ordinary advance fares for Caledonian Sleeper start from £53 single from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow. All standard class prices include tea or coffee and shortbread in the morning. There are twin and single cabins; all twin cabins are standard class. 

All single cabins are first class, and fares include continental or hot breakfast, a newspaper, voucher for the lounge car and free zones 1 and 2 onward travel in London. You can buy seated tickets.

The Night Riviera

The Night Riviera sleeper also runs every night except Saturday. It also has single or twin cabins. Although there is only one class, the single cabins come with an onboard entertainment system. It does not have a Bargain Berths equivalent, but the cheapest advance tickets are £49 from London to Plymouth or Penzance. Breakfast is included, as are refreshments in the lounge car.

All sleeper customers can make use of the first class lounge at London Paddington or the customer lounge at Plymouth. You can buy seated tickets.

Overseas trains

Seat61.com is an encyclopaedic font of knowledge on train travel around the world. Other particularly useful sites for European train travel:

• Eurostar for its own journeys;
• Rail Europe for France and Europe in general;
• Deutsche Bahn for Germany

As in the UK, it is best to at least check the times with - and often buy from - the train company you will be travelling with. 

Although InterRail discounts are more associated with young people, travellers over 60 get a 10% discount with the InterRail Senior Pass. There are various options in first or second class, ranging from five days to one month and covering just one country or larger areas.

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