Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert (MSE) team has reminded UK residents travelling at Christmas to keep in mind the "12-week" rule of thumb. In a recently updated blog post, MSE said this could mean snapping up a ticket for less than expected, as long as it is booked at the right time.
Booking early for peak periods
The financial experts explain: "If you're looking to travel during peak periods such as Christmas, New Year or bank holiday weekends, booking as soon as advance tickets go on sale is especially important, as they're likely to sell out faster than usual."
They suggest setting up an alert for when tickets go on sale so you don't miss out. While most people know booking early can mean a cheaper fare, advance tickets can sell out even faster than seats on a peak-time service.
"Normally, to bag yourself a bargain, try to book about 12 weeks before you want to travel", Lewis' team says, adding: "It's generally best to start looking that far ahead because, contractually, Network Rail, the body that manages the rail network, must have timetables set 12 weeks in advance (though it can be a few weeks later over Christmas and New Year). And so train firms normally put advance fares on sale shortly after."
Book ASAP if time is short
MSE says "it's usually best to book ASAP [as soon as possible]" if there is less time before travel, as "the longer you leave it, the pricier tickets tend to be." Some operators release advance tickets even earlier than 12 weeks prior, though timetables may not be totally finalised. For example, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) often puts them on sale up to 24 weeks ahead for some routes.
Europe's leading train and coach app, Trainline, also backs this approach. Urging people to plan ahead to "get cheap Christmas travel for 2026", it likewise advises booking in advance.
It explains: "Train companies in the UK tend to release tickets around 12 weeks before the travel date, usually at their cheapest price. And, during popular travel times like Christmas, these popular Advance tickets sell out pretty quickly." With this in mind, it suggests people need to start looking now if they are not already.
Trainline adds: "Start keeping an eye out around September time to snap up the cheapest deals." In its FAQ section, Trainline notes that while people will be travelling during the festive holiday, Christmas Day itself and the surrounding days may be an issue.
Festive train services
Trainline says: "Most train services shut down early on Christmas Eve, but will run as usual throughout the day."
No trains will run on Christmas Day 2026, Trainline confirms. If you need to travel, coach services will continue to run throughout the festive period. It advises checking timetables and buying tickets with National Express instead.
The company confirms that only a "few services will be running on Boxing Day. With the exception of some airport transfer services, such as the Stansted Express and Heathrow Express."
The travel experts note that "train companies usually run an altered service on New Year's Day, with the first trains departing slightly later in the day." Passengers should plan ahead and check whether their specific route will be affected.
